The Church of the Nazarene in Romania

A Brief History

Following the fall of communism in Romania in December 1989, members of the Church of the Nazarene in many parts of the world were prayerfully looking for opportunities to respond to the needs of Romanian Christians who had faced persecution just a few years earlier. In the autumn of 1991, leaders of the Romanian Evangelical Alliance participated in a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries conference in Germany. They were impressed with how the Church of the Nazarene balances the holiness message and compassionate ministries. As a result of this meeting, the Evangelical Alliance invited the Church of the Nazarene to join them in carrying out new initiatives in Romania.

In 1992, Nazarene missionaries Jon and Margaret Scott arrived to begin the work of the Church of the Nazarene in Romania. In that same year, the Evangelical Christian Organization for Aid and Development “Nazarineanul” (abbreviated as OCEAD Nazarineanul) was established with the help of the Evangelical Alliance. Throughout the 1990s, hundreds of Nazarenes – missionaries, volunteers, mission teams, and groups of university students – came to Romania to work alongside members from many Evangelical churches in Romania in a wide variety of ministries. In Bucharest, compassionate ministries focused on the isolated elderly at the geriatric hospital and the abandoned children in the orphanages. Nazarenes from the USA, UK, Germany, and the Netherlands began to send shipments of material aid that were distributed to individuals and institutions in different parts of the country still recovering from communism.

Alongside compassionate ministries, OCEAD Nazarineanul offered regular educational courses in theology, computers, and business through partnerships with universities in the USA, Germany, and Romania. These compassionate and educational ministries, alongside evangelistic and church-planting efforts, gave the Nazarene team many opportunities to share the Gospel in practical ways. This resulted in new believers being discipled, growing in their faith, and being equipped for ministry. The first Nazarene congregation in Romania was established in Bucharest in 1993 with Jon Scott as pastor.

Nazarene missionaries in Bucharest faced a challenge shared with missionaries from other denominations – providing quality English-language education for their own children. In 1993, Margaret Scott joined with other missionary families to establish a homeschooling co-op. What began in a single classroom hosted in the Nazarene ministry center has since grown into Bucharest Christian Academy, an accredited international Christian school in Bucharest for children in preschool through grade 12.

Beginning in January 1992, Eastern Nazarene College (ENC), located near Boston USA, sent several short-term groups of students to Romania. In the fall of 1993, the college established a program under the direction of Professor Dorothy Tarrant that gave students the opportunity to study in Romania for an entire semester while also volunteering in the compassionate ministries in Bucharest. In the summer of 1995, ENC’s program moved to Sighisoara where the Church of the Nazarene was preparing to launch a new ministry.

In Sighisoara, ENC students began compassionate ministries focused on poor street children, abandoned children at the orphanage, and the isolated elderly. The actions of the ENC students and the collaboration with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries led to the establishment of the Veritas Sighisoara Foundation in 2001, with Dorothy Tarrant as its first director. Professional Romanian staff – Christians from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches – continued the work begun by ENC students. In the following years, Veritas began offering accredited social services for children, teenagers, special needs adults, and the elderly, along with a campaign against domestic violence. Additionally, through its educational services, community activities, and café in the historic citadel, Veritas expanded its presence and influence in the town as an ecumenical Christian organization. Since 2006, Veritas has been recognized as a Nazarene Child Development Center and maintains a partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

As Veritas was forming, so was the Sighisoara Church of the Nazarene. The American students met each week for a Bible study that they invited their Romanian friends to attend. Young people were attracted to the church through the various youth activities like coffee house and ecology club. In time, the parents of several teenagers also began to attend the church services. Many of the elderly ministered to by the weekday Elderly Club also joined the church. Soon, an inter-generational congregation was being formed. Nazarene missionary Roberta Bustin served as pastor until Relu Cristurean became the church’s first Romanian pastor in 2012.

In the spring of 2002, a new Nazarene ministry began in Tigmandru, a village near Sighisoara with a mixed Romanian, Hungarian, and Roma population, many of whom were living in poverty. Roberta Bustin worked closely with Magda Cini, a member of the Sighisoara church who was originally from Tigmandru. In addition to establishing a local congregation, they sought to improve the quality of life in the village by intentionally ministering to the whole person. A child development center was established to care for the holistic needs of children. The church has offered instruction to the adults in the village on topics including literacy, health, nutrition, parenting, and other practical skills. The desire to provide vocational training in sewing and carpentry workshops resulted in the establishment of Ateliere Nazarineanului (Nazarene Workshops) in 2012. In 2013, Magda Cini officially became the church’s pastor.

In the fall of 2002, a group of Romanian church members from the Bucharest Central Church of the Nazarene planted a new church in a different section of the capital city. From the very beginning, the Blessing Church of the Nazarene has been led by Romanians. Cristian Boseff has pastored the church since 2005. After a few years, the remaining members of the Central Church joined the Blessing Church to form a single reunited church in Bucharest, spanning multiple generations. Over the years, the Blessing Church has prioritized worship, prayer, and Bible study while continuing to emphasize compassionate ministries in an urban context.

