Romania

Stats
•Population – 20,947,000
•Percentage of Evangelicals – 6.3%
•Total Number of People Groups – 29
•Number of Unreached People Groups – 6
•Language Spoken – Romanian
•Major Religion – Christianity
•Human Development Rank – 63

Under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, in 1859 the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia united, secured their autonomy and later adopted the new name of Romania. Twenty years later Romanian Independence was gained and recognized in 1878. In WWI Romania joined the Allied Powers and was able to gain the new territory of Transylvania after the war. But in 1940, it participated with the Axis powers in the German invasion of the USSR. Overrun by the Soviets, Romania was occupied by the USSR which led to the formation of the “people’s republic” a Communist system that led to the dissolution of the Romanian king. Under decades of oppressive Communist rule by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his Securitate police, Romanian life became very hard throughout the 1980’s. Not until 1996 was Romania’s Communist rule swept away, leaving an effect that exists still today. Ruled by Communism, the churches in Romania struggled under oppression and control from the government and suffered from extreme persecution. Religious freedom has emerged as strict policies from the former Soviet Union has withdrawn. In fact Romania has the third highest population of Evangelicals in Europe and the church has seen continuous growth since 1989. However many evangelical churches are facing threats not from the government but from the Romanian Orthodox Church still today. Their violent reactions to Protestant evangelism and outreach has posed a threat to the spread of the Gospel among unbelievers.

•Pray for the people of Romania. The effects of a Communist past still lies heavily on its people with evil morality and corruption consuming its people.
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•Pray for full freedom for the proclamation of the gospel and that there may be respect and trust between all major Christian bodies.
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•Pray for the needs of Christian youth in Romania as there are very few people able to minister specifically to the younger generation of believers.
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•Most pastors lack education and training and the average pastor supervises five congregations. Pray for God to bring people to equip and provide Biblical training to pastors in Romania.