Romanian Convention in Seattle
Mission Trip to Alaska
August 30^th – September 7^th, 2012

For over four decades, Romanian immigrants from the USA and Canada have met together for a few days during the Labor Day holiday weekend to participate in a time of fellowship and spiritual refreshment. This is done at various locations each year as is set by the pastoral boards of convention. Pastor Vasile Antemie and his church, First Romanian Pentecostal Church from Seattle, organized and coordinated the 44^th Pentecostal Convention this year. My wife Brandusa and I had the privilege to participate and to have a great time of revitalization. The theme of this convention was from the book of Joshua 24:15 titled ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15Because in this age of disintegration of morals and family values, the pastor coordinator with his team were inspired with the right theme at the right time. For three days and nights, the whole congregation (of over 3,000 people) was inspired by the word of God that was preached by different pastors from all over the country and Canada. Vibrant songs were sung by the choir and special groups that focused on the same theme.

We all recognize and agree with the Bible that the human being has failed short of the Glory of God and we are empty and feel a void in our life without God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23God lives in the glory and communicates with mankind through His glory. When man fell from the glory of God, the paradise was lost and that brought emptiness, non-fulfillment, dissatisfaction, non-thankfulness, anxiety, fear, sickness, death and many other losses. Human beings tried to work everything independent of God (which cannot be done) and that is why so many problems today affect families. When man fell, he took his eye off from God and focused it on the material things. Man tried to find happiness through material things which creates a false worship and reality and affects every area of their life. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:25God always keeps in mind the well-being of mankind and restoration of family; which was why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to restore our relationship with Him. “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” Romans 5:17Restoration of relation with God brings harmony and fulfillment in every area of life including family. The last book of the Old Testament, (Maleahi) speaks about turning the hearts of parents toward their children and vice versa.“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6Sin and disobedience against God causes rebellious hearts which creates tension in the family. At this convention, the word of God was preached and delivered with such authority that brought restoration of God’s relation (which was ignored in many families) and revitalization to them as well. God always (from the Old Testament) exhorts His people to serve Him (YHWY) and only Him. He promised that when people will serve Him, He will bless their food, water and depart the sickness from among them.“And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” Exodus 23:25People that make the commitment and determination to serve only God, encounter His presence which makes the difference in their life and family.I want to thank God for His real manifested presence during this convention that healed the relation in many families. Our missionary family also held a conference on Saturday morning, where active missionaries were present and gave testimony on how God works in their mission field. I thank God for the guidance and inspiration that He gave to me during this time of being an active instrument in His hand to reach the unreached people in many nations. With this occasion, I had the privilege to thank the whole Romanian community for the involvement in the project of building the church in Haiti and fulfilling that project in July 22, 2012.

At the mission conference, we were empowered and inspired by each other to move forward as the Lord guides us in the future. I met many brothers and sisters in Christ (that I know from the area where I grew up in Romania) and they shared their testimony about their family and ministry. I was able to present the Mission Reports book to some of them. I passed letters of thanks to the pastors and leaders of the churches that were involved in the church building project in Jacmel, Haiti. This convention was a way to nourish and strengthen the spiritual condition. After days of spiritual blessings, we continued with a picnic on Monday (the Labor Day), in Lake Sammamish State Park where we nourished our body with traditional Romanian food.

Hope for Alaska

Two years ago, on my trip to the Philippines, I met Pastor Jack Benson from Fairbanks, Alaska and we exchanged information and invited each other to come to speak to our churches. Time passed and I got busy with my own mission (forgetting about him). This year, our mission building was visited by Alina Voda (a missionary from Manila). She reminded me about the missionary from Alaska when she said that her mission is supported by their church. This prompted me to contact him and he made me an invitation to visit the forgotten land of Alaska which is in the northwestern part of Canada – not that far from Seattle. My desire is always to fulfill more for the Lord and I scheduled to visit Alaska after the convention.

Most authorities believe that the original discoverers of Alaska were migratory hunters from Asia. Today, Alaska and Siberia’s Chukchi Peninsula are divided by the shallow Bering Strait, 56 miles wide at its narrowest point. Descendants of those early Asian people became the three broad Native groups of present-day Alaska: Aleuts, Eskimos and Indians. Alaska is a virtual subcontinent twice the size of Texas, it contains 60% of the United States land but the population is very small. The USA purchased the land of Alaska in 1867 for less than 2 cents per acre and this became the 49^th state in 1959. Years ago, the native people believed that everything has a spirit (the land, the leaves, the water, the animals, etc.) Their tradition requires that everything should be honored in a ritual – otherwise one would have consequences. By the time of its sale to the USA, Alaska was largely a mysterious treasure and frozen land with long nights in the winter and short in the summer. Despite the conditions, other materialistic and resource interests of the Alaskan land, missionaries from England and Russia went there and taught the natives must receive Christ. The souls of the native people were cold and diverted from the presence of the Living God. With the prayers and work of the missionaries, the Holy Spirit changed the hearts of the native people and melted them and they received the fire of the Holy Spirit. I scheduled this mission trip to Alaska with the same desire to keep the fire in the hearts of people. After I purchased the ticket, I received an email from my contact (Pastor Jack Benson) that he won’t be available to accommodate me during this trip because of the emergency that came up in his life which required an urgent operation. Because the ticket was already purchased, I prayed and proceeded to Fairbanks (from Seattle) unsure of what I would do there. When I arrived, I was welcomed by brothers Jack Benson & Terry Martin (my host since Jack had to leave early next morning to the Anchorage, Alaska). Because the weather was warm in Seattle, I came unprepared for the Alaskan weather and the cold influence affected me the moment I arrived. I lodged at Super 8 motel in Fairbanks. The next day, I called some contacts that Brother Jack gave me regarding prison ministry and to my surprise, I found out that the two prisons from Fairbanks were located behind the motel. Here, I have another testimony to testify the unseen Hand of God that orchestrates and directs all things for the ministry. In that jail, a lady of over 60 years (Sister Helen Phillip) is an active Chaplain who ministers to over four hundred inmates. I was accepted that day when I arrived to minister with her to a group of inmates who were very touched by the testimony that I brought to them on how the Lord saved my life and called me to the ministry. For approximately two hours, I shared with them how to become a friend of God from being an enemy of God. Even more than a friend, Jesus called His disciples children of God. Children of God are guided by the hand of God.“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:8-10

What an encouragement it was for those inmates to begin to walk with God in all the affairs of their life. Close to this prison facility of adults was a juvenile facility but unfortunately (even though I went to the door), I was not granted access to minister because the Chaplain was not too friendly and kind to stranger he did not know.

Early in the morning of the next day, Terry Martin came and picked me up and brought me to the breakfast meeting where we were accommodated by the Friends Church. Over thirty men with different professions came to have breakfast and hear the word of God. I gave my testimony of how I escaped from communist Romania in June 1987 and how my life changed in February 1992. I also gave a short message to encourage them to live a life of endurance – with passion, purpose and perspective. The Spirit of God moved among them and they were motivated and inspired to not look at themselves to become depressed or to look at others to be distressed – but instead, to look only at Jesus Christ and be impressed everyday by His presence as he is the source of abundant life. With just a few words you can influence and change a person’s life because the Bible tells us plainly that in Christ, there is power to transform any area of your life if you partner with God. Through years of prayer, study, teaching and then applying what I learned – God has given me insight of the power of words that have changed my life. “A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.” Proverbs 12:14In order to be satisfied with goodness, we must radically proclaim life, hope, blessings, faith and encouragement to yourself and to all the people that we meet and live around us. This is what we do wherever we go and to whosoever the opportunity comes through to bless people and encourage them to become in agreement (like friends and even partners) with God who releases His power when the words of God are spoken. The miracles of God are in our mouth because we have a tremendous power when we proclaim the word of God. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21I encourage everybody to choose, to exercise that life-giving power that we are determined through our mission to speak words that will build up, encourage, declare God’s promises and attract God’s blessings. That is why we are so excited about the resources that God gave to us to change that world around us with scriptural truth that can revolutionize families, faith and ultimately shape the future. This is what I did in this short mission trip in Alaska while visiting Fairbanks and toured the largest petroleum pipe installation in the world which vertically crosses Alaska. On the way back, I stopped in Anchorage and also toured Juneau.

God has called us, sent us and we need to go. Thank you Lord for sending us, for using us and making us a blessing for others.

Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team

Eglise Du Christ Pentecostale in Orangers – Thank you letter

With thanksgiving in my heart and great appreciation to our Lord Jesus Christ who guided us and sustains us to finish and fulfill what has been started in Haiti years ago. Even though invitations were sent to all of those who participated in any way to the church building project, only eight of us were available to have the privilege and opportunity to participate to the dedication and the first convention of Eglise Du Christ Pentecostale (Pentecostal Church of Christ) in Orangers near Jacmel, Haiti. We take Jesus’ commission very seriously. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

We read in the book of Acts that the disciples of Jesus Christ acted as they received guidance and leading from the Holy Spirit. This is true today as it was at that time because God is the same; yesterday, today and forever. In our first trip to Haiti in May 2009, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to go to Haiti even though I did not know anyone there. I answered a desperate call (that was made by Pastor Joseph Jasmin), to do something which God had already planned in the spiritual realm. I answered to this call after I sought the Will of the Lord and I understood that He wanted us to go there. Haiti is located in the Canary Islands and is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. The main religion of this country is voodoo (a religion of witchcraft and demonic worship).

