“Welcome to Southern Romanian, what is also known as the graveyard for missionaries.” Well, that’s one way to be welcomed to a new ministry location. My interest was piqued though. Of course, I wanted to know why this place would be called a graveyard for missionaries. So, I listened carefully as our ministry host continued to explain the spiritual atmosphere not just here in Craiova, but in pretty much all of Southern Romania.
The percentage of Christ followers here is only .05% Don’t miss the decimal in there. If it’s easier, I’ll spell it out only point zero 5 percent of people here believe Jesus is the Son of God who offered us all the option to be saved by grace through his death and resurrection.
When our host first moved here from his home in Northern Romania, he was encouraged by many people not to. Family, fellow pastors, all were telling him that missionaries in Southern Romania usually don’t last longer than a year or two.
The reasoning for this has a lot to do with history and Southern Romanians being very skeptical of outsiders. More than this, it has to do with the Romanian Orthodox Church. Almost all Romanians identify as Orthodox. However, they only do this because for generations their families have been Orthodox. It’s more of an identity title than actual beliefs.
Just the other day, I was having a conversation with a young man who was telling us about how his uncle had repented and converted to Christianity. I asked him if he believed in Jesus and why not when his answer was no. He said “I was born Orthodox and I will die Orthodox.” For him, it really wasn’t about Jesus at all, but about the family he was born into and the “religion” his family has always claimed as their own.
Another conversation I had with a woman here revolved around the existence of God and a common viewpoint about God here in Romania. Many people who claim Orthodoxy actually believe that God was created by humans to manipulate people into doing good things. They use the idea of God and hell to convince people that if they do bad things then they’ll regret it for eternity.
I’ve met many people who are open to conversations about God and Jesus, but misunderstandings from their cultural religion are keeping them from really understanding what it means to have a relationship with God. I’ve also had conversations with people who was away as soon as they hear I’m Christian. Sometimes our conversations are short as inviting them to church and then saying “nice to meet you” as they continue walking.
Regardless of how the conversations go or end, I know that seeds are being planted and God is faithful. I believe that Southern Romania will no longer be called a graveyard for missionaries, but will become a place where ministries and churches thrive. I believe hearts will be turned toward Jesus and that revival is coming.
Pray for my team as we wrap up our last couple weeks here, but mostly pray for Hope Church, since they will be here long after we leave, spreading Hope and spreading Truth.
Blessings,
Kaci
