Opportunity to Serve: Central Europe Field NYI Leader

Qualifications:

• Adequate experience in youth ministry
• Passionate about youth ministry
• BA level or higher of Theological Education, preferably in youth ministry
• Familiar with the NYI structures of the Church of the Nazarene
• District Licensed or Ordained preferable

Requirements:

• Age: 23-39 Years Old
• Family status: single or married. Since the job requires consistent travel, preferably without children. Gender is irrelevant.
• Strong Communication Skills: A youth leader should be able to effectively communicate with young people, parents, colleagues, and community members.
• Empathy and Understanding: Understanding the needs, challenges, and aspirations of young people is crucial for effective youth leadership.
• Leadership Experience: Prior experience in leadership roles, whether in church, school clubs, community organizations, or other settings, can provide valuable skills and insights.
• Passion for Youth Development: A genuine passion for supporting the growth and development of young people is essential for motivating and inspiring them.
• Problem-Solving Abilities: Youth leaders often encounter complex challenges that require creative and strategic problem-solving skills.
• Cultural Competence and Diversity Awareness: Being culturally competent and aware of diversity issues enables youth leaders to create inclusive and welcoming environments for all young people.
• Ability to Foster Positive Relationships: Building trusting relationships with young people, their families, and other leaders is critical for effective youth leadership.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Youth leaders must be flexible and adaptable in responding to changing circumstances and needs within their communities.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning: Continuing to learn and grow as a leader is important for staying relevant and effective in supporting young people.

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.

Romania NYI Leaders Meet

By Teanna Sunberg

Romania NYI leaders met this past weekend in Sinaia, Romania to make plans for the future. There is a concerted effort all across the field to focus on reaching young people with the awesome message that Christ loves them and wants them to be a transformational part of what is happening in the world.

Pastor Relu Cristurean came home from Field Conference in September and said, "Well, we have to do something to reach youth in our community." He created a team and they have seen the youth group grow to 15 young people consistently showing up for weekly games and Bible study. Suddenly, the church is filling with young people.

The retreat at Sinaia was organized by Alexandra, who is the Romania district NYI leader. Eurasia Regional NYI director, Diego Lopez, was a part of the weekend. Carol Skinner, volunteer at the field office and part of the NYI Field Focus team was able to be at the weekend as well.

Go Romania NYI!!

Video: The Church of the Nazarene in Romania

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

Training Sparks New Youth Group in Romania

During a youth leader training weekend, a young Romanian woman recognizes God’s call to start a youth group in her church.

Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, England, has helped Eurasia Region NYI develop training for youth leaders by allowing Rev Louise Kenyon to design and tailor a training tool called Nexūs. Nexūs is an intensive course over a minimum of two-weekends in which people are invited to prepare themselves better for youth leadership. 

Our most recent Nexūs was held in Manchester. Alexandra Marinescu, from the Bucharest Blessing Church of the Nazarene in Romania took part. She says that this training opened her eyes to God’s calling to youth ministry, while also providing her with the tools to answer His call. The following is her story.

A call to youth ministry
By Alexandra Marinescu

Nexūs was a wonderful and unique experience. It was the main reason why I understood the importance of the youth group, so, after the course; I started a youth group in Romania.

Not only Nexūs helped me make this decision, but it taught me to appreciate and give more importance to young people. I have learned that they also have problems and they face difficult situations, despite being young. I have learned that they need someone to be there for them to encourage them, to tell them: Don’t worry. Jesus is in control of your situation!

We live in a tumultuous and hurried world and I know that today’s youngsters are running for the values of this world and not the values of God. That is why they need guidance. I was not convinced, however, that I, a still growing Christian, may be a youth leader and can lead these children to God.

But God spoke to me first through a youth leader at Nexūs. Then, when I was on my way back to Romania, God spoke to my heart in such an overwhelming way that my only reaction was to cry for two hours continuously and to write down what God was telling me.

After experiencing God’s presence, and in light of the course I attended, suddenly my life made sense. I do not mean to say I suddenly became the best youth leader, but my life made sense in that I discovered myself.

Questions such as: How can God put someone like me at the head of the youth group? Am I worthy to serve this important ministry? How does God speak to us? How can I make a spiritual awakening and stay awake?

The Lord spoke to me, and oooh…how my heart was listening to His answers! There would be a lot to write about my confession, but in short, God told me that by His will He is preparing me to serve.

