As God is moving us across the country, He is also raising up replacements for us in key areas of ministry we've had here. 

   Today when we did our orphanage ministry along with our friend Johnny, we told the orphanage staff about how we're moving to Cluj soon.  We've been hoping to replace ourselves there in ministering to the kids when we go, and the response of the workers there opened the door for that when they asked if we would have anyone else who could keep coming weekly and doing what we've been doing after we're gone. 

   So we told them about the Baptist missionary that we were hoping to pass this ministry open door to when we leave, and they were open to that.  It turned out, in fact, that one of the workers there already knows him and has a favorable impression of him. 

Slobozia

   Another ministry we've had for the last year and a half is frequent preaching/teaching ministry in the evangelical church in Lili's hometown of Slobozia, which has been without a senior pastor for that time period.  This month, they took on a new fulltime pastor, so the time of need for us to be there has come to a close.  The new pastor learned this week that we are moving to Cluj, and he is having us come there this weekend for me to preach one last time this Sunday and so that we can say our goodbyes to that congregation. 

The Search for a new home

   On Monday, Lord-willing, we'll be on trains for 11+ hours to go to Cluj, where this coming week we'll begin our search for a place to live.  Please pray for God to guide us in this and provide the right home and location for our family.  We praise the Lord that our financial support level is good, because housing in Cluj will cost at least twice as much as in Buzau, and since the Lord has been and continues to be a generous provider of our needs, we can go into that new situation without cause for worry. 

            An additional possible opening door for ministry for Calvary Chapel Cluj is in the city of Gherla, about one-hour away from the city.  Gherla (pronounced "GAIR-lah") is a city of 40,000+ where a group has asked Razvan to begin a Bible study, and a house has been made available for that to be done there (pictured above).  In time, this could possibly become a church plant.

            Below are a couple other pictures from the town of Gherla, which I visited with Razvan a little over a week ago.  The architecture of the city has a different flavor than much of the country, because the town was originally an Armenian settlement, and has that influence on it.     

   Sometimes professing atheists like to accuse followers of Christ of being "arrogant," because of how sure we are of our claims to know God is real and He is a part of our lives.  But when you think about it, isn't it the atheist who is holding to an arrogant belief system?  After all, it is the atheist, not the Christian, who makes a claim to have all knowledge.  For his claims to be proven, the atheist must back them up with evidence that would require absolute omniscience to find.  

   Here's an example of what I'm talking about that is based on a similar illustration from evangelist Ray Comfort.  

   Imagine I wanted to say, there is gold in the country of Romania.  How much knowledge of Romania must I have to be able to be certain my claim is true, and to prove it to others?  Not much, really.  All I have to do is point to my wedding ring, which has gold, and I have proven irrefutably that there is gold in Romania.  

   But imagine someone was claiming there is no gold in all Romania.  How much knowledge is that person claiming to have of Romania?  Complete knowledge of the country is what they are claiming to have.  For their claim to be proven, they have to know everything about what is in every house, yard, field, church, store, and building of every kind.  They have to show inventory of what is in every single one of the 22 million Romanian people's teeth.  They have to have completely unlimited knowledge of Romania to prove something isn't there.  So if someone told you there is no gold at all in Romania, even if you'd never been here before and never seen the proof that there is gold here, you would still be wise to consider foolish that person's claim; because you would instinctively know that they couldn't possibly have any real clue what they were talking about.  

   That's how you should view atheists, too.  Not a one of them has any idea what he is talking about when he denies God's existence, even if he is eloquent or successful, or able to communicate with words in a way that make him sound intelligent.  Maybe he hasn't seen God act in his life.  But that proves nothing.  It doesn't even help his case, much less prove it.  His knowledge is far too limited to be considered ample evidence.  

   For him to claim God isn't there, he would need complete knowledge of everything that has ever happened in your life, too.  And mine.  And the person next door to you, and the person next door to them.  And every person in the entire world.  And every person in all of world history.  And not just people.  He'd have to know every animal and plant and rock.  And he can't limit his search for evidence of God's non-existence to this little planet, either.  He has to have complete knowledge of everything you can conceive of in the universe, as well as the trillions of things you cannot conceive of.  Otherwise, he simply fails to prove his foolish assertion that God is not real. 

   Atheists are not just lacking proper evidence of their atheistic claims--they are lacking any evidence that they are right.  And yet they claim that they can know about these things.  That's arrogance.      

   How much evidence must I have to claim God is real and not be arrogant in saying so?  I just have to know what I know, and I don't have to claim knowledge of anyone or anything that I don't have.  My own life has seen irrefutable proof that God is real, and no one has ever disproven His existence in my life, nor can anyone.  And I'm just one of billions of witnesses to this truth that God is real, with each one of our billions of testimonies remaining undisputed. 

   At the least, an atheist should be willing to admit he doesn't know if he is right.  Even if he will not believe the words of those who do know God is there, he should at least be willing to consider that in the 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999 percent of knowledge of the universe that he hasn't learned yet, there might be ample evidence that God is real, and he just hasn't yet found it.    

   In addition to having a team in Cluj, Calvary Chapel has some other works in that area of the country, so we won't be as "alone" there in our labors as we have been in Buzau. 