Mission History in Haiti

The first intention of the Romanian Pentecostal community to do a mission in Haiti was in the year 2000 with a small group of brothers in Christ from California. After their few trips to Haiti since 2000, they realized that could not continue because they could not find any faithful or serious people among the Haitians to direct any missionary/charity projects proposed. God spoke to one of those brothers to purchase a property in Haiti in order to direct and fulfill the missionary purpose but they did not move on because they got discouraged. When one of the brothers heard that I had my first mission trip in Haiti, he told me that in order to have efficiency in the missionary work in Haiti; we need to have a property. In January 12^th, 2010, Haiti was shocked from the foundation by a very strong earthquake. Many thousands died at that moment and for weeks (even for months), the deaths continued. The city of Port au Prince was one of the mostly devastated. Churches were also destroyed and this tragedy determined the Romanian Pentecostal community from the USA to have another mission to help and encourage those that lived in a very difficult condition. Members from churches in Chicago: Golgotha, Gethsemane and Elim; from Seattle: First Romanian Church; and from Portland: Betezda Romanian Church, departed on May 2010 in a mission to Haiti. The money that was raised from the Romanian Community at that time was used to buy bibles and food for those affected by the earthquake. The group decided to also purchase a land for a future church and proposed this to Pastor Jasmin from Gonaives and Pastor Médit from Jacmel. Our time to mission there was short and so we told them that we would pay for the land that is ready to be purchased. Among the places that we visited, pastor Médit knew about a land for sale in the Orangers area where he had a vision for a church that he had already started to lead in a rented building. We arrived at the site on Friday night and had available only Saturday to complete this transaction.

We also had scheduled the following: A seminar in the morning with the Christian workers from the area to officiate a baptism in the water, to purchase and distribute food for those that lived in the tents and also an evening church service. Saturday is a day that most official locations are closed for transactions but we prayed and we put a sign that if the notary from their City Hall would come to register the transaction, we would proceed and understand that it is God’s will because on Sunday, we were scheduled to be in Port au Prince for church services. God orchestrated this in such a way that the transaction was finalized at about 10 p.m. The land owner signed the contract to sell the land in the name of the church and also Blessed Hope International Mission who later became a legal non-profit organization registered in Haiti. Among the eight people that we baptized in the water that day were members converted from the Catholic Church. Catholic priests were very angry because their members converted to the Pentecostal church and so they spoke to the owner of the building where the Pentecostal church was renting space to worship God so that he would kick them out. In the month of June 2010, Pastor Médit Sanon called us very discouraged and frustrated and told us that they don’t have a place to worship anymore. A sister from the church (that lived in the area) opened her yard for the church to continue their services under a tree covered by a tarp to shield them from the weather. At the Pentecostal Convention in Atlanta, GA in 2010, I proposed to some pastors that I met there to go and help brothers from Haiti. Brothers from Nashville, TN, Texas, California, Indiana and Chicago organized themselves to start the construction of the foundation of the church at the end of September 2010. Many other groups from Romanian Pentecostal churches from Bethany Church in Chicago, Happy Valley in Phoenix, AZ, Texas and California continued the work in the months of November and December 2010. Outside the construction of the church, twenty-three orphaned children were adopted which are sponsored by many churches and families from the United States. In the year of 2011, churches from Detroit, California, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, Atlanta, Florida, Arkansas and Chicago contributed financially and physically to finalize the church building. Among the construction project, we also work through evangelization to develop new spiritual lives among Haitians. It is a joy to present and to work for Christ in other nations. We believe that God gave us this opportunity to work among Haitians not only to improve their lifestyle (which was severely affected by the recent quake and from their poverty) but also to encourage and to equip them for the service and spiritual growth.

A Vision Fulfilled

God directed us from Port au Prince to Gonaives and to Jacmel where I met Pastor Médit Sanon. God gave him a vision to start a church in a very poor area outside the city of Jacmel in the Orangers area (a mountainous and distressed area). When God guides someone to a cause, He provides for that cause. He will cause what has been established in the spiritual realm to happen in the natural realm. Pastor Médit Sanon founded a church on March 8^th, 2009 of only seven members. God blessed them and multiplied them every week in that rented place next to the Catholic Church who soon became a little concerned because some of the members moved to the new Christian church. When I met Pastor Médit Sanon, I felt the Godly connection with him and I sensed in my heart that the Lord has a purpose for that area. I saw the Love of God and the love for his people in this pastor and that encouraged me to maintain communication. God’s providence protects His people in such a way that during the earthquake that also affected Jacmel, Pastor Medit Sanon’s house did not even have one crack. His neighbor’s newly built house collapsed like a mushroom. When I heard of this, I was even more committed to the work of Jacmel. God’s invisible hand orchestrated everything to be more than we imagined. Later when we already got involved in the construction project, I see their devotion to God like the people in the Old Testament. After the basement was constructed and they were holding the divine services, I saw all the church members one morning fasting with sackcloth’s on them. Even though this is not required of the New Testament faith in Jesus Christ, some people (when they desperately seek God), they practice fasting in sackcloth. God does not despise a humble heart but he always shows Himself strong to those that their hearts are fully committed to Him.

First Pentecostal Convention in Jacmel

The echo of the completion of this church building spread to many churches in Haiti. Pastor Médit learned from the Romanian Pentecostal community about an opportunity to mobilize the churches from the area in Jacmel to meet together and to have fellowship and teaching seminars. Over two hundred Christian workers and spiritual leaders came to this new building on July 18^th – 21^st to be empowered, refreshed and on fire with the power of God. Quality time of worshipping, teaching and prayer has been spent every day in the morning and afternoon. On Friday night, the power of God moved so mightily that no one wanted to end the service. People were healed, saved and restored. The girls on our team spent time with the children teaching them and showing them love. They also prepared bags of rice and beans for the poor people. Food and drinks were provided for everyone each day of the convention. A new season in the spiritual realm began for the Jacmel area. We give all the glory and praise to the Lord. The theme of the convention was from Matthew 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Golgotha Church from Chicago provided seventy-five shirts with this verse imprinted on it. The physical church has been completed and now the spiritual lives will be a priority to be built according to 2 Peter 1:3-4. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Water Baptism in the Ocean

To those that the gospel has been preached and they believed it, accepted to be baptized in water.“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

This is the command that Jesus Christ gave to us. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16

Whenever we go around the world, we see people who are hungry for the Truth. When presented with the Gospel, the Holy Spirit moves in their hearts and they receive the Good News with great joy. Four people that received Jesus with great joy accepted to be baptized on Saturday, July 21^st 2012.

Church Dedication and Ministry Ordination

The long awaited day of the dedication finally came and over four hundred people surrounded the church building early on Sunday morning, July 22^nd waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. We want to thank the Lord who mobilized us for such a great work which would not be possible without all the teams that generously participated financially and physically worked. Accomplishing Kingdom purpose requires a team united in spirit and in mission. The Bible shows us numerous examples of ministry being teamwork: Jesus and His disciples, Apostle Paul and his team and the epistles that he wrote exhorting the body of Christ to lock arms together. This church building is a sign of God’s confirmations and mobilizations in the mission field. We are together stronger than we are apart. No one is more important than the other. This is the way I believe the Kingdom of God should operate. Pastor Medit and the whole Pentecostal board of the church, together with us, are all extremely excited to be in the newly constructed building here in Orangers, Jacmel.

The Lord spoke to Pastor Médit years ago about this work. Today, it is amazing to see His word fulfilled in the natural realm. That day was a day of celebration for what the Lord did to the community in Orangers. We can say (like the Prophet Samuel), “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”1 Samuel 7:12I preached at the dedication ceremony about the house of God and Pastor James from Massachusetts (born in Haiti), preached at ordination. On that day, seven deacons and two evangelists were ordained. I believe we will see a mighty move of the Holy Spirit in this area.

Our Return

Together with us on this mission, we had a missionary (Florin Codreanu) who came in the month of April to work with Pastor Joseph Jasmin in Gonaives. This young missionary was recovered from the streets in Romania years ago by God’s Family Mission in Buzau, RO. He received the Lord and his life was restored from ten years of living in tunnels and other misery places. He is a miracle of God regeneration and recreation. After such a great and busy week full of work and excitement, we returned Sunday afternoon to Port au Prince. The girls departed from the children with tears. On our way to Port au Prince, Pastor Médit told us about a church named Shalom who grew very fast with an attendance of 50,000 members in one service. This church is built on a hill outside Port au Prince and has benches made out of cement blocks with metal sheets held by 2x4s to protect people from weather. There is a huge improvement made on a hill to accommodate the 50,000 people and has over 200,000 people that surrendered their life to Jesus Christ in two years celebrating this month.

I was completely moved to tears when I saw that because that reminded me about a prophetic message that we received from the Lord when our team visited Haiti in April 2010. I remember we were ministering to Soldiers for Christ Church in Port au Prince and the Lord spoke to our team about Haiti having a season where the harvest will be accelerated. Two years ago, all of us sensed the fields of the harvest were ripe more than ever in Haiti. There was a special time for Haiti after the earthquake and we felt that the fruit was at a perfect ripeness. We cannot wait for another day like that because the fruit can be lost. So we all sensed this window of opportunity and we want to maximize that opportunity and allow the Lord to use us to reap that very ripe harvest. Some of us proposed to remain in Haiti for a longer time. My brother-in-law Viorel from Portland even said “Let’s go to Florida for a good meal and come back to Haiti”. Although we saw that the window of opportunity of ripe harvest, we were very limited of the language barrier and accommodation but God who brings that season prepares and calls His servants accordingly. Such servant is André Muscadin who He is using to reap the harvest before it’s too late and I was rejoicing when I saw (in the present) of what God did in only two years. Pastor André’s wife told us how someone was paid to assassinate him but the Lord showed him from the pulpit that someone had a gun and intended to do some evil. He asked him to come and repent but he was ashamed because there were 50,000 people at the service. The man who held the gun came to him on Monday (the next day) morning and confessed to him that he was the one with the gun. He testified that he could not see pastor André at the pulpit but instead only light.“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20

Final Words

Although the devil did everything he could to stop this project from happening, the Lord has been faithful and now, all of you who have prayed for all of us and financially and physically helped towards this project can now rejoice to see it done. I believe this project was a prophetic sign to this nation and not only a sign – but also a divine affirmation. We cannot help describe enough but there is an extraordinary spiritual significance that is far deeper than we even realize. God has a plan for this nation of Haiti (which was darkened by voodoo and other evils) and we (you and us) have a strategic part to play. God faithfully meets us when we show obedience to go and preach and work. Our words and actions are nothing without the Holy Spirit of God. Once we open our mouth to share the old message of Jesus Christ and eternity, God breathes life into our words as they penetrate the hearts of those that listen.

Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team

Mission Trip to Oceania
Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand & Vanuatu
Hope for the South Pacific
May 9^th – 29^th, 2012

You are welcome to rejoice with us as we have just returned from our gospel journey in the South Pacific. Just as God promised we have experienced many great things and great works through His Holy Spirit for which we give Him all the Glory, Honor and Thanksgiving. Greater things and greater works come with greater challenges and battleships. When you think of Hawaii, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand or other tropical islands, you might think of entertainment, vacation and recreation. Our team of seven missionaries went there with another perspective and purpose. The seven of us were:
Missionaries from Maui, HI:
Chaplain Robert Brown, John Henry and David Willi
Missionaries from Chicago:
John Janks, Willie Ripple, Leo Firanek and myself (Constantin Lupancu).
This mission was not a cruise ship on an adventure – rather, it was a battleship to deliver people from the bondage and slavery of sin. Praise God that throughout the mission trip, I have seen His great grace and strength working in us as we surrendered our will to Him through various situations, challenges and circumstances. We are still standing! We are still walking! We are still running! We still believe! We are still winning souls! We are not stopping! We are advancing! Doing so only by the Grace and Strength of our Lord Jesus Christ! Just as Paul says in Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” These words of Apostle Paul encourages us not to stop or slow down whenever we grow weary in what we are doing for Jesus Christ. Together let us forge forward with a heart of faith resting in His grace for greater things. Paul, one of the greatest apostles, had walked unwaveringly in all the greater things of God. He was unrelenting, unshakable and effectively completed the vision in all God had charged him to do. The vision that Chaplains for Christ International had to establish prison ministry in all the continents is on the way. Jesus asked for us to be witnesses into all the world: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Mission to Hawaii

The Big Island – Since Hawaii is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, my first stop from Chicago was in Honolulu. The Hawaiian Islands are the most remote lands on the face of the earth. They are more remote than frigid Antarctica. The Hawaiian Islands (Sandwich Islands) were first explored by the ancient Polynesians who followed the stars and swells in their primitive wooden canoes. Westerners came upon Hawaii for the first time in the 18^th century. In 1778, Captain James Cook and the ships of his third voyage (called Resolution and Discovery), sighted Oahu first and then Kauai. Hawaiians were all settled on the major islands of the chain – Hawai‘i itself (the biggest island), Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. When the islands were discovered, the basic occupation was agriculture and fishing but today, taking into consideration that Hawaii joined the United States Union on August 21^st, 1959 and having a tropical climate, it became a tourist attraction. Currently, over thirty Romanian families moved to Hawaii recently to work in the construction industry. On my way to Fiji (being soul oriented), I stopped for a few days in Hawaii on my way to Fiji to visit prisons, churches and the Romanian community there. When I arrived to the Big Island, Brother Peter Radov from Kona picked me up from the airport and brought me to his home. He is originally from Turkey but married a Romanian from the Republic of Moldova. I had a great time of fellowship in his house. A Moldovan community formed a church of worship with them on this island. I was able to visit the island and especially the capital of the island; Hilo. This city offers a lot of history and other lessons to be learned. It takes a minute for your eyes to adjust fully to let the past move into the present when you visit the Lyman Mission House. The house brings you the artifacts of the daily life of a century and a half ago and you cannot help but recognize that the New Englanders (who came in the 19^th century) had every intention of recreating their past on this distant island. Titus Coan, a missionary whose spirit was melted by the love of God for the natives, later came to the island in 1835 and a great revival started in 1837. There was an awesome reverence for what the Holy Spirit was doing. Titus Coan mentions how his wife "who's soul was melted with love and longing for the weeping natives, felt that to doubt that it was the work of the Spirit, was to grieve the Holy Spirit and to provoke Him to depart from us.''

““On the 7^th of November, 1837, the sea moved by an unseen hand had all of a sudden risen in a gigantic wave, and this wave (rushing in with the speed of a race-horse), had fallen upon the shore, sweeping everything not more than fifteen or twenty feet above the high water mark into indiscriminate ruin. It was so unexpected that no one had time to prepare for it. To Titus Coan this tidal wave was as if God was speaking to the people to "Be ye also ready." They began to listen. Titus Coan mentions how they buried the dead, "fed, comforted, and clothed the living, and God brought light out of darkness, joy out of grief, and life out of death.” He states, "Our meetings were more and more crowded, and hopeful converts were multiplied.'' This was not only the case for Hilo, but in other places on the islands that were affected by the tidal wave. People realized their need for God after coming so suddenly close to death.” The revival increased in intensity because God's mercy took place. For all involved in this Great Awakening, it was clear that God had demonstrated the reality spoken of in Zechariah 4 in their midst. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
The people in Hilo had built a museum called the Pacific Tsunami Museum which shows the history of all the earthquakes from the world and especially the tsunami causing quakes. This is a lesson for us that when something happens suddenly, we need to be more concerned about God and His Holiness because life is so fragile on this earth.
Tsunami – “…a display of the mighty power of Him who holds the sea in the hollow of His hand.”
“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Isaiah 40:12

Our prayer is so that the Lord will manifest His Mercy and pour out His Spirit like He did during that time so that another revival will start in this generation; to raise them up and take their place with God in Holiness.

Oahu – My first stop on the Oahu Island was in Honolulu. My brother-in-law’s brother, Daniel Muresan works on this island and picked me up from the airport and brought me to his apartment. On this island, because of a lot of construction developing, Romanians from IL and other states relocated and are working there. My intention was to motivate them to start a place to worship God. I visited a First Assembly of God church in Honolulu and I asked the pastor if he agrees to rent them a space where they can meet. The pastor told me if they would come and see commitment in them, he would agree to give them a space for worship. I had a great time of fellowship with some of the Romanians that I met there and encouraged them not to get cold hearted but to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and also to keep the fire burning. There were also a few Romanians from the Republic of Moldova that spoke Russian and they already started a service in the Russian language in an English church. Being in Honolulu, I remembered of the attack on Pearl Harbor that happened on the early morning of December 7^th, 1941 at 7:55 A.M. when [within 10 minutes] the city was in uproar as it was attacked suddenly by the Japanese airplanes. When I passed through the site (together with Benjamin Lucescu who is also working there), I remembered that Jesus said He would come quickly, suddenly and unexpectedly.

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37
“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.” Luke 12:39
“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:7

Maui – Chaplain Rob Brown moved with his wife to Hawaii and they settled in Maui and operated as a missionary in the local jail and also reached the unreached from this island with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He picked me up from Lahaina airport and brought me to the house which he rented. It was a great pleasure to meet him in the mission field. I visited the local church and the jail where we had the service. I preached from 1 Corinthians 15 – an old message – but God breathed new life to the people that attended. A Baptist pastor, who was sentenced for an undisclosed matter, claimed that this message motivated him to seek the Spirit of God that brings renewal and abundant life. We have to focus not only on information about God’s Kingdom but also ask God to reveal His Word to people and activate the Word in them which will bring transformation to a new creation and application and practical life with a motivation to fear and love the Lord.

There are two kinds of fear. There is that fear of the Lord; the beginning of wisdom, and is founded in love. There is also a slavish fear; a mere dread of evil and is purely selfish. This is the kind of fear which was possessed by those people spoken of in 2 Kings.
“They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.” 2 Kings 17:33
They were afraid Jehovah would send His judgments upon them, if they did not perform certain rites, and this was the motive they had for paying Him worship. Those who have this fear are supremely selfish, and while they profess to reverence Jehovah, have other gods whom they love and serve.
I prayed that the people that receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior in this prison will serve the Lord with all their strength, heart, soul, mind and body to grow in His love and knowledge and never fall away from God. As we journeyed on this island, Rob met a young couple from the Republic of Moldova which was working there in a store. I gave them a bible in Romanian to read and to be nourished and to make God their Father in this foreign land. We later visited an old prison in Maui which is currently a historic museum called the Baldwin Home. It was where the first missionary came to on this island in 1835 and influenced the life and belief in God in Lahaina City and brought outstanding contribution to the Maui community. On Tuesday May 15^th, the seven of us met in the airport of Honolulu and headed to Fiji to continue our journey.

Moloka‘i & Lana’i – are two islands which I had planned to visit before heading to Fiji but for God did not open a way to go there.

Mission to Fiji

We flew over the Pacific Ocean, and our first stop was the Christmas Island which is a desolated island in the middle of the Pacific and was used as a detention for immigration for people trying to enter Australia or other territory. From there, we continued our journey to Fiji where our contacts invited us to minister to prisons and jails in Fiji. Fiji is known for tourism and its water. Even though they have brilliant water for the body, we brought the Everlasting Water of Life. Boxes of Holy Bibles were carried by all of us and delivered to the inmates in prisons. This spring, Fiji had a very big flood which flooded the area around the Nandi airport severely and human lives were lost. Our team was there at the right time to bring words of Hope to those in prisons, churches and to assist local communities in this very special time of need following the recent floods in north and western Fiji. We visited some of the poorest communities where the need was greater than we could afford.

