Unfazed by rumors

There is a village in the southern part of Romania where we started a ministry. From the beginning we faced hostility from the Orthodox priest who watched every move we made in the village, especially in our home visits. He spread rumors about us, but we overlooked them because our purpose was to present the Good News to the people.

In August we organized a revival meeting at the Culture House of the village with the approval of the local authorities. We preached the Gospel, talked to people in the streets, and distributed tracts about salvation.

Increasing intensity
Right after that, the priest and his assistant went door to door in the village to warn the people about us. They said that we had come to them with laundered money, with drugs, and in the power of the Devil. They collected all the tracts we distributed, and burned them.

The next Sunday, together with a group of Christian believers from another church, we went to the village with the same purpose-meeting people for Bible study and visiting those who invited us to their homes.

As we were visiting a family, the priest, his assistant, and a bunch of young people burst in and forced us out. They started to push us, kick us, and shout hysterically at us, and make false charges. The priest hit me with his silver cross on my mouth and started to force it into my mouth while yelling at me that the village is “his harvest.” He also urged the young people who came with him to continue to hit and kick us. One of the girls from our group was hit by a boy from the priest's group. We barely escaped to another house where we meet.

In the meantime the local mayor showed up and he could see for himself the "battle field" and also smelled the alcohol of the priest's group. The priest yelled a final threat, “If you come again, we will kill you.” We had to call the police so that we could leave with our lives!

“Pray for those that persecute you”
We pray that the Lord will bring peace to that village. We pray that the priest will see that we should fight together-on the same side of the barricade-to rescue people from the eternal perdition and to tell them about the everlasting love of God.

-Aidan, church planter, Romania-