Introducing the Living Hope Center
The Living Hope Center had its beginnings in the pastoral ministry of Adrian (Adi) and Lavinia Dreana. The Dreanas began working as missionaries and church planters in southern Romania during their "spare time" as college students. Upon graduating from Emmanuel Bible University of Oradea, they married and moved from their home in the northwest to the southern city of Targu Jiu.
You could say that the vision for the Living Hope Center began with one hungry child. One day, while Adi was traveling to one of the church plants outside Targu Jiu, he happened upon a young boy. The boy was also on his way to church, eager to hear the songs and stories about Jesus. But he stumbled as he walked, unable to keep up with Adi's pace.
"What's wrong?" Adi asked. "Why can't you walk?" The young boy was initially reluctant to answer. But finally, the truth came out: he hadn't eaten a meal in three days.
Adi was heartsick. "Here I was, trying to share the Gospel with him, and he was starving," he would later recount. "That's when we realized that first we have to meet the people's needs, and then we can share with them the love of Christ."
A few years later, the Living Hope Center (LHC) opened its doors. Now located in a large house in Targu Jiu, the center offers a wide range of services, from food and clothing distribution, to tutoring for needy children. In February 2003, LHC also opened a community medical clinic in the city center, offering free medical care for the area's neediest citizens. A crisis pregnancy center, complete with an ultrasound machine donated from the U.S., operates as part of the medical clinic. A U.S.-made mammography unit was added to the facility in December 2005, further expanding the ministry available to needy local women.
The community response has been overwhelming. Thousands of needy people have flocked to the center to receive food, clothing, medical care, and to learn more about the love that drives these unusual Christians. As a result of their work at LHC, the Dreanas have been able to share Christ with people of all walks of life-from alcoholics and prostitutes to the highest city officials. Clearly, God has begun a new and exciting work in the "lowly" city of Targu Jiu.
One Success Story
It would be impossible to recount the numerous stories of how LHC has touched children's lives. However, here is the story of just one child, as it was told to us by Lavinia Dreana:
God is doing His work in the lives and hearts of the people that are being reached. Ninety percent of the kids who come for the tutoring program are from non-Christian families, where they have been abused in all ways, and that resulted in bad behavior and very low results in school.
This is the situation of "Brian," a 10-year-old boy who was admitted in our program last October. He was very wild, had very bad results in school, his father was threatening him that if he does not improve his grades he will take him to school naked, he beat him, kept him for days without food. Absolutely no result!!! After a few months of hard work we almost gave up too. We almost sent him back home with the diagnosis: impossible to recover!!!!! He did not want to do anything, he hated to hear the Christian songs, he was mocking the other kids when they were reciting the memorized Bible verses, he would just take his bag and leave when he didn't like something. Well, we kept praying for this little guy, kept persevering and being consistent, and after a long battle, last week he got several A's and all his teachers are AMAZED to see the great change.
Even as I write this to you, Brian is sitting next to me, silently doing his homework, and you can see in his eyes that he has that peace in his heart that comes from above. We are still praying for his parents and family to get to know the Lord and His salvation. . . .
Please continue to pray for us here that God would do His work no matter what, give us new strength and encouragement because we really need that.
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The Needs of This Ministry
The Living Hope Center is currently in very great need of regular support. LHC struggles to pay its staff salaries, rent, and utilities every month.
Thanks to God's provision through our donors, Romania Reborn was able to begin sending $1,500 per month to LHC in 2004. However, in order to raise this level of support, we greatly need more regular gifts toward this ministry. We are seeking individuals, churches, or foundations to partner with us in supporting LHC each month. One-time donations are also needed to fund costs such as the winter heating bill and equipment for the medical office.
Our present goal of $2,500 per month is a small amount, but it will go a long way toward supporting the ministries which are currently in operation. As God continues to provide, we hope to send even more monthly funds, allowing LHC to further expand its ministry.
If you are interested in supporting this work, please see "How You Can Help" for more information.