Pray for Romania

Week of Aug. 4-10,2014

Romania is so blessed, the blood of the martyrs has called out to God and He has sent grace. A new generation is coming of age that did not experience the hardships of communism and its attacks on Christians.

Prayer Points:
1)    First let us ask the Lord to break the influence of that spirit that builds mistrust between generations.

Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of many generations.
Ask your father, and he will show you;
Your elders, and they will tell you:

2)    Oh Jesus, we ask that honor between the generations take preeminence in the churches.  In the Romanian churches we want to see the youth respecting the elders and the older generation guiding the younger.
3)    The Lord longs to raise up a generation of Romanians that will desire Him above all. Let us pray for the chosen ones of this generation.
4)    Let us pray that the Word planted in them will be rooted in their lives. They are to surpass their elders in devotion, power and ministry. May they hear the Lord’s voice clearly.
5)    They are not only to build up Romania spiritually but to go into all the world. Let us pray for many missionaries to be sent out from the Romanian churches and seminaries.
6)    Romanian Christians will need to know how to send their missionaries. Although many will go as tent-makers, there will need to be financial support from home plus spiritual oversight. Let us pray for the elders of the churches to take proper steps in sending out these missionaries.

Acts 13: 1) Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  2) As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  3) Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

7)    In Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers…they ministered to the Lord and fasted…and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Let us pray that the prophets and teachers in Romania will seek the Lord, commission, and properly send those that are called.




Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Romania

Week of Oct. 21-27, 2013

Romania has received a lot of attention since the fall of its former dictator Ceausescu. The fallen leader left the country in a devastating state; most of us remember its Orphanages overflowing with neglected children. Romania became the focus of many ministries and as a result, it is the most evangelized among the Balkan countries today.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, has collected more than 100 million shoebox gifts since 1993 [giving them to needy children around the world]. Through simple gifts and a message of hope, children learn they are loved and not forgotten

Livia grew up in an orphanage in Romania. She took baths in dirty water, wore the same clothes for weeks at a time, and never celebrated a birthday. When she was younger, she asked for hair clips, but thought no one was listening. When Livia was 12-years-old, she received a shoebox from Operation Christmas Child. It was handed to her by Connie Satterfield, who was in Romania to help distribute the boxes. Livia ran to her as soon as she got off the bus, and never let her go. When Livia was told that the people who sent the boxes prayed for her and loved her, she asked, “How can people from thousands of miles away love me?”

When she opened her box, at the very top was a set of hair clips. She was so excited she put every single one in her hair.  

The battle for the children of Romania continues even today. It is taking a generation to reverse the wreckage left by the dictator. European Initiative (EI), our parent organization has conducted Humanitarian outreaches into Romania for six consecutive years. For our next outreach in January 2014 we are partnering with Buckner Romania, based in Turgu Mures. Our team will minister in the public schools, to the foster children, and to the mothers. We will bring the message of the Cross in word and in deed. We will bless the poor with warm coats, boots and shoes.

Let us pray:

1)    Lord, we ask for Your direction in the planning of this outreach to Romania. Show Zuzanna and me (the organizers) your heart and plan for this specific outreach. Give us fresh insight to your purposes for Turgu Mures.

2)    We pray for the team, that just the right people will hear Your calling them to go on this trip. Lord even now, prepare these, clear their calendars, and provide their funding.

3)    Let us pray that the needed funds will come in for the Humanitarian aspect of this outreach. We will be purchasing shoes, boots and coats in Romania this year.

4)    Pray for the Buckner team in Romania, that they would be blessed even as they prepare.

Another recent story describes the harsh reality of an orphan’s fate, approaching adulthood; he was released from an orphanage without any preparation, a place to go or any life skills.

Laurentiu Ierusalim grew up in an orphanage after he was abandoned in a hospital at birth. Now 26, he says he was told he’d be discharged only the day before he had to leave.

“I spent the entire first day standing in front of the orphanage,” he says. “I didn’t know what to do, so I slept in a playground across the street.”

Ierusalim stayed homeless. Bundled in a warm sweatshirt, his dark eyes cast downward, he describes spending three years moving from city to city, knocking on doors to ask for work, food and shelter.

Read his full story  

5)      About 2,000 Romanian orphans are released each year to the streets because they have come of age. They do not know how to cope with the real world. Let us pray that angels would guide them to safety, and to Christians that will show them love.

