HOW DID OUR CHURCH START?

In January 1998 a group of Christians from several districts of Bucharest (Rahova, Ferentari and Giurgiului) decided before the Lord to come together in Christ in a new local Church. (The three specified areas are in need of Evangelical Churches).

The new group of believers, strongly determined to guide themselves according to the will of God, begun to gather for reading and studying the Word, for prayer and for the breaking of bread. The meetings begun in the house of one of the brethren (George Dragoman) in the Rahova district.

Other people joined to the initial number of brothers, and expressed their desire to become members of the new church. We had wonderful moments of fellowship, the joy of a new beginning reminding us of the joy that the first Church had, when believers were gathering in houses.

Right from the beginning we kept in touch with the leadership of the Open Brethren Denomination, and we told them about our wish to have a new church. When all paperwork was ready, on the 2nd of February 1998, we received the official approval to meet as a church. Thus we entered juridical existence.

Shortly after this beginning the house became too small for the meeting, and the neighbors were kind enough to lend chairs for the extra people.

Because of our uncertain situation regarding our meeting place, since we could not refer to our church giving an address, we decided to give our church a name. We named it “Filadelfia”, because the ethimology of the word expresses the desire of all our members, that of living in true Christian love and fellowship. The context where this name appears has the promise of the Son of God of “an opened door” and also it mentions a church of little strength, but with a strong desire to follow the Lord. So we named our little church Filadelfia.

When the number of the brothers raised to 40-45 we brought the matter before the Lord, asking for a place to worship. We started looking for a place to rent, and found two possibilities. One of them was a public building, and, although the director agreed to rent it, higher political authorities, which do not favour the growth of an evangelical movement, did not allow it. We thanked the Lord for this closed door.
We also talked with the pastor of a Reformed Church, which had hosted a while ago another Evangelical Church. But since they were expecting some guests from Korea, they also refused us.

We also took this other no from the Lord. Soon afterwards, we came in contact with a brother from a Brethren church in Carol Davila, named Puiu Mihaila. He has a space that he destined for meetings that bring glory to God, and learning about our need, he agreed to let us use the space in two days: Sundays and Thursdays. He doesn’t want any rent for the building.

He provided us with a building in a wonderful way. We had to change our official address to Stelea Spatarul, and that is the place where we have been meeting since the 6th of March 1998.

Because of the wonderful plan that the true and living God made for His Church, we are now in a time of grace, a time in which the church is built up. The foundation of God’s Church is His Son’s sacrifice that enables sinners to become redeemed chosen ones, making the Church grow. We can clearly see the reality of this truth by watching the proliferation of the local churches, which are images of His universal Church. One of them is “Filadelfia”, a Church from Bucharest that gathers for the moment in a building on street Stelea Spatarul.

The Lord set on one of our sisters’ hearts, Aliona Rotari, to work with the children. After a few weeks of having the Sunday school lessons in the entrance hall, brother Puiu Mihaila gave us permission to use one other small room for the work with the children.

WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH?

There were 5 believers that had the privilege to be co-workers with God to this beautiful beginning. They are:

Dumitru Luca the eldest of the brethren, with his gift of guarding the church and his musical gift.

Vasile Mitu with the gift of helping and administrating

Dan Neagu with the gift of an evangelist and a musical gift

Martin Mallette with the gift of an evangelist and a musical gift

George Dragoman with the gift to teach, to lead and to shepherd.

The church acknowledged these brothers to be the group of elders with the authority of God to lead in spiritual matters.

George Dragoman was elected to represent the church in front of all authorities, and also to be responsible with leading the congregation.

These brothers are the ones who greatly contributed to its organization and opening. They took over the responsibility of creating a healthy climate for the spiritual growth of new believers, and encouraged the brothers to live in holiness, love and good works.

All except one are to this day active in the work designated to them by the Holy Spirit.