Why did you join Campus Crusade for Christ in Romania?
After graduation, I took a good-paying job, and I liked what I was doing. But, I remembered at least 3 times a week looking at the clock, waiting for 4:00 p.m. so I could go talk with students about Jesus.
I decided that God was calling me to give my full energy and my time, not just the remains of the day when I was really tired, to Him. I was making a lot of money, but that wasn’t satisfying me. I really wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. The one thing that would last forever is human souls.
My brother died in 1994. He struggled and he wanted to know about God (before I was a Christian), but no one took the time to tell him. I decided that the best thing I could do with my life would be to tell people about Christ. If my entire life, I told people about Jesus and one person became a Christian, then my life would be worth living. I wish someone had told my brother.
What are you presently learning about God?
It has been a hard time for me the past few months. I was very surprised to find out that I have my own prosperity theology. Although I wasn’t saying it, I believed that if you obey God and listen to Him, then things will go well and be easy. It wasn't something that I believed with my mind, but I believed it with my heart.
At that time nothing seemed to work well. It’s not like I was suffering for Christ or anything. Things just weren’t going well. I believed God told me, “I’m not who you are thinking I am. I’m the God of the Bible. I want for you to know Me deeper each day.” I realized that I was frustrated with God because I thought He owed me something because I was good and I was in His ministry. But He didn't. It's a privilege to be in His work.
I learned more about grace and that it’s not all about how things will go for the ministry or me; He will be with me always. And I learned, again, that you can be in the midst of His will and still be in a lot of storms. I realized I’m surprised each day because I thought after 15 years of walking this path, I knew some about Him, but He’s way more than I ever grasped.
What is the biggest challenge you face in ministry right now?
The biggest challenge with Romanian students right now is it’s harder and harder to have more conversations with students. Materialism and student jobs crowd their time. The generation is changing so fast right now. It wasn’t that way right after the revolution. It’s harder to find people who are interested in the gospel.
How has your family reacted to your choice to become a missionary?
If I could start over, I would do it all over again. When I joined Campus Crusade, my parents were really against it. They were devastated. My relatives told me that my mother was going to die because I broke her heart. My parents threw me out at first, but now we have a great relationship. I’m encouraged by others who have trusted God by joining when He called them.
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