Fouts Family in Romania: Summer update part 2

As I sit here writing this as we are winding down our summer. Next week school starts, all of the kids are busy running around town shopping for school clothes and shoes. Walking by the school that our kids attend. You find academic teachers, and music teachers meeting potential students who are eager to find a home for the school year. Even the weather here has changed, gone is the heat of summer, the days are still pleasant but there is the slight tinge of coolness that hints at what is to come.

We finished the summer strong by hosting the band The New Divide, who never disappoint. It has been such a blessing to work with these guys and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them in the years to come. We were hoping to have the city give us the main stage this year again during City festival like last year but due to scheduling conflicts it just did not work out. I personally believe the Lord has different plans this year. We were granted permission to have the band perform in the main park in the city from 5:00 in the evening to 7:00. Which during the summer is the perfect time to play music in the park because it is full of people, especially during the week long city festival. We had 100's of people either standing and listening or walking by and watching or sitting on park benches while the band played. And after every song, Andy did a great job of sharing the Gospel message clearly.

One of the things that really stood out for the people who were watching and listening was when the band would take a break in between sets of songs. They would actually meet and talk with those who were around them. I was talking with one university student, who in her words, "had been to many concerts." But had never seen a band that was so approachable. Another girl who attended, who shared that she had nothing to do with the Orthodox Church but wants to come and check out our church because we are so different.

That has been our vision and prayer for this outreach is that we would find ways to reach into the community through the medium of music. The other goal of this type of outreach has been to be a catalyst for local like-minded churches to reach out to the community as well. Over the last 2 years that we have been doing these concerts we have received help from different local churches in supplying instruments, amps, and sound equipment that we don't have to help and some of the young men even offered to help with setup and tear down.

Andy and I were talking and praying about planning a larger concert for a day, where we would have multiple bands come and play. With this idea, we are hoping to involve local Romanian bands as well. During the course of our conversation, I saw a pastor from one of the local churches watching the concert and went over and greeted him. During our conversation, I shared with him our vision for why we host a concert every year. He shared with me that bands from local church typically will not work together because of differences between the churches. But if we were to invite them it might work. So we are praying and if the Lord is willing to host and work with the city to setup a one-day music festival and see what God does.

The New Divide in the park

People enjoying the music

The New Divide in the Park

The New Divide leading worship Sunday Morning

Prayer Requests:

Pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted during the concert. That they would produce lasting fruit in the lives of those who heard it.

Pray the Lord would go before us in the planning and give us favor with the local authorities to all us to continue to reach out to the community and that we would be a catalyst for local Romanian Christian bands to want to be involved in reaching their community.

Pray as Cynthia and I have been invited next year to a missions leadership conference in France to share with new missionaries with families. Prayer for the Lord to place on both of our hearts what would be an encouragement to them.

Lastly, pray for the finances to fly back this coming summer of 2018. To visit with family and reconnect with local churches.

As always if you interested in keeping up with us on social media. Please use the following means.

Blog: romaniafouts.blogspot.ro

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email: bcfouts1@gmail.com