Aspects of the Fijian culture are similar to the Melanesian culture in the western Pacific but have stronger connection to the older Polynesian cultures such as those of Samoa and Tonga. Fiji has been a nation of many languages. Constant warfare and cannibalism between warring tribes was quite rampant and very much part of everyday life. 'Eat me!' was a proper ritual greeting from a commoner to a chief." Fijians today regard those times as "na gauna ni tevoro" (time of the devil). The ferocity of the cannibal lifestyle deterred European sailors from going near Fijian waters, giving Fiji the name Cannibal Isles, and so, Fiji was unknown to the rest of the outside world. After being dependent on the British for almost a century, the British granted Fiji independence in 1970.

The word of God (preached by missionaries), transformed them into a very passive and friendly people even though their history shows us their cruelty. This proved God’s power is real and surpasses our understanding. Pastor Paula Vakavosaki and his wife Iramo welcomed us in their home and accommodated us in a very friendly way. In this country, our team ministered to Ba Prison, Lautoka Prison and Suva Prison. The director of the prison in Lautoka welcomed us and told us that all the expertise of the professional people in recovery and correction did their best and were unable to have results as the Gospel of Jesus Christ did in transforming lives. In the morning, we held Evangelist meetings where we presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only way to Salvation. After lunch, we divided in groups and had a bible study. A lot of the inmates were touched by the Word of God and moved by the Holy Spirit to a commitment to surrender all to Him and to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Some of them confessed that they were tired of living a life without purpose and direction. Many of them grew up in a disorganized family and became victims of many temptations, many evil actions and committed all kinds of crimes. In Lautoka Prison, I met a Russian from Latvia who became a victim of drug smuggling which was caught and is waiting for his sentence. This young boy in his early 20s was very desperate, desolate, hopeless and had not spoken with his parents 6 months

since he left his country. He had his clothes torn and very worn but someone in Hawaii (about his size), donated new clothes that fitted him. Over 450 inmates in this prison heard the Good News of Jesus Christ’s transforming power. We gave them hygienic products such as soap, toothpaste and brushes. According to the director, this was the first time when someone performed such an action in that prison. The Fiji news media wrote of this act in their local newspaper. In this prison, I met George Raza (a voluntary Chaplain from New Life Ministry), had a testimony himself of God’s transforming power. He was deported from Canada (after he served 11 years in prison where he met the Lord Jesus who transformed his life) and was moved to Fiji where he now serves God as a volunteer and doing a great work. His testimony is a blessing for the inmates who are challenged by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We had service in the church that night and in the morning Brother Rob Brown held a seminary to motivate and inspire Christian workers to work as volunteers in jails and prisons around Fiji. Since Fiji is a hub for other islands, and the Romanian Community are scattered all over New Zealand and Australia, I was moved to also visit the Romanian community in Auckland, New Zealand. At the end of my mission trip, I ministered to two churches in Fiji on the last Sunday of May (Pentecost day). Due to the time zones I was switching from during my mission trip, I was blessed to take part with the churches in Fiji on their Pentecost day and also with the churches in Honolulu on their Pentecost day. I wish that every day would be Pentecost where we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us because many things in life are in need of His power in order to be accomplished. In order to have power, we need oil and fuel – without these, we will be as someone pushing a non-running car. More watts, more horsepower and the faster we will move. With God there is no energy shortage, no price increases – it is totally free. All you have to do is come and fill up. Many people are interested in God’s promises but are not interested in His presence. Many people seek His acts but not His face. What matters most is to have His presence.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
The promise of all promises is the presence of God Almighty which is the Holy Spirit with us, over us and within us.
“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Exodus 33:14-15

New Zealand

I left the team in Fiji and as I was flying to New Zealand; I was wondering if anyone would be able to pick me up from the airport since I never met anyone personally from there. I was worrying about the fact of being alone on this mission in a new country since I had not gone alone before. I felt a bit lonely and distressed and understood why Jesus appointed evangelists two by two.
“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He himself would come.” Luke 10:1
To my surprise, Aurel Antemie (a deacon from Nashville, TN) was visiting New Zealand with his wife and heard about my coming and came to pick me up from the airport. I was very encouraged and blessed the Name of the Lord who does more than what we think or expect. He is a God of surprise and mystery. His guidance and orchestration is far more superior to our abilities or schedules. If we are serious with Him, He is serious with us.
“Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the forward thou wilt shew thyself forward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalm 18:24-28
New Zealand has been explored by Pirate William Dumpier who was the first to circumnavigate the world three times. It was first discovered by Abel Tasman, a Dutchman in 1642, which sailed to Tasmania, before discovering New Zealand. A Romanian community explored this land in our contemporary age and settled there.

During this short visit, I had the privilege to meet Romanians in Auckland, New Zealand. They drove 250 kilometers to the place of worship (rented in an English Church building). There was a great love of God among them. Gheorghe Eacobuta (who is originally from Comanesti, Bacau in Romania), married Pastor Vasile Bara’s daughter (from Perth, Australia) years ago. They were moved by compassion to reunite the church among Romanians from Auckland and surrounding areas. I stayed at their house and fellowshipped with them and the church. We had a service of prayer on Saturday and Sunday evening at which time we held the Lord’s Supper. Romanians from New Zealand are working hard and also are studying to become engineers, attorneys and other high professions. I gave an interview of my testimony of God’s transforming power to the Voice of the Gospel in Auckland. Later, I had a tour through the city and surrounding areas followed by a fellowship with the Romanians at a restaurant in the evening. I then left them with the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and departed back to Fiji. At the same time, my friend Aurel Antemie went to Christ Church City (in South New Zealand), where there was a big earthquake last year. He met with more Romanians there from Christ Church City.

Mission to Vanuatu

Vanuatu is an archipelago, a Y-shaped string of 83 islands with the main islands being Efate, Espiritu Santo, Malakula and Tanna.

Efate – a timeless tropical archipelago where (even since the explorer came) the people have remained deeply attached to their culture. Known as “New Hebrides” in the Condominium days, this island group was rechristened “Vanuatu”, on July 30^th, 1980 – the day it achieved political independence and became a Republic. Because some Romanians from Portland built a church building in Vanuatu a few years ago, I was called and motivated by my brother-in-law Viorel Gromic to visit this island to see what those Christians are doing and to encourage them. I called Tom (his contact), a chief from Tanna Island, and he responded very excitedly and was happy to welcome me there. I purchased the flight ticket from Fiji to Port Vila. When Brother William Ripple (a member of the team) heard about the planned trip, he wanted to join me and purchased the ticket also. On the night that I arrived at the Nandi Airport in Fiji, George Raza (a new friend) waited for me and gave me the news that William Ripple cancelled his ticket to Vanuatu as he was unable to come because of the fear of malaria. I was a little bit disturbed by his decision that I called him in Suva, Fiji (where the other part of the team was ministering) and he concurred what I had heard. I did not want to go alone again by myself in a place where I had never been so I asked Brother George to join me even though he did not have the money to buy a ticket. In a mission where God is in total control, he orchestrates and guides for the best way possible. I stayed at his home that night at his home and told him to prepare the luggage because we are leaving tomorrow by faith and that God needs him in Vanuatu to share his testimony to the people over there. Early in the morning, I took the luggage with the things that I had prepared for Vanuatu and even though I should not forget the envelope with all the contacts information, I left them at George’s house. With joy in his heart (that he is going to Vanuatu for the first time), Brother George called John Katana (his pastor) on the way to the airport and told him of his plan on going to Vanuatu. John was a missionary from Tanna, Vanuatu and also a president of the Pacific Seminary and he knew a lot of pastors. When he heard the news, he called Rev. Bese Tevita Fong (his friend in Port Villa, Vanuatu) and told him that two missionaries are coming there. I purchased George’s ticket and even though the flight was very booked, they still accommodated him. Arriving in Port Villa airport, I looked for Tom who was supposed to meet me but he was nowhere to be found. I had no phone number to contact him. I was a little bit distraught again but rested and had faith in God’s solution. As we were looking for Tom, a man suddenly came out of the passage of the same plane we landed with and shouted to us “Guys don’t worry! My pastor called me and said he will come pick you up!” In the middle of nowhere, God orchestrated His divine connections! In just a few minutes, Pastor Bese Tevita Fong of the ‘Ekoftau Family Centre’ came with his pickup truck and welcomed us. I was able to buy a SIM card for my phone and called my wife in Chicago so that she could call my brother in Portland to find out about our contact (Tom) which was supposed to meet us. I managed to obtain Tom’s number and even though he was in town, he was expecting me to call him – so it was not possible because I had no contact list. God had different plans and different people for me to meet. His plans are always better and His ways are always higher.
“Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 [Amplified Bible]
“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
There was a very difficult situation for Port Villa City since 6 convicts escaped from prison at that time which were accused of committing 53 crimes including robberies and killing two tourists. The whole town in the surrounding area was alerted and the police carried guns and gave an order of surrender by Saturday May 26^th or otherwise be shot on sight.

