March 2025
The Bucharest International Church Easter Celebration
“When there is so much tension among countries, it is lovely to see the healthy interactions that take place when many nations come together in worship in an international context,” Pastor Cristi shared with us when describing the Easter services.
A multi-national team leads the congregation in worship
Parents, with their children, had great moments of connection as they moved through five different stations that represented key aspects of the Easter story.
Parents guide their children through the Easter story
Togetherness Among City Pastors
Pastor Cristi joined with five of his fellow ministers and their congregations to celebrate Easter Friday together. The Bucharest International Church (BIC) has many years of shared activities in this Baptist facility where, during the years of former dictator Ceausescu, armed communist soldiers stood in the four corners of the church during the meetings to monitor all events and conversations. Now, working together, the city pastors host conferences and seminars in the building, have a base to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, and have collected supplies for dozens of convoys that have gone into the Ukraine. In a more personal context, we have had the great joy to baptize dozens of people in their baptistry over the years.
Pastor Cristi (left front) with city pastors
Easter Friday service
Dora crosses Europe on foot to aid Reaching Out Romania
Dora Alcover was just ten years old when her mother died of breast cancer. It has been her dream to honour her mother’s life by helping others. She has given herself a major challenge: to be the first person to cross Europe on foot, in high platform heels. Dora’s journey began in Barcelona, where she was born and spent the first year of her life. She has presently passed Toulon, France with plans to walk from there to Reaching Out Romania’s lavender farm in Craiova, some 3000 km away.
Dora’s trek to raise financial support for the prevention of human trafficking
More than a personal feat and a tribute to her mother, the mission aims to raise funds to fight the sexual exploitation of women and children. Dora heard of the work of Reaching Out Romania, contacted director Iana Matei, and is forwarding any contributions from ‘Go Fund Me’ to reach children who live in vulnerable communities.
“I can’t believe that someone is doing this for Reaching Out Romania and for me!” commented Iana in a recent video call with us. Iana’s present focus is to set up an after-school program that invests in the lives of at-risk children and that keeps them safe from abuse, alcohol, drug consumption and human trafficking.
Having left her previous home in Quebec seven years ago to travel the world, Dora still proudly wears a tuque adorned with a fleur-de-lis and an ‘I love Quebec’ sweater. Our hope, in September, is to be at the lavender farm in Craiova to welcome Dora when she arrives at her destination and achieves her goal.