Romania
Date Entered: 1988
Major Ministries: Evangelism, Church Planting, Leadership Training (Church Ministries Institute), Church Nurturing, Camping, Translation, Children's Ministries, Missions, ESL
Country Profile
Population: 22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)
Peoples: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Other 0.4%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2% (2002 census)
Economy: Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Romania hopes to adopt the euro by 2014.
Politics: Republic based in the capital city, Bucharest. Governed by a president, prime minister, and bicameral parliament.
Religion: Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, Other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, None 0.1% (2002 census)
Abundant Roman ruins and artifacts document the conquest of this area, known as ancient Dacia, in the year 105 A.D. Roman occupation ceased in 271 A.D. as barbarian tribes moved across central Europe. Romania then entered a long period of domination by Asians and then by Turks. A coup in 1947 placed the country under an extremely oppressive and cruel Communist regime. The revolution of 1989 overthrew Ceaucescu but failed to completely unseat the Communist leaders of the past.
Romania is a land rich in agriculture, minerals and oil, but these were plundered under the Ceaucescu regime, leaving the country in poverty. Economic liberalization since 1990 has been slow because of government reluctance and a strong bureaucracy that strangles progress.
The influence of Christianity was evident here in the second century A.D. Strong cultural and national convictions resulted in the formation of the Romanian Orthodox Church which claims to embrace nearly 80% of the population in its membership. Among evangelicals, Baptists and Pentecostals comprise the largest adherents.
Persecution, deprivation and official atheism under 50 years of Communist rule created a longing for freedom and truth. Probably no other former satellite country has experienced such a spiritual awakening with hundreds of new churches formed since the 1989 revolution.
ABWE began to share in bringing the message of Christ to Romania in the mid-1980s. So responsive were the Romanian people that plans were immediately laid to enlarge the thrust. Following the revolution, missionaries arrived in the country in 1993. Romanian Baptist Church leaders urgently requested North Americans to provide godly men and women committed to long-term ministry in evangelism and discipleship.
ABWE’s goal is to implement and nurture a church planting movement across the country. As part of the strategy, the development of resource and training centers in key cities will assist in training national leaders to expand the evangelistic movement within Romania and beyond.
ABWE personnel are located near Targu Mures in the north and the capitol city, Bucharest, in the south. They are working toward a mission movement that is Romanian in character through evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, mentoring, camp ministry, and children’s ministries.
Romania represents an open door and timely opportunity for reaching spiritually hungry people in an atmosphere where the Spirit of God is mightily at work.
Personnel needs include: musicians, writers to produce and translate Christian literature, evangelists, church planters, discipleship workers, theological educators, Christian education workers, and sports evangelism workers.