So, I have returned to Romania, full of the Holy Spirit like I have never been before, and I proposed to my church to have a special room for our young people. I found some donations and bought everything they needed. I wanted young people to feel like they’re coming to their second home, so we decorated the room until it felt like a comfortable living room. The young people liked it! They said they feel comfortable and happy.

We started the youth group for a month. I asked God to send 40 young people to the youth group. I now have seven; 33 more to go! I trust the 33 are on their way. I love those kids who come to youth meetings. I don’t know how, but I also love the other 33 I haven’t met yet! I look forward to see them on Friday evenings, to eat together and discuss social issues and how God sees them.

God was the one who really put my desire in my heart.

republished from Where Worlds Meet, May 2018


Pray for the new youth group in Romania, that God blesses and increases it.

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!

'Global Classroom' links Arkansas and Romanian high school students

Dr. Roberta Bustin

Republished from Engage Magazine
By Richard Gammill

A brainstorming session between two Nazarene friends resulted in a ground-breaking, globe-spanning experiment. It united two groups of students from Batesville, Arkansas, and Sighisoara, Romania, to solve community needs. The project has provided an opening for a Nazarene Romanian pastor to mentor youth in the Sighisoara high school.

The story unfolded when Dr. Roberta Bustin asked her friend, “What can we do to reach out to the youth in my city? After almost 20 years of ministry, we still have not found the answer.”

Roberta is a volunteer with Nazarene Mission Corps., the mission-sending arm of the denomination that matches willing volunteer missionaries with ministry opportunities around the world. Before going to Romania in 1997, Roberta taught chemistry at Lyon College in Batesville. For nearly 20 years, she has had a “boatload” of mission assignments: teaching, preaching, church planting, and more.

Her friend, Jeanne Roepcke, is a teacher at Batesville High School.

“I have an idea,” Jeanne told Roberta. “It is something that has never been done before, but I think we can make it work.”

Jeanne is the facilitator for the EAST program in her high school. EAST is the acronym for “Environmental and Spatial Technology.” It began in 1996 and has expanded to nearly 250 schools across Arkansas and four other U.S. states. A unique model in modern education, it is a project-based, service-learning program. The classes use high-end technology obtained from the most progressive fields in the world. Jeanne is leading seven of these classes in her high school.

“EAST is designed to enable my students to tackle a new problem, take a team approach and come up with their own solutions,” Jeanne said. “We will take the program to Sighisoara and see what develops.”

Jeanne’s school and the Batesville community enthusiastically adopted her proposal. The first step was to establish and equip a laboratory for the high school in Sighisoara. A $5,000 grant preceded financial and material donations from the business community. People donated thousands of dollars worth of supplies, including three laptop computers, a 3-D printer, and a projector.

Back in Sighisoara, Roberta advertised the venture as an opportunity for students to further their knowledge and use of English. School authorities approved the concept and 10 students signed up. The facilitator would be Relu Cristurean, local Nazarene pastor.

Visiting Sighisoara in September 2015

In September 2015, Jeanne went to Sighisoara with two Batesville students and two technicians to open the laboratory. In the first year, instructors focused on teaching the students to use the software, develop three-dimensional animation, use Adobe Photoshop software, create three-dimensioned objects, and more. Ten Romanian students come to the Nazarene church at least twice weekly and meet with the Arkansas students by way of Skype, working around the eight-time-zone separation.

"This may not sound so different from some American classrooms, said Amanda, a Batesville student. “Yet, it highlights the way in which EAST can meet educational needs anywhere and prove transformative, regardless of borders or cultures.”

Her classmate Emma added, "Our Romanian classmates are very smart kids, really nice kids, too, and you can tell they really want to learn."

Pastor Relu is there to work with them.

“Participating in the EAST program is something new for me,” he said. “I get to build relationships with these 10 students. This is a good experience. The students are very bright and eager to learn. We talk about many things and I tell them about Romanian history and geography. I also have opportunity to talk about what it means to be a Christian. One student asked me for a Bible.”

Students in Sighisoara

The Romanian population is more than 70 percent Eastern Orthodox and, thus, virtually everyone identifies culturally as Christian. Pastor Relu says, “I tell them having religion won’t help you. You must have a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

A couple of last year’s students have graduated. One of them wants to return and help Pastor Relu teach the new term. Through the classroom partnership that Roberta and Jeanne established, this young pastor with three children has found a way to build relationships with the youth of his community.

This year the EAST program will expand to the nearby Romanian village of Tigmandru, a poor village that provides its children with limited education. As the EAST students wrestled with the extreme needs in the village, they focused on a single priority. Food becomes scarce during the bitterly cold winters, shutting down even the indoor greenhouses. Weeks of discussions between Batesville and Sighisoara students led to an innovative project.

