IMPACT NUMBERS

IMPACT MOMENTS

By Gerri Baker

An RTC team of 6, including myself, traveled to Romania in April 2022 after the start of the Ukrainian war. We were honored to be able to go and be an encouragement to those helping the many refugees who were crossing the border. They had been working tireless hours from the very first night, and just asked for people to pray with them to help them continue the work to which they were called. God chose the perfect team for such an assignment; a preacher and his wife, a story gatherer, an artist, a missionary, and me.

It was a humbling trip. It was hard to hear stories of people like you and I, who one day had a normal life, and the next day had everything taken. We heard story after story of ruined lives, families torn apart, bombed households and livelihoods, escapes, long car rides, and undecided futures.

One mom, who I talked with for a long time, had been upset when her son asked for a toy he saw in a store. He cried and cried and she told me it is so difficult. Just a few weeks before she could have bought him whatever he wanted, but now she had no means for even a bar of soap. We were able to purchase for them, and all of the refugees with us that day, all they needed and wanted due to the kindness of so many of RTC’s donors. It was a small act of kindness but meant the world to them. It gave them a sense of dignity in the middle of the upheaval. This was just one moment of the many humbling and divine encounters we had during those 10 days, but it is one that will stay with me. They are still on my heart, and I know they will remain there for many years to come.

By Abigail Russell

What was an empty lot in an unreached village, 3 months later became a vibrant church with a building and over 60 church members. Pastor Steven, under the mentorship of RTC house dad, Pastor George, is faithfully serving this far out village while also attending Bible College in Tabora. Our team recently visited Steven at his church, built this year by RTC, and found a vibrant spiritual leader impacting lives by the love of Christ. There are many challenges facing the community of Miyega, but the hope of Jesus is becoming known.

When we discovered the district of Tabora was in need of an estimated 200 schools, our team at Eternal Families stepped up to not only build a state of the art facility, but also a school where Christian principles would be the center. Over the past year, you helped fund the largest building project RTC has taken on to date. Now the classrooms are open and students are experiencing just the start of a learning journey on the solid foundation of Christ.

Mark 12:31 never felt more real, according to our pastors in Romania, than when the war in Ukraine sent refugees desperate for shelter to their own backyards. As they opened their churches and homes and gathered necessary resources, you committed to backing these pastors to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Our Romania team took in families and individuals at our camp, House of Hope, the theological school and other partner locations As the pastors led the way, you backed them to fulfill the RTC mission, giving vulnerable people the opportunity to experience the love of Christ throughout an immense time of crisis.