Arriving in this town for the first time, I did not plan prison ministry. Learning that we are doing prison ministry, Pastor Bese brought us to a Chaplain from his church that could make the arrangement to have a church service in a prison. Even though the situation in the town was very critical, to my surprise, the prison’s chief guard allowed us to have a service on the same day at 3pm. With bibles and hygienic supplies in our hands, we entered the prison facility and began the service. Even though I did not know the names of our contacts that God provided for us [in a few hours, in a new country and town], the Holy Spirit of God created such a connection and unity and even provided a singer for worship service that evening. George Raza gave his testimony to the inmates who had a great impact and I had a message with the theme ‘Surrender All to God’. Since every newspaper announced the surrender of those 6 convicts, I used this situation to motivate the inmates to willingly surrender all to Him as God had promised that He will guide us and lead us on His path which is good, perfect and peaceful. Many of the inmates that were forced to surrender to the justice system for their crime, (even though they were still rebellious in their hearts) feared the weapons of the police and so they had no choice but to surrender and be brought to the prison for correction and reformation. During the ministry service, the Love of God compelled them so much that they willingly surrendered with their hearts to God without fear.
“Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)? But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed. For He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]: To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [springing from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [the eternal blessedness of] immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and self-willed and disobedient to the Truth but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath. [And] there will be tribulation and anguish and calamity and constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile). But glory and honor and [heart] peace shall be awarded to everyone who [habitually] does good, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).” Romans 2:4-10
About 70 people from that jail surrendered their life to Jesus Christ and decided to live for Him. Our prayer is that that commitment is a sincere one and God to keep them faithful and unwavering from His arms. We gave them bibles and supplies and left them with the joy in their hearts in a hope for a better tomorrow. We were accommodated at the church in Port Villa and made the necessary arrangements to travel to the next island; Tanna. On the next day, we met with the president of the Assembly of God in Vanuatu. He gave us a report of what the church is doing in this country/island. His suggestion was to go by ourselves in Tanna without communicating with Tom. In the next few days, we participated in the prayer meetings and brought words of encouragement and hope to the people that we met there.

Tanna – would have to be one of the most exciting islands of the Vanuatu archipology. The island was first discovered by Captain Cook in 1774 who gave the name of his ship the resolutions to the bay he anchored. The Romanian team built a church here years ago in the bushes of primitive tribes to connect with this island. Pastor Bese Tevita Fong contacted Pastor Madellen Tavo and Johnny Tavo from Iadilmai Living Water church who picked us up from the airport and accommodated us in their bungalow home. From the airport, we went to the church of New Life Assembly of God pastored by Naplias where there was a Youth Royal Rangers church service. Even though we arrived around 1pm, and they had been there all morning, they were so touched by George Raza’s testimony that they remained seated for 3 additional hours. When I realized that they had not eaten all day, I was moved to buy them all lunch but the pastor said that they prayed in the morning for uniforms for the upcoming convention and God responded to them so quickly and since there was no place where we could buy lunch (being in the jungle), I donated $700 to them so they could purchase uniforms. They were very thankful and all of them prayed for God’s providence who answered their prayer. At night, we held a conference at Jerusalem Assembly of God Church (Ikores Four Square) pastored by Dominic Tom. The next day, we started a service early in the morning at the same church. At noon, we drove through the jungle on a very rough road to Iadilmai Living Water Church – a church in the bush pastored by Johnny and Madellen Tavo. We brought them clothes and helped them with food supplies there. We left them with the joy in their hearts and entrusted them to the care of our God as they will seek Him and believe in Him. From there we went to see the church that was built years ago and met with the people. We then needed to head to the airport and blessed our Lord for this great trip.
We will continue to fight the good fight for the joy that is set before us. We will continue to run until we finish in this race and we will keep the faith until all the greater things God has set for us to

do are done in the power of the Holy Spirit. So we must keep on the course of mission that God called us and drop all anchors in God moving forward into greater things and greater works keeping our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.” Hebrews 13:20-22
Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team

Hope for Romania
April 2^nd – 11^th, 2012

Greetings to everyone in the Name of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ,

In this fervent season when we remember Jesus’ triumphant entrance in Jerusalem, Maranata Church in the city Radauti, RO, had the privilege to triumphantly enter its new church building by the Grace of the Lord. During the trip in Africa in February – March 2012, the Lord moved me with compassion towards Romania. Even though we celebrate Easter on April 8^th this year in the Western world, I did not want to lose the privilege to miss the dedication of the church which our mission financially supported. There was a great opportunity for the Gospel to be preached to almost two thousand people that came from Radauti and surrounding villages. People from the upper classes including mayors, bankers, officers, businessmen entered for the first time in the Pentecostal church there and they were surprised how the living church of Jesus Christ was powerfully and excitingly worshipping in the beautiful new church building.
“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them”. Psalm 84:1-5

Even though when the church service ended, there was a sleet storm and people ran home after the church was dismissed. I had the privilege to spend quality time with my cousin Petrica Moloceniuc who drove me from the Bucharest airport to Radauti and Mircea Lubanovici, a parliament representative from Third College diaspora. Pastor Liviu Acsinte from Piatra Neamt was also present to the dedication of the church. Among them were other church leaders including Lutu Tibei (the president of the Pentecostal Union), Constantin Sherban from Suceava and other leaders of churches in Romania. From the USA, we had Constantin and David Antemie and other brothers from Portland and Phoenix. In the afternoon, together with the local pastor, Gheorghe from Goshen church I was committed to visit elder brothers and families in need in Radauti despite the bad weather. What a blessing we were to those families when we helped them financially. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
For the evening church service, I visited my home village Satu Mare and I had a message called “How to live under God’s Blessings” because there were four mothers that brought their baby children in dedication to the Lord. “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:15-17
Another purpose for this trip was to revive and refresh our vision that we had for over two years which was to start a Christian School in Romania. We make the necessary steps towards obtaining the land for the project from the government. So far, we encountered many obstacles but God who is keeping His promise will continue leading us every step to don’t give up but move forward because He is in charge of all the land of the Earth even though man tries to hold onto it for different purposes. I have visited officials from parliament and ministers of education, together with the BHIM Team of Romania. Catalin Sireagu graduated as an honor student from Cluj University and recently moved with his family to Radauti for this purpose to be involved in the school project. Every good work and vision has to pass through tests like God tested Abraham and his son Isaac.
“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” Genesis 22:1-5
When I reminded the BHIM Team in Romania that God allowed for us to be tested, they were very encouraged to move forward and believe God for the victory that will be with the school project because they passed through a lot of trials and were deceived by the officials. Our only hope now to depend on God who will open the door.

The next evening, I ministered to the Soldiers for Christ Church in Marginea where a lot of people experienced revival among the orthodox churches and moved to a level of fellowship with the living God. This movement is happening all over Romania where people are going from dry and traditional lifestyle in the orthodox idolatry, and seeking and finding a true relationship with Jesus Christ who gives them life abundantly.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

A tragedy happened during this mission trip. A woman of four children from Vicov village had crossed the street and was hit and instantly killed by a car. One of her sons was also hit and was transported to the hospital while being in an unconscious state. I was moved with compassion when I heard this and met with her husband and children and encouraged them with words of Hope and helped them financially. Some people question when something like that happens, where God was when that God hit her. The answer is in the same place where He was when His Son Jesus Christ died on the cross. God is always present but he acts according with His divine purpose that he has for every creature. To some He sends angels to protect from danger; while to some He allows to die and cross over to the heavenly realm. No matter what His will is, the most important thing is for US to be connected with Him at any time because life on Earth is fragile. I participated to the wake of the woman to encourage the family to be strong at this time.

On another night, I preached at the Goshen Church in Radauti. During this trip, I visited also Philadelphia Christian School in Suceava which is founded by Pastor Ioan Badelita ten years ago. It is a blessing for the city. I visited some poor family in the villages around Radauti and Suceava. Since most of them are farmers and consume their livestock during the winter, they remain with a lot of needs in the spring time before the new crops season. I helped them financially and prayed for them. Petrica Moloceniuc and Catalin Sireagu (our BHIM representatives) drove me to Cluj where we met the managers from Sanvel Steel factory where we already gave the deposit towards the steel for the school project. On our way to Cluj I visited a poor family in Cimpu Lung (a city in economic distress) and helped them financially and prayed for them. I also met Paul Sirbu, my brother-in-law’s brother in Cluj who brought me to the rail station and took the night train to Bucharest for the flight to Chicago the next morning.
I thank the Lord for this opportunity to visit Romania again and be a blessing with words and in action.
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team

January 5^th – 11^th, 2012

Dear mission partners and friends,

A new year of blessing has arrived. The 21^st century is described by amazing shifts that are taking place in our generation. What an amazing honor it is to be alive and serve God’s purpose in this generation. Edgar Garza and I had the opportunity to witness to a country that has been close to the Gospel for many years due to the political situation. The gospel of God’s Kingdom has been preached in the entire world as a witness (Matthew 24:14). With a humble heart, we want to thank God for the opportunity that he gave to us to refresh and bring hope to many churches in Cuba. God gave us favor and resources to impact and bring the message to renew their hope.

Cuba is an island that Christopher Columbus stated that this was the most beautiful land he had ever seen. In Cuba, everything is different from the rest of the world. It happened that ten years ago Rev. Robert Brown from Chaplains for Christ had obtained a religious visa to minister to the people of Cuba. He held seminars to inspire and motivate volunteer from churches to setup a prison ministry among the Cuban believers. At that time, access to the prisons for ministry was not allowed but due to a certain number of political events that took place and this facilitated more freedom to the Cubans. Pastor Alexander Santiesteban Fernandez attended the seminar ten years ago was very inspired and moved to take action and so he established Capillanes por Cristo in Cuba and he became the national president of the organization. Jacinto Jane, who resides in Miami, FL., used to pastor a few churches in Cuba for many years and had a lot of contacts in Cuba. He joined us in our mission to Cuba. We departed from Miami and after a very short flight we arrived to Habana (the capital of Cuba). The way we were welcomed into the country amazed us considering the communistic government. They did not search us or our bags and received us with smiles.

We departed to the city of Cotorro and even though we were very tired, we were invited to the church service at Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia that night, pastored by Moices E. Hernandez. Then we stayed at Brother Fermin Landana’s house overnight. Brother Edgar Garza shared his testimony about how God saved his life and how he keeps his fire alive that the Lord will save others by his testimony and sermons. I shared what God put in my heart to encounter God’s presence which will make a difference in the life of people. We were impressed with the love, passion for God and joy of the Lord that the people expressed.

