From The Crossley's
July 2002 Report
Full House (Casa Plina)
Attendance has been very good at Full House this month and we've had some of
our best meetings ever. Through this minisry we've been able to minister to
Brasov's outcasts, the prostitutes, the underground culture and drifters who
are otherwise unapproachable. Though the response to gospel has been low, the
majority of those who attend at least learn the gospel message very well. We
have had a third undergrounder saved. His name is Mugarel and he wants to be
baptized. Amazingly he's very talented musically. Since it's hard to find musicians
free to minister without payment I am hoping to utilize him for several ministries.
The Full House ministry has prospered to the point that it's divided into two
ministries. Since most of the people attending now are adults, we've begun a
new ministry "Little Flock", targeted back toward the street children
that Full House was originally targeted for. Our first meeting had only 7 attend,
but by the thrid meeting we we were up to 15. We're not sure if we will be able
to continue this ministry once school starts because the children come to Brasov
at different times of the day during the school year. It's very hard to coordiante
the hours where workers and kids can both be there. At present the workers for
Little Flock have been the kids in our Children's Home and one other Romanian.
The Full House workers continue to help fund the ministry sacrifically and continue
to serve volentarily even though this ministry involves health risks. It has
proven to be a very useful minstry to develope in it's workers the Christ oriented
perspective.
Children's Home
It has been a month of trials. Because of our recent move to a new rental house
we have been without internet and have no idea how long it will be before we
will be on-line again. Please be patient with our communication delays. We've
found that the orphans don't handle change well and the move has brought on
some emotional problems. Things do seem to be stabilizing some now. Meanwhile,
the new Landlords, who live next door have been very intrusive, entering unannounced
and freely roaming the house dispite requests that they obtain permission before
doing so. They already want to raise the rent, and we discovered after moving
in that they have an illegal store which provides alcohol for groups of men
to sit in the front yard and drink way into the night. As upsetting as another
move will be to the kids we feel we have no choice. We thought for a while we
might have found an alternative house to move to, but the financial situation
felt rather risky and we decided to pass it up.
Due to the distance to Brasov, and our dependance on busses to get to and from
chruch the family is only able to attend Sunday morning services. I and Alex
go on Sunday evenings and then on to the evangelism meeting at Harmon., while
Tamyra has a discipleship time with the kids back in Bran. This situation may
turn out for good. Since we can't take the family for midweek services we have
devoted Tues. and Fri. evenings to family worship and training times for the
Children's Home. This has allowed us extra time for christinan training of the
children God has placed in our care. They have been learning and applying principles
of prayers, the 10 commandments and christian virtures as well as memorizing
the order of the books of the Bible. We are also training them how to actually
find the books in the Bible. We are very thrilled with their progeress and are
convinced even more than ever that the highest potential for ministry is in
the Home.
Three of the children recently saved in our home now serve at the new Little
Flock ministy where they are learning how to serve without expecting anything
but the reward of the joy of service.
We have a new addition to the family. Alex is 21 and was abondoned by his mother
when just a small child. His father died a few years ago leaving him completly
on his own for the last few years. With no family. He managed to finish high
school this year and needs a home and family to help him discover and persue
God's purpose for his life. He's very well mannered and shows sincerity in his
christian life. He regularly accompanies me to evangelism meetings and did so
even before coming to live with us.
Evangelism Team
After our second month of meetings I'm thrilled to share we've had 32 professions
of faith so far. We regularly have about 12 workers go on Sunday evenings. With
two disappointing exceptions they all work without any American salary and usually
return from the meetings talking exciteldly about the thrill of participating
in God's work. I believe this spiritual high is exactly what's needed to compel
people to serve just for the joy of knowing you are a co-worker in the most
awsome project ever undertaken; the salvage of humanity. I honestly wish everyone
one of you could have been there from the very beginning. To give you a birds
eye view of the process of foreign mission work, I've outlined the Evangelilsm
project in Harmon from it's inception.
Dec. 2001: I began recruiting and teaching prospective workers.
Feb. 2002: Had the first meeting with the Mayor of Harmon to inform him of
our intent anf began holding strategy meetings with lthe recruited evangelism
team workers.
March 2002: Had a second meeting with the Mayor of Harmon. Later had a third
meeing and were given approval of Mayor and village council to do evangelistic
work in Harmon.
April 2002: Evangelism Team member found a possible location to rent for evangelistic
meetings.
May 2002: At an Evangelism Team meeting we decided to abondon the original
meeting place format and try somethng more suited to Romanian culture, neighborhood
outdoor ewvangelistic services.
June 2002: Began weekly evangelistic meetings in two seperate locations and
the Romanian preacher made personal contacts for follow up home visits. Five
people were saved.
July 2002: Evangelism Team tried and third location and 27 people were saved
- 5 are requesting baptism. We continue to have weekly in home meetings as well.
After spending several months of prayer, planning, meetings and teaching, it's
wonderful to come again with rejoicing brings with me my sheaves, as well as
yours! For you all are partakers both in the sowing and in the reaping of the
Romanina village of Harmon. Because of your commitment 32 souls have eternal
life. The project has not escaped the attention of the adversary, however, In
mid July I experienced my first religious riot when some atagonists disrupted
a meeting right after 13 people were saved. The adversary has retreated for
the time being. I can't help looking over my shoulder, however, and wondering
from which direction will he next attack. Of this much I am certain. As I conclude
this report, even now he is roaming about, seeking whom he might devour.
With grace unearned,
Brian Crossley
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