April 2026
Bucharest International Church: Challenges, Victories, and Prayers
Challenges:
- So many changes and tensions that are not so difficult individually, but the number of continuous events create weariness.
- Economic anxiety: Romania has the highest EU inflation, 4 times the average of other EU countries. With war in the Middle East, prices of diesel increased 25% in 2 weeks.
- Political disorder: 1 in 4 people consider leaving Romania in the next 2 years.
- Geographically next to Ukraine, drones are now seen flying through the eastern regions of Romania.
- Though the root of the name Bucharest is ‘bucur’ or ‘joy’ the city is a ‘joy suction’ for many.
Victories:
- Peace, purpose and joy in all BIC cultural language groups.
- The International English-speaking church may be the most dynamic in the last several years with new people, more getting involved, new relationships formed, and many children.
- A solid team and continuing growth in the Nepalese gathering. Pastor Boaz, after 25 months of bureaucratic delays, received his Romanian visa, and returned to Bucharest, to his wife and the congregation last week.
- A Ukrainian lady entered the BIC Activity Center courtyard looking agitated. She had heard about BIC from someone who attended two years ago but had moved back to the Ukraine. Within three minutes she had been welcomed, introduced to Vera, our Ukrainian liaison, and was crying, sharing her story, and receiving the help she needed.
Prayer:
- That the leadership, rather than being overwhelmed, would connect with the peace and confidence that God is in control and everything is under his careful watch.
- A strengthening of the team as many core participants move away on new assignments.
- The establishment of a new Romanian language community to reflect the name ‘Biserica Bucuriei București’ (Bucharest Church of Joy). Pray that a part of their testimony would be joy, a fruit of the Spirit, and be based on God’s strength and not in circumstances.
Reaching Out Romania Update with Director Iana Matei
The ‘Lover Boy’ Method: a highly relevant and underdiscussed topic among students and parents
The latter part of March, Iana travelled to northeastern Romania to speak with students and parents in two local high schools about the “Lover Boy” recruitment method of human trafficking. Through this method the recruiter targets and lures a vulnerable young girl into a false romantic relationship, creates an emotional and physical dependency, then coerces the victim into sexual exploitation.
Teachers, parents and students all indicated that the theme is highly relevant and under-discussed and were appreciative that they were able to talk openly about human trafficking. Numerous questions were raised and good participation took place during the interactive discussions and role-based activities.
Iana will do follow-up sessions as requested and make available a clear teaching module that explains the indicators of trafficking risk, the psychological manipulation stages, real-life scenarios and clear pathways to receive help.