After we rested in this town, we headed toward Camaguey city early in the morning. On our way to Camaguey we stopped at Ciego de Avila city and helped some people with needs. We arrived in Camaguey in the evening. Pastor Mariano from Iglesia El Paraiso (Paradise Church) welcomed us from his church home. We greeted that church and prayed that night with them. In the morning, we headed towards Holguin city. On our way to Holguin, we stopped at a town named La Manteca (the lard) where Pastor Jacinto Jane was a church pastor for eight years. We had the opportunity to stop at the local church to help them by giving them goods and money. La Manteca mainly consists of farmers. In the afternoon, we arrived at Holguin where we attended Iglesia El Buen Pastor which is pastored by Samuel Rebuyfero. At night, even though they were celebrating Christmas according to the tradition, the pastor allowed all three of us to greet the church. He treated us with dinner before the church service. There, we met Pastor Alexander and part of his Chaplains team of about twenty five volunteers. In the Chaplain office, the volunteers for prison ministry gave an amazing testimony of how the Lord opened the prisons for the Gospel and how every church participated in the Chaplaincy ministry. Some of the testimonies that were presented were:

A sister with a plastic leg claimed that even though she doesn’t have one of her real legs, she has both of her spiritual legs to serve the Lord as a volunteer in prisons by bringing the Gospel to the inmates. Another sister who was about seventy-two years old had a stroke and the doctors claimed that she would be unable to walk for long distances but she promised to the Lord that if she would get well, she would serve the Lord with all her heart. The Lord healed her and now she is dynamically involved in prison ministry. The Lord softened another sister’s heart who used to be one of the toughest prison guards in the Cuban prison system. Now she is born again with the fire and desire to transform other people’s lives.

One brother who gradually lost his sight became very depressed and was on the verge of committing suicide because he saw no purpose with his life. The Lord brought him through a series of events to know Him personally and get involved in prison ministry together with his wife. It was a great encouragement for us to challenge our own people to do something for the Lord to keep the fire and desire alive. Through any physical obstacles God’s grace is sufficient.

We spent that night in the city of Holguin and departed at 5 a.m. towards Camaguey and stopped by the town of Sibanicu where we visited Pastor Adrian Rodriguez an old friend of Pastor Jacinto Jane. We spent a few minutes overseeing the church installation. Pastor Adrian told us a story of a time when he rode his bicycle for 133 km in 6 hours to attend his church service. We arrive in Camaguey that evening and in the morning we attended a Chaplains gathering. About fifty Chaplain Volunteers attended the local Chaplain meeting. We encouraged and motivated them to fervently continue serving the Lord with passion and strong desire. During that meeting we met the previous national director of Chaplaincy in Cuba, Francisco (Pancho). Pastor Benjamin from Templo Aleluya (Hallelujah Temple) invited us to his church for Sunday service. This church is one of the largest churches in the Assembly of God. After the service, we got together with the Chaplaincy group and encouraged them through prayer and blessed them financially. We also gave some bibles to the church members because there is a great need of bibles in Camaguey since they claim that bibles are not allowed to be printed in the country.

Afterwards we departed towards La Habana, Cuba where we spent the night. In the morning we headed to Pinar Del Rio – Pastor Jane’s hometown. We then visited Iglesia Dios de la Proteccion which is pastored by Pastor Eliseo and helped a few needy people financially in the town of San Luis. We finally arrived in La Habana and the next day we visited the Cuban Superintendent of Assembly of God and he told us some history of the church of Assembly of God in Cuba, its growth and the changes they are currently facing. The same day, Pastor Moices Hernandez and brother Fermin took us to the airport where we headed back home.

As we started the year of 2012 in the mission field God promises blessings and great things that He has in store for us as we encounter His presence and seek His will first in obedience and submission. If He is for us, then who can be against us? Rejoice and unite with us as we continue to fervently serve our Lord Jesus Christ to whom belongs the Glory and Honor, Amen.

Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team

Mission Trip to Austria
October 26^th – 31^st, 2011

Dear mission partners and friends,

By the Grace of God, I had the privilege to visit five churches from Vienna, Austria. Since a lot of Romanians after the revolution in 1989 have left former communist Romania and moved to Western Europe, a lot of them settled all over Austria. Some of my friends I grew up with live in Austria currently and it was in my heart to visit them. The last time I visited them on the way to Australia in January 2002. During this time, the Romanian community grew very strong and I was very impressed to see Elim Pentecostal Church in Vienna grew to have over 1000 members and was very organized with the outreach for the local Austrian population. I was hosted by a family that moved from Suceava to Austria a couple years ago. I visited churches and preached and encouraged them for the mission field. I challenged them to reach the unreached in Vienna and all of Austria. I reminded them that God has a purpose with Romanians in Austria. During this time of Western Europe Apostasy, the Lord brought Romanians with the purpose to revive and revitalize the Western churches. Old friends like Mircea Martincu with whom I grew up and spent four years also in Sibiu High School. I was able to restore the relation and also encourage him to stay close to the Lord during this difficult time that he is going through. We spent some quality time with Corneliu Barsan and his family on a Saturday evening.

A critical situation that I met was at Ciobanu’s house with his wife Lidia who suffered from a stroke and was paralyzed completely. I met them after 25 years and Lidia still cannot speak because of her situation. I reminded her of the time I lived in Romania and was very happy visiting her. I prayed with them asking the Lord Jesus to move on her behalf and heal her. I prayed and trusted God for a miracle but even though I could not see her walking, but could see her smile and encouragement. Her husband testified that his words are not enough to express his joy and words of encouragement during a time like this when no one visits them very often. With this occasion, her brother Adrian visited her and her cousin Corneliu came with me and visited her. I visited a few brothers in Gratz and also the church that was pastored by Traian Chira from a city near Gratz. I preached and encouraged the church to be strong in the Lord Jesus and to fulfill the Great Commission. That night, I was accommodated at his own house. I then visited three more churches in Vienna and blessed the people with the Word of God. I believed that (even though I spent a short time in this mission trip – but with great impact), the expenses and money spent was worth it.

On all our mission trips, we try to redeem the time and to reach as many people as we can and challenge them to build their life around the teaching of Jesus Christ who is the only fixed point in the Universe. Jesus came to lift up the world from the way of destruction and disintegration. He is the only one that is the same yesterday, today and forever!
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team

Mission Trip to Haiti
August 22^nd – 29^th, 2011

Dear mission partners and friends,

It  is a great privilege for us to write to you about the mission work that, by the grace of God, we developed in Haiti. For about ten years, we traveled to different parts of the world to do prison ministry and evangelism. After the great quake of 2010 in Haiti, God put in our hearts to develop a more consistent missionary work in Haiti. Although the work will never be finished in this country, we are one tool in the hands of God to start a church project in Jacmel. We went to continue the project in Jacmel together with Pastor Alexandru Trombitas and brother Adrian Leuciuc from Golgotha Pentecostal Church in Chicago. God called more people from Arizona, California and Portland to join our missionary team and we met in Haiti on August 22.

From Portland: Viorel Gromic, Alin Achim and Nick Ghetes.
From California: Constantin Antimie, Ovidiu Hij and Joel Feceu.
From Arizona: Ionel Ilioi.

Pastor  Joseph Jasmin from Gonaives waited for us and we traveled together with him to Jacmel. This was a rainy season and we’re not sure if we can continue with the construction project due to the forecast. As we arrived in Jacmel it stopped raining and the second day it was sunny and after we cleaned the water from inside the building the electricians started their job and in three days the whole building was wired and the fixtures were installed. Pastor Medit Sanon had invited about 130 pastors and leaders for a seminar about ‘How to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ’ taught by Pastor Alexander Trombitas. All of those that came were very attentive and happy and were blessed by the teaching. In the meantime, the construction inside the building and the landscaping outside was progressing. We were able to finish the basement where for about 6 months they held church services. Every night we met for church service where we encouraged people to walk in God’s Word and be strong in the faith. Thursday night a lady surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and on Friday night, the Holy Spirit penetrated her aunt and she surrendered and committed her life to Jesus.  During Friday’s evening service, the children from the church had a celebration of Sunday school graduation. I was so excited to see over 20 children that memorized so many verses from the bible and sang songs. We saw the results of our involvement bring a blessing to the youth. Friday evening’s service was very blessed since the Lord really moved mightily and the people were touched to tears and were filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

On  Saturday, I arrived in the Pastor’s house at around 2 a.m. and in the morning we left to Gonaives at 5 a.m. We arrived there at about 11 a.m. and about 90 people were waiting for us. Pastor Jean Inera and Joseph Jasmin made arrangements for the seminary in Gonaives. Even though we were very tired, we were able to minister to the people when we saw the hunger of the people. Pastor Joseph had started a church in a house that is rented in Gonaives. With the help from First Romanian Pentecostal Church in Seattle, he bought a piece of land to build a church. We are praying that the Lord will help him to accomplish this project. Sunday morning we attended the church in Gonaives. We also attended a church server in the afternoon pastored by Jean Inera in a rural area. After lunch, we headed toward Port Au Prince where we preached at a church called Groupe Soldats de Christ or “Soldiers for Christ” pastored by Jean Claude Oscar. This church has been completely devastated during the earthquake last year and they have not been able to rebuild it. Over 2000 people meet under a large tent for church service. People were so touched by the Holy Spirit of God when the message was preached from Nehemiah Ch. 4! We departed towards Chicago on Monday morning.

Blessed Hope International Mission has been legally registered in Haiti by the ‘Ministry of culte’ and is recognized by the government of Haiti. We also have a board of directors in Haiti who coordinate with us in the USA.

