Missions Corner: From Susan Stone in Romania

Preparing students, equipping grads, mobilizing young professionals to follow Christ at work

Recent Reflections
In a Pentecost sermon last Sunday I was particularly struck by the pastor’s mention of how we ARE NOT supposed relate to the Holy Spirit, as a means of clarifying how we ARE supposed to relate to him. We ARE NOT not to grieve him, quench him, resist him or lie to him. Thus, at any given moment, in any decision throughout the day we ARE [my interpretation] to please God, allow him to work in and through us, go along with his program in and through us and to be true to Him, ourselves and others. May God give us grace to “train [ourselves] to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7,8) in this way!

Spring Ministry Activities
Please find below a few representative highlights from my travels in the Spring in the form of photos and captions. In each of the seven towns I visited in Romania I did Transition seminars and ProImpact discussions, along with other activities I did with students and grads. Enjoy!

Berlin, Germany – Biannual meeting of IFES Graduate Ministry leaders (March). Bible Study, reports, problems & solutions, action plans for European Grads projects, proposal for an IFES global initiative and regional conference planning. I was the official note-taker. The leaders pictured here are from Italy, Ukraine, Latvia, Moldova, Belarus, Lithuania, Georgia & Albania.

Sirnea, România – Annual 4-day “Equipping” Meeting of Local & National Student Ministry Leaders (March) – Updates from local groups & national projects, evaluation & planning, training in inductive Bible Study, support-raising and creativity in ministry; launching of a new evangelistic tool, prayer for each leader. As a member of the exec team I helped plan meeting, coached a couple of national leaders in their responsibilites and did the workshop on creativity in ministry.

Craiova, România – Transition Seminar for graduating college seniors (May). Biblical perspective of career, CVs and Job Interviews and a panel discussion of grads about challenges faced in their first year after university. Pictured in the photo (left to right) are Stefan, Daniel, Florin, I and Catalin.

Câmpina, România – “Extra-curricular Week” at a Vocational Highschool (April 2013). I did a seminar on “Finding your colors” with some of the girls (and five teachers) and “schmoozed” with teachers – supporting Mihaela’s (OSCER grad) “salt and light” ministry there as a school psychologist and guidance counselor. Here Mihaelas students try to figure out whether one of their teachers looks better in “warm”.or “cool” colors.

Spring Ministry Activities
Please find below a few representative highlights from my travels in the Spring in the form of photos and captions. In each of the seven towns I visited in Romania I did Transition seminars and ProImpact discussions, and also photos of other activities I did with students and grads. Enjoy!