Veritas Celebrates 30 Years of Service to the Community

Veritas Founder Dorothy Tarrant

By Jonathan Phillips

When Professor Dorothy Tarrant moved to Sighișoara, Romania, in the summer of 1995, she did not intend to establish a social service agency. She was concerned about providing her American study-abroad students from Eastern Nazarene College with a cultural immersion experience that included learning the Romanian language and culture while living with Romanian host families.

“More importantly,” Tarrant reflected, “students learned how to put their Christian faith in practice by serving some of the most disadvantaged people in Sighișoara.”

Students began working with abandoned children in the municipal hospital, with poor kids begging on the street, and with the socially-isolated elderly. As Romanians joined the ministry team, Tarrant saw the need to legally establish an organization in order to pay salaries, purchase property, and apply for grants – leading to the creation of the Veritas Sighișoara Foundation in 2001.

On Thursday afternoon, June 18, nearly 200 friends, donors, volunteers, staff members, and beneficiaries of Veritas gathered to celebrate 30 years of dedicated service to the community.

Speaking to the crowd gathered, Veritas board president Mihai Șerengheu explained, “Behind the number 30 are the hundreds of employees, hundreds of volunteers, thousands of volunteer hours, thousands of people and lives that have been changed. It’s more than a number.”

Reunion of past & present Veritas staff members 

Over the years, Veritas has offered a wide range of services to the community – from social services combatting domestic violence, to educational services like English camp for high schoolers, to cultural events such as craft fairs and concerts, to a Gospel choir and café which served as connection points for members of the community.

Executive director Petra Popa reported that Veritas currently offers accredited social services in the areas of children and teenagers, senior adults, persons with special needs, and a soup kitchen. Veritas benefits from partnerships with the Sighișoara city hall, with the Princess Margareta of Romania Foundation, as well as with individual and corporate donors and volunteers. Additionally, Veritas is a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partner organization and a participant in the NCM Child Sponsorship program. Nazarene volunteers and teams have been instrumental in the development of Veritas through the years.

Sighișoara mayor Iulian Sîrbu,
Veritas Executive Director Petra Popa, &
Veritas Board President Mihai Șerengheu

Sighișoara mayor Iulian Sîrbu, present at the celebration, thanked Veritas for “three decades in which you have stood by children, the elderly, families in need, and all those who have needed support at some point. Your work is often unassuming, but it makes a real difference in people’s lives.”

The day’s festivities included tributes from various individuals connected to Veritas, a performance by the Gospel Choir, and a refreshment break for socializing and sharing memories. Interspersed throughout the celebration were artistic moments from each of the current Veritas programs in which children, persons with special needs, and senior adults recited poems and sang songs.

Performance by the Children

Gospel Choir

Senior adults

Reflecting on the past 30 years, Dorothy Tarrant remarked: “For me, it was a great privilege to be used by God to establish an organization that has had such an impact on so many lives.”

For more about Veritas, visit https://veritas.ro/en/ & https://www.facebook.com/VeritasSighisoara/.

Donations can be made at https://give.ncm.org/donate/134477

ENC Professor Emerita Dorothy Tarrant and Romanian Studies Program alumnus (now Romania District Superintendent) Jonathan Phillips, holding the sign that used to hang outside ENC’s Education Center (and first internet café in Sighisoara) in the early days of Veritas.

This article was also published at eurasiaregion.org, Nazarene News & NCM blog. 

NCM Child Development Conference

Andrea Domahidi had the distinct privilege of representing Veritas at the Holistic Child Development Conference, an event that was meticulously organized by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) in Sri Lanka. This conference was held July 15-20 at the picturesque Suriya Resort, located in Waikkal, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

During this experience-packed week, Andrea engaged in a variety of hands-on sessions and interactive activities that provided a deep insight into the many aspects of child development. These sessions not only focused on the developmental needs of children, but also emphasized the important role of Christian ministers in serving their communities and promoting growth in a spiritual context.

The experience was made even more unique by the diverse group of participants. Andrea was among 24 people from 13 countries, different cultures, and perspectives from three continents. This international gathering facilitated meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas, allowing Andrea to expand her understanding of holistic child development within a global framework. Overall, it was a transformative experience that strengthened her commitment to the mission of Veritas and to the well-being of children worldwide.