In 2013, under the leadership of Monica Boseff, a member of the Blessing Church of the Nazarene in Bucharest, the Open Door Foundation opened a ministry for survivors of human trafficking that includes a residential shelter, counseling, and judicial assistance. From the beginning, the Blessing Church has provided the spiritual component of the holistic care for these survivors. Church members intentionally integrate the survivors into the life of the church by developing caring relationships and inviting them to begin new lives in Christ. Open Door Foundation maintains a partnership with the Church of the Nazarene in Romania as well as with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries international.

On several occasions over the years, Nazarenes have led adult Bible studies, children’s and youth activities, compassionate ministries and other initiatives in several towns and villages in different parts of the country. Our long-term goal is to plant new churches that will holistically impact their communities.

In 2022, after completing the necessary studies and other requirements, the largest group of Romanian ministers was ordained, marking significant progress in the development of the Church of the Nazarene in Romania from missionary leadership to Romanian leadership.

The Church of the Nazarene in Romania Today

Today, there are active congregations of the Church of the Nazarene in Bucharest, Sighisoara, and Tigmandru that make up the Romania District. In addition to the activities of these local churches, Nazarene activity in Romania also includes translating and publishing literature as well as partnering with European Nazarene College to offer theological education courses in the Romanian language. A key component of our work remains offering compassionate ministries, which includes long-term programs such as Child Development Centers, short-term emergency initiatives such as responding to the 2022 Ukrainian refugee crisis, and ongoing partnerships with the Veritas Sighișoara and Open Door Foundations.

The Church of the Nazarene occupies a unique place among the churches in Romania. Although we are not one of this nation’s predominant historic churches, we share much in common with our Christian brothers and sisters from these traditions – the ancient Christian creeds and councils with the Orthodox Church, a common history of Western Christianity with Catholic and Protestant churches, and the marks of the Protestant Reformation with the Reformed and Lutheran churches. Additionally, we share many practices and beliefs with other Evangelical and Neo-Protestant churches, such as our forms of worship, an emphasis on evangelism and discipleship, and a saving, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Along with the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, we emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Due to this shared foundation of the Christian faith that we hold in common, we value establishing partnerships with Christians from various churches.

With these shared traits identified, it is also important to note how we are distinct from the established churches in Romania and how our theological heritage has shaped our identity as a denomination. The Church of the Nazarene is part of the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. John Wesley was a priest in the Anglican Church who lived in the 18th century. He followed Arminian theology, taught holiness (Christian perfection), and emphasized compassion to the poor. From a theological perspective, we are closest to the churches and organizations of the Wesleyan tradition, such as the United Methodist Church and the Salvation Army. We also share key aspects of our theology with the Orthodox Church that they do not hold in common with Protestant churches from Reformed or Calvinistic theological traditions.

The Church of the Nazarene in Romania is closely interconnected with the international Church of the Nazarene. We share doctrines, form of government, and leadership with Nazarenes around the world. The Romania District of the Church of the Nazarene is part of the Central Europe Field in the Eurasia Region.

About the name “Nazarene”

Nazareth was the small town in Galilee where Jesus lived. When Philip was first told about Jesus, he asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46) Jesus and the early Christians were often associated with Nazareth as a mark of derision. Pilate ordered that a sign for Jesus' cross should say "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" (John 19:19). In Acts 24:5, the apostle Paul was accused of being “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” Given this, our denominational leaders decided to choose this name to identify themselves with ministering to the marginalized. Therefore, we are called to follow the example of Jesus the Nazarene in serving the poor and marginalized of the world.

In order to avoid any confusion, it is important to note that the Church of the Nazarene and OCEAD Nazareneanul are not related to the Nazarene Religious Association, founded in 1990, based in Arad, Romania (with roots that go back to an Anabaptist movement founded in Switzerland by Samuel Fröhlich and promoted in Hungary and Transylvania by Lajos Hencsey in the 19th century), nor to the Nazirite oath described in the Old Testament.

The Impact of the Church of the Nazarene in Romania

After more than 30 years, it is hard to calculate the impact of the Church of the Nazarene in Romania. Through the ministry of the local churches, whole families – often spanning multiple generations – have been transformed. Children have been instructed through kids’ clubs and Sunday schools. Teenagers have discovered their identity in Christ in youth groups and summer camps. Adults have been prepared for Christian ministry. Through compassionate ministries, Nazarenes have brought the love of Christ to abandoned children in the orphanages and to the elderly in the geriatric hospital. Clubs for the Elderly and Special Needs adults have provided a renewed sense of value and dignity as beloved people created in God’s image. Marginalized children have received hot meals at a Child Development Center, women and children have found shelter from domestic violence and human trafficking, Ukrainians were offered refuge in Romania as they fled the war in their country, and unskilled laborers have learned job skills. Christians from other churches – Evangelical and Orthodox alike – have grown deeper in their faith as a result of the ministry and devotion to biblical study of Nazarenes. Through educational courses in English, computers, business, and theology, Nazarenes have equipped Romanians for their future, many of whom are now living and serving in different countries around the world. Students from countries around the world have received a primary and secondary Christian education at a school begun by a Nazarene missionary. The lives of American college students who came to study and serve in Romania were often transformed by their experiences in ways that shaped their career choices.

