RESO Ministries is a network of churches and missionaries who work to reach the people in Olt County in southern Romania. Many of these missionaries are native Romanians with a heart for their own people who have moved to this unchurched region. The churches are all from different denominations ranging from Baptist to Pentecostal, but all have the same goals to spread the Gospel. This is the ministry that most of U Squad had the privilege of partnering with for the month of April.
Raul Costea is the head of this outreach initiative and the pastor of Hope Church in the town of Dragonesti. Most of our teams were based at this church. My team was based in the village of Stoenesti at a smaller mission church. Our teams did administrative work in the office, visited small missions around the area, and worked on a variety of projects that all of the missionaries worked on collectively. Many of these projects have arisen from the recognition of needs throughout the community.
One need that is evident in Romania is the high school dropout rate. So many feel they have no purpose and as a result have no ambition. These dropouts are then prone to getting involved in illegal activity and are more of a target for trafficking. An after school program was started to counteract this trend. Kids come to the program everyday to receive tutoring, encouragement, and counseling. These children hear the Gospel and through them, their families hear it as well. The church also hosts kids’ clubs throughout the villages. This program meets weekly with the same goals in mind.
Dragonesti has a high unemployment rate contributing to the sense of hopelessness and helplessness many feel. The ministry has launched a campaign to provide sustainable living for the missionaries who live off a support-based income and more business opportunities to those in the community. Many in the area have begun some sort of farming to generate an income. One missionary even keeps bees and makes some of the most delicious honey I have ever tasted!
As in any ministry, nothing could be accomplished without prayer. Every team met for two hours every morning to pray, and each day our contacts would give us specific things to lift up. This church has established an extensive prayer network in order to bring every need before Christ.
The work in Dragonesti and Olt County is far from completion. Raul and his team are always looking for new short-term and long-term missionaries. Building projects need volunteers, and more people are needed to assist those who are currently working here. All the workers here are also funded through supporters. Many of the workers here are still very much in need of more supporters. If you are interested in learning more about the work in Romania, opportunities to volunteer, or how to give a financial gift, visit their website at resoministries.weebly.com. The work in Romania is truly great, and the people of Dragonesti are ready and waiting for even more to join them.
