Heartfelt Missions

In 2005 the Holy Spirit sent a Wonderful Man of God to be an Armor Bearer unto me. In the following pictures you will see Brother "Ricky Matthews" serving with me in Romania, Eastern Europe.

Traveling to Romania last year has changed Brother Ricky's outlook on the world. His focus is completely different. God has set his sights on new goals, to evangelize the world. He is now serving in this ministry as our full time Armor Bearer. As we travel together taking the word of God to countries around the world, This great Man never leaves my side. He is not only a great man, but a trusted friend. Thank you Brother Ricky for your wonderful service unto the Kingdom of God. God will certainly without a doubt bless your life.

I think Brothers and Sisters in Christ around the world love to fellowship and worship together. The Romanians are no different. Worship and fellowship is a way of life for the Church. Below are some pictures of some great worship and fellowship with the church members of Romania.

Please enjoy the short clip below of Romanian children in a worship service.

We just came back from Cimpia and we thought you wanted to know how things are going there.

Peter bought an old house and they will use it for church till they can build on the land that is with the house.

We pray that this will happen in the spring but it will depend on availability of finances.

The call

When Tunde climbed on her bike that summer day, she never could have dreamed that her life would change so dramatically. She knew that her father had prayed for her many years. She realized that he was pleading with God that his beautiful daughter would be passionate for the Lord.

Tunde’s father is one of our pastors and many a time we joined him in prayer for her. Little did we know that it would take only one bike ride to a nearby village to change her life.

Tunde is used to attention; spoiled by the world as one of Romania’s super models. This was her dream; to be in the limelight of the world. It hurt her father’s heart. His little girl was in the clutches of fame and the love of money. He continued in prayer and fasting for long years, till one day Tunde came home to her small town again and stepped on her bike.

Her childhood friend Anna had been pleading with her to visit some poor, old people in the next village. She finally gave in and went along with Anna. When she stepped into a small house of a destitute, ninety year old woman and saw her loneliness and suffering Tunde was instantly changed. Compassion engulfed her soul and with tears streaming down her face she could not stop hugging the widow. That moment she knew what God’s plan was for her life.

No longer she desires the glamour of this present world, but the Lord Jesus has become the focus of her life. Now you can see Tunde every day on her bike, with a pot of hot food in a bag, pedaling to the surrounding villages. She goes to the elderly, the lonely and the ones that are suffering. Her eyes are sparkling. She is intensely happy. When she steps into the lives of the desperately poor and hopeless, especially the elderly, it is as if a blond haired angel enters the room.

“May you lead many into eternal life Tunde.” This is now our prayer for you.

Ben and Marianne Janssen

Missionaries to Eastern Europe

Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

Mat 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Namik, all by himself, is counted as one of our four church planting teams in Azerbaijan. He used to walk three days, rain or shine, to reach the town where the Lord had called him to plant a church. Later on in his ministry he rented a room in the town and stayed there all by himself. Once a month he leaves for a few days and goes back to see his wife and only child, Sanan, in the capital city Baku.

He has been able to start two churches and is evangelizing in five more villages. Two years ago we presented him with a mountain bike, which made his life a little easier.

Last month his only son died. He suffered from a blood disease. Now Namik and his wife are alone with the Lord. For four weeks he is meditating, praying and fasting, asking the Lord for strength to go on with the work he was called to.

PS Namik’s son, Sanan, was supported by Janet Thomas through the People to People program. There are 13 orphans in Romania and 7 pastor’s children in the Ukraine that need a PTP sponsor with $20 / month.