Welcome Harvest Metanoia Ploiesti, Romania
In 2009, a gathering of believers in Ploiesti, Romania (a city just 56km [35 mi] north of Bucharest, population of 239,500) began asking the same questions that we at Harvest asked some 21 years ago...
- What if there was a church that believed God actually wrote a book called the Bible?
- What if there was a church were people had as their first and most fervent focus, the adoration of God's Son?
- What if there was a church that believed God was actually listening when we prayed?
- What if there was a church that believed the field is truly "ripe to harvest"?
Sound familiar?
Our Sovereign Lord brought these believers into contact with Harvest Metanoia in Arad, Romania. So began the steps toward planting a life-giving work in Ploiesti committed to the same four pillars, to contemporary worship without compromise, to a focus on quality disciple-making and to elder governance...and a worshiping body of Christ was formed!
The Lord then led this body, along with leaders from both Metanoia and Harvest Bible Fellowship, on a journey to consider the shepherding of His church. While in Arad celebrating Metanoia's five-year anniversary last November, Harvest Bible Fellowship was introduced to a like-minded Romanian, Cristi Pana, and a leadership team in Ploiesti. Recently returning to Romania after finishing his Masters of Divinity at The Master's Seminary in Sun Valley, California, Cristi had also pastored local churches in Bucharest, Pasadena and La Mirada. Though he and his wife Rodica had established their family of five in the States, Cristi was compelled to bring his ministry home.
Sr. Pastor Cristian Barbosu of Metanoia Arad writes, "When I heard that Cristi Pana came back home from the U.S.A., I called him right away and purchased a train ticket for him to come to my house the next day from Bucharest - nine hours away. I knew Cristi's passion for expository preaching, his strong desire to start a new church built on the Word of God and his fervent heart for the lost. I said to myself, he must see Metanoia and Harvest, because he breathes and lives what we are all about!"
Their strong sense of like-mindedness led to a review of this pastor's qualifications, gifts, and calling. On January 10, 2010, Cristi Pana was appointed as Senior Pastor of Biserica Crestina Baptista Metanoia Ploiesti.
Today, we formally introduce Metanoia Ploiesti into the Harvest Bible Fellowship family of churches in partnership with Metanoia Arad, Romania. Join us in celebrating what Christ has done!
From Sr. Pastor Cristi Pana's heart: "God has called me to preach His Word in an expository manner, to lead His local church to reach its highest potential to serve this dying world, and to work with a team of brothers in order to implement the vision of the church. My intention is that Metanoia Ploiesti be a church with high impact in the secular society in order to be instruments through which men and women will come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus. This is my call, this is my duty!"
Pastor Cristi's fervor continues... "Metanoia Ploiesti is a church with
a strong desire to be of another kind. It is the time when we are called to
live our transformed life among people in Ploiesti
and we assumed this challenge. We are not perfect but our heart beats in the
same rhythm and in the same direction with our partners Harvest-Metanoia. We
are a small church with a big vision and a huge God! This is why we located
ourselves in the center of Ploiesti,
renting the biggest hall in the city, Patria Theater! It is a matter of
faithfulness and vision to fill up this hall! This is our hope, this is our
purpose!"
And making an eternal impact in our local sphere is the hope and purpose all Harvest
Bible Chapels hold in common. Pray with us for the Lord's favor, protection, and power to be manifest in His church—in Ploiesti, across Romania, and around the world!
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