SPOTLIGHT ON MISSIONS: Bryan & Pam Risner • Romania

March and April were busy with some planned and some not-so-planned ministry opportunities. We were very blessed to have our second annual International Women’s Day Banquet, to spend time with Larry and Tammy Wood and to continue our work with the Agape Church plant. In addition, the Risners and Candra took a few days to retreat for planning, preparations and prayer for the next 18 months of ministry.

The Risner girls will be home on May 7 and stay until July 19. Landon will be coming for a visit at the end of June. We have an upcoming international mission trip to Zambia at the end of May, the Grace Russellville team is coming to serve with us in July, church camp in August and a transition from a building to in-home meetings for Agape Church on June 1.

• Evangelism Training — Bryan taught a class on relational Evangelism. May 1 was Romania’s Labor Day. Agape Church was challenged to invite a guest to the forest, where we grilled and fellowshipped together.

Santandrei Kids’ Ministry — Lavi Hamouch (Walid) continues to work with the Gypsy kids in Santandrei. For two meetings, only one student attended the program. We felt discouraged and considered stopping the program, but God heard our prayers. We had all been praying about our next meeting, and we had children to show up – 15 younger kids and 2 teen boys. We sang together, Lavi taught them about Zacchaeus, and we colored pages from our story.

• Youth Program at Agape — All Agape programs will meet in homes beginning June 1. We transitioned our teens to in-home meetings last week. We will meet at our home each Friday. We had two first-time guests (teen boys) last week.

• Tetchea Kids’ Program — Marius and Adina Porumb have begun ministry at the BMA Church plant in Tetchea. We attend once a month to encourage them in that work. A special thank you to Martha Miller and Melinda Crowder from New Harmony Church in Tyler, Texas for the dresses we were able to share with the children there. Adina has a huge heart for the kids in Tetchea. I sat quietly and watched Adina tearfully teach Rebeka about forgiveness. Rebekah’s family and another family were having a hard time getting along in the village. The two girls came to church angry with each other and had a tough time in the kids’ program.

• Visit with the Woods — Larry and Tammy Woods visited with our BMA Family in Brasov, Romania. We were excited to drive them to Brasov and enjoy an evening with Cristian, Vanessa, Ethan and Joellen Martinez and Sara Filimon. We were excited to hear how the church plant there is growing and about their upcoming summer plans.

• Africa Update from Spring Trip — Bryan gave a presentation to the Agape church about our trip to Africa and challenged Agape to join in on international mission work, as well as national and local work. After this presentation, two members have committed to attending the summer trip, the children’s department has saved money for Bibles for Africa, money for 21 milk goats has been raised and a summer 2025 team is in the works. In addition, we have mission work underway for the summer in our city and in South Romania for the fall of this year.

• Gifts for International Women’s Day — Our theme this year was, “When life seems sour, add gratitude.” We decorated this year with citrus fruits and fresh tulips. We also had little journals made at a local office that support young women in need. International Women’s Day was on March 8. However, we celebrated this year on March 12. We had approximately 40 ladies in attendance. We challenged each of our Agape ladies to invite a non-church attending or someone who doesn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Candra and I decorated for the event and Bryan and Candra cooked the meal. The program consisted of a time of worship, a guest speaker who encouraged us to trust Jesus and lean into him during hard times, our meal, games and craft time.

• Woods’ visit to Agape Church — In April, the Woods visited with our Agape Church Planting team.

• Woods visited with our BMA Family in Salaj County — We were very blessed to drive Larry and Tammy to Salaj County and enjoy a meal together with Bogdon, Daniela and Naiomi Bilav. They do great work with Lifeword and the Gypsy afterschool program there.

• Praise Reports — We rejoice and give thanks for the following: the International Women’s Day Banquet was a success, Labor Day (May 1) outreach was a success, the baptism of three candidates, Csilla and Ileana accepted Christ, first-time guests to Agape church service and teen program, kids’ completion of their freshmen year, 21 milk goats for Zambia (all funds are from Romanians), financial support for the international mission trip to Zambia, financial support to bring our kids home for the summer, our prayer and financial partners and the opportunity to serve in Romania.

• Prayer Needs — We ask that you join us in prayer for the following: Agape Church June 1 transition to in-home meetings; all attendees to fully commit to the church; international mission trip to Zambia (May 30-June 14); Grace Baptist Church, Russellville’s short-term Mission Team (July 9-19); Church Camp (July 29-Aug. 3); monthly local mission work; scholarship finances for gypsies and families for church camp; fall mission trip to South Romania; salvation for my friends (Carla, Anette and Vivienne); Melody and Lindsey flying to Romania on May 6 and God’s blessing on the Gypsy Children’s Ministry and Return Church (Brasov) Plant.