Our Sister Church in Romania
Filadelfia, The First Pentecostal Church of Timisoara, Romania .
We have been privileged to know members of this Church for nearly fifteen years. When one of their pastors was receiving training in Harpenden a friendship was developed with some members of Crabtree Church. With the pioneering work that Veritas Bible College conducted with the Filadelfia Church - coupled with Crabtree Churches close association with the College a natural friendship and growth in relationships has ensued.
The Filadelfia Church has over 600 members and has planted many new churches in the last decade. When these churches are included worshippers number well over 1000 believers. They have a strong prayer ministry, meeting Monday and Tuesday evenings as well as Sunday mornings. Sunday school classes are a 'bit larger' than at Crabtree - there can be 30 children with two teachers in each class.
Like Crabtree they are undertaking new building work. They are doing much of the work themselves and men come on Saturdays giving up their free time; women come to cook for the men - a great witness for their love of the Lord and their love for each other.
The challenges for the church have changed from the very difficult times prior to the revolution to catering for a generation that knows very little of the daily life under Ceausescu's regime. As the country develops with more and more western influence the Church will be a mainstay in helping show Jesus' way with the new challenges.
Two visits have taken place in 2003 by members of Crabtree's leadership team. The members of the Filadelfia church have warmly welcomed the relationship and we hope to see members of the Filadelfia Church in Harpenden before too much more time passes.
A text for Crabtree Church from the Filadelfia Church .
Phillipians 4 v8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
Update
Another visit took place to Timisoara in January 2008. It was good to catch up with friends and see how the City is getting much busier and prosperous – only one horse and cart seen but many new BMW’s on the roads! The church reception was as warm and welcoming as ever and seeing the new Sunday school and youth facilities (and the new loos) was a pleasant surprise. The lesson that Crabtree Church should learn from our Romanian brothers and sisters is that everything in church life should be steeped in prayer – when the sermon is given the church prays for the message. A prayer meeting is spontaneously held after the church meeting and most folks remain. This is a wonderful witness and as Pentecostals all pray together it is an enriching experience – true prayer from many hearts.
Whilst we would be delighted to see visitors from Timisoara come to Crabtree Church again there is a strong interest in taking a party from Crabtree’s Sunday night youth bible study (SNUG) to a camp in the Romanian mountains to join the youth group from Filadelfia church. It is early days but if the Lord permits then more folks from Harpenden will hopefully experience the love of our brothers and sisters in Romania.
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