During  this mission time, we were able to reach the poor, orphans, widows and sick people at their homes. We also helped those that paid for their stay, food and transportation coming from far away for the seminaries. For this purpose God called us to minister to the needs of the people – spiritually and materially. Preaching the Word of God makes soul-winning a priority and then gives room for the Holy Spirit to confirm the ministry of His Word with miracles, signs and wonders. Our mission’s commitment is to remain focused and true believers to his purpose until the Return of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Constantin Lupancu

September 6^th – 19^th, 2011

Dear mission partners and friends,

Again  I say Praise the Lord. I want to give you an update of our mission trip to Romania. Excitement filled our hearts when I met Pastor Nathaniel Barkat two years ago in Pakistan where the Lord used him to make a great impact. I felt the same excitement when I met Pastor Clifton Charles White this year in Sri Lanka. They both had something in common; both of them showed great interest to minister in Romania. God prepared the month of September for Pastor Clifton, Pastor Nathaniel, Pavel Sav and I together with my son Tiberiu to have the privilege to minister to the people of Romania. We ministered to jails, prisons, churches and families throughout Romania. The saving of souls is in great demand in Romania. Every day we hear the present Macedonian cry, “Come and help us, we’re dying, we’re sick, we’re oppressed, we’re prisoners, we are hopeless!” To accomplish God’s purpose, He needs faithful ministers that know to redeem the time: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16. A lot of things, thoughts, deeds and activities take our time in this time to redeem. We also have so many needs that want to take our time but there is a practical step that honors our God and it is to be an active part of soul deliverance, salvation, healing, rescuing orphans, starving children, helping widows, and to give Hope for a good life to those even at the margin of society. Some people have a negative attitude towards prison ministry. Even though inmates are convicted criminals, they don’t have to spend eternity where they deserve. God granted every soul a chance to repent in this life. This is why prison ministry is so compelling to us. It is good to never pray for justice instead, only pray for mercy. We are set free from the eternal consequences of our sin. We need to share the gift of Salvation with others because as miserable incarceration is; an eternity completely without God is indescribably worse. We need to extend the mercy of God everywhere. Remember the warning we are given in the book of James; “And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:” James 2:3. It is our job as Christians to carry the message of eternal mercy. Mercy does not mean we ignore sin and pretend it is somehow ok.  It does mean we recognize that being in prison doesn’t make a person any less in need of hearing the message of God’s grace. What good is ministering to only those we deem ‘good enough’ for God’s grace? We cannot limit the power of the cross. It is amazing how receptive inmates can be to the Message of the Gospel. There are people who often realize more than most how much they need God’s mercy and they are so grateful for it.

After  a long flight we arrived in Bucharest and from the airport we began our mission in Jilava Prison where we ministered to about 60 inmates who were already waiting for us. The message proclaimed by Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Clifton’s testimony was so encouraging and inspired the inmates to a Holy life and a life of dedication to Jesus Christ. Some of them surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. Even though we were very exhausted, we were filled with joy to see those lives transformed. That same night we stopped in Urziceni where the church of Urziceni was helping the poor with hot meals and we helped paid for some of them. We were hosted by Pastor Constantin Gramada and his wife and we spent the night in their home.

Early in the morning we drove toward Suceava and arrive in the afternoon. At night, we ministered at a church in Balcauti. The church in Romania was so happy to meet for the first time, Pastor Potop Vasile from Pakistan and Pastor Clifton White. We ministered to about 50 inmates in a prison in Botosani the next day. Potop Vasile from ‘New Life’ accompanied us and made arrangements for approval and entrance to prisons throughout. We gave hygienic gifts to the inmates and prayed for them. Some of them surrendered their life to Jesus Christ while others that I’ve met before in previous trips and they are faithful to the gospel and growing in faith. After the prisons we went to the Patria Orphanage and visited the children and Director Mircea Boldea. We also visited an old friend Daniel Turcoman and his family. From there we went to Radauti, Bucovina where they were hosting an ordination service where Brother Ghita Crasnean was ordained as a deacon exhorter. After the ordination there was an extended night of prayer. We helped a few poor families in that region. Later, we met again with Mihaiuc, a brother that was diagnosed with severe leukemia in August 2006 and had no chance of living within months according to doctors (when I first met him in London and prayed for him in the hospital). God healed him while he was in London and he is now married with two children and lives in Adelaide, Australia!

Saturday  morning we went to Piatra Neamt where Pastor Liviu Axinte organized a youth conference where over 1800 youth from the region attended. The purpose of the conference was to teach the youth to walk in the integrity of God. After the conference, Pastor Liviu gave us a tour to a site in Dumbrava Rosie where they are building a center for children and elders. We donated to a few families in need there. We also visited the church in Piatra Neamt that afternoon. At night we ministered to the church in Voitinel. Pastor Clifton White from Good News Church in Wisconsin had a message to the church to walk in the narrow way where people stay in the presence of God. After the service, we went back to Suceava and arrived around midnight.

Sunday  morning, we ministered to Maranata Church in Radauti. Pastor Nathaniel Barkat from Pakistan had a message, “Be attentive to the cry of the people” because there are people all over in desperate need of help and their inner being cries for help and there aren’t many that help them and so we have to be like good Samaritans to show the mercy of Jesus to them. Through Jesus Christ, the void of the human heart is filled with God’s presence and your life is fulfilled and all your needs are met. We prayed for the people at the end of the service and the presence of the Lord filled and satisfied their hunger. The young leader, Florin Mitric, gave us a tour to the new church construction project and we asked for God’s blessing in fulfilling his plan. We also helped them with some money for the project. We had lunch at my mother-in-law’s house and we met with all the other members of the family from my wife’s side. In the afternoon, I visited the village of my birthplace and helped a few widows and families in need. At night, we ministered to Betel Church in Radauti.

Monday  morning, I met with the overseer of Moldova and discussed a report of the churches in Falticeni, Olniceni, Boroaia and Vorniceni that our mission supported years ago. Aurel Soltuz presented the condition of some of the churches in Piriu Negru, Suharau, Comanesti, Radauti, Plut, Mitoc and others. Pastor Soltuz invited us to preach at his church to the youth. All three of us had a message for them to make choices involving God’s will that will help them build a life with a solid foundation with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday morning on our way to Radauti, we stopped in Slobozia where we were called to pray for a friend named Sorohan who then gave his life to Jesus Christ. In Radauti we stopped at our relatives and friends’ houses; Petru and Otelia Moloceniuc, Catalin Sireagu our affiliates and partners in the mission field in Romania. After lunch we headed toward Putna – a legendary village with monasteries and historical sights. We had a prayer meeting there at a family’s house. On the way back to Suceava, we stopped in Radauti where the Suceava Chief of Police who is born again came to meet us and exchanged badges with Pastor Clifton also a Chaplain for the Police of Beloit,  Wisconsin. Afterward we stopped in Satu Mare where my parent’s home was donated to ‘Nadejdea Binecuvantata’ with a purpose to develop a plan to build an elderly home because we see the need of the elderly people that were neglected in that village. We have to pray for God’s will to be done in this matter also.

Wednesday  morning, our driver Danut Mazareanu (a police officer that gave his life to Christ), drove us from Suceava to Timisoara with another team which was on their way to Italy. We stopped at Cimpulung Moldovenesc and prayed for and helped Negriuc Garafina and a few other families that were in great need of help. Other stops were made in the afternoon was in Campia Turzi where my brother-in-law’s mother lives whom was diagnosed with cancer. Five other women were there that came for a special prayer and anointing with oil. God in his mercy touched a few of them and they were healed instantly. What a great God we serve who is a leader, deliverer, provider and much more! Through us, He also provided them with some monetary help. The road was with some obstacles and dangers but the Lord protected us and we arrived safely Thursday morning in Timisoara where brother Pavel was waiting for us. During the day a police officer from the area came to us and asked to pray for family. After the Revolution, a lot of officers repented and turned to Christ.

Thursday  night, we ministered to the church in Timisoara on Romulus Street. It was a very blessed night with the presence of the Lord and mighty manifestation of the Holy Spirit that melted the cold hearts of people to the tears. Some of them were convicted of their sin and confessed it to receive forgiveness and make peace with God. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. After the church service on the street, we visited a memorial site where the Romanian Revolution began in December 1989.

Friday  morning, we visited the jail from Timisoara located on Popa Sapca Street. About 55 inmates responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented by us to their hearts in this prison. Some of them were already believers who committed their life to Jesus Christ during our previous mission trips there. We rejoiced to see them in their serious walk in faith and not easy going. Goods were offered to them and prayed for them. Friday night, we had a service at Maranata Church in Ghiroda where we preached the Word of God and prayed for the people.

Saturday  morning, we visited Casa Betania a center built for the orphan children of the streets and the elderly. In the afternoon we went to Village of Comlusu Mare where we held a church service where we enjoyed the presence of God once again. We prayed for the sick people there helped with the new construction project of the new church. We arrived home very late that night at Pastor Liviu’s house in Ghiroda.

Sunday morning and night, we ministered again at Maranata Church and the messages were so powerful and the hearts of people were opened. Pastor Nathaniel Barkat spoke of “A sleepless church”; encouraging the church to be awake and not sleepy which was a revival message and refreshed the first love for Jesus Christ. “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:24-25.

We prayed for the people and anointed the sick with oil. I spoke about “..for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. At night, Pastor Clifton and I preached the Word of God on the topic “Words have power” encouraging the people to be careful of what words they choose to speak.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

“Now  in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:18-22

Monday  morning, we departed from Timisoara and headed back home. Our faith is the heartbeat of this ministry which is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, working with the poor and oppressed, to promote human transformation and bear witnessed to the Good News of the Kingdom of God and hope because many people are without hope and without God in the world. Across Romania and around the world this year, we are proclaiming hope in Jesus Christ and lives are being changed. We are not only called to promote humanitarian aid but we are called to share the gospel. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of Corinth, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.