6)      Let us pray that the Romanian churches would become heart-broken for these homeless children. James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”

7)      The state provides little, by way of formalized life-training programs or ongoing support for the estimated 70,000 children who fall under the care of the Department of Child Protection, let alone the tens of thousands more believed to live on the streets. Let us pray that the state would open their doors for the churches to work with these children.

8)      My the Body of Christ at large awaken and not pull back but increase its involvement with the volatile  state of the Orphan children and youth of Romania.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Romania

Week of July 29 - Aug. 4, 2013

1 Corinthians 4:7-8 (NKJV)
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

While seeking the Lord in regards to Romania, I felt lead to 1 Cor. 4:7-8 as the guide for how to pray. Every time I would try and meditate on these scriptures I seemed to be more confused than enlightened. Then finally this morning the Lord showed me how to pray. What I heard was that correction needs to come to the Romanian churches. Now I am not an elder in a Romanian church and I am not a prophet sent from God. Correction is a part of the Christian life; the Apostle Paul expounds upon this in Hebrews 12 concerning all sons needing correction. I didn’t feel this was to be a focus on the individual Christians but the churches as a whole.

1)    Just as Paul was giving instruction, even a mild rebuke, to the Corinthian Church so we pray for the Romanian churches to be instructed and corrected. As Christians we should all have a teachable attitude concerning our walk with the Lord.
2)    Now the Corinthian Church was not being truthful with Paul. They acted as though they had not received revelation when they had. The fact was that they had not responded to the revelation given them. Let us pray that Romanian churches would approach the Lord with sincerity and possess a willingness to learn. May the church leaders be open to change.
3)    I heard an evangelist this past weekend say, “Revelation is an invitation” (Peter Louis). Let us pray that the Romanian churches would walk in the revelation they have and embrace new revelation so there may be greater blessings for Romania.
4)    The Evangelical churches in Romania are blessed much like the Corinthian Church was blessed. The Corinthian Church was known for its generosity which is always a sign of maturity. Romania is over 5% evangelical. Much more than any of the countries around it. Lord, we thank You for this consistent witness.
5)    Let us pray for a move of God in Romania that will take the Church to higher level of intimacy, power and favor.

Please pray for an upcoming outreach to Romania that is in the planning. For the past five years European Initiative has sent a team to Romania to minister in Gypsy villages and has had amazing success. This next outreach will be similar in many ways but we will turn more toward orphans.

1.    Pray for the breath of the Holy Spirit over the planning and details of the upcoming outreach in January 2014.
2.    Pray for open doors to receive the right donations of shoes, boots, etc that will be a blessing for the poor of Transylvania. 
3.    Pray for the right team members to emerge, who are called to be on this outreach.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Romania

Week of April 8-14, 2013

While doing research on Romania I kept coming across reports of good things happening in the country.
Such as:

⦁    Romania’s credit rating should be improved because the country has narrowed its ⦁    budget deficit and is economically stable, Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said.

Credit-default swaps, which measure the cost of insuring Romanian debt against non-payment for five years, traded at 241 points today after reaching 190 points on Jan. 28, which was the lowest in about five years.

⦁    After the economic crisis and negative growth rates in 2009 and 2010, Romania has managed to return to a steady and sustainable path of economic growth and the medium-term prospects are encouraging.

But growth in Romania cannot be achieved without its most valuable asset, the labor force, and therefore we certainly do not want our people leaving the country.

Migration from Romania may have seemed a solution during a time of economic crisis, budgetary cuts and austerity measures.

⦁    Average unemployment in Romania is 6.8% while the overall EU average is 10.9%.

⦁    It is reported that the net average wages in Romania has risen 5.5%.

There was one article in my research about recent appointments by the prime minister that indicated he is not serious about corruption in the government.

Let us Pray:
1.    Lord, we want to first give You credit for the good things that are happening in Romania. Lord, You have directed us in the past to pray the economy.
2.    Let us pray into the economy, asking for righteous decisions on how money should be invested and how surplus should be spent.
3.    Among the Balkan countries Romania has the highest percentage of evangelical Christians. Most of the countries have about a half of one percent where Romania has over 4%. Lord, now we know why You are blessing Romania. Let us pray for that percentage to grow (exponentially).
4.    Righteous decisions need righteous people making them. Let us pray for the elevation of Christians in the financial affairs of government and businesses, large and small.

