Friday, July 5, 2024

Fedi's Romanian Update

 2024 May and June First, we thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and your sponsorship of the prison ministry in Romania. Berean Prison Ministry is a mission with a good reputation in the country. Thank you for your delegation that encouraged us in the ministry as we had Kenneth Helmuth, Fedi Davidovics, Zimmerman J. David. We also thank the Davidovics family for donating 6700 dollars for the volunteers.

We had the honor to welcome the Mciuc Prison leadership and Mrs. Ioana Morar to the annual meeting for volunteers. Later, we met with Mr. Dan Halchin, general director in Bucharest at the National Administration.
We visited 17 prisons, including 6 units where we still do not have a weekly bible study traveling 6200 kilometers (3850 miles). At these meetings, Fedi Davidovics presented the Gospel not only to the inmates but also to the management of the units. We visited 6 churches where Fedi Davidovics presented his testimony and our mission (Tiagani Church in MCiuc, Gheorgheni Baptist Church, 
Bucharest-Glina Baptist Church, Prejmer Baptist Church, Botosani New Things Independent Church and Babadag Baptist Church).
Another remarkable thing to note is our presence on Christian television and radio serving Romania's evangelical community. Credo TV is watched by satellite even the Romanian diaspora in Europe, half a million people.
 
In detail. It started with the meeting of the volunteers in the city of MCiuc. The volunteers confessed how God works in the lives of the inmates. We also listened to the testimony of a former prisoner who successfully reintegrated and turned to faith in Jesus, invited by Costin Dumitru. Another guest we had a pastor who intends to start a weekly program in Rahova Prison. He wanted to know our ministry and now he wants to serve the Lord among the inmates. Mrs. Ioana Morar encouraged us with the statement that the Bible has changed more lives than all the psychologists combined and the work of evangelization has an essential role in the effort of social reintegration in the Romanian prison education.
The next day, Sunday, we visited the Gypsy Church in MCiuc, where we received the biblical message of your delegation. Unfortunately, we also had an unpleasant incident, a church member had a heart attack, for which the program was interrupted for half an hour. Many prayed and he recovered in the hospital, and now he is fine. After this, we went to the Gheorgheni Baptist Church where we participated in the divine service, including Fedi Davidovics’ evangelization. After that, we were invited to the local pastor for dinner. On Monday we visited Mciuc Prison. The management of the institution is very proud that 20 years ago Berean Prison Ministry for Romania started and expanded from here. On their Facebook page and in the local newspaper, they made public their satisfaction that they have an uninterrupted collaboration with this reputable organization. The ministry started by Fedi Davidovics was continued by Kovendi Levente and Circota Ioan. Currently, the volunteer team here consists of five people.
On Tuesday we visited the National Administration in Bucharest. We had a very good reception. Mr. General Director Dan Halchin thanked us for the faithfulness with which we serve in penitentiaries. Our collaboration is fruitful. Brother Viorel Sintoiu was also present on behalf of the volunteers. He will work as a leader with the volunteers from the southern part of the country. The Romanian Parliament was also visited. 

The next day in Rahova Prison, Mr. director Geo-Bogdan BURCU welcomed us with love. We visited the unit that serves the capital, it is a model unit of the country. We also met with a group of detainees. We also met a life convict who told us about his life. Here we were also invited to a lunch where Mr. General Director Dan Halchin and Mrs. Ioana Morar were also present. Everything happened in a friendly atmosphere. After the meal, the delegation visited the Bucharest-Glina Baptist Church where Brother Nae Marian is the pastor. This pastor wants to become a volunteer for PRahova.
In Gaesti Prison, our organization also received a diploma. I had a good reception. Here our volunteer is Costin Dumitru who works faithfully. He invited us to his home. He works on a charity mission. The association he leads is known in the southern part of the country. This night we said goodbye to brothers Ken and Zimmerman.
On Friday we visited Giurgiu Prison. Meeting with the director and her staff. Program with prisoners. Invitation for the weekly program. Viorel knows a pastor who can put us in contact with potential volunteers. We pray for this.
On Sunday, Brother Dragu Angel welcomed us to his church in Prejmer. He works with correspondence. It was a blessed meeting.
On Monday in PCodlea we had another surprise to receive another diploma. Here Viorel Sintoiu is the local volunteer. Fedi held evangelism with a positive impact.
In TgMures Prison, in addition to Fedi’s evangelization, we met with an old friend of the mission, Mrs. Cristina Andreica. This was the second penitentiary in the country after MCiuc. Our volunteers Doczy and Andras Attila have been in service for 17 years.
The next day I visited Bistrita Prison where I had a very good reception from the management. The inmates listened very carefully Fedi's life story, with which they could identify a lot. The local volunteers offered us a meal. Brother Dantus was full of joy to welcome us with love in his funny style.
The next day we traveled with Andras Attila to Gherla Prison, where we held evangelization for women. Attila's songs were received with many emotions.
After that, Fedi visited the widow of the former director of MCiuc. It was a meeting full of emotions, but also an opportunity to share the consolation of the Lord Jesus.
Then we went to Satu Mare Prison together with the local volunteer Ivaniczki, and in addition to the meeting with the management, we also met with a group of inmates where Fedi shared his testimony and called the participants to repentance.
After a long journey, we arrived in Moldova, the city of Botosani. Our local volunteer invited us to his church. The next day I also visited the penitentiary. I had a good reception.
The inmates were very attentive, they expect to meet regularly with our volunteers.
Hutu Ioan is a barber, he welcomed Fedi to his workshop.
He also helped us to repair our car at a good friend of his.
We were well received in Iasi Prison. They showed us two workshops where inmates work, after which we met with inmates who don't have much time until they are bound. The hall was filled with people who wanted to listen to Fedi. I served here for two years before the pandemic. The volunteer who  continued the mission here recently gave up and we don't have anyone to study the Bible for now. We pray that the Lord will bring a new man. Pray for this. It was a joy to see the educator from that time in the position of deputy director. Pray for this.
In Bacau Prison we also signed the guest of honor book, and they took a picture to commemorate our meeting. Here we were invited to a mini-concert by talented young people in music. We don't have a volunteer here either.
We were well received in PFocsani as well. Evangelization among prisoners. Pray that we don't have volunteers here either.
In Vastui Prison meeting and festive lunch with the management.
Evangelization among prisoners. Please pray because we don't have volunteers here either.
Last week we visited three prisons (Poarta Alba, Braila, Slobozia) where our volunteer Baboi Marian holds weekly Bible studies.
The management is very satisfied with his work. They praised him for his faithfulness.
Fedi held evangelism in each prison.
My wife also participated in these visits.
We interrupted these visits and went to the other end of the country in Timisoara to make the recordings for television and radio.