The Church of the Nazarene in Romania may be small in size, but God has used us for advancing His Kingdom in countless ways. We look forward to continuing this legacy into the future.

Professional Development of our Faculty

Originally Published in EuNC's In Touch Newsletter - October 2024.

Congratulations to Rev. Paula Creely on receiving her Master of Arts degree in Transformational Leadership from Nazarene Theological Seminary. The graduation took place in Kansas City, Missouri, USA in May 2024.

2023 EuNC Romania Learning Centre Graduation

Reposted from www.facebook.com/EuropeanNazarene:

Congratulations to the EuNC Romania Learning Centre and Rares Ion on his graduation with the Certificate in Spiritual Formation on 11 November! We are grateful for the student body, faculty and leadership in the Romania LC and District.

EuNC Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán presenting the certificate

Learning Centre Coordinator Jonathan Phillips,
Graduate Rareș Ion,
Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán

Rareș Ion: 2023 Graduate with the
Certificate in Spiritual Formation

All EuNC alumni of the Romania Learning Centre
received an EuNC mug

Video: 30 Years of Nazarene Ministry in Romania

2021 EuNC Graduation in Romania

The Romania Learning Centre held its graduation ceremony at the Romania District Assembly on Sunday afternoon, November 14. Due to COVID restrictions, the assembly took place on Zoom, with participants in different locations. Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán conferred the degrees, which were presented by LC Coordinator Jonathan Phillips and LC Administrator Oana Cristurean. Magda Cini, Nelutu Cini, Roxana Cini, and Relu Cristurean all received the Diploma in Christian Ministry, while Paula Creely graduated with the Advanced Diploma in Applied Theology.

This was a momentous event for several reasons. Not only was it the Romania LC’s largest graduation to date and the first time accredited degrees were earned in Romania, but it also marks a significant step forward for the Romania District. This year’s four DCM graduates and one other minister have now completed the courses required for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and are approved to be ordained as elders, which will happen in the near future.

Congratulations!
EuNC rejoices in the recent appointment of Romania LC Coordinator Rev. Jonathan Phillips as Romania District Superintendent. We praise God for such blessed leadership in our Districts and pray for guidance on this new journey.

This article was printed in the Graduation 2021 Special Edition of EuNC’s “In Touch” newsletter.

Prayer Mobilization Line: Country of Focus

Nazarene Missions International - Prayer Mobilization Line - October 20, 2021

Romania

 Country of Focus • Fast Facts

General:

Romania—work established in 1992; 3 organized churches; 72 members.

Regional:

Romania is on the Central Europe Field of the Eurasia Region.

Cultural:

Romania, as a nation, dates back to 1862, and gained independence in 1877 from the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War, Romania joined the Allied Powers, and following the war acquired Transylvania as new territory. During the Second World War, it aligned itself with Germany in the invasion of the USSR. However, overrun by the Soviets in 1943, and the establishment of a communist “people’s republic” in 1947, along with the abdication of the king that same year, Romania entered into a period in its history marked with oppressive regimes that continued until 1996, when the communist-dominated government lost power. Romania is now a part of NATO and the European Union (EU).  

Special:

The official language of Romania is Romanian. The majority religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity (82%). Protestant denominations make up only 6.4% of the religious landscape. Recent laws (2006) have made it more difficult for denominations and religious charities to register in the country. Over 24% of the population is under the age of 25 years, and the literacy rate stands at nearly 99%. The poverty rate (nearly 24%), is one of the highest poverty rates in the EU. The country reports more than 1.5 million children are living in poverty. It is estimated that 41% of the Romanian population have no access to running water.  

Mission and Ministry

Ministry Challenges

During the COVID-19 pandemic the number of cases in the Romania has reached 1,398,264 with 40,461 reported deaths.

Romania has been reporting few COVID-19 cases, and particularly in areas where our churches are located, the numbers were low. However, those numbers have begun to rise as more people choose to stay inside as colder weather increases. Because of the physical sizes of our church facilities, maintaining required social distance is not easy, and churches have had to go to online or hybrid delivery of services. Re-engaging church members and communities is proving a challenge, and churches who have done significant compassionate ministries are finding that people are feeling disconnected from the churches because of limited access to buildings. In rural communities, young teenagers during the pandemic lockdowns have been married, with some brides being as young as 13 and 14, with many becoming mothers for the first time. This will, no doubt, have an impact upon this young generation. 

Ministry Approaches

One of the significant ministries in Romania is the Open Door Foundation, helping those who have fallen victim to the human trafficking, primarily of women. God has been doing amazing things in the lives of those being helped by Open Door, and the ministry of the Bucharest Church of the Nazarene. Many have come to faith in Christ and have begun mentoring younger women. The pandemic closures of churches have made it possible for repairs and renovations to take place in our buildings, an unexpected blessing. Also, children in Tigmandru have returned to the Child Sponsorship Program in greater numbers. Many children have been anxiously waiting for the return to in-person programs through the churches, and there is great excitement that these programs are beginning again. Small gathering services have begun in several homes that were not operating before COVID-19. 