Originally published in the 2024 Veritas Retrospective & Winter 2025 Veritas View newsletter.

Veritas is a NCM-partner organization, a Nazarene Child Development Center, and a participant in the NCM Child Sponsorship program. For more information, visit www.veritas.ro/en. 

Opportunity to Serve: NCM Coordinator in Romania

Is God calling you to use your gifts in administration to help the local churches develop compassionate ministries in Romania?

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries entered Romania in 1992. The Church of the Nazarene in Romania has grown out of NCM initiatives, and each local church continues to be involved in various compassionate ministries.

The NCM coordinator will serve as a liaison between regional/field NCM leadership and the leaders of NCM partner organizations in Romania, and will help local churches as they develop compassionate ministries in their communities.

This role would be best suited for someone who has a passion for working with vulnerable and marginalized people and has good interpersonal communication and administration skills.

Responsibilities:

• Become familiar with all NCM-related activities in Romania
• Facilitate communication between regional/field NCM leadership and local NCM-related ministries.
• Assist the NCM-partner organizations in Romania to meet NCM requirements.
• Help local churches begin and/or continue compassionate ministries in their communities and resource emerging local NCM leaders
• Become conversant in the Romanian language

Requirements:

• Ability to adapt cross-culturally
• Available to live and minister in Romania for a minimum of 2 years.
• Has experience working with vulnerable and marginalized people, or has a strong desire to learn and serve these people groups.
• Proficient in communication and reporting software such as Word and Excel.
• Engages sensitively with new cultures while exploring new opportunities
• Works well in a team
• Takes initiate and is a self-starter
• Ability to develop and implement efficient systems and processes for project tracking and reporting.
• Commitment to the principles of compassion, justice, and service that underpin NCM’s work.

Click here for more information and to get started in the application process.

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.

Join us in Prayer...

 

Video: Romanian Studies Program

This video was created by Joseph Walls, a film production major from Huntington University (Indiana) who spent his January term 2018 with the Romanian Studies Program. The video focuses on the experiences of his classmate Rebekah Rose, a social work major who spent her time working with children at the Veritas kindergarten and at the Tigmandru Church of the Nazarene's after-school program.

For more information about the Romanian Studies Program, visit RomanianStudiesProgram.org.



RSP - Bekah's Story from Casey Bloom on Vimeo.

Video: The Church of the Nazarene in Romania

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

Video: Veritas Preschool Program

Antonia Bertalan, social worker for the Veritas preschool program, shares about the program and its impact on children.

Veritas is a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) partner organization in Sighișoara, Romania, a recognized NCM Child Development Center, and a participant in the NCM Child Sponsorship program.

Video: Veritas Kids Club

Alina Drăgan, social worker for Veritas Kids' Club, shares about the program and its impact on children.

Veritas is a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) partner organization in Sighișoara, Romania, a recognized NCM Child Development Center, and a participant in the NCM Child Sponsorship program.

NCM Child Sponsorship Begins in Tigmandru Church

On Easter Sunday morning, the Church of the Nazarene in the village of Tigmandru, Romania, was filled with the sound of children singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” This is a song that many of us grew up singing. While we may share this in common with the Tigmandru children, chances are that in many other areas, our childhoods were quite different from theirs.

Childhood in Tigmandru
Many children in Tigmandru are growing up in homes where their parents lack steady employment. In many cases, the parents never finished high school and lack professional training. This means the only way they can provide for their families is to take whatever seasonal agricultural jobs they can find – like spending long hours planting or harvesting crops or collecting walnuts in the forests. Often one or both parents will leave Tigmandru for months at a time to work in Western European countries, saving up money to support their families. This means leaving children at home with extended family members while they are away.

Many children in Tigmandru grow up in families started when their parents, as teenagers, dropped out of school. Because they had children of their own when they were so young, these parents often lack the life skills to raise their children in the healthiest ways. Consequently, many children don’t receive hot healthy meals at home.

