From Arad to Cluj

So we left Timisoara excited to see what else God was going to do on tour. We had just begun and already we were closer as a team. So we piled up in the cars and made our way to our next stop: Arad.

Arad was very different then Timisoara. For one, Timisoara is a big city with big malls, McDonalds, Movie theaters, etc. and Arad was smaller and less westernized. Where as in Timisoara so much of our ministry was involved in the churches we worked in, Arad was special because of the orphanage we stayed in.

I had the pleasure of speaking with one staff member's wife, and found out some very interesting things about the laws concerning orphanages.  Years ago, the Romanian government did away with all of the orphanages and set up a new system for orphans. Instead of having one building with one hundred children, now every "house" can only have 12 children with a minimum of five paid staff workers around the clock. As you can imagine this does make things harder to keep an orphanage running, however, it does make the ministry more personal.

While we were there, we focused on serving this ministry. We loved on their kids and dug a garden for them. What we dug up was about the size of the average American's back yard. We had even cleaned out the grass and raked the dirt. It wasn't easy work but felt very rewarding. However, one of the things that I'll remember the most from this stop was a boy I had met. He was a graduate of the house and I felt the need to talk to him.

Now I don't believe in throwing peoples dirty laundry out for everyone to see, nor am I fond of exploiting people for ministry, so I'm only going to tell this one part of our conversation. As I was talking to him, he told me that God was a pain in his butt (for the sake of certain Christian circles I'm editing how he said this). So I asked him what he meant and why this was so. He looked at me and said, "I don't know, he's just a pain in my butt."

I waited, listened, and then felt the nudge in my heart to reply, "You know, there was a time when God was a pain in everyone's butt. You see, he had decided to come down to save us, and this aggravated everybody. The ironic thing about this, is that when he was the biggest pain in people's butts, he was showing us the most love." He stopped and didn't exactly know how to answer. The thing was, he knew the truth but refused to except it. Truth is truth, whether we feel like it is or not.

He then eventually through out, "Well, all of you guys keep coming by and praying for me like you all can save me, like there's something so special about you..." and then he later said, "Yesterday I cried out to God and told him to give me a sign. Something that shows he still wants me."

I then replied, "Do you think that maybe he has been hearing you prayers, and has been sending people your way to show you he still wants you?" He had no reply. Now, I would like to say that at this point we began to pray, he rededicated his heart to God, and he left with a "Happily Ever After". However, it doesn't. He left knowing the truth...however, whether he accepts it or not is up to him now.

This question then pops in my head, "How often do we ask God for stuff and miss Him?" We pray for joy but miss the opportunity to exerciser it; provision and then refuse it. We ask for more love and then deny others from it. How often is God so obvious and we blatantly refuse to see it and then blame it on blindness?

The next day we ministered in a park. We loved on kids and had the opportunity to do our whole production outside A club. A lot of young people were affected by our production and the ministry after was powerful. The next day we left to Oradea.

Oradea was another great stop. We got to minister in a village church where ten people got saved and a youth service where we made new friends and got to pour into more lives. When we were finished there, we then traveled to Cluj.

The place that really had my heart from this stop was from a church just outside of Cluj, Casa Tamplarului. It was a beautiful body of believers. They all had great hearts and a young spirit. They welcomed us in and even asked for an encore for our stomp. Their youth students opened up to our MCR students, and our guys got to pour into their lives. As the night got late and the youth began to leave the church, I overheard one of the youth say to one of our students, Marius, "You're awesome." I could tell that because of Marius' humility this caught him by surprise. You could tell that these youth and our students really felt connected to each other and that our students really made a difference in their lives.

With each stop we left, we left a good taste in people's mouth. God had moved powerfully and we are very greatful for that. We had ministered to around 600 people on our tour, and 44 gave their hearts to Christ! Many are also very interested in MCR. We even had a few married couples who said they were interested in doing a first year... at least, that's what they checked off on the connect card.

So tour ends and Easter break begins for MCR. This break will be well needed for our students. They have been so dedicated to the ministry and everything they put their hands to. This break will also be well need for us staff...we'll finally be able to relax for the first time in four months.     

Ceremony and Tour

In this past week, two big things have happened in MCR! These two events mark the year for our students and are full of memories. The first of these events is the ring ceremony!

In a Master's year, there is a moment when a first year student receives his or her ring. Now, getting a ring means something different for everyone. For me, my ring represents discipleship, anointing, and masculinity. This is mostly because one person who had a huge impact in my life traded my original ring which was too small, for the one that was too big for him. My ring has stood as a constant reminder to me of my calling.

In general, the ring represents the authority of the Father, that is transferred to the repented son, in the prodigal son parable. It represents that we didn't do something to merit the insignia of the Father, but that He gave us his seal of approval when we came to him with absolutely nothing. It represents forgiveness, unity, and identity. Every student in a Master's program looks forward to the day when he/she will get their ring...because it symbolizes everything they are experiencing.

One of our first year girls, Esthera, asked me in Italy, when they were going to get their rings. My reply to her was, "You know how the Bible talks about the virgins waiting for their groom to come. They never know when he'll come but when he does it just makes sense. It's the same thing with getting your ring. And when you receive it, it will mean something special to you. On Friday, our students got their rings!

The students were told that MCR was going to have a nice dinner at a restaurant, the last night before tour, and to dress nice. At the restaurant, Tuscany, we had a private room reserved for Master's Commission. The students entered in, still with no idea of what was going to happen. As soon as they all arrived Pastor Florin introduced the story of the prodigal son and explained the rings. Next to every first year was a second year, staff member, or director. It was then that the first years extended their left hands and had their rings placed on their fingers. No first year ever forgets who put their ring on their finger. The first year, whom I had the honor of giving their ring to, was Marius Polozache.

It was a powerful moment for all of us! Moments like these are what build the family atmosphere of MCR. Moments like these are what boosts our students visions, and inspire them to dream for more. It's that hurrah that challenges the students to keep going and to seek after God like never before. It's that moment of humility, knowing that we didn't do anything to merit the Father's approval, but received it nonetheless.

The next day we left for tour...

Prep for tour was interesting. We had had a whole new drama written for tour, but just days before we left, felt like it wasn't what we wanted. So in three days we had all the student learn the Communist drama we had done last year. Many of you might remember me talking about this drama last year.

The drama is about the rise and fall of communism and the martyrs of that time. Then the point is made that even though Communism may be dead, the spirit of Communism is still at work, trying to keep people from stepping out free, and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Where there was once physical persecution, now there is a social persecution. However, God is now calling the young people to once again shout freedom in the streets and change their world!

The Revolution in Romania had started in Timisoara...and our first stop on tour was Timisoara. Let me say this, God has moved powerfully at the two churches we have had the privilege of ministering in. We had the opportunity to encourage, connect, and pray for many people in the churches. We have also been well received and endorsed by both churches. We have had many young people also openly express interest in our program. Growth of our program means growth of our ministry...it also means that more young people have the opportunity give nine months for one soul purpose: to know God and make Him known.

Keep praying for our team. We still have a quite a few more churches to visit and would like to continue to have the favor we've had so far. We want to be used by God to bring about change to this wonderful country.

God Bless, and Ciao from Timisoara!