Praises

• “We give God thanks that our churches are able to meet together in person again. Even during this time of COVID, people have come to Christ and have been baptized. Ministries to children are growing.” (Josh and Shannon Herndon)
• Give praise to God that visitation to many in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the birth of numerous house churches that are beginning to reach new communities with the Good News of Jesus. 
• “The upcoming district assembly will see five Romanians ordained, a significant milestone since there are currently no ordained Romanians serving on the district.” (Jonathan Phillips)
• Missionaries serving in Romania “give thanks to God that there is renewed motivation and inspiration for the work.” (Casey Bloom)

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the ministry to survivors of human trafficking that is being carried out through the Church of the Nazarene in Bucharest.
• Pray for the work being done in the renovation of local churches, and construction work in Sighisoara.
• Pray for the young mothers in Tigmandru and their children, and that children’s ministries may continue to grow and thrive on the district.
• Pray for the Herndon family as they begin to make preparations for a transition from Romania to Italy, and all that will involve for their children.
• Pray for the continued work of education through EuNC in the preparation of ministers for the Romanian churches.
• Pray that God will continue to increase the unity among the churches, pastors, and congregations, as they seek to carry out their ministries, that new believers will develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, and that there will be a spiritual curiosity about God in communities.
• Pray that the church may be a transformative presence throughout the country.

EuNC On Mission

The story of European Nazarene College (EuNC) is like ripples on the water when a change transforms the still waters to waves that move ever outward. The changes that have occurred in EuNC have created a significant ripple-effect, circles of holy influence, carrying the best of EuNC to the furthest points of its educational region. As you will discover, what began as one school for many nations has become one school in many nations.

EuNC on Mission by Klaus Arnold is one of this year's Nazarene Missions International reading books. It includes stories of students in the Romania Learning Centre.  

Click here to download the free e-book. 

2020 EuNC Romania Learning Centre Graduation

All participants in the graduation ceremony

Three graduates of European Nazarene College’s Romania Learning Centre were awarded the Qualification in Spiritual Formation on Saturday, November 28, 2020. 

Since this year's Romania District Assembly had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions, a special ceremony -- held on Zoom and streamed live on Facebook -- was planned to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates. 

The online format of the ceremony allowed participation and viewing from many different places around the world. Participants joined from 5 locations in Romania and from 2 countries in other parts of Central Europe. Viewers from at least 3 continents watched the live Facebook stream, which is available for viewing on the Learning Centre's Facebook page. 

EuNC Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán delivered the commencement address and conferred the degrees from Hungary. 

The 3 graduates with the rector and LC coordinator

This year's graduates of the Spiritual Formation programme are Roxana Cini, who serves as the leader of the children’s program in the Țigmandru Church of the Nazarene; Relu Cristurean, who serves as the pastor of the Sighișoara Church of the Nazarene; and Oana Cristurean, who serves as the administrator for the Romania Learning Centre. The former two are nearing completion of the Diploma in Christian Ministry to fulfill ordination requirements in the Church of the Nazarene. 

The Spiritual Formation programme corresponds to the first year of studies in a Vocational Bachelor's degree, whereas the Christian Ministry programme corresponds to the first two years of studies in a Vocational Bachelor's degree.

--Jonathan Phillips, Romania LC Coordinator

EuNC Graduation in Romania

Two graduates received the Qualification in Spiritual Formation at the Romania District Assembly on November 23, 2019. Magda Cini serves as the pastor of the Tigmandru Church of the Nazarene. Her son, Nelutu Cini, serves as the church’s youth leader and assists in pastoral responsibilities. Both are currently pursuing the Diploma in Christian Ministry to fulfill ordination requirements in the Church of the Nazarene. Jonathan Phillips, Romania LC Coordinator, and Teanna Sunberg, representing the Central Europe Field, led the ceremony. 

Not only was this the first graduation ceremony in the Romania LC since 2011, but it was also the first of a series of graduations planned for the next 4 years, as several students are nearing the completion of the Spiritual Formation and Christian Ministry programmes.

Published in EuNC's "In Touch" Newsletter, March 2020

Video: The Church of the Nazarene in Romania

Video by Casey Bloom for the Central Europe Field Conference, September 2018

A Momentous Year for EuNC-Romania

In just a few days, a new academic year will begin for European Nazarene College (EuNC). As this new year begins, let's look back over the past 12 months, to see all the amazing things that God has allowed us to do in EuNC's Romania Learning Centre (LC) since this time last year.

New Personnel

In the summer of 2016, the Learning Centre was left without a coordinator when Michael and Tamara Hudson left Romania. Following a year of transition, Cezi Glendenning stepped in to serve as Romania LC coordinator last autumn. Cezi, an EuNC graduate, serves as Nazarene missionary in Hungary, with her husband and their two sons. 

