Hey there, this is my second week in Romania. I wanted to update you on how the Lord is moving! First off our ministry hosts here, Raul and Anna, and the team of Hope church have been so inviting, kind and hospitable. I’m learning so much about the culture and their heart for the Romanian people. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to lead worship on a few occasions and recently with a YWAM Family who came to stay and serve with us, which was so powerful! Most of our days consist of teaching/equipping us for the field. We are then going out and putting what we learn to practice through evangelism and gaining relationships with the community. This last week, we had a chance to goto the Roma communities (Gypsy communities). It broke my heart to see the neediness of the community impoverished; this darkness rested there. What blessed my heart was the Joy the children were filled with when we arrived to bring songs of Jesus and a visual story of Christ. They were so interactive and just wanted to be with us even despite the language barrier but also so thankful that there were translators as well. We’ve had some youth show up through our squad, going out and handing flyers to the community for worship nights, which has gained relationships with them. We’ve been able to gradually share the gospel and testify how God changed our lives. I think for me, what I’ve witnessed and has brought me great joy to see is the body of believers working in unity to lead the lost to Christ. No one is greater than the next it’s just knowing you’re a leg, an arm, an ear in the body, etc. and walking inthat. When the whole body of Christ is walking in how they were made to walk, there is this beautiful display of harmony. It emulates the love of Christ, and heaven is brought down to earth, which shows that there is Beauty for ashes, there is Hope for the Hopeless there is peace for the restless. As I’m writing, this scripture comes to mind:
Ephesians 4:1-5: 4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were calledto the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ministry gets hard, and honestly, it is even more difficult without unity. I believe for effective ministry, there must be a unity formed only through the Spirit of God and an eagerness to yield and maintain the unity of the Spirit. There must be humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love for one another. There is an older Christian song that’s been modernized today but its called
“They will know we are Christians by our love”
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
The Spirit of Christ will shine through a vulnerable, weak, broken vessel willing to lay down their lives so that others may find the same bond of peace and love that we share through Jesus Christ. I see this unity in my squad and am so encouraged to see each person take on their role and run with it, but there’s this doing it with love and quick to confess if it goes in a direction that it shouldn’t that shows in a whole a humble reliance on God that is sweet! God is so gracious and patient with us all, and what we do doesn’t always look perfect, but overall, His Spirit washes it, and it shines even in failure.
It was a rough start while waiting for the restof our squad to get here due to covid complications. Still, I noticed that night when we were all officially in the same room worshipping together, the Holy Spirit rested upon us in such a powerful way. I believe that God was drawing us closer together and deeper into the depths of our father’s heart. God was stirring a compassion/ love and equipping us for the people around us and the Romanians; it was something that could only be done through His Spirit. Without His Spirit were nothing and ineffective in ministry. I know that the Spirit is willing, and the flesh is weak. Must always trust in the ministry of the Spirit.
My prayer is that for me and my squad, there would be this desperation for God’s Spirit to believe He guides us through the valley of death, that He is our drink of water in the desert land and the life source when we feel like we’re on the death bed of trial.