While we were in Romania in January on the outreach to the Roma (Gypsy) community, there was times we had to interact with businesses there. I noticed a real coldness; no smile, no kind word in the business atmosphere. I don’t remember hearing “thank you (mulțumesc) for your business”.

5.    Let us pray against this coldness and indifference in the people. Part of this was left by self-centered communism. Let us pray for that 4% to be baptized in Joy and to take it into all the Romanian institutions.
6.    Let us pray that the Christians would let Hope arise in their lives. Lord, send them out into the Romanian culture to bring a smile to people’s faces. May the Christians be known as the happy people.
7.    Lord, continue to show the Romanian churches how to share the Gospel. We are trapped in our sorrows until we acknowledge our sin and accept His redemption.

Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

8.    Let us pray that the Christians in Romania would truly be prosperous. May they strive for excellence, showing forth a testimony of the blessings the Lord has for His people.
9.    Let us continue to pray against corruption throughout the Balkan countries.

Pray for Romania

This time last month my wife and I were in Romania. I prayed, that every where my feet stepped, the enemy’s head would be bruised and righteousness would spring up.


I decree: Many in Romania are going to start walking in righteousness before the Lord. This is the year of the beginning of triumph in Romania.

1. Let us pray into this decree. Lord, show your people the joy of following you in purity. Lord, let this be the year they get victory over sins that have ensnared them.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. Freedom! Lord, bring freedom to your saints in Romania. Every man, woman and child that proclaims the name of Jesus is a saint and they need to start enjoying their freedom; the freedom given to honored sons and daughters.

3. Lord, we pray that the Christians in Romania will stand strong in confidence. Doubts will dissolve as they dare to believe the Word of God.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

4. In Apata, Romania, where I was at last month, there is a church that is reaching out through the mountains of Transylvania with the good news. (Read the report http://freebalkans.blogspot.com/2012/01/romanian-outreach-2012-if-you-are.html) Let us pray for the saints that are walking upon the mountains, going to the villages and sharing the news that Jesus saves.

5. Let us pray for financial help so the good news can go even further. May every dedicated Christian worker have their cupboards full. Lord, bless them as they give.
Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

6. It is cold, cold, cold in Europe. It has been below freezing for weeks now. Almost all of the northern Balkans has snow up to two feet. Lord, remember the poor. May they have heat in their homes. Lord, we just simply ask for fuel.

In February of last year (2011) our prayer focus was on the following report.

Romania has worst living conditions in EU - Romanian Times

Romania is among the EU countries with the worst living conditions, as 43 per cent of its population live in dwellings with no indoor flushing toilet, according to Eurostat data made public today (2/23/2011). Read More at: http://www.romaniantimes.at/news/General_News/2011-02-23/13277/_Romania_has_worst_living_conditions_in_EU

Now this is really hard for me to believe (43%) but I did see it reported at another source.

1) Let us rise up and speak the name of Jesus over poverty in Romania. Lord, You said the poor would always be with us. Also, You said to give to the poor, so we pray for their needs at this time.

2) We pray that the Lord of the Harvest would bring in a material harvest for the poor of Romania.

3) Let us pray that extra attention be given to the infrastructure of pipes, sewage and drainage, even in the hard to reach villages.

4) Let us pray Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.


Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Romanian Outreach, 2012














If you are following this series “Praying for the Balkans, Project”, you will find we are off track. We should be praying for Macedonia this week. The Romanian outreach I just came back from was intense, so seeking God and researching Macedonia will be scheduled for next week. Let me tell you about Romania and add some prayers at the end.


Thank you for your prayers. The outreach to Roma (gypsy) villages in Romania was a success. We were able to touch the lives of many. We targeted a village named Ormenis.

Here is a capsule of what we did.

The team of eleven people met at the airport in Bucharest on the afternoon of Thursday Jan. 12th. (Team: 7 from Texas and 4 from Berlin, Germany) We then proceeded to a Wallmart-type superstore where we begin to pick out coats, scarves, blankets, gloves and hats. We had twelve (12) overflowing shopping carts of items. After checking out we boxed them, loaded the vans and drove for about 3 to 4 hours upto Apata. We arrived at our hotel just around 10:30pm admitting we were very tired.

Friday morning we meet at our host church, City on a Hill (All this time I have been stating the church name wrong, it is City on a Hill not Church on a Hill). We had a time of meeting the team from the host church. Before we started sorting the clothing, we had a time of worship. My wife, Zuzanna (Susie), directed the sorting and re-boxing. (Her experience in retail clothing was so helpful) Also we sorted the boots and shoes that had been previously bought.