In addition to his previous roles as teacher and LC librarian, Jonathan Phillips now serves as on-site LC administrator and assistant for visiting teachers. 

Dr. Roberta Bustin continues to serve as teacher and mentor.

In August 2017, the Herndon family moved to Romania. Joshua Herndon previously served as the Spain LC coordinator and teacher for EuNC. Although Josh's primary role will be in district leadership, he will be teaching theological education courses as well. In fact, in just a few weeks, he will be teaching "Vocation and Personal Ministry."

Dr. Pavel Chirițescu, a Romanian pastor/educator in the Brethren Church with degrees from Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, England, has agreed to teach courses for the Romania LC. He taught courses for EuNC in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He will be teaching courses in Church History this autumn and winter.

Other Developments
1. Accreditation. EuNC courses offered in the Romania LC are now accredited by the European Council for Theological Education. In the past, EuNC courses offered in Romania were recognized only towards ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, but now the academic credits earned can be transferred to other educational institutions where students can continue their studies.

2. Collaboration with the Central Europe Field Board of Ministry. In the fall of 2017, the Phase 1 Districts and Pioneer Areas of the Church of the Nazarene on the Central Europe Field came together to form a single united Board of Ministry to help in the area of ministerial preparation. One of the early topics of discussion was what we can do to prepare men and women who have a call to ministry, but who lack the educational requirements to take university-level courses at EuNC. After a series of meetings, the Board of Ministry is now working closely with EuNC to adapt coursework for those students so they can be prepared for ministry. Although these courses will not be offered for academic credit and the students will not earn a degree from EuNC, they will fulfill the educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.

3. Library Development. This year we have added nearly 200 books to the Romania LC libraries, bringing our total to just over 1,100. Last fall, students participated in an orientation to the library, which included how to use the online database and how to find books using the Dewey Decimal System. 

4. Learning Centre Administration. Over the past year, we have completed several important administrative tasks for the Romania LC including the translation and printing of the current Academic Catalogue, beginning to update the Learning Centre webpage (www.eunc.edu/romania), translating admission and student orientation documents, and clarifying various LC policies. But perhaps the most significant accomplishment is that we have reexamined all students' academic records and compared them to EuNC graduation requirements and Nazarene ordination requirements. This has allowed us to create a calendar of courses to be offered over the next 4 years. If all goes according to plan, we will start to see students graduate with the "Certificate in Spiritual Formation" next year and with the "Diploma in Christian Ministry" in 2021. Finally, we anticipate that 6 Romanians will have completed the educational requirements for ordinations by the fall of 2021!

New Students

We have 2 new students that have begun taking courses this year. One of these students is taking courses for academic credit. The other is enrolled in the new track recognized by the Board of Ministry for ordination.

In total, 13 students have taken or audited courses this year at the Romania Learning Centre.

Courses
The direct impact of all of these developments for the students is that during this academic year, we were able to offer 5 courses and 2 practicums. This is the highest number of courses offered within a single year in Romania since the 1999-2000 academic year!

The courses we offered this year:

Church Leadership - Fall 2017 - taught by Jon Scott
Practicum I - Fall 2017 - supervised by Jonathan Phillips & Roberta Bustin
Introduction to the Old Testament - Winter 2018 - taught by Jonathan Phillips
Faith Development in the Local Congregation - Winter 2018 - taught by Roberta Bustin
Christian Doctrines 2 - Spring 2018 - taught by Olga Druzhinina
Practicum II - Summer 2018 - supervised by Jonathan Phillips & Roberta Bustin
Intercultural Missions - Summer 2018 - taught by Teanna Sunberg

What's Next?
As we begin the new academic year, we ask your your prayers.

• Please pray that the momentum from this past academic year will continue in the 2018-19 academic year. We have a full schedule of courses lined up for this next year, which will include "Vocation and Personal Ministry," "Church History I & II," "Language and Written Expression," and "Foundations for Biblical Studies." We will also be offering the Romania LC's first fully-online course: EuNC Orientation (for new students), as well as mentoring, practicum, and internship credits.
• Pray for our current students, who must balance their studies with local church ministry, jobs, and families.
• Pray for our future students, both for those who will come from other Wesleyan-holiness churches to study at EuNC to be equipped for ministry in their respective churches, and also for those Romanian men and women who have not yet responded to God's call to ministry.

Theological Education Meetings & New Learning Centre Personnel

Selections from European Nazarene College's December 2017 In-Touch Newsletter

Theological Education Meetings of Central Europe Field in Macedonia

Leaders from Central Europe (Albania-Kosova, Bulgaria, Romania, and Scandinavia), together with the Regional Education Coordinator (Stéphane Tibi) and leaders from European Nazarene College (Klaus Arnold, Fernando Almeida, and Raquel Pereira) met from 7 November until 9 November in the wonderful city of Ohrid, Macedonia, to discuss the future of theological education in ministerial preparation on that field. Besides the important discussions we also worked on syllabus templates to find out how the accredited and validated programmes of EuNC can be adapted to the different cultures and learning styles of the countries in Central Europe. It was felt that it is important to have both an accredited programme (so that students can continue their education after graduation) and a curriculum that is flexible and adaptable to the different situations faced by the churches in the various districts. Not everything was finalised but a good foundation has been laid and the next years will be times of experimenting and adjusting to help people fulfil their call to the ministry and support the churches as they participate in the mission of God to make Christlike disciples in the nations.