We are ambassadors who represent Christ in all circumstances to reflect Christ’s character. Love and compassion flow out naturally when we show people love. They feel the love of God themselves. It is our prayer that we redeem our time efficiently choosing to share God’s mercy with others and in doing so, God will grant mercy to our self. Let’s actively strive for the blessings Jesus promised in his famous Sermon on the Mount; “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7.

Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team.

After  many calls we received from an Asian brother asking us to minister in the country of Sri Lanka which is an island surrounded by theIndian Ocean. We prayed and we received the confirmation from God that it is His will to go even during the Easter holiday. Sri Lanka is a land like no others. In ancient times, Sri Lanka was known by a variety of names; the ancient Greeks called it Taprobane, the Arabs  referred to it as Serendib, the Portuguese called it Ceilao and the British called it Ceylon. Its climate can be described as tropical and warm. Sri Lanka’s historical and cultural heritage spans more than 2,000 years.

This  is a very strong Buddhist country which flourished in the early 2nd century BC. The island was very influenced by Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism but now Christians, which are a minority, are praying and believing that God is going to release this country from religion. Pastor Robinson from Faith Covenant, Pastor Clifton White from Good News Christian Center in Beloit, WI, Pastor David Phillips from River of Life Church in Winnsboro, LA, along with my son,  Tiberius Lupancu and I had the privilege of ministering in churches, conferences, prisons and recovery homes throughout Sri Lanka. Brothers in Christ from Shanti Nagar, Pakistan also came to meet us in Sri Lanka. We ministered in Shanti Nagar, Pakistan in 2009.

At  first, we held a conference of pastors and ministers from all over Sri Lanka for two days. It was organized by Pastor Antonio from a church in Colombo. Everyone was encouraged and challenged by us to be strong in the faith of Jesus Christ and to be a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the darkness of religions because the Light shines in the darkness and darkness cannot overcome. Over 400 people attended the conference which was held in the restaurant hall. On the second day it rained heavily in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, but this did not stop anyone from attending. After each conference, we prayed for the ministers to receive refreshment and a new fire and desire to move with the gospel of Jesus Christ in the land of Sri Lanka. The Holy Spirit touched so many hearts that the ministers confessed it  was what they needed at the time – more fire and desire to seek God’s presence more and more. Many were filled with the Holy Spirit to continue to do God’s work in their villages, towns or cities. Each night we were asked to preach in different churches throughout the capital.

On Good Friday, I was invited to preach in a jail close to Galle city since I was involved in prison ministry. The jail was about a 2-hour drive from Colombo City. As I was driving along the shore of the Indian Ocean, one of the pastors shared a memory of the tsunami that hit their country in 2004 claiming over 50,000 lives. Still, the remaining damaged buildings have not all been rebuilt especially in the city of Galle. In this city, I met a pastor from a Dutch reformed church who testified that only four to six people attended his church before the tsunami and he was very discouraged at times. Due to the fact that his church was built in the headquarters of the Dutch colony in 1775 – it was surrounded by a large tall wall of protection, the tsunami could not reach it and the church building was spared from any damage and became a shelter for a lot of people. From that time until now, over 120 people attend the church regularly. Many times, God uses catastrophes to wake people up to show that He exists and people need to turn to Him in faith and surrender all to Him.  When I arrived to the prison, Pastor Raja Wijekone was waiting for us and he introduced me and my son to the director of prisons who welcomed us and brought us over 100 inmates all dressed in white to minister to them in this day of Good Friday, April 22nd. Because all the inmates were from a Buddhist background, I had the privilege to preach about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ with the title of ‘Which thief are you?’

“And  there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture references are from the King James Version of the BHoly Bible And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43

This  message challenged almost all the inmates to confess that they are sinners and they need the mercy of Jesus Christ to forgive and set them free of the power of sin. We all prayed the sinner’s prayer and asked God to forgive them and to surrender their life to Jesus Christ. The director who was very busy that day with security meetings was so touched by the Word of God that he could not leave until we finished. We gave the inmates hygienic goods and blessed them in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since it was Good Friday, the director granted that 5 inmates can be released if an amount of rupee would be paid for each as ransom. This was another testimony to share the Love of God and the price of redemption that Jesus Christ paid for all of mankind.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14

I paid the price for the 5 inmates selected by the director to their court. What a great and blessed Good Friday to spend in a ‘land like no others’.

The  director invited me to come back on Sunday, the day of Passover. From there, I went to a recovery home founded by Pastor Raja. I visited his office and home near the ocean shore and prayed for his family, wife and 3 children. The recovery home was on a mountain near the ocean. This is a very isolated place deep in the forest, where people with alcohol and drug addictions come to receive freedom in Jesus Christ and enjoy the nature. I preached to about 50 people that were worshipping God when I arrived. Later at night, I returned to the motel and shared with the other pastors of the blessed day God gave to us. Saturday morning at the conference, I shared the Word of God from the book of Judges with a purpose to inspire people that the fire of the Holy Spirit will destroy the work of the devil. Jesus Christ ordained His disciples to go two by two into the world.

“And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.” Judges 15:4-5

I introduced the ministers to the jail and prison evangelism that we are involved in around the world and how desperate this ministry is needed everywhere even in Sri Lanka. How desperate the inmates are to receive the Truth of Jesus but who is volunteering to go? Some of them responded and promised that they will get involved.   Sunday morning – the day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ – while churches are commemorating the empty tomb (Returning of the Tomb that Jesus borrowed from Joseph of Arimathea), I preached in two churches. The power of Resurrection was and remains real in the life of Christians. This power manifested and people were touched, healed and blessed. 

We  prayed for all of them. Communion in the remembrance of our Lord Jesus was held in one of the churches pastored by Antonio. I prayed for and blessed a baby that was brought by his parents for the first time. We had another meeting with pastors that want to start Bible schools throughout the Sri Lanka country. One of our pastors from our team gave the curriculum and motivated them to start these schools and he will find sponsors throughout the churches in the USA. We prayed that the Lord will provide funds to fulfill this vision of raising a new generation of leaders.

Rev. Constantin Lupancu  

It was in my heart since the Lord Jesus Christ saved me and moved in me with compassion in the spring of 1992 to found Blessed Hope Mission to have a house of harvest which is a building location to operate the mission. Last year (2010), with the economy in distress, the property value collapsed and I was able to purchase a building on the same street where the Lord had inspired me a couple of decades ago as I was driving in the same area and gave me the inspiration to found a mission with the purpose to bring hope for the hopeless. That was the time when Blessed Hope Mission was born in the same area of 63^rd and Kildare where I lived at and worked for about two decades. My heart was moved with compassion towards the people that I helped to buy houses to accomplish the America dream. While others which did not have a roof to live under, I accepted them with joy to live on rehab properties for free until I sold them and moved in another. It was not because of my abilities or capacities that I was moved to help those in prisons in the Cook County jail and those in other countries but because of the blessings from God.
“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2
“THE KING [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah [pause, and think of that]! For You send blessings of good things to meet him; You set a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of You, and You gave it to him–long life forever and evermore. His glory is great because of Your aid; splendor and majesty You bestow upon him. For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence. For the king trusts, relies on, and is confident in the Lord, and through the mercy and steadfast love of the Most High he will never be moved.” Psalm 21:1-7 [Amplified Bible]
God blesses us and gifts us so that we might serve and bless others and also blessing others will bring Glory to His name.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let h im give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;” 2 Corinthians 9:6-12

Mission Statement:
Originally, Blessed Hope Mission is a charitable Christian organization through which many families have been lifted up spiritually and materially. Blessed Hope International Mission is a prayer, evangelistic, and charity based ministry. It is the calling of God to pray for those that are lost and not saved that the Light of Christ, who is the image of God, would shine upon them. There are three main aspects that define our mission.
The first aspect is to join an international prayer group, which will seek God’s leading for ministering in different parts of the world, and would ask Him to open new opportunities so that His Gospel will reach the lost and hopeless.
The second aspect is to share the Good News through crusades and jail ministries, and to train a new generation of evangelists that will be ready to share the Gospel, in any circumstances, through the power of the Holy Spirit. International affiliates will be established, developed, and maintained as the Lord leads.
The third aspect is to provide help for the families in desperate needs through distribution of goods. Scriptures and other Christian literature will also be provided.

The Grand Opening ceremony and celebration was held on April 30^th, 2011 as gratitude towards our Lord Jesus Christ who sustained this mission for the past two decades and gave us this location. About fifty people from Golgotha and other churches attended the event. The event started with prayer and Chairman Constantin Lupancu appointed Pavel Sav an active participant at the mission trips to lead the service. I believe the season was orchestrated by God to coincide with approximately the same time as our 20^th anniversary of Blessed Hope Mission which started to help distressed people after the Romanian Revolution in 1989. Chairman Constantin Lupancu presented the history of Blessed Hope International Mission on how God, who initiated, moved and inspired him to help the poor and needy people. President Edgar Garza of BHIM had a speech about his testimony on how BHIIM had impacted and changed his personal life and his family. All this started for him when he was called to translate the evangelical message in the country of Ecuador. God touched his heart and he was transformed and born again. From that time onward, he had a burning desire to reach the unreached from around the world. He began by sharing the Good News to his family and most of them received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Petru Amarei from Christian Television Network filmed the entire event. Rob Brown from Chaplains for Christ International also had a speech. This event moved us to a time of reflection on the past on how God (who is always faithful) showed His grace and mercy and blessed us more abundantly than we could ever ask for or imagine.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team