Timisoara is a beautiful City in the west of Romania, situated not too far
from the Hungarian border. It is a very
Westernised City and because of the thousands of foreign guests that poured
into it just after the Revolution, it has become a contradiction in itself to
the rest of Romania. The first time I
came here in 1990, with humanitarian aid, I was overwhelmed by the poverty and lack of everyday items,
such as sugar and milk and a whole lot more. I came back many times during that period with different teams, and we often stayed in one of the main hotels in Timisoara. I
recall many times when we could not find food or drink – the water was
undrinkable – and life was very hard for the people.
Although now times have changed for most people in this
city, there is still a great divide between those ‘who have’ and those ‘who
have not’. The poverty is hidden by the
huge amount of expensive cars that are driven around the city, but the poverty is still
here for many thousands of people. But this is the city God called us to plant
our church in, and so here we are. It has around 400,000 inhabitants with a
student population of around 40,000 from all over the world.
There are so many wonderful churches here in the city and
one would wonder why God had called us to plant another – but call us He did, and we’re so thankful for the opportunity to serve Him. Sava and I have needed much grace. We realise that people expect Pastors to have
always been ‘saintly’ and ‘holy’, but nothing could be further from the
truth. Just like everyone else, Pastors
are in need of the grace of God in their lives, and we are no different. For many years – in fact since Bible School
days – Sava had been writing out the format for the church that he would one
day pastor – he even had the name chosen - Kairos - believing that somewhere in
the world God would place him to lead others into a fuller knowledge of God.
The last place he expected God to call him to, was back home to his very own
city of birth! But God doesn't make
mistakes.
We walked through several doors thinking they might be the
right ones, but eventually we realised that God had called us to launch a new
church altogether. Both of us trembled
at the very thought – what if nobody would join us – what if we failed – what
if we hadn't really heard from God? There were many anxieties in the early days
until we walked along with God and saw His hand open doors that no man could
shut! We launched on Facebook –
something that was quite unheard of. We
had no team, no financial support, no building and no backup – but we took a
step of faith that God would provide all that we needed and leaped into the
dark! It wasn't too long before God began to send us the most
unlikely and wonderful people.
Rebecca Mace – an English girl who had worked for many years
in the city doing an incredible work with hundreds of children – was inspired
by the vision that God had placed in Sava’s heart and felt that God had spoken
to her to join us. Then, Luizi and Razvan, a
young couple who were both brought up in Christian homes, came alongside us. They helped us to paint the very first
building we rented for our church and as soon as we spoke of the vision God had
given, they felt it was something they could function in and grow closer to
God.
We now had five in our team and we felt that was enough for
us to move ahead. We met for prayer
daily and were overwhelmed at the incredible miracles God wrought in those
early days. He showed us clearly that we
were in His perfect will – despite the opposition that
inevitably goes with taking blind steps of faith!
God added to us slowly and surely. A lovely young English couple called Lindon
and Sam Craven felt God call them after reading our posts on Facebook, and
enquired if they could possibly come and help us for a year. They were an answer to prayer and on their
arrival they clicked immediately with our team and brought their talents to the
table, giving God their all.
There have been many mountain top experiences since then and
a few valley experiences too but we can truly say we have never had one day’s
regret as to the call of God for us to be in this wonderful city at this
pivotal time in the history of Romania.
We believe that the best is still ahead and we look forward with great
anticipation as to where God will lead us.
Please continue to pray for us as we endeavour to bring
change in our city – a spiritual Revolution in a city that knows the
consequences of change from the previous Revolution. God can do it again!!
Thank you for standing with us – financially and in prayer.
Wendy, Sava & the Kairos Team.
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