by Greg Mundis

Dear Friends:
"DRACULA!"

Dracula! The name evokes fear in movie goers! The legend goes that he lived in Transylvania or what is now a region in the country of Romania. What kinds of images come to mind when I say Romania? Do you see images from a 20/20 TV expose? Or possibly you see images of them recently joining NATO.

Let me share an image that I have. I just returned from a trip to Romania with our executive director for world missions. We heard incredible stories of God's grace in this land. We, as the Assemblies of God USA, work with two Pentecostal groups in this country-the Pentecostal Union and the Romania Assemblies of God. For this brief report, I mention only the Pentecostal Union.

Since 1990 they have planted approximately 1,500 churches. Think of it; that is over 100 churches per year, every year, for the last 14 years. The official census taken indicates there are 336,000 Pentecostal Union members. The superintendent estimates that members, children, and adherents number around 500,000. Considering Romania's population is roughly 21 million, the Pentecostal Union church attenders comprise nearly 2.4 percent of the population. Obviously God is at work!

This is not to say there is not great need in this beautiful country. There are millions that need to hear the gospel. There are millions living in the shadow of Dracula . . . in fear. Jesus Christ came to break the shackles of fear. He said, "Perfect love drives out fear." The apostle Paul says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind." The Pentecostal Union is planting churches and bringing the light of the gospel into the shadows of fear in many people's lives.
God Bless ,
Greg Mundis
AGWM Europe Regional Director

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