New Personnel in Learning Centres

We are very thankful for new co-workers in some of our learning centres:

Central Europe Field: Due to personnel changes, we have new leaders in four of the six learning centres in Central Europe. Cezarina Glendenning is the new LC coordinator for all of those four LCs: Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Scandinavia. She and her husband Martin and their two sons are missionaries in that field.

In Romania we are thankful that Jonathan Phillips is the new LC administrator. He has served in that country and at the learning centre as missionary for many years and brings a lot of experience into this position.

May God bless each one of these new leaders – and make them a blessing to many!

Retired Teachers Offer Three Months of Service

Originally published in Veritas View newsletter, Spring 2016

Ron and Jacque Maurer came to Sighisoara for the first time in May, 2015. They wanted to observe Veritas programs to see if it would be possible for Trevecca University (Nashville, TN) students to study in a crosscutural setting as part of the Romanian Studies Program. Ron was teaching social work at Trevecca at the time, and has since retired. So instead of sending students, Ron and Jacque felt God’s call to come to Sighisoara themselves for a three-month term – from March to May, 2016.

Ron and Jacque’s experiences in education and living and working in other countries made them a perfect fit for the needs of Veritas at this time. They served in Japan as missionaries with the Church of God, Anderson, Ind. for almost 10 years and also worked on short-term missions assignments in Trinidad and Tobago and in Kisumu, Kenya. 

Jacque brought her 40 years of teaching experience to the kids’ clubs at Veritas. She provided teacher training, taught lessons, and interacted with the children. With new leaders in the Kids’ Club program whose social work experience was with individual children, rather than educational activities for children in groups, Jacque’s insights and expertise were very welcome. 

Ron’s experiences as a social worker, teacher and a pastor were put to good use in Sighisoara. He assisted with the Veritas Disabilities’ Club and taught a class called Pastoral Care and Counseling, which met for five weeks for four hours each week. Veritas staff were able to participate in this class as part of their continuing education. About half of the 26 students were enrolled in coursework through EuNC (European Nazarene College) and took the course to fulfill requirements toward being licensed by the Nazarene Church. Several other local students work for another social work agency in Sighisoara. Being able to combine theological training with practical counseling techniques benefitted all groups of students. 

During their time in Sighisoara Ron and Jacque enjoyed “being a small part of a great community outreach serving an underserved population in Romania”. Of course they also enjoyed visiting some of the ancient castles and fortified churches in Romania, making friends and building relationships with people from Veritas and the local churches, and participating in Monday night dinners with missionaries and volunteers from different countries. 

Ron and Jacque say, “We would definitely encourage other retirees to come and experience Sighisoara, Romania! Bring your work and life experiences and see what God can do with them. The blessings are many!”

EuNC: Courses taught and books bought in Romania

By Jonathan Phillips

European Nazarene College "In Touch" Newsletter, April 2016

Students in Sighisoara interact with
students in Bucharest
via video-conferencing
in the Christian worship course.
(March 2016)

2016 has gotten off to a good start for the Romania Learning Centre. In February and March, students took the course on Christian Worship. The course was team-taught by Jonathan Phillips, Roberta Bustin, Michael Hudson (learning centre coordinator), and Tamara Hudson; all of whom serve as missionaries in Romania. The five students in Sighişoara and the four students in Bucharest connected via videoconferencing for each of the four class sessions.

First session of the "Pastoral Care &
 Counseling" course (April 2016) 

Students are now taking the course “Pastoral Care and Counseling”, which began early in April. It is being taught by Dr. Ron Mauer, Trevecca Nazarene University professor emeritus. Ron and his wife, Jacque, are spending three months this spring as volunteers in Sighişoara.

In addition to these courses, significant progress is being made regarding the library setup. Since Bucharest and Sighişoara are five hours apart, we are developing libraries in both of these teaching locations. At present, approximately half of the books are in English, having been donated by former and current missionaries. The rest are Romanian books, many of which have recently been purchased with EuNC funds designated for library development.

Cataloging books in Sighisoara
(April 2016)

Cataloged books in Bucharest
(March 2016)

Due to the generosity of a Christian bookstore manager, we have received a 15-20% discount on all the books we ordered last year! When the shipment of books arrived in the fall, the students couldn’t wait for the books to be catalogued before they started asking to borrow them. We hope that in the next few weeks we will be able to upload our complete records to the online catalogue.

EuNC: One School, Many Nations

Since the school opened in 1965, European Nazarene College has been preparing and educating leaders in the Church of the Nazarene. For many years, students came to the campus from all over Europe to take classes in English. In recent years, however, the model has been changed; students now remain in their home countries where they can take classes in their native languages while remaining involved in work and ministry.

There are over a dozen Romanian students currently taking classes through EuNC's Romania Learning Center.

