Preparing the Next Generation of Worship Leaders

One of the projects I am working on here in Bucharest is an "Association of Music School", where a small group of talented, young, Christian musicians in Bucharest would offer lessons in various instruments (piano, drums, guitar, and voice) in an effort to help prepare the next generation of praise and worship leaders here in Bucharest. There is a real need in multiple evangelical churches in Bucharest to find and develop the youth who will eventually lead worship in their churches. A small group of my friends and I began discussing how we could best help to address this situation, and through those discussions, our idea has progressed into a small music school. Students will be taking individual lessons taught by experienced musicians four times a month in addition to coming together one Saturday each month to practice how to work together as a music team. For instance, working on ear exercises, rhythm, blending instruments, and how to communicate with one another while performing music. Moreover, since this is a specialized music program for Christian music leaders, we will be discussing a theology of praise and worship and the importance of not just playing music, but actively engaging the congregation in collective worship. Thus, we will be emphasizing the spiritual life of each student. I will be helping out both with voice lessons and a theology of praise and worship. Currently we are in the process of publicizing and handing out fliers to churches like the one above. Please pray for us as we progress in this exciting new endeavor!

Preaching in Dobroieşti

Sunday I was invited to preach at a small church-plant in a suburb of Bucureşti. This is a young church with a big vision for impacting a very unreached zone of the greater metropolitan area for Christ. I preached from Matthew chapter 13, where Jesus uses various parables to describe both what the Kingdom of Heaven is like and how it lshould operate within this, a fallen world. I also adressed many of the challenges that lie ahead for Romania, spiritually, as a member of the European Union. Certainly, there are aspects of EU laws that are not exactly in connection with the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as Jesus states in Matthew 13 about the weeds among the fields of wheat--there are certainly "weeds" sprouting up around Christians in Romania...one being rising secularisim in the West. Please pray along with me that Romanian Christians will remember that our utmost allegiance is to the Kingdom of God and to follow and obey His Word. We are called to be salt and light in this world. It will be interesting to see how the Body of Christ in Romania responds to EU temptations. Hopefully we will all remember that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our true king.

Did You Know?

The city of Sibiu, Romania is the European Capital of Culture for the year 2007! It is a beautiful city surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Carpathian Mountains. Sibiu is one city in Romania that has actively preserved much of its ancient medieval architecture. Here are some pictures of this charming city of Transylvania. If you would like to read more about Sibiu, please visit http://www.sibiu2007.ro/index_en.phpSibiu is known for its winding streets and medieval fortresses

The traditional folk costumes of the Sibiu regionSibiu city center

The Carpathian mountains surround the city

Old town Sibiu

Teamwork, Momentum, & Vision

I just got back from attending a youth leadership conference in Bucharest that really encouraged me! The main purpose of the conference was simply to start the new year with a show of unity in working together to reach the youth of Romania for Christ. The content of the seminar was excellent--wish all of you would have been able to be there to hear it. We covered such issues as: the top ten needs of the youth in Romania, teenagers and the mass media, identity, ideology, and the battle many youth have between mind and body.

Here are some interesting points that I walked away with:

*73% of Romanian youth become Christians before the age of 21

*Time & Space are key concepts in understanding teenagers. Very few have a concept of time and when it comes to space-- they want room to be creative, make mistakes, grow, and learn.

*Focus is everything! Youth like to rally around a cause, be it for better or worse. Look at Hitler's youth propaganda movements, the 60's, Tianneman Square, or simply politics. It's important for all of us who have connections with youth to help them find their focus in life, a Godly cause to rally around, and help and encourage them on the journey. Nowhere have I learned this more than here in Bucharest. The churches that seem to be doing well with their youth programs are the ones who rather than planning activities for the youth, instead, demonstrated trust in the youth by giving them responsibilities directly related to the cause of the youth group and the Church as a whole.

Overall, it was some great stuff. I am looking forward to meeting with more youth leaders and starting youth network meetings this year. I will keep you updated about the hills and valleys!

Holiday Highlights

My friend Andrea was in Romania after Christmas to visit friends. We worked together at Christian Student Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. It was good to catch up, show her where I work and entertain everybody with some classic 'MinnesOOOOtan' slang.

On Christmas Eve I sang with my friend Cat and shared a short Christmas message with a friend during a special Christmas program at a church plant about 25 kilometers to the east of Bucharest

Caroling with youth in Bucharest was fun. Our group was comprised of experienced musicians, so we were even able to jazz up some Christmas favorites!This is an evangelistic, youth choir in Bucharest that travels on weekends to various communities in outreach events. The director invited our caroling group as special guests for a Christmas concert.

