Brăila is a city in eastern Romania, a port on the Danube, the 10th largest city in the country and the second city of Harvest in Romania.
Marius Mezin, Sr. Pastor was referred to HBF by Cristian Barbosu of Harvest Church Plant, Metanoia of Arad, Romania. Marius is thirty-seven years old, a graduate of the Baptist Seminary in Bucharest and has served for fourteen years as a Youth Pastor and Worship Leader.
Pastor Marius says, "I am amazed at what the Lord is doing in our lives! It is like a dream. We had an unbelivable time at our retreat with the leaders, with a lot of time to build relationships, play hard, and work-out the ministry of our church. Everyone understood the vision and process of becoming a Harvest and they were excited about the opportunities through a relationship with HBF.
On Sunday, we had full services with all the seats used. In the evening, we even had people standing. I felt for the first time since we started the church that we have a group of people who understand why we do what we do and why we do things the way we do them. They were praying and actively participating in the service. At the end of the service we asked if there were people who would like to get baptized and we saw five people make this decision.
I was preaching on the first pillar, Scripture, and spoke about the difference between absolute truth and personal opinion giving an exemple in our culture of the head-scarf and jewelry. I thought some of them would get upset but they didn't...praise be to God who can give power to His Word to transform lives.
Today a group of men started to build the pillars on the walls so they will be visible to all who walk into this place.
In the evening service we had some young girls that came for the first time to an evangelical church and at the end of the service one of the girls came to me and she said that she wants to know the Lord and she wants to know what she has to do for this. I was so overwhelmed!
Thank you for praying! God is moving here in a very powerful way and I am so humbled to see and to be a part of this great work."
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That's what it's all about and this is what God has called us to at Harvest...to see lives transformed for eternity and the church of Jesus Christ have breath and life to infect all peoples with the truth of His Word and to proclaim the unsearchable riches of the gospel.
Join us in celebrating Harvest in Brăila, Romania.
All for Christ,
HBF-Missions
Kirk R. VanMaanen