June 2020 Update
(Phase 3 of de-escalation plan)

Dear Faithful Supporters
 

Praise the Lord! Romania is now in phase 3 of the pandemic de-escalation plan. That means, by law, we must continue to wear masks and be mindful of distance, but it also means that we can now finally hold church services inside again! Hallelujah! This was a tremendous blessing to us last Sunday, in particular, as we had several heavy rain storms that day. However, when the weather allows, we do plan to continue to meet outside because we can legally accommodate more people under the tent than we can inside the church. 

Even so, attendance is much lower than what we’ve been anticipating. During the lockdown, we received a great deal of phone calls from several people in the area. All were saying that they couldn’t wait for church to open back up again so they could repent and be saved. Of course, we explained that they did not have to wait and could be saved at home. We witnessed to so many and made several weekly house visits. Yet even now, since we have opened, not one new soul has come forward professing Christ as their Savior. Despite how heart-rending it is to see their indifference towards God, we persevere on preaching the gospel from God’s Holy Word.

After two full months under quarantine and not being able to meet or fellowship with our church people or our bus kids, it has been such a blessing to start back up again! Although we broadcasted services and kids clubs online during quarantine, nothing is quite the same as being able to gather together with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! 
 

Tomorrow, the government will once again meet to reevaluate the state of the pandemic in Romania and determine if we will stay in phase 3 or move to phase 4 or possibly even go back into quarantine. This will also determine whether or not we can hold a “Family Fun Day” with our bus kids and their parents as a welcome back party next week. Before the pandemic and even during the lockdown, we felt that we were making great headway with several of the parents and families of our bus kids. Our prayer is that many will come for Family Fun Day, hear the message, and be reminded of their dire need of God’s saving grace.

Thank you again for your faithful prayers and support for us! We are also praying for all of you. These days, we are constantly being reminded that Christ’s return is imminent and that it is imperative for all of us to pray for the lost and to give out the gospel to as many as will hear it before it is too late. John 9:4 comes to mind when Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” These may be the final days when it is our last chance to tell others the gospel. No matter the outcome, we must stay faithful!