Graeme's story: A calling that began in 2004
My name is Graeme Turner, and I am 77 years old. In 2004, at a Full Gospel Businessman’s conference in North Wales, I received a calling to join a Romania mission trip. Since that time I have now been on 25 Christian missions to that beautiful country.
The most recent mission took place this year, between Monday the 29th June to Monday the 6th July.
Most of my missions have been led by Clive and Ann McIntyre, founders and leaders of the Barnabas (Outreach) Trust. A small evangelistic missionary organisation working across Romania and Africa. I was introduced to them in 2004, by a friend and FGB member.
A Different Kind of Mission
This Romanian mission was very different to some of my most recent missions. One of the regular ladies at 91 years old made the difficult decision that she could no longer travel, and she was missed but her prayers came with us. Over the last few years we have had 4 or 5 members from the UK team, however, this year we had 11 members!
The mission came into being because Harry Lamaison, vicar of St Barnabas church Epsom, asked Clive if he would lead a mission to Romania. He wanted to include people from his church and the linked church of St Paul’s.
A taster morning was arranged to see who would be interested, which thirteen people attended. The attendees were told about what Christian missions involved, Gospel outreach, prayer ministry, evangelism and being part of the Mission team.
Getting the Plan in Place
Then in April, Clive and his friend Simon Groves went to Romania to speak to the Pastors. During their visit, they planned and set up the work the teams would be doing. They met with Mark and Florenta Hamilton. Florenta (pronounced Florensa) has been our main link with the Romanian pastors for many years. Her ability to translate from Romanian to English and English to Romanian almost instantly has always been a blessing. Ensuring that all the missions run smoothly, so God can move.
Florenta and Mark run children’s camps in Romania, their knowledge has given us invaluable assistance whenever we travel to Romania.
On returning, Clive and Ann set up a mission training day. This covers working with different cultures, dress codes, working with interpreters and other necessary things we needed to know to make the Romanian mission run smoothly.
Also, it was an opportunity to start to get to know the new team members. Some of whom had not been on any Christian missions before.
The UK Mission Team
The UK team members were made up of a wide range of experience and backgrounds. With the ages of the team varying from being in their late 20’s up to 79 years old.
About the Team
Clive and Ann McIntyre, are founders and leaders of the Barnabas (Outreach) Trust. Also Lay Assistant Ministers at St Barnabas Church. They are widely experienced in missions across Romania and Africa. Next year they will be celebrating 30 years of mission ministry.
Along side them was Lenuta, pronounced Lenutsa Vintila. Lenuta is Romanian and has relatives in Rosiori de Vede, one of the towns we have regularly visited. Lenuta is a gifted translator and for several years lived with Clive and Ann.
Marian Bateman, is a highly experienced member of the Barnabas (Outreach) Trust team, and has been on 14 missions to Romania.
Simon Ward, recently ordained under the Caleb course, which is a course for older men in the Church of England. Previously, he had worked in the fashion industry. He’s also a Worship leader, and it was his second mission to Romania.
There were also 5 members of the team who were joining us for their first mission trip to Romania. Tony and Marilyn O’Brien, Tony is a retired engineer and Marilyn a retired teacher. Harry Lamaison is the vicar of St Barnabas. Julia Marsh, a senior pediatric cancer specialist. Lela Cordess is a Charity worker.
And I am the last of the English team with 21 years since my first mission and 25 missions since 2005.
Day 1 – Arrival in Romania
Monday 29th June.
The team met up at 5.45am at Clive and Ann’s home and we travelled to Heathrow. Security went smoothly and the plane departed just after 8.45am. On arrival after going through border control and baggage collection we met with Mark and Florenta. Building work at the airport meant it took about an hour to find our transport. The journey around Bucharest was slow, but we arrived in Alexandria at about 7pm.
There was a lot of travelling but it was a good opportunity for the team to get to know each other better.
Day 2 – Ministry in Maldaeni
Tuesday 30th June.
Today we linked with Romanian Pastor Cornell and his wife Lucica, they live in Maldaeni. With there 8 children, as a couple they have a great love for children. As many of the Pastor’s in Romania are not full-time, Pastor Cornell is also a builder.
When we arrived there were about 50 children waiting for us. Some of our team are gifted in children’s work, so they stayed with the children and the rest of us did home visits. Where we prayed for people who are mainