Teaching Romanian-Speakers in Greece

For the past two years, our family lived and served in the Republic of Moldova because we believe that God wants all peoples to worship him in Christ. There, I taught and trained young people whom I am convinced will be used mightily by God to reach that country for years to come. They have humble hearts enflamed by a passion for the gospel and have received a firm foundation of biblical truth. During my last days with them, I admonished them with words like 1 Timothy 4:16: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 

Throughout the Bible, and especially in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, we learn that our salvation—and the salvation of the lost around the world—depends on the purity of biblical teaching. This great truth was one of the reasons that compelled me to leave Moldova and continue my studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I am humbled by the opportunity to study God’s precious Word, especially considering that so many of our brethren around the world do not have such opportunities. Unfortunately, this theological famine is resulting in a growing number of errors and heresies in churches around the world.

My great privilege and the great need of our brethren has compelled me to follow God’s leadership by partnering with Training Leaders International (TLI), a young organization connected to both the Gospel Coalition and Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. TLI desires to send pastors and seminary students to equip and train church leaders around the world.

From January 5-15, I will be traveling with TLI to Athens, Greece. Our team of 6-7 will be teaching church leaders from the substantial immigrant and refugee populations living in that ancient city. Because of my experience in Moldova, I will be teaching the Romanian-speaking church leaders. I am convinced that in order to reach the people of Romania and Moldova, we must reach the Romanian-speaking immigrants throughout the world. Many people estimate that 1/4 of the population of Moldova lives and works outside the country, mostly in the European Union and Russia. 

By teaching a course on the attributes of God, I hope that we can help the Romanian-speaking pastors to “keep a close watch on themselves and on the teaching” in order to reach others in their community and even their fellow immigrants who have come from the closed countries of Africa and the Middle East.

I want to first and foremost ask for your prayers. Please pray that God would be glorified by the spirit of our team, that God would use us to encourage and edify the leaders of the immigrant churches in Athens, and that God would provide for the needs of our team according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Secondly, I want to give you the opportunity to become a partner in this work by helping to fund the expenses for this trip. The approximate cost for my portion is $2,500, and, with the trip only a few months away, I am trusting that God will move quickly to meet this need.

You can give online through TLI. All gifts are tax deductible. If you have any questions feel free to email me at josh@gospellife.org.

Continue checking in here to see how God works.