New Years & the European Union

Happy New Year from Bucharest, Romania! It's official, Romania has joined the European Union. My Romanian family, the Tamaş', and I went to the city center (Piaţa Universităţii) to see the fireworks. Leaders from all over Europe were in Bucharest to officially welcome Romania into the EU. After a 15 minute movie of the history of the Romanians on large video screens, the fireworks started. We caped the night off with prayer for Romania and for God to give the leaders wisdom and patience in this time of transition. I am thankful for friends and family here in Romania who helped me have a great Christ-centered and fun start to 2007! The Fireworks lasted about 15 minutes

The Romanian Flag waving in the windows of the National Theatre

Mama Tamaş, Felix, Oana, and I (Cat took the picture)

The Pomp & Circumstance

Crăciun Fericit!

Merry Christmas everyone, or in Romania we say Crăciun Fericit (Cruh-chee-oon Fer-ee-cheat). I have been busy singing with a caroling group around the city of Bucharest. It has been a lot of fun singing and sharing the message of Christ. We also sang on a local Christian radio station for a half-hour and have since been invited to come and sing at several evangelical churches. Today we participated in a concert at a Christian high school. Somehow (still trying to figure out how), I was chosen to play Santa Claus for the occasion in some dramas and entertain the smaller children who came. It was all fun. I am enjoying my first Romanian Christmas. But, still no snow. In Romanian Santa Claus is Moş Crăciun

Our group singing at a Christmas concert

My Bucharest: a City of Contrasts

A few pictures to give you a taste of Bucureşti, Romania:

Piaţa Obor: a major swap market district in Bucharest. Roundabouts are also very common

When the first snowfall hit in November. Unfortunately, it didn't last very long. This has been the warmest December of my life. And being from Minnesota, it just doesn't feel right not having snow for Christmas. The concrete blocks dominate the city's architecture.

The Ferentari Neighborhood

I wanted to give you some visual images of what my city, Bucharest, is like. These are images of the Ferentari neighborhood, in the southern portion of Bucharest. This is widely considered the poorest area of the city with the highest amount of crime. Certainly not one of the prettier neighborhoods of Bucharest, but nevertheless, gives you a picture of what some areas do look like. Over 80 percent of Ferentari is ethnic Roma (gypsy). For many, the main mode of transportation is still horse and wagon. It is common for boys like in this picture to go around neighborhoods collecting scrap metal and other things found in the trash to re-sell.

Many streets in this district are unpaved

Classic Beauty & Modernization

Probably the most beautiful architecture of Romania are the painted monasteries,

like this one (Voroneţ)...

and the old Orthodox Cathedrals, castles, and fortresses.

It's not like the(former) twin towers of New York, but the World Trade Center Plaza of Bucharest is still a modern building.

Glass is being used more and more in some of the newer
architecture in Bucharest. I'm happy!

The city contracted with Mercedez-Benz for new city buses

Casa Shalom (House of Peace)

One of my favorite things to do in Bucureşti is visit children's homes and orphanages. The other day I visited Casa Shalom, which houses orphan, street, and abused children in a beautiful foundation on the outskirts of the city. The foundation is led by Becky Dan-Walsh, an amazing woman of the Lord who has dedicated her life's service to impacting Romania's lost children for Christ. Even before the fall of Ceauşescu, Becky was visiting Romania, smuggling Bibles. Once Romania's doors opened to the West, Becky has been reaching out to Romania's thousands of orphaned and neglected children. Her foundation, Casa Shalom, provides food, shelter, mentorship, and a Christian education for children from all sorts of backgrounds. Many of the children used to call Gara de Nord, the city's main train hub, home. Today the foundation is in the process of building a second dormitory in hopes of housing even more children. When I visit, I sing with the kids, play games, pray, and simply talk with them about how things are going. Please join me in praying for these children, for their future and relationship with the Lord. And please pray for Becky to have wisdom and God's protection as she fervently serves the needs of these precious children.

Marius & I playing the piano together. Before coming to Casa Shalom,

Marius was living in the orphan ward of Bucureşti's Cotroceni Hospital

Simona & Vasile...Simona was brought to Casa Shalom by her mother
and Becky took Vasile from the Cotroceni Hospital in Bucureşti

The new dormitory going up

Casa Shalom's main building

Of course, this being Romania, we had to play a
game of fotbal (soccer).

A Saturday at the Mountains

So what do us Romanians do when we have the chance? Well, we take a day-trip up to the mountains! Since many of my friends and I knew we were going to be EXTREMELY busy in the next month or two, we planned a trip up to the mountains last Saturday. I drove a car full of people and we took the cable car up the mountain for a picnic, songs (thanks to Cat and Felix for playing the guitar) and just all out fun. We hiked (or I should say Oana slid) back down. We played some volleyball and hiked up to the Peleş castle nearby since we had the time. It was a fun day of fellowship with friends and youth that I work with on a weekly basis. And boy did we all need it! Here are some pictures:

Here's our crew!

Cristina, Marta, Naomi, & Raluca

Two of my Romanian brothers: Catalin & Felix

Oana wanted to show off her new gloves...kind of wild

Oana & Felix: aren't they a cute married couple?

Felix pastors a small church plant in a suburb of Bucureşti

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas....

