Our Romanian SA Welcome

So, its well over a week since I returned from Romania and I thought I’d give it a week to let it all sink in before I blog it. I went for the 5th Anniversary of the Salvation Army opening in Romania with a retired officer in our corps who has been involved in the Army’s work there for the whole 5 years. All I can say is that it really impacted me in a way nothing has before since my conversion…so its big!

I absolutely love what God has done amongst those people…they have such a passion for Him. And amazingly, it seems that aout 70% of the soldiers in Romania are between 15 and 24! Hallelujah! Not only that, they are very much alive in their faith, passionate in worship and the faces shine love for Jesus. That is no exaggeration.

There are just tooooo many amazing things to share, but I just gotta share a few things that really moved me. The first was just before the first meeting of the congress. We had just finished lunch and A/Captain Muriel had hold of my arm as I walked her over to the main hall. We went in a first set of doors, through a second set and then, there before us lining this huge grand old staircase were about 30 young salvationists, in full uniform (of sorts) smiling and saluting. Not only that, the harsh sound of a brass band from the top of the stairs blasting out “O How good is the Lord” meant that I couldnt hold back tears!

In Worship

Why was I crying? Because God has saved these beautiful young people and they were delighted to be part of God’s Salvation Army. When I got to the top of the stairs I cried all the more…about 30 more young Moldovan salvationists playing the oldest, most tattered instruments yuo have ever seen, in all sorts of bits of uniform, but making the most glorious bright sound, praising God because he was good with all the enthusiasm they could muster.

Moldovan Salvation Army Band



I thank God that he has made warriors of these young people, that they have grasped the essence of salvationism…passion for Jesus.

The second most striking thing for me was a conversation I had with one girl, Roxana Kozlovsky. She said to me “I think I know what God sees about young people in Britain…I think he sees them rich in money but poor in heart.” The prophetic truth of those words hit me so much and my tears this time were tears of grief for the poverty of some of our own young people in The Salvation Army today. How have we let faith get so cold?

Another conversation, another young girl in her late teens I guess…”I just can’t wait to be a Salvation Army officer” she said.

So, just a few little happenings…but what did God say to me at the weekend? Well, lots of things. He laid it on my heart to support four young people in the process of becoming officers. He laid it on my heart to support the two corps there in prayer and financially whenever I can. He laid on my heart a love for Romanian Salvationists in general and I know and feel that Tracy and I must listen to God’s heart and be open to serving there if that is what he wills. Two people gave me a word of prophecy whilst I was there and I must be obedient to test them and seek God’s will.

I hope we will be able to make a couple of trips next year to see exactly in what ways God is calling us to support the Army their. Even if he is not calling us to live and minister there, I sensed a definite call to support the ministry of the two corps. May God’s will be clear and be done!

I have invited my four young Romanian salvationists over to the UK to attend Roots this year. If you’d like to help financially, please send cheque!

yours in Jesus

Andrew