Its a cold winters night, but no one seems to notice the chill. Gathered in the tiny 36 x 18 foot building, 31 Romanians are in the midst of praise and worship. The small wood stove is barely casting a glow, but each person present is filled with warmth in their hearts. Now its time for testimonies and a father, mother, and their teenage son step to the front.



I lived a hard life before coming to Christ, Onefrei, the father, begins. Several nods are seen in the room.

Growing up in communist Romania, Onefrei had always been taught that God did not exist. So having no knowledge of the spiritual, he sought to find happiness in any way he could. He often turned to alcohol, believing the drink could manage to lift his spirits.

Ironically, the drink of pleasure was the very thing that threw him into deep despair. Onefreis developing addiction to alcohol wreaked havoc in his life, and he became a source of heartache for his family. He argued with everyone he encountered, became a habitual liar, put his job in jeopardy, and he beat his wife and son in the midst of drunken rages. At one point, Onefrei hurt his wife so severely that doctors were forced to correct her broken arm with a metal plate.

In a fit of rage

Feeling a desperate need for comfort, Onefreis 16 year old son, Valenti, decided to try out a new church in their village. The small church had been established by a Bible League trained church planter, and the pastor invited Valenti to become involved through Bible studies. Valenti accepted the invitation, and not long after, he received his own Bible from the Bible League. Hearing the Word of God for the first time, the young boy was moved and accepted Christ as his Savior.

Excited about his new relationship with God, Valenti decided to tell his parents. But the instant Valenti began to speak, Onefrei was filled with fury. He took a knife from the kitchen and tried to go after his son. Onefrei recalls, My anger at his becoming a Christian caused me to be in such a rage that I did not really care if I killed him. In my mind I thought, That will be a punishment to him for becoming a believer in a non existent God.

Valenti ran out of the house and sought shelter with some of the local Christians. As the teenager told them what had happened, they committed to praying for the salvation of his father.

God does exist

Two days later, Christians from Valentis church came to talk to Onefrei. By Gods perfect timing, Onefrei had just been warned by his boss that he would be dismissed from his job if his behavior did not change soon. Onefrei felt powerless, how could he free himself from the bondage of his addiction?

The Christians began to share from Gods Word and Onefrei listened intently. He says, Suddenly I realized these Christians were talking to me in a kind way. I felt they were interested in me and wanted to help me. They asked me to come to one of their church services, and I said I would.

That Sunday, Onefrei followed through on his promise. He remembers, I sat there amazed at how they praised God as if He really was listening, because He was real to them. The Bible was opened and the pastor preached as though he knew God in a personal way. A powerful realization came to me, God did exist!

Onefrei continued to attend church for several weeks, because he says, There was something inside of me compelling me to be at church. The pastor gave him a Bible and Onefrei became more convinced about the reality of God, Jesus Christ, and his need to be freed from his sin. On a warm June evening, he accepted the pastors invitation to ask Jesus into his heart, and four months later, he was publicly baptized.

Incredible changes

When Onefrei first told his wife, Jenica about his new faith in Jesus Christ, she was skeptical, to say the least. She tells the congregation, I knew he did not believe in God, so when he started going to church, I found it hard to believe. At first I thought his drinking had finally made him crazy.

Jenica became more puzzled as she watched him read his Bible, and she was truly astounded by the changes in his behavior. She recalls, He started to laugh. He sang. His drinking stopped. So did his violence and bad language. He paid attention to me. Then I knew a miracle had happened.

Convinced his change was real, Jenica wanted what her husband had. I was so moved, she says, I just had to go to church and find the faith he had. It was not long before Jenica gave her heart to Christ.

Abundant joy

Now, as Onefrei, Jenica, and Valenti stand before their church, they are a true family of God.

Valenti can hardly contain his emotions. What abundant joy the Lord has given me, he says. Now we are a family that God has brought together. All three of us read and study the Bible together as a home.

A powerful realization came to me, God did exist!