Move to Romania?

"…learning to live like Kingdom Gypsies"

Being a part of Adventures in Missions (AIM) has made for a lot of life in our home. Six AIMers live with us, and our home has been a hub of hospitality—and peace.  Since moving to Gainesville, GA in October 2012, more than 75 friends, family, and world-travelers have enjoyed overnight (or weekly) stays with us. Life has been rich, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!  And because we’ve moved 5 times in the last 4 years, we’re beginning to feel a little like Gypsies ourselves!  So grab a coffee, and settle in as we tell you what’s up with the Lucases.

Last March we attended AIM’s training summit to become World Race (WR) coaches. Alas, we discovered WR coaching travel requirements were a bit too rigorous for us. Well, during the training, AIM’s long-term missions assistant (Danielle) overheard Kathy talking about Romania. Danielle enthusiastically interjected, “We are looking for an older couple to start up an AIM base there!” Really? Since then, we’ve had several God-directed and significant Romania-related encounters. As we re-viewed our history in ministry, we saw, quite simply, alignment.

 

alignment

These events align:  1. Almost 30 years ago, Kathy led Bible-smuggling teams into Romania during the Iron Curtain days.  2. We took our first family-mission trip to Romania in 2008. We connected with several young Romanians, and sensed we would return in the future.  3. In 2010, Kathy and Connie did return to Romania with a small team to renew friendships and served in various ministry settings. Kathy also made new friendships (like with American missionary Jackie Ramsey) for potential future ministry.  4. About a year ago a reputable prophet we trust spoke these words to us: “I see the nations surrounding your family” (Romania is surrounded by Europe, the Middle East and Africa).  5. AIM needed leaders to plant a long-term presence in Romania to facilitate regular short-term U.S. ministry teams and discipleship of those teams, along with Romanians.

 

looking deeper

When Kathy smuggled Bibles into eastern Europe, she met Romanian Christians who suffered career loss, separation from loved ones, imprisonment, and torture.  Yet they continued to take great risks to spread the gospel under a Communist regime.  Fast-forward to modern Romania: the religious atmosphere in the institutional church is steeped in legalism.  We met young Romanians in 2008 who began to respond to the gospel, but they faced rejection by churches — a system that exalts lock-step conformity over simply laying out the welcome mat for them.  Communism’s residue still stains the people and culture: severe pessimism coupled with oppression.  But even more distressing is the nation’s largest church actually persecutes born-again believers who share the gospel.  Is this the kind of legacy that those persecuted believers suffered for in the 1980’s?

 

to Romania… and beyond

Now some good news. Meet Raul Costea. He lives in the village Draganesti (southern Romania). We recently Skype’d with this Kingdom-minded man, who is an AIM ministry partner. His vision, mission, and strategies excite us! Raul has gathered some workers, but needs many more for the scale of work needed in his homeland.  Romania is comprised, primarily, of thousands of villages, with a few large cities. Raul chose to move his family and ministry to the poorest region of the country (called Oltenia), which has only .2% Christian believers — so it’s a hard mission field.  Yet here’s the best part: Raul wants not only to reach the lost in Oltenia, but is also equipping Romanians to send them to the surrounding nations. Already, 2 of Raul’s best couples are working in nearby Siberia and Turkey.

 

moving in freedom

We’re praying that the Lord will call and build a team to accompany us, so that everyone involved might know His hand initiated this work. Because Romanians have endured decades of Communism, they need a personal encounter of the liberating grace of God. We hope to bring the freedom, grace, and joy of Christ’s kingdom to all who will receive it.  Many will be refreshed by such a message — like rain in the desert. 

World Race teams have already been working with Raul, which will continue. Our previous training as WR coaches will also be of use (further alignment).  So as Racers assist Raul and serve AIM’s long-term vision in Romania, we’ll help provide spiritual care for WR teams.  It is also our hope to network and unite with other believers and Christian ministries.

 

crazy… or God?

We’ve prayed and sought God’s direction for our future. We believe we’ve heard Him say, “Keep moving forward. I will direct you.”  Kathy and I have discussed a move to Romania at length with AIM’s long-term missions director, Clint Bokelman. Clint is super-supportive, as are others who we have selectively shared about Romania (testing for confirmations).  Honestly, we’re facing fairly formidable challenges: our age, health issues, packing and moving (again!), travel, housing, learning a new language — and that’s all before doing any actual ministry within the country!  Yep, no doubt, it’s way bigger than us! 

So we’re either certified crazy — or this is God.  In fact, it’s just the nature of the challenge that has led us to pray hard and lean hard on the Lord.  Yes, it’s a big, huge, hairy change — we are sober about the cost.  Jesus. Is. Worthy.  He promised to be with us, and “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — along with persecutions — and in the age to come eternal life.”

 

support details

We are committing to 2 years to live and serve in Romania. Foremost detail: we’re praying for pray-ers!  We must have strong, faithful prayer partners more than anything. 

Second detail: AIM has established both start-up and monthly support costs. Start-up: $11,000 (airfare, mission training, housing, and social security). Monthly support: $2,000/mo.  We are required to have 90% of our support pledged BEFORE we can move to the field. This is bigger than anything we’ve ever attempted — but then — that’s what we expected.  AIM will handle our donations, and checks can be made out to AIM for tax deduction purposes. Click Here to Support Us »

We know how often you receive appeals for prayer and funds.  We are also very aware that our time is short.  We boldly ask you to make eternal investments that can’t deteriorate or spoil.  We will be most happy in heaven when we see all the riches there that are invisible to us now.  May you experience great joy and the stirring of the Holy Spirit upon your every gift and prayer!