2008-10-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

Calciu Dumitreasa

Ortodox

Inchis 22 ani

Horia Cosmovici

Greco - Catolic

Inchis 18 ani

Tertulian Langa

Greco – Catolic

Inchis 17 ani

Richard Wumbrand

Luteran

Inchis 14½ ani

Silvestru Prundus

Greco - Catolic

Inchis 12½ ani

Matei Boila

Greco - Catolic

Inchis 10 ani

Bela Balog

Reformat

Inchis 9 ani

Constantin Tudose

‘Oastea Domnului’

Inchis 7 ani

Constantin Galeriu

Ortodox

Inchis 7 ani

Dumitru Staniloaie

Ortodox

Inchis 7 ani

Sandor Szilagy

Reformat

Inchis 7 ani

Ferenc Visky

Reformat

Inchis 6 ½ ani

Sofian Boghiu

Ortodox

Inchis 6 ani

Ioan Giurgi

Ortodox

Inchis 5 ani

Kalman Szetlaki

Reformat

Inchis 4 ani

Maria Deme

Prizonier voluntar

4 ani intr-un sat inchisoare

Sabina Wurmbrand

Sotia pastorului Wurmbrand

Inchisa 4 ani

Constantin Caraman

Pentecostal

Inchis 15 luni

Vasile Vadan

Baptist

Inchis 15 luni

Iosif Ton

Baptist

Interogat timp de 6 luni

Elisabeta Ton

Sotia Pastoului Ton

Persecutata

The Romanian heroes of the faith are exceptional successes of the work God is doing in the world…creating those who can love, who become nurturers for others, who have prepared themselves to rule and reign as the Bride of Christ. Their ‘vital Christianity’ has inspired and challenged us, and I hope you, to think big…bigger…to think huge. To have overcome such impossible obstacles with love, with forgiveness, even with joy…to serve others while suffering themselves…this demands that I, in my freedom, do my best, my ultimate best, to make every day count, to stretch my dreams, to dare to love. They have demanded of my life that I tackle huge dreams. I can’t escape their example. Their inspiration, their hugeness, swallows me and continually provokes to good works. They make me, I hope they make you, stretch and aim for the moon.
Those of us who were privileged to spend time in their presence experienced their nurturing first hand. Father Sofian simply imparted peace to us. We knew why many would gather around him in prison. Some felt just the touch of his hand could heal. Sabina Wurmbrand’s sparkling wit and deep inner beauty left us feeling we had been in the presence of a queen. Father Cosmovici’s childlikeness…for much of the interview he kept us laughing… left us feeling we may be taking ourselves a little too seriously. But about God’s business, such as not having the word, ‘enemy’, he couldn’t be more serious. Till his departure for glory, scores would daily line up at his door for counsel, for food for their souls. Sandor’s glee was absolutely infectious. Caraman’s humility kept us needing to remind ourselves how honored we were he consented to be interviewed. He made us feel he was the one being honored. The look in Maria’s eyes as she recalled ‘holding Jesus in our hands’ will never leave us. There was a depth to Father Galeriu and Bela Balog that continues to challenge us…to be able to say, honestly, words similar to theirs…‘the gift of the interior life is unspeakable’…‘Enter your little room, your heart, and you’ll meet God’s holy angels, you’ll meet God Himself.’

We will continue to do our utmost to fulfill what we are certain is Holy Spirit’s burden…that the treasures, the wisdom and nurturing, they offer the Body of Christ, be provided to as many as possible by as many means as is feasible. Pastor Wurmbrand’s books, video tapes of his sermons and Sabina’s book, ‘The Pastor’s Wife’, changed our lives. They are available through the ministry they founded, ‘The Voice of the Martyrs’. Michael Bourdeaux’s brilliant books about the persecuted church in Russia, especially ‘Risen Indeed, Lessons In Faith From The USSR’ and ‘Aida Of Leningrad’ are available through the ministry he founded, The Keston Institute.

May God richly bless you as we persevere in God’s training program for eternity.

Postscript