The following video was recently produced by EuNC to illustrate how it is one school in many nations.

Third Romanian woman ordained

Pictured: Magda Cini, Paula Creely, Roberta Bustin

It’s not every day that a Romanian is ordained, so when a Romanian was ordained at the Philadelphia District Assembly on April 22, it was a time of celebration.

Paula (Cini) Creely grew up in Sighisoara, Romania, where she started attending the Church of the Nazarene as a teenager and became very active in the life of the church. After graduating high school, she attended European Nazarene College in Büsingen, Germany. She then moved to the United States and continued her studies for ordination.

Paula is married to Gary Creely.  Together they pastor the Macungie, Pennsylvania, Church of the Nazarene.  When they arrived in Macungie, there were no children in the church. Paula has been active in developing a thriving children’s ministry and in helping the church to double in size in three years. Paula and Gary have a five year old son named Everett.

Two people influential in Paula’s life were able to travel from Romania to attend the ordination service. Paula’s mother, Magda Cini, who pastors the Tigmandru, Romania, Church of the Nazarene, and Roberta Bustin, Mission Corps missionary who served as pastor of the Sighisoara Church of the Nazarene while Paula was growing up there.

Roberta has known Paula for almost 16 years and when asked to describe her feelings about the ordination she said, “I was very excited … I was also thinking about how proud I was of her that she persevered to finish her course of study even when it was not easy (studying in a language which was not her first language, studying after she had a family and church responsibilities, etc.)”

There are 3 ordained Romanians in the Church of the Nazarene – notably all women: Magdalena Balaban in Romania, Simona Berdowski in Poland, and Paula Creely.

“Paula’s passion is to be doing ministry,” Bustin said, “She is a natural leader [and] I see her continuing in ministry, thinking of new ways to do things, developing new ministries and being faithful to God’s call.”

Reprinted in Eurasia Snapshots

Mentoring Course in Romania

Michael Hudson, Romania Learning Centre Coordinator, reports some of the latest developments. In March, EuNC students in Romania began Part 2 of the Mentoring component of the Nazarene course of study for ministry. Sixteen students from three different locations participated in the course, three from Țigmandru, seven from Sighișoara, and six from Bucharest. The course is being taught and facilitated by Tamara Hudson, Superintendent of the Romania District and Local Faculty Member of the Romania Learning Centre.

At the beginning of each segment of the six-part course, which is integrated throughout the students’ years of study, students gather for a seminar that introduces the emphasis of that particular part of the course. Part 2, for example, focuses on the students gaining practice and experience in exercising the tools of theological reflection in ministry. Then throughout the semester, students complete other growth exercises such as journaling and written reflection, and they also meet in both small groups and individually with their local mentor (Tamara or Michael Hudson in Bucharest, Roberta Bustin or Jonathan Phillips in Țigmandru and Sighișoara).


Each segment of the course only requires that students invest about 13 hours of time, but the benefits derived from these few hours spent in community with fellow students, in conversation with their mentor, and in communion with the Lord through prayer and reflection are essential to the development and formation of this great group of Romanian ministerial students.

The “gathering” of the students for the seminars happens in a creative format. The teacher travels to one of the sites to personally meet with the students there (alternating sites for each segment of the course), while the other students participate in the class through live video conference. The advantages of this approach are that more students are able to participate in the course and that the teacher’s efforts are maximised. However, there is still some work to do to get the technological components updated so that students in the video conference location feel more “present” with the teacher and the other students.


European Nazarene College, "In Touch" Newsletter, April 2013

EuNC - Central Europe Field

In the early 1990's, the world saw the church enter multiple new countries in the heart of Europe and in the CIS within a short period of years. Today, Central Europe is beginning to reap the harvest of the seeds that were planted here more than a decade ago. Beginning in 2009, men and women called to ministry and committed to remain in their home country throughout the course of their study have begun to celebrate the fruition of their years of theological preparation. Graduations and ordinations are starting to be a consistent part of district assemblies across the field.

In October, Elke Kaci was ordained. She is the second EuNC graduate and elder for the Albanian-Kosova District. Elke is the mother of two and deeply involved in ministry as the pastor of the Lushnje church. At the Albania-Kosova assembly, her husband Ilir Kaci, who is a physical education teacher, received the CM certificate for his years of study.

In Romania, Cristi Boseff, pastor of the Bucharest Blessings church and district licensed minister, Dan Cristea, were honored for their continuing commitment to theological preparation. The Romania district celebrated with them as Antonie Holleman recognized the years and the progress both of these men have invested in their studies.

In Hungary, the Wesleyan partnership has coordinated efforts to be a well organized and effective Learning Center that serves a wide range of students from several sister denominations. The Hungary Learning Center is a convincing example of the academic levels that can be reached in theological education and pastoral preparation with a commitment to excellence.

Tim Green from Trevecca Nazarene
University teaches in Romania

The Bulgaria district has several students close to completion of their course of study. The 2011 assembly celebrated the graduation of three Bulgarian students and the 2012 assembly anticipates more graduation celebration.

