March 2009 Update

2 Timothy 2:15, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

One of the focuses that we have been trying to address within our own fellowships and all of the Calvary Chapel's Romania is giving our people a better understanding of the Bible as a whole. For the most part, in Romania, people either do not have any understanding of the Bible especially coming from a Orthodox background or they have only a partial understanding because they have only been taught topically. One of our goals is to teach the whole counsel of God. So we have started having some classes where we invite different Calvary pastor's to come and teach on a specific subject to help people understand their bible better. This month a good friend of mine Florin Enescu from Calvary Chapel Bucuresti, came and taught an overview of the entire bible. We had a great turn out for both days. Our church responded really good to the sessions that were taught. It allowed them to see who wrote the books, when they were written, the purpose behind why they were written and how that book specifically fits into the Bible as a whole, I was very pleased to see people with pens in hands taking notes and listening closely to what was being shared. Earlier I was talking to the church and was encouraging them if you don't know what the pieces of the puzzle are for and how they fit together then you never are going to see the big picture of what the bible is about. Calvary Chapel Bistrita sponsors the sessions in the North, which works out really well because it allows more people to come and participate without capacity limitations on vehicles or long 8 hour drives to go to a conference for 1 day.

In other news this month I am pleased to announce that Ryley Joy Fouts was born on March 11th at 2:51 PM she was 21.65 inches long and weighed 7lbs 6oz. Cynthia and the baby are doing great and its been a lot of fun to see the older kids fight over who gets to play with her next. It was a real answer to prayer for this private clinic to come to Bistrita. The clinic is about 10 minutes away from our house and the facilities and staff were on par with the states. Ryley is adjusting nicely to our crazy house and seems to be happy to just eat and sleep. Unfortunately we had to take a trip to Bucuresti to complete the paperwork for her American citizenship, because they closed the office in Cluj, but everything went well and we should be receiving her passport in the next couple of days.

Praise Report:

Cynthia and Ryley are doing great.

Adriana and Vasi are expecting a boy.

Prayer requests:

Prayer for the upcoming marriage conference that Brian is teaching on the 10th through the 11th

Prayer for Brian who is teaching a conference on April 21st in the south. Pray that the Lord would place on Brian;s heart what he wants the people to hear.

Pray for more mentors for the kids in New Beginnings. The ones that we have are doing a great job but we still need more people from the church to step up.

Health issues:

Ionela and Liana mom is in failing health. She is saved but pray for strength for the family

Mitica hurt his back

Pray for Carmen who entire family is having health problems. Pray for peace and strength for her since she is the only Christian in her family.

Cipri's Dad had leaukemia.