Friday afternoon we went to Ormenis, divided into teams and begin house to house evangelism in a poor part of the village. These people welcome you into their homes with no questions asked. (This type of evangelism would be really hard in America) It is amazing how humble and hospitable these people are. The team I led visited five homes. Our team prayed with ten people to receive Jesus. One of the homes that really touched me was where a middle aged couple lived. They could not afford electricity in their small home. Their son, daughter, son-in-law and their small child were present. The family was real sorrowful because their son/brother had just been sentenced to three years in prison. The mother was emotionally overcome by grief so we prayed with her and her imprisoned son. We then presented Jesus and ask if they would like to receive Him into their hearts. The mother and her daughter accepted Jesus. The sad part was that the men would not accept the Lord. To see someone reject the Lord like that was emotional to me.

Saturday we went back to Ormenis to distribute the items we brought. This was a massive operation where we again went house to house in the same area we had evangelized the day before. It was amazing to see the emotional response as these needy people received new coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, hats and shoes. Oh, yes, we also had some stuffed animals that my job had donated. With it snowing and the temperatures being below freezing, these items resulted in warmth for body and soul.

Sunday we ministered in the host church in Apata. In Romania, this is a large church for a village. Actually people are also bussed in and come on the train from other villages for the Sunday morning service. It was about a 3 to 4 hour service. The worship was great and our key speaker and team mate, Gary Billups gave an encouraging word.

The team flew out from Romania on Monday morning. We may never fully know how much Romanian lives were changed but we do know how our lives were changed. Although I was on the team that went last year, this year I think I received a deeper understanding of the spiritual and physical needs of the country.

For Prayer:

• Pray for the church, City on a Hill, as they now take on the task of doing following-up.

• Pray for this village of Ormenis. Pray that the seeds sewed will not be stolen by the enemy.

• Pray for European Initiative, who organized the outreach. May the staff be blessed as they continue to fulfill their vision to evangelize Europe. Lord, open the doors.

• Pray for those that gave to make this outreach possible.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Romania

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Romania’s central bank unexpectedly cut its main interest rate as slowing inflation gave policy makers room to spark an economic recovery amid the euro-area’s sovereign-debt crisis.


In Romania the middle class is very small. In countries where the middle class is not strong, the economy is not strong. Romania has been blessed with foreign investments since communism fell but now it is time to build up the middle class.

First of all corruption and unreasonable government regulations can rob the middle class of progress.

1) Let us pray for reason to prevail in the government so small enterprise can flourish. May the Lord position men and women of good moral character into government offices.

2) Microsoft has been setting up technical framework in Romania to encourage networking and internet startup businesses. Let us pray for a technical boom that will bring prosperity and modernization.

3) Let us pray for the positioning of Christians in these technical fields; Christian led social sites, networking companies, broadcasting, etc.

Throughout all Europe, Romania is the most Evangelical Christian nation. Even during the communist days the Romanians defied the government’s atheistic dictates and tried to keep their churches open. The government came down hard and now a healthy appreciation of the spiritual is celebrated. There is still a long way to go before Romanian institutions reach acceptable moral ground.

4) Lord, thank You for Your special spiritual blessing upon Romania. May the seeds that have been sown bring forth abundant fruit. Let us pray that the churches would be respected by the government, nationally and locally.

5) Lord, we know the way You work; what the enemy tries to destroy, You restore to a better state. We pray for restoration of Romania to a country of blessing not curse.

Here is an example of restoration.

Report from Church on a Hill in Apata, Romania.

Praise God 2 young people from our [Church], Vasile and Laura decided to marry on Saturday, 22nd October 2011. It has been a reason for great joy. We all could see their relationship start developing and now touched [reached] its goal.

Their marriage is a testimony in a very special way of how Jesus’ disciples love each other. Both of them grew up in [the village of] Augustin, Romania but in 2 different Gypsy clans: Laura is Lacatar and Vasile is from Hora. The Lacatars and those from Hora never mix up together and a common marriage usually is unimaginable unless God doesn’t change the hearts and minds.

Personal Note: Last year when I was in Romania, I did some house to house ministry with Vasile and Laura and I know them to have a great love for the Kingdom.

6) Lord, I thank You for this couple and their dedication to the Gospel. May they prosper in all they do. Let their marriage be an example to many.

