Romania Missions

May 25 to June 6, 2006

For the second year in a row, There Is Hope took a musical chorale that performed concerts in Edgewood Baptist’s (Columbus, GA) “sister church”, First Baptist Church Bistrita, and several other churches in the region of Bistrita and also in the cities of Cluj and Arad. The musical performances were open to the public and through video and translated words of the music, the message of God’s love was presented.

During several of the concerts, our chorale combined with the choir from First Baptist Bistrita. Gary Reynolds directed the concerts and Ken Varner from Simpsonville, SC accompanied on both the organ and piano. Nancy Belt from Hendersonville, NC ministered in music on the flute.

Bistrita is home to a large German Lutheran Church that contains an organ built in the 1700’s. Ken Varner had the privilege of playing this famous organ. The choir conducted a concert at the church and we joined voices with the First Baptist choir as well as students from a local music school.

Ken, Gary and Tom Beal actually went to Romania ahead of the larger team as Ken made a recording of various organ pieces played on organs in and around the region. The final recording included the combined choirs singing at the Lutheran Church. Ken produced a CD from these recordings and is donating the proceeds to Romanian pastor support.

Approximately 4 weeks before the team left for Romania, a container of supplies was loaded on a ship. This container included medical supplies and equipment as well as books and school supplies. The container also included several organs and pianos that were placed in churches and the music school.

Upon arrival, the first order of business was to uncrate and set up the organs. One of the pianos was actually refinished and tuned by locals. The team was able to present each of the instruments during dedication services. Each of the organs was dedicated in a very special way.

The organ given to First Baptist Bistrita was a brand new organ dedicated to the memory of two very special men who have gone on to be with the Lord – Vic Schmidt & Titus Tonea. Vic, an assistant fire chief from Columbus, Georgia, made many trips to Romania. He loved the Romanian people and he was dearly loved by them as well. God called Vic home in November 2005, just 5 months after returning from his final trip to Romania. Vic will long be remembered for his humor and his passion for seeing the playground in Bistrita become a reality.

Titus was a long-term elder at First Baptist Bistrita and pastored several of the mission churches. When Titus prayed, there was no doubt you were before God's throne. He lost his struggle with cancer in early 2006. His precious family remains steadfast in serving their church and serving TIH team members when we are there.

The second organ was donated by Johnny and Lou Johnston from Columbus, Georgia. This organ was very special to Johnny and Lou. Their decision to donate this organ was born out of gratitude to God for healing Johnny. Just 3 months before the team left for Romania, Johnny was seriously ill and given no hope to live more than a few days. But Johnny’s mission on earth was not complete and God saw fit to fully restore his health. Ken Varner dedicated the organ as it was given to the church in Nasaud by playing one of Johnny’s favorite songs, “We are Standing on Holy Ground”. And indeed we were.

During our time in Bistrita, many of our group spent time ministering in the Music School. The students displayed their talents during several performances. The dedication and discipline of these gifted students was evident in the beauty of their music. The team had the opportunity to donate a piano to the school along with a number of music books.

The medical team continued their work in the local hospitals, standing alongside the local physicians and helping them to expand their skills and service level. Team doctors had the opportunity to see patients and even perform procedures in their field of expertise.

The team was hosted by the Mayor of Bistrita. Columbus Mayor Pro-Tem, Jack Rodgers, represented Columbus, Georgia in several official meetings with the mayor and his staff. Jackie Long (police) and Alan Davis (fire) also represented the city of Columbus and these men spent extended time with their counterparts in Bistrita.

Members of the team had opportunities to go into several orphanages and visit with the children there. One of the orphanages was dedicated to handicap children.

As the trip concluded, plans were already underway for next year’s adventure. The Romanian mission field is ripe with opportunities and we pray God will guide us to those areas He would have us minister. The 2007 trip will include Vacation Bible School and several special events for youth in the area.