It is easy for children and teenagers in Tigmandru to fall behind in school and drop out. Teenagers (and older children) miss school when they go to work with their parents in the fields, thus increasing the family’s income for the day. If parents are illiterate or working abroad, there is often no one to help children with their homework. If a child misses school for an extended period of time, it is nearly impossible to catch up on missed assignments. Children are passed from grade to grade, even if they haven’t acquired the necessary skills, until they reach high school, when many continue to drop out to start families of their own.

Nazarene Ministry in Tigmandru

Since 2002, Nazarenes have been ministering to children in Tigmandru. There are currently about 70 kids who attend the church's children's program on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. There, they hear Bible stories, learn songs, make crafts, play games, and receive a nutritious meal. Additionally, there are about a dozen teenagers who participate in the church’s youth group.

This spring, the Church of the Nazarene in Tigmandru became a partner in the Nazarene Child Sponsorship program.

The expansion of the church’s children’s program into a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Child Development Center fits in with the church’s overall mission to minister to the community of Tigmandru in holistic ways. In addition to the traditional church activities like Sunday worship service, youth group, and children’s ministry, the church has several practical ministries. Women learn to sew in the church’s sewing workshop – helping them support their families with the proceeds. Likewise, men learn carpentry skills in the wood shop and earn an income to support their families. The church has an aquaponics system, a large garden, and several greenhouses where food is grown – some to be sold to support the church, the rest to feed the children. The pastor of the church (a mother of 5) meets regularly with young mothers and teaches them important parenting skills.

The funding received from sponsors will allow the church to expand its ministries to children and youth in new ways – including providing additional hot meals, school supplies, after-school tutoring, and training in practical life skills for preteens and teens (including skills in the gardens, sewing workshop, and wood shop).

How You Can Help

There are still over 20 children from Tigmandru available for sponsorship.

To sponsor a child from Romania:

1. Go to cs.ncm.org
2. Scroll down to “Find a Child to Sponsor.” In “Location,” find “Romania” (which is listed under the Eurasia region). Then click the “Search Now” button. All available Romanian children will then be displayed. (Note: Some children attend the “Tigmandru CDC-Romania program” and others attend the “Veritas CDC-Romania program” in Sighisoara. The child’s description will indicate which program he or she attends.) 
3. Select a child to sponsor and then follow the directions on the website.

If you prefer, you can also call the NCM office at 1-800-310-6362.

Sponsors commit to giving $30/month which will be used to support the church’s ministry to disadvantaged children and youth by providing hot meals, after-school tutoring, Bible lessons, access to school supplies, and much more. An important part of the Nazarene Child Sponsorship program is that you can write to your child, and will receive correspondence from your sponsored child 4 times a year.

Jesus loves me! this I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.

Jesus loves me! this I know, As He loved so long ago.
Taking children on His knee, Saying, "Let them come to Me."

Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven's gates to open wide.
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on the way.
He's prepared a home for me, And someday His face I'll see.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so!

Romanian Children Pray for Nepal

To celebrate International Children’s Day on June 1, a special activity was added to the Kids’ Club program at Veritas – an NCM partner organization in Sighisoara, Romania. The children were shown pictures from Nepal – both before and after the earthquake in April. They learned about how the lives of people in Nepal – including children like themselves – have been affected by the earthquake.

Before the presentation, none of the children had heard about the earthquake, but afterwards, they were all touched by what they had seen and heard. The children then wrote prayers on pieces of paper and tied them to balloons that they released into the air as a way of symbolically showing how their prayers for the children in Nepal are being lifted to God.

Published in Where Worlds Meet, Year 13, Issue 7, July 2015

For more frequent updates, like Veritas Sighisoara on Facebook: www.facebook,com/VeritasSighisoara

Beni's Story

This is the story of a boy who attends Kids' Club at Veritas, the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partner organization in Sighisoara.



For more information about how to sponsor a child through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries , please visit www.ncm.org/cs. To sponsor a child in Romania, type "Romania" as the location. If no children are available at the time of your search, we apologize. We will be adding to this list periodically, as additional children are enrolled in Nazarene Child Sponsorship.

The following video, also filmed in Sighisoara, promotes Nazarene Child Sponsorship:



You can view Beni's story dubbed in Romanian below: