Over 3,500 Attend COH Outreach in Romania
More than 670 people accepted Christ as their Savior during the recent Convoy of Hope event in Craiova, southern Romania.
Volunteers from nine local evangelical churches in southern Romania and 100 youth from Bucharest Bible schools and child evangelism teams joined with missionaries, missionary kids and U.S. Convoy of Hope (COH) representatives to minister to more than 3,500 people during a recent COH event in the city of Craiova. Sources say the event, which was planned in partnership with the Europe Convoy of Hope, was the first of its kind in the nation.
“I think the Romanian Christians who volunteered were as touched as the people who came to the event,” missionary Bill Prevette told the Assemblies of God News Service. Prevette with his wife, Ky, and son, Daniel, ministered in several areas throughout the day.
“The COH outreach offered an opportunity for the people to experience the love of Christ in a tangible way—in deed as well as in word,” he said.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Led by missionary Michael McNamee and hosted by missionaries Rick and Jan Cunningham and Pastor Luca Cretan of the Romanian Pentecostal Union, the outreach provided music, free food, medical help and evangelism presentations to children, youth and adults.
“Although most people had to sit on the ground, many stayed to watch the program several times,” Jan Cunningham told AG News. “Seeing the faces of hundreds of children, parents and grandparents as they heard that God loves them was exciting!”
Craiova, a city of more than 300,000 people, is reportedly one of the least-evangelized areas in the nation, and a large number of its residents are Gypsies, most of whom are unemployed.
During the evangelism tent meetings, Rick Cunningham and nine local pastors took turns presenting the gospel. “Thousands heard a clear presentation of the gospel at the COH event for the first time,” Cunningham said.
General health screening was also provided during the outreach with the help of 12 local doctors and nurses.
Missionary Raegan Glugosh, who coordinated the medical outreach with the assistance of missionary associate Ann Marie Rutherford told AG News, “To be able to offer health care services without charge was a tremendous testimony and gave us an opportunity to share the love of Christ in a tangible way.”
“Health care and health screening services are still difficult to obtain in Romania, and most families do not have the resources to pay for their medical needs,” Glugosh said.
According to AG News, more than 670 people accepted Christ as their Savior during the COH event. Local pastors are now providing follow-up and discipleship training, and 60 new families now are attending area churches.
Since 1994, Convoy of Hope has served in the United States and around the world providing disaster relief, building supply lines and sponsoring outreaches to the poor and hurting in communities. During a COH outreach, free groceries are distributed, job and health fairs are organized and activities for children are provided.
