Two RTC teams are currently in Romania! Their efforts over the last two weeks have been crucial in building up the local church and providing intensive training to ministry leaders across Europe.
Remember the Children recently hosted four Romanian couples at the Exponential Global Conference (EGC) in Orlando, Florida.
Exponential Global is the premier conference in the US totally focused on the topic of church planting. Experiences like this are unique for our Romanian friends as they do not have access to this kind of development and training in their homeland.
Planting a church can be long, slow and discouraging at times. It is opportunities like this, thanks to your generosity, that encourage, inspire and refresh our team members for their next season of ministry. By investing in them, you are ultimately investing in the lives of the orphan children, refugees and communities they serve.
We believe in the power of local leaders – and so in 2025 we are prioritizing leadership development for our ministry partners in these two ways:
1) Church Planting: RTC is providing scholarships to future church planters to attend one of two Exponential Conferences – in Orlando or Berlin. Training like this is key to the success of new churches by providing access to invaluable insights, strategies, and networks. We are praying for God to use this opportunity to inspire our Romanian partners to know how to do this important work.
As we enter 2025, I am excited that our connection with people participating in short term service will be increasing. In April we have two teams going to serve, one with Agape Church and the other with the Eastern European Bible College. This summer, in partnership with CMF International, we will be hosting six summer interns for mission service. We also anticipate summer mission teams from Azusa-Pacific University and Northside Christian Church, Yorktown, Virginia. Our annual Christmas trip is already taking reservations, and we would welcome you to bring a group from your community to serve with us.
Mission service can be transformative in your life, and the lives of those you serve. We invite you to come with us…
The war in Ukraine continues to fill the country with conflict and violence. As we continue in prayer for our friends and neighbors to Romania, we also continue to send support. One of our main partnerships has been through our friend Jaco. This year, we have supported his ministry to amputees in Ukraine.
New Year is a time of hope and expectation, but for our Ukrainian friends it marks yet another year of war and praying to someday return to a peace filled homeland. There are still several refugees living at the East European Bible College through the support of RTC. EEBC reaches many more refugees in the Oradea region, offering supplies, education, and community. The Ukrainian community also utilizes the campus chapel for Sunday worship services.
What a joy it was to meet new friends and see familiar faces at ICOM 2023. One particular encounter with a couple who were around in the early days of RTC was used by God as an encouragement and reminder. Take some time to read the story below as Andy recounts an experience from 25 years ago that God seems to still be writing and rewriting today.
This week, Andy, Alan, and Beth are visiting Tabora to further equip Eternal Family leaders by offering a series of teachings about a number of topics from values to skills. We pray those in attendance will be able to take these teachings and apply them in their homes. We also hope they are able to share the biblical truths taught this week with those they lead and serve. We believe transformed leaders transform communities, and it all starts with relationships.
Pastor Dani has been a long-time friend of Remember the Children and is now leading the first evangelical church plant in his neighborhood. Hear about the faithfulness of God in starting this congregation and finding the building as well as the funds. What a blessing to get to walk through this process together.
Around 81% or Romanians identify as Orthodox, greatly impacting the culture as well as the calendar. Today, Andy and friends are in Romania with local RTC churches to celebrate Jesus together. RTC has been a part of planting and walking with 15 churches in Romania and already has another on the way! Each of these special congregations are on our hearts today as they live in the new life God has given.