7) Lord, we pray You would not just add to the churches daily but multiply daily. We so look for Your Kingdom to be established in Romania.

Acts 2:47b “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

 - - - - - - - - - - -
Personal Note: I don’t know if you remember the outreach I went on in January of this year to Romania, but another one is being planned for January of next year. Overall, last year we seen 87 Romanians and Gypsies get saved. This year I would like for my wife to go. Zuzanna is an able minister in her own right and speaks the language. So if you would like to be a part of it by donating, please do.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

 

Pray for Romania

Maramures is a county in the northern most part of Romania. In my research I came across this area but could not find much information on it. That just makes me want to pray for the area even more. I could find no reference of an evangelical church there.

In 2002, Maramures County had a population of 510,110 and a population density of 81 inhabitants per square kilometre (210 /sq mi).
• Romanians - 82% (or 441,288)
• Hungarians - 9.1% (or 46,300)
• Ukrainians - 6.7% (or 34,027)
• Roma - 1.7% (or 8,913)
• Germans - 0.4% (or 2,012), and others.
Looking back: In 1910, 18.4% of the county were Jewish.

Maramureș is known for its pastoral and agricultural traditions, largely unscathed by the industrialization campaign that had been carried on during Romania's communist period. Plowing, planting, harvesting, and hay making are mostly done through manual labor. The county is also home to a strong mining industry.

1) Lord, we look to You for guidance as how to pray for the people of Maramures County. You know their needs; Lord, share Your heart for them with us.
2) No place is too remote or too traditional that the people can’t be touched by God’s love for them. Our God is faithful and He has already built into their culture a way that leads to His redemptive plan for them.
3) May the Lord anoint the pastors and teachers that He knows will be faithful to the people there.

Let us think about seed time and Harvest. The ground is first plowed. The sewer then goes forth and sews. The seeds are watered and nurtured. Then the plant breaks out of the ground and starts to grow quickly. The full plant develops and the fruit starts to appear.

4) Let us pray for the ground that the Holy Spirit and the intercessors have plowed in Romania. Let us also pray for the ground that is waiting for the plow.
5) Lord, all the villages in Romania that need an evangelical witness. Let us pray to the ‘Lord of the Harvest’ that He will send out the sewer with good seed.
6) Let not these witnesses give up in waiting for the seed to take root, but rather let them go forth watering, praying, making sure the ground is kept ready.
7) Let us pray for the seed to germinate. Let many people get saved in Romania. The Holy Spirit working in hearts to convict and the enemy being bound so the people can make full decisions.
8) Then the pastors, farmers need to protect and fertilize the young tender souls. Let the roots go deep into the Word and let them grow and grow.
9) Once the plant has matured the fruit appears.
10) Lord, we ask for Your eyes to be upon Romania and guide the Seed time and Harvest.
11) Let us pray for Intercessors that plow in the spirit, Evangelist that sew, Pastors and Teachers that water and nourish the harvest of Romania. Lord, may there be unity and singleness of purpose.

Pray for Romania

-------------------
I was so looking forward to praying for Romania. If you have been keeping up with me you know that last month I was in Romania ministering in some villages. (You can read the full account and look at the pictures at www.freebalkans.com/Extra1.html)

The following report will also give light to a direction of prayer for us.

Romania has worst living conditions in EU - Romanian Times
Romania is among the EU countries with the worst living conditions, as 43 per cent of its population live in dwellings with no indoor flushing toilet, according to Eurostat data made public today (2/23/2011). Read More at: http://www.romaniantimes.at/news/General_News/2011-02-23/13277/_Romania_has_worst_living_conditions_in_EU

Now this is really hard for me to believe (43%) but I did see it reported at another source.

1) Let us rise up and speak the name of Jesus over poverty in Romania. Lord, You said the poor would always be with us. Also, You said to give to the poor, so we pray for their needs at this time.

2) We pray that the Lord of the Harvest would bring in a material harvest for the poor of Romania.

3) Let us pray that extra attention be given to the infrastructure of pipes, sewage and drainage, even in the hard to reach villages.

4) Let us pray Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
During the communist days the economy was devastated and modernization was put on hold.

5) I want us to pray for the village of Apata in central Romania and “Church on a Hill”. This is the church that organized the ministry to the gypsies in the villages in that area. The pastor is Eduard Rurolf and the youth leader is Gyuszi Simon. Please lift these people up to the Lord for protection and blessing.