Students in Batesville Arkansas Skype with Romanians

The Batesville students designed small, three-level hydroponics growing units to be installed in private homes, using available materials such as soda bottles. With the 3-D printer, they designed nozzles, valves and other components. The classes in both Sighisoara and Tigmandru plan to employ the same technology in the coming academic year.

The Batesville community has gathered and shipped the materials needed for the in-home “farms,” including vegetable seeds, pumps, tubing, zip ties. The Romanian communities are gathering soda bottles and other available materials.

This is the first international project done by an EAST class. It is providing more recognition in the two Romanian communities for the Church of the Nazarene. And the residents appreciate Pastor Relu for his significant involvement in working with the students who are learning teamwork and technology as they meet community needs.

Teens take over for a day at Bucharest Blessings

Bucharest, Romania – While most adults from the leadership team of the Bucharest Blessings church took a weekend away to concentrate on building healthy marriages, the Sunday service did not miss a beat. In fact, it took on a decidedly teen rhythm.

The teens of the church, many of whom share leadership roles in worship, children’s Sunday school and the youth group, took responsibility for the entire service. When the adults returned home, they were greeted with encouraging news: “It’s good you guys weren’t here today. Church was so full, there wouldn’t have been anywhere for you to sit!”

First-time visitors to a Blessings service quickly notice the teens play a vital role in what happens in the life of the church. Not only do they carry visible responsibilities, they are also the energy source for outreach. This group is dedicated to bringing their friends into a real experience with God’s kingdom on earth.

They have also been very intentional in finding ways to cross borders and interact with the Nazarene youth in Razgrad, Bulgaria. Monica Boseff leads the youth group. Her husband, Cristi, pastors the church and their two teenage children, Cris and Lisa, are a part of the committed core youth group.

Click here to read more about the Marriage Retreat.

By Teanna Sunberg and Monica Boseff
Where Worlds Meet, Year 7, Issue 3, May 2010

Bulgarian, Romanian Youth Pull All-Nighter

Bucharest, Romania—Piled into one vehicle, 10 young people from the Razgrad, Bulgaria, church ventured across the border to join eight youth at a Bucharest, Romania, church for an all-night event in –––.

“This was the first time the two districts had done anything like this and everyone agreed that it was a great first start,” said Teanna Sunberg, missionary to Bulgaria, who joined the event with her four daughters and Mission Corps worker Cassie Lara.

Thanks to the hosting efforts of Monica and Cristi Boseff in Bucharest and the efforts of Pastor Nikolaj Kolev from Razgrad, most of the young people were able to stay up all night, then take a walking tour of Bucharest in the morning.

Though the two countries are neighbors, Bulgaria and Romania, like most of the countries on the Southeastern Europe Field, have nothing in common linguistically. It’s a significant challenge for the field, whose nine major languages are so diverse that multi-district events are generally conducted in English, like this one was. Still, the youth had plenty to talk about.

With the Orthodox Church dominating faith in both countries, and having joined the European Union at the same time, the two post-communist nations face many of the same social and economic challenges.

They also discussed ways to share Christ’s love with their friends and neighbors who do not yet know Him.

“One of the Romanian youth who has just recently received Christ said, ‘They
aren’t bad people, they just don’t know about Jesus yet,’” said Sunberg. “On that Sunday morning, her parents came to church for the third Sunday in a row.”

The district continues to look for new ways to support and encourage one another, so in April, the Razgrad church took a van of adults and youth to Sighisoara, Romania, to visit and worship together with Roberta Bustin, Dorothy Tarrant, and Magda Cini, who are co-workers helping lead the ministries in Sighisoara and the nearby village of Tigmandru.

“Again, they are finding ways to cross the language barriers that naturally present challenges,” said Sunberg.

Source: Where Worlds Meet – Year 6, Issue 5 - June 2009

District Youth Camp

Raul Sadului, Romania––Romania held its third district summer camp for youth 23-28 July, focused on becoming “Disciples Following Jesus.” Thirty-eight young people, a combination of lifetime churchgoers and new believers, built relationships and some participated in group prayer for the first time. “Before the camp we prayed a lot for the event and I feel that God gave us more; at the end of the camp, three young people gave their life to Jesus,” said District NYI President Clara Halmagian. “Looking at the future Nazarene generation of Romanians, I pray that they will stay close to the Lord and be a blessing for their local churches.”

Source: SEE Sketches, Vol. 4, Issue 4, Dec. 2007