The name of our ministry,” There Is Hope Foundation” is based on a song we sang in the early 90’s when we first started going to Romania. 

“There Is Hope, so hold on, there is Hope

God has sent me here to tell you, There is Hope

For He knows just what you’re going through and

What your future holds.

Because Jesus LIVES, There is Hope.”

After more than 30 trips in the last 20 years, the message is still the same, American, Romanian, Chinese, whatever, Jesus Christ is the ONLY Hope for our world.

Every year when we come home we say, “That was the best mission team we’ve ever had” and this year was no exception.  We are aware, as many of our regular team members are, that the Lord has blessed us with unusual unity, commonness of purpose and love between our team members.   This year we had 66 committed volunteers who came from 6 states, various churches and denominations with totally different talents and backgrounds, but once again we felt a supernatural bond of love in the Holy Spirit.

As we gathered for our June weekend seminar in Melbourne, Florida, God began to work in all of our hearts to prepare us for the awesome task set before us.  The miracles of His financial provision for team members as they worked extra jobs and did whatever they could to raise their funds, was a blessing in itself.  His provision in providing flights from both Atlanta and Orlando and blessing us so that everyone of our 66 team members was able to go – no one was ill, no family crisis, no lack of funds – we ALL were amazed that everyone who planned to go was on their flight to Budapest on June 16^th.

Brenda Eller of Atlanta, Ga.  has written a detailed account of our trip you will want to read but I want to explain just a few of the highlights.

First Baptist, Bistrita, and 39 Mission Churches

            First Baptist Church has been our home church and host for the last 18 years. (since 1993)  In those 18 years, they have started 39 mission churches.   The last one is a gypsy church in the village of Nasaud, where we also have a large mission church.   Pastors Radu and Stephan began the gypsy work in a house several years ago but in the past year there has been such an outpouring of Jesus’ love, almost 100 new believers have been baptized in one year.  There is a revival happening in the gypsy community.  The men of this church are building a church with their own supplies and their own hands.  This was just one of the 25 churches we were able to hold evangelistic services in during that week. 

School of Heroes ( Vacation Bible School)

            This has been a special emphasis of our ministry for the past 5 years.  This year we were simultaneously in four villages and in one school in Bistrita.  Our instrumental musicians made up the team of 16 who taught at this elementary school.  Imagine their shock when the first day brought 429 children.  Undaunted by the task, they along with their translators had a tremendous week, with almost 300 of these children making a commitment to follow Christ at the end of the week.  We held school in Galati, Lechinta,

Feldru/Nepos and Teaca, for a grand total of 882 children enrolled and over 450 decisions for Christ.  Our churches in the area will follow up with these children and their families throughout the year. 

The Space Coast Orchestra

            Music is such a vital part of Romanian life and they are excellent musicians both instrumentally and vocally.  Dr. David Hasker, Worship Leader at First Baptist Melbourne, Florida, began two years ago to pray about teaching the Romanian churches to use instrumental music (orchestras and bands) as part of their Worship services.  The concept was rather new to them but David did a masterful job (as usual) in challenging 24 gifted musicians from Florida, Tennessee and Alabama to join together as the Space Coast Orchestra – going not only to play concerts in various cities but to teach students at the Transilvania School of Music in Master Classes and in the churches.  The fruit of his vision is already blooming.   Two weeks after we left, First Baptist had 18 members play in their brand new ‘worship orchestra” and the School of Music not only invited them back but wrote up a “Musicians contract” between themselves and the orchestra, notarized and presented to David as assurance of their ongoing partnership.  We pray that as this relationship continues that the Holy Spirit will bring these children and adults to Jesus through Christian music and caring team members. 

Camp Hope - Tabera Sperantsa

            Our most recent undertaking and the most exciting, blessed, overwhelming thing we’ve ever been a part of.   Every year we have had between 850 and 1,000 children in our School of Heroes.  Most of these children are Orthodox or unchurched.  The Lord laid it on the hearts of Romanian leadership and our There Is Hope leadership that nothing will continue to reach these children for Jesus as well as a summer camp program.  Please click on “Camp Hope” to see our progress in just three years.  Our prayer is to have a full camp program, retreat center for adults and youth, and seminary training for Pastors as soon as possible. As we laid the cornerstone together this summer, we were reminded that Christ is not only the cornerstone of His church but the cornerstone of There Is Hope and Camp Hope.  Please pray with us and give what you can so these precious children will be nurtured and grow in Christ in the coming years. 

We thank our God for the tremendous, dedicated volunteers who never falter, never complain, never show anything but Christ’s love to our Romanian Brothers and Sisters and to one another.   May God bless you and your families, abundantly above all you could ask or imagine.

Be sure to read a more detailed account of the 2011 trip (click here). 

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