   There is an established Calvary Chapel church in Bistrita, with three families in full-time ministry and a congregation serving the Lord.  Bistrita (say it BEECE-treet-sah) is about 2 hours away from Cluj. 

   Also, even closer are two Calvary missionary families with a few village church-planting works in the area of Huedin (hoo-eh-DEEN), about 20 miles from Cluj. 

   This is the ministry house and grounds that is being rented for worship services and as an outreach center for Calvary Chapel's work in Cluj.  It was selected in part because it is a prime location for outreach to college students, thousands of whom walk down this particular street daily during the school year, and it is also a "hangout" for students, since most of the other buildings on the street are student bars and clubs of various kinds.  

   During the summer, the outdoor grounds are used for outreach barbecues and also as a worship center on Sunday mornings.  The inside of the building is where children's ministry can be done simultaneously.   

   The highest priest of the Romanian orthodox church died yesterday of heart problems that came about during a prostate surgery he was undergoing.  He was in his 90s and had been the patriarch of the state church since late 1986. 

   Last night during the TV coverage of the beginning of ceremonies for his funeral, we saw Lili's cousin, who is an orthodox priest in Bucharest, standing over the body and doing a prayer. 

   I pray that the days that come be days for Romania where the word of God in the Bible is given the place of honor it deserves, and all matters of faith are subject to its decrees, so that people's souls can be saved and they can have eternal life, and glorify God with their lives on the earth.  And may an authentic Biblical Christianity take hold, by a move of the Holy Spirit, so that the words of God, not the traditions of men, will be revered.  And may Christ in us be glorified. 

   Click here for Photos of the city of Cluj

            Cluj, also known as Cluj-Napoca, (pronounced CLOOJE-nah-POH-cah) is a city in the Transilvania region of western Romania.  It is about 7 hours drive or 9+ hours by train from Buzau where we've been living, and about 300 miles from the capital city of Bucharest.  It is a city easily accessible from other countries, because it has its own international airport.   

            Cluj's resident population is 340,000, and during the school year there are another 100,000 added to the population in college students, since it is one of Romania's major university cities, with students from all over the country.

        Religiously speaking, Cluj, like all of Romania, is majority eastern orthodox, but unlike Buzau where the Orthodox are roughly 99 percent of the population, there are also many other religious affiliations in Cluj, with the large groups being Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, and Lutheran/Reformed churches. 

            Biblical Christianity, marked by belief in salvation by grace alone received by faith alone in Christ alone, is present in the city, but far from flourishing so far.  Many have worked the fields in Cluj, though, for some time, and many prayers have been said for this generation of Clujians, and the field may be ripening for harvest like never before.

            The city is an old city, founded in 300 BC, and was for centuries a part of the region of Romania that was fought over between the Romanians, the Turks, the Hungarians, and the Austrians.  Culturally, there is still something of a mix today.  Although most are Romanians,  about 20 percent of the population is a Hungarian minority, most of whom are Catholics.  A considerable amount of animosity exists between some of the Romanians and some of the Hungarians who live in the city, as the cultures remain largely separate, and both groups want their language to be dominant.

            The economy of this city is stronger than in most of Romania, and the city is culturally more "capitalistic" than would be the case in most of Eastern Europe.  This brings some advantages in availability and greater quality of products to buy, but also some disadvantages, because spiritually speaking, the more money a society has, the more closed it can become to relationship with God.

            So much prayer continues to be needed for God to open doors for ministry to this city, and we are asking all of our supporters to join us in prayer.

   This is Razvan Pop, with his wife Anca, their daughter Romana, and son Matei.  We've had them as friends and colleagues in Calvary Chapel ministry for a couple years now, and this year, God is calling us to go to their home city of Cluj to work with them in outreach and church-planting ministry. 

   Early in their marriage, before they believed in God, the Lord used a crisis of Anca's cancer, and His miraculous healing of it, in His plan for bringing them to faith in Christ.  Now, they serve Him wholeheartedly with the joy of the Lord showing through them to all who see them.

   Their family and ours have been praying for some time for colaborers in ministry, in the hopes that we would no longer be "lone rangers" on the mission field.  And the Lord is now bringing us together.  We're blessed to know that we'll be working with them to reach people for Christ in Cluj very soon. 

   In addition to other gifts, Razvan is talented for music and worship leading.  Below is a picture of him playing the guitar to warm up before a time of worship with us there two Sundays ago.  

   Please join us in prayer for God's blessing on this family and their ministry, and for the fruitfulness of our new work alongside them.  

Prayer Items regarding our move: 

1) For God to place us in the right apartment and the right neighborhood in Cluj. 

2) For baby Briana’s help in travel and adjustment to the new home and new place, and especially for her adjustment to no longer having her grandmother in weekly life.  Her “mamaia” is like a beloved third parent to her, and instead of living two or three hours away, it will be about 12-14 hours travel each way, so Briana won’t get to see her very often anymore.

3) For God’s wisdom and help in packing, and for us to be able to find a good way to transport furniture, books, clothes, and all other items. 

4) For our family’s transition into a new ministry, and blessing on our ministry with the family of Razvan and Anca Pop. 

5) For development of new friendships and relationships when we move there, and for us to have open doors to be a witness to our new neighbors.

6) For finding a good doctor for Briana in Cluj.

7) For God’s help in moving our residency paperwork to Cluj, and for Dave’s visa to be renewed there long-term.