On Romanian National Day (December 1st) the city of Bucharest turns on all of the Christmas lights around the city. I love Christmas, so I am expecially excited to see all of the lights going up. Since Romania will be entering the European Union come January, much of the lights have an EU theme. Traditionally, new years is a much bigger holiday and celebration than Christmas in Romania--and since Romania has been working for over 10 years to ascend to the EU, I am told this year will be our biggest new year's celebration ever. I have a lot more to say about what the EU will mean for Romania, but I'll save that for another post. For now, enjoy these pictures of Bucharest--"the city of lights." It definetely adds some much needed color.

The EU theme is prominent in the lights overhanging the central boulevards

This is the clock tower in Piaţa Universitate, that is

counting down the days until Romania enters the EU.

A busy bulevard in northen Bucureşti

Adolescence Conference

On Saturday I participated in a special conference for adolescents in Bucharest with youth from around Romania. The theme of the conference was In the world, but close to Him! In other words, how do we as Christians, live in this fallen world, but remain close to Christ? I was impressed by the practicality of the seminars and messages from Romanian pastors. Many of the youth were challenged to be active members of their community, reaching out in Christ-likeness to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I know that I certainly learned a lot, especially regarding ways in which Christians can help relate to their non-Christian friends, while still keeping Christ at the center! Progress was made!!!

La Mulţi Ani România!

La Mulţi Ani România...or simply, Happy Birthday Romania! December 1st is Romanian National Day and it marks the 1918 unification of much of modern-day Romania (though what is today the Republic of Moldova [formerly a part of Romania] was seized by the Russians during World War II). Consequently, this is a major national holiday and cause for much celebration. It also marks the beginning of the Christmas season here in Bucureşti. The decorative lights are simply beautiful (check back for pictures to be posted soon). Here are some pictures from all of the hoopla of the day of the Romanians. I hope you celebrated :)))....

As you can expect, massive crowds turned out for the festivities

The National Parade included old flags of the Romanian Kingdom

Military soldiers in the parade

The Romanian Coat of Arms

Catching up with Friends in Târgu Mureş

Last weekend I was blessed to be able to go up to Târgu Mureş (tir-goo-moor-esh), Romania to visit some dear friends and attend the ordination service of a young pastor at the Second Baptist Church in the city. I ate some WONDERFUL food and had a great time of fellowship. I am always humbled to see how graciously so many families here welcome me with open arms. We shared a lot of laughs and stories. Please remember the Second Baptist Church in your prayers, as you can see by the picture below, there is still a lot of construction to be done to the church and construction has all but been stalled after a decade of construction. The church doesn't have the funds to complete the construction, but is in much need of a new worship space, which was designed to be in the upper level. For now, over 30 people every Sunday morning are standing on the edges of a small room in the lower level, because there is no room. Hopefully this will be the year that the space will finally be completed.

The Second Baptist Church of Targu Mureş...now going on 10 years in construction

One of my adopted Romanian moms, "Margareta"

Crazy Games in Jilava

Recently, I have been working with around 15 adolescents from Jilava, a suburb south of Bucharest. Most of the youth come from non-Christian families and, unfortunately, this has affected much of their values and worldview. But praise God for people like Viorel, (pictured last in line in our leap frog game) who is dedicated to impacting the lives of these youth with the power of the Cross. Viorel, who attends my church in Bucharest, invited me to help him with his discipleship initiatives with this rambunctious group. I, of course, was happy to help out. A few of the older boys live at the small country church/day center along with Viorel and his wife. The day center also provides a pharmacy for the people in the nearby community. The community of Jilava is extremely unreached. Please pray for Viorel to have strength and wisdom as he tries to be light in the midst of the darkness in the lives of these youth. And pray that I can be an encouragement to Viorel and the kids.

Hillsong Conference

True worship is that which comes from the heart! That was the theme pastor David Reidy from Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia communicated to about 800 youth and pastors this past week at a three-day praise and worship conference in Bucharest.
Hillsong Church is a church of over 20,000 members in Australia and has since planted sister churches in such places as London and Ukraine. The music department's recordings are world renowned, having composed such songs as "Shout to the Lord." During the three-day conference, various musicians from Hillsong's worldwide churches led seminars on a theology of praise and worship, how to lead a music team, how to engage a congregation in authentic and collective worship, as well as break-out sessions relating to playing specific instruments. In addition, Reidy discussed such hot topics as dealing with conflict on a music team. The conference went very well! A conference like this certainly is not an everyday occurrence in Bucharest. I especially enjoyed the break-out sessions and Reidy's very simple words of advice to music teams: "Don't try to duplicate something else. Be who you are! Really good music teams are those who recognize their own identity and play from the heart!" It seems simple really, but I'm sure we can all think of musicians and groups who try to copy someone else. Every night, Hillsong gave a concert, featuring a local Romanian Christian group--the concerts were a big hit. Watching 800 Romanian youth gathered together, singing with their whole hearts to the Lord was simply awesome.

One of the evening concerts

Tickets to the three-day conference were a hot commodity

During one of the singing workshops, some of my friends made me get up on stage to do background vocals during mock music rehearsals. I had a blast!