While students from the earliest cohorts progress toward completion, three districts are watching a new influx of Nazarene students. The Albania-Kosova district has 18 very motivated learners who have completed a record 6 classes in the 2011/12 academic year. Romanian Nazarenes are excited to see God calling many youth to ministry - youth who are now answering their calls both by taking classes and by becoming actively involved in leadership. In Bulgaria and in Romania, church growth and development in Romani communities is creating opportunities to provide contextualized theological education as Roma men and women deepen their faith foundations. It is probable that in those earliest years, the seed planters had hopes for what God would faithfully do. They could not have definitively known how He would accomplish the spread of His gospel nor could they have written a more beautiful story. Over these two decades, men and women have sacrificed time, energy, and resources in order to immerse themselves in study and preparation for ministry. Most often, they did this in conjunction with the faithful fulfillment of their roles as parents, spouses, professionals, and ministers. Their dedication is inspiring. Their celebration is earned. Most importantly, their testimony speaks clearly of a faithful Gardener who provides the resources necessary for a kingdom harvest. Today, the Central Europe field is praising the Lord of the harvest for His goodness even as we labour to plant more seeds in anticipation for the future.

Cezarina Cufaj, EuNC alumni 2011 and administrator of the Albania learning centre writes: “Coming back to Albania after 10 years and working on education was easy and amazingly challenging for me. The quality education I received at EuNC changed my life and equipped me for ministry. I want the same for the people of Albania. When I came to Albania I found a fertile ground for education and this made my work fruitful. My role was to be a facilitator because the students of Albania are hungry for knowledge and very committed to their studies. Their sacrifices for education have motivated my sleepless nights to prepare classes for them. So far, this journey has been transformational for the students and for me. God is doing great things in Albania, and I feel so privileged to be a part of it!”


This article was originally published in European Nazarene College's "In Touch" newsletter, April 2012 edition.

District Assembly Highlights

The annual Romania District Assembly was held Saturday, November 19, 2011, in at the Țigmandru Church of the Nazarene. If you think a district assembly is just about listening to reports and voting for church officers, then you really should have attended this district assembly. Yes, we had our share of official business, but the entire assembly was a celebration of what God has done this past year and what He is leading us to do as a district in the coming year. It was indeed a very special day for all involved.

One of the most important changes at district assembly was installing Rev. Tamara Hudson, Nazarene missionary serving Romania, as the new district superintendent. Jay Sunberg, who serves as field strategy coordinator of the Central Europe field has also been filling the role of Romania district superintendent for the past 3 years. Tamara, her husband Michael, and their 3 daughters live in Bucharest. (Photo: Jay Sunberg, left, prays for Tamara, center, and Michael, right)

Another highlight of the assembly was that Antonie Holleman, dean of European Nazarene College, presented Cristi Boseff and Dan Cristea (pictured right), both district licensed ministers in Romania, with the Certificate of Spiritual Formation. This marks that these two men have reached the final level of their studies in theological education in preparation for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.

Before the assembly began, Antonie met with all EuNC students in Romania to explain changes taking place at EuNC – most notably the absence of campus students in Buesingen (read more here). With all EuNC learning now happening in learning centers throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union, the administration can take more time to develop consistent quality education for students in these learning centers.

One very special moment during the assembly was a surprise tribute to Dorothy Tarrant, complete with a special slide show and a cake. Tarrant has served full-time in Romania since 1994 as a Nazarene tentmaker missionary, teaching semester-abroad American students in the Romanian Studies Program and as the founding director of Veritas, the NCM partner organization in Sighisoara. Tarrant, ENC professor emerita, plans in the near future to take the next step of her retirement by returning to Scotland to be close to family.


As we enter a new church year, please pray with us for the development of the Church of the Nazarene in Romania: following:

• For the local churches in Bucharest, Sighisoara, and Tigmandru.
• For planting new churches in the near future.
• For development of discipleship ministries and lay training
• For ongoing development of theological education through EuNC in Romania
• For Veritas, the NCM center in Sighisoara.

EuNC “Comes Home” to Sighișoara

Years ago, if you were a Romanian who felt a call to minister in the Church of the Nazarene, you had to pack your bags and move to Buesingen, Germany, for 4 years, to study at European Nazarene College. Later, it was possible to begin studies in Romania, and move to EuNC later in the course of study. In recent years, EuNC has been working to decentralize its education into a series of learning centres throughout Europe, including Romania. Now, ministry students can receive all the training required for ordination right here in Romania.

Last week, Professor Tim Green from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, visited the Romania Learning Center to teach the course on Introduction to the New Testament. This is an intensive class – coursework began several weeks ago with reading assignments. During the 8 days of the course, students met daily for 3 ½ hours each evening.

This intensive class is just one of many models of learning used by EuNC in its learning centres. Other models include online classes, hybrids which combine online and in-class learning, weekly classes over the course of the semester, and courses with video lectures supplemented by in-class discussion and learning. These models provide inexpensive quality education for ministerial students right here "at home," without having to leave their place of ministry.

You can read more about EuNC "Coming Home" by clicking here.