6) Also pray for European Initiative out of Berlin, Germany that raised the money for the coats, blankets, shoes, etc that were given to the village families. There was a count of 87 people that were saved. More information on EI at www.einews.org.

7) Let us pray for the Gypsies in Romania. They are so open to the Gospel.
a. Let us pray that Christians will open their hearts to the Gypsies and go take the Gospel to them.
b. The enemy is waking up to the fact that many Gypsies are getting saved, so let us pray that the seeds planted will be watered and nurtured. We ask You, Lord, to put a hedge of protection around them
c. There are many needs in the villages; many adults can’t read, alcoholism, and yes, indoor plumbing is rare. The Gospel will give hope, inspire creativity, open doors of opportunity and enlighten paths to prosperity. Pray that the Gypsies would follow Jesus into a better life.

8) Also let the Lord lead you in prayer for the government, prayer against corruption, prayer that evil men and women be exposed, and not only meet justice but learn of grace and mercy their Creator offers.

Please leave a comment or reaction so we will know you prayed.

Pray for Romania

I think we can best pray for Romania this week by following this Declaration from the Alliance of Romania’s Families. To read the complete Timisoara Delclaration go to, http://www.alianta-familiilor.ro/decl_timisoara.php While there sign the Declaration and bring encouragement to Christian Romanians.

THE TIMISOARA DECLARATION

Drafted by the Alliance of Romania's Families (ARF) on the occasion of its annual conference held at the Areopagus Center in Timisoara on March 20th, 2010 and open to the public for signature.

Based upon the foregoing, the signatories, Christians who adhere to the teachings of the Holy Scripture, the Holy Apostles of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and those who followed them and taught us the path to salvation, leaving aside theological differences, proclaim our common Christian values inspired by the Holy Spirit and strongly affirm the following:

a. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The Christian faith that we proclaim is above all transient social transformations or the spirit of one age or another.

• Let us pray that Romanians would remember their strong Christian heritage and give honor the Jesus Christ, Lord of all.

b. This faith guides our daily lives and daily actions, at all times and in all places. It cannot be hidden. We cannot be Christians only when we are at home or only when we are in church.
• To be a Christian is to be different. Let us pray that Romanians would pattern their lives after Jesus and be like him in their homes, churches and especially in the market place.

c. In accordance with the Holy Scripture, we understand our duty as citizens to give to Caesar, that is, the legitimate leadership of the State, what is Caesar's, and to obey authority and the law, in so far as they do not conflict with our conscience and our Christian values.
• Let us pray that Romanians would honor the government and be examples of law abiding citizens where there is no conflict with scripture.

d. The family based on the marriage between one man and one woman is a fundamental institution of society and is created by God. It is an expression of the natural complementarity between man and woman, of mutual love and respect.
• The fact is God intended for marriage to be a picture of the correct relationship between Jesus and His redeemed bride. Let us pray that marriage will be protected by the laws of Romania.

e. As Christian parents, we have an obligation to our children to raise and educate them to be obedient to God. We are deeply concerned with the public displays of immorality which are allowed and even encouraged in the name of human rights and are tolerated without discernment.
• Let us pray that the families would take their responsibilities to guide their children into righteous and productive behavior. May the politicians of Romania stand up for moral decency.

f. The rights of parents are fundamental, foremost among them the parents' right to carry out the civic, moral and religious education of their children as they see fit.
• May Romania totally break away from the old communist idea that the children belonged to the state. Humanist would love for the educational system of Romania to embrace such a philosophy.

g. Every child has the right to be born and raised in a family comprised of a man and a woman.
• Now here is a switch; communism in Romania actually did not allow abortion – mainly because wanting to preserve Romanian ethnicity. Once they came out of communism abortion was allowed because of unwanted babies. Let us pray first that mothers would want to love and keep their children.

h. The right to life, beginning at the moment of conception and continuing till natural death, is a fundamental right of all human beings.
• Let us pray that the law would be changed to stop the murder of the innocent.

i. Freedom of religion and freedom of conscience are historical and fundamental rights.
• Any government that does not allow the free exercise of religion and freedom of conscience is under strong satanic control. This can even be where a only one religion or worldview is allowed. We pray that no one group or philosophy would be able to control the laws of Romania.

j. Human dignity is intrinsic to every human being, created in the image and likeness of God and takes precedence over any worldly authority.
• Every soul in Romania is precious to the Father. Jesus said we were no longer servants but sons and heirs of all the Father has.

k. In our involvement in political and civic life we support and work with those who adhere to the values in which we believe. Every elected official or representative must represent the individuals who comprise his constituency and assert their values.
• Representative government has been shown to be more just than any other type government. We pray that those representatives would adhere to the Christian beliefs and govern accordingly. Pray these representatives would be moral civil guardians not political opportunist.

In conclusion, we call upon the Romanian State and public officials to respect and take into account, in the drafting and implementing of laws and public policy, the values and social and cultural traditions of the Romanian people, themselves of Christian inspiration, in order to avoid conflicts, both of conscience or policy, between citizens and the authorities which hand down the laws.

NOTE: Timisoara is the city where the revolution broke out in 1989 that toppled communism in Romania. I was privileged four years before that (1985) to be able to spend a day walking the streets praying for the city.

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Pray for Romania

Romania politicians afraid to tax fortune tellers, witches
Digital Journal - 11.09.2010

Politicians in Romania were planning on taxing fortune tellers and witches to raise some much needed revenue, but others in the senate feared being cursed.

Romania's economy has been in such a severe downturn that they had to get a huge loan last year to pay state wages and pensions. The government has been looking into new ways to get more revenue into the coffers. Value-added tax (VAT) went from 19 percent to 24 percent. Public sector wages were decreased by 25 percent.

Gen. 12: 3 "I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Ex. 22: 28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people."
Prov. 26: 2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So a curse without cause shall not alight.

1) Let us pray the scriptures above over the lawmakers of Romania. Especially pray “So a curse without cause shall not alight.”
2) Let us pray for those lawmakers, that the power of superstition and fear be broken. Lord, quicken within their souls the need to repent and be “without cause”.
3) This proposed legislation only proves that fortune-telling and witchcraft is big business in Romania. In Transylvania there is a tourist industry formed around the legend of Count Dracula. Stand strong in your spirit, stand up in the prayer gap and rebuke the prince of darkness in Romania. May a Godly shame come over those that rely on familiar-spirits.
4) Lord, speak to the Christians to repent of any involvement in fortune-telling and witchcraft. May they cleanse their hands so they can stand in prayer against this curse on Romania.
5) Lord, we ask for the souls of those practicing witchcraft. Lord, raise up saints with compassionate hearts to go speak the Gospel truth to them.
6) Let us pray for the economic situation in Romania. May the Lord raise up economic intercessors for Romania. May they stand in prayer over their country, and seek Your favor for the business structures and those involved in economic decisions.

According to January 1, 2009 official estimates, Bucharest proper has a population of 1,944,367. The urban area extends beyond the limits of Bucharest proper and has a population of 2 million people. Bucharest is the 6th largest city in the European Union by population within city limits.

Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and is one of the main industrial centers and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. The city has a broad range of convention facilities, educational facilities, cultural venues, shopping arcades and recreational areas.

7) Let us pray for Bucharest. Lord, we ask that You visit that city in a special way. Lord, we know You have heart for this city. Continue to share Your heart with the intercessors. As they stand on the walls may they see where Your glory is starting to rise.
8) Lord, we pray that prayer would raise up in the city. Draw people together to seek You; whether they are in a factory, office, college, church or home church. Lord, do a new thing in Bucharest; Prepare Your revivalist.
9) Lord, scan the hearts of the Christians and find those that will burn for Bucharest. Show them how to minister to that city. There are Davids, Debras, Josephs & Mary Magdalenes in that city that will become movers and shakers to invade the institutions that God wants to use.

Thanks for your time spent in prayer. The ministry of intercession is often a lonely ministry, but the reassurance God gives is precious. You are partnering with the loving Creator of the universe to make earth a pattern of what is in heaven.

Let me give a ministry report:
First let me thank you for the donations that you have sent. Part of the ministry of FreeBalkans.com is to connect those who have with those who need. We have given $100 to a drug rehab center in Macedonia. We have given $150 toward a young boy in Serbia that needed special medical attention. Now these are small amounts, but we are trying to be faithful with what comes in. If you want to go beyond your prayers and give, then contact us for a list of known needs. Click the Donate Button on the Blog site. Also if you know of ministries in the Balkans that we can communicate with submit their information at djerilo@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading this portion. Be blessed and encouraged in the Lord.

Jerry Low, Editor and Prayer coordinator, FreeBlakans.com
Find more information about Romania at http://http://freebalkans.com/Romania.html

PRAY FOR ROMANIA
Listed June 21, 2010

When the Moldavian prince Stephen the Great won his first decisive victory against the Turks five and a quarter centuries ago, he decided to mark the occasion with a grand monastery and adorn its walls with the colorful work of artisans of the day. With his second victory came another monastery. With the third, yet another. Because of border changes these colorful monasteries are now in Northeast Romania.
– Let us think about this; A king builds houses for prayer, meditation and study of the Word to commemorate his victories. Oh, that we could have leaders like that now days. http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/travel/20cultured.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

1) Lord we pray for the leaders of Romania and ask You to direct their decisions. We look to these officials to maintain a civil atmosphere of peace so the Gospel can be freely preached.
- a. Pray for President, Traian BASESCU
- b. Pray for Prime Minister, Emil BOC
- c. Pray for all members of Parliament
- d. Especially pray for Min. of Culture & Religious Affairs, Kelemen HUNOR
2) Let us pray that government would not try to influence the churches but that the churches would fulfill their duty to raise up righteous leaders.
3) Let us pray for financial blessings for the people of Romania.
- a. May their fields be abundant with produce this summer.
- b. May their factories produce goods the world needs.
- c. May they lend and not borrow.

As we advance in Romanian history let us take an example from “The Lord‘s Army” (Oastea Domnului). In the 1920s there was a preist named Fr. Trifa. God began to move on his heart, and he began to see the need for spiritual awakening and repentance in Romania. He published a series of articles and books on this theme, and in January 1923 the foundations for the Lord’s Army were laid with an article he published in The Light of the Villages. The following years brought forth … remarkable transformation throughout the country: thousands of people, villagers and intellectuals alike, turned aside from worldly lives and turned to prayer and repentance. Taverns were converted into places of prayer, and entire villages were awakened to take their Orthodox faith seriously. In 1929 Fr. Trifa purchased a printing press, and for the next 15 years it turned out tracts, books, and calendars focused on prayer and repentance under the banner of the Lord’s Army. From most reports, during the communist years, although they had to go underground, they stayed true to the faith while other church organizations submitted to government control. http://jaspax.com/archives/2005/03/oastea-domnului-the-lords-army
4) Although the Lord’s Army has stayed within the Orthodox Church they have pointed many to the full-Gospel. Lord revive the Lord’s Army again. Every open door they have for the Gospel’s sake may they run through it.
5) There are many good things happening for the Gospel’s sake in Romania. Lord, we ask that every seed planted would yield a hundred-fold. Mark 4:8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
6) Lord raise up a glorious church in Romania where all expressions of faith can show Jesus’ love.

Back in May of 2009 we had prayed this prayer; “Let us pray about the diasporas of Romanians. This can be called a “brain drain”. Because of a lack of opportunity in Romania people left in search of [a] better future. Let us pray for the Christians that have left Romania. Lord we pray they not forget Romania but be moved to pray and ask You how they can sow seeds back into Romania. Lord we pray for a movement of Christians going back to Romania, pastors, evangelist and business entrepreneurs.” Last Sunday at church a former Romanian pastor, who had immigrated to the states a few years ago, told me his business was failing here and he was going back to Romania. I was so happy because when I first met Constantine years ago I just knew he and his family was to go back. (I wasn’t happy about his business failing)
7) Let us pray for Constantine Hateganu and his family as they return to Romania. May the Lord open doors of opportunity beyond his dreams. As he takes his entrepreneur spirit into his homeland, Lord just make a way for him to prosper and be at peace. Lord, I pray that you will give him the spiritual keys to the city he is going to.

8) Lord we pray for all the Pastors and Priest in Romania. Lord, supply them with their needs and those that “live to give” open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing they can’t contain.
9) The pastors have little theological training. Lord we ask that first of all these pastors be taught by the Holy Spirit and doors of Bible training be opened to them.
10) Let us pray for Apostles to be raised up in Romania. Apostles that will go throughout Romania establishing Churches that rest on sound Christian doctrine.
11) We pray for evangelism outreach to the children in Romania. Lord, work through the Christian summer camps. Lord, release finances for these camps so even more children can participate. Prepare the workers and reward them for giving of their time.
12) Let us remember the Gypsies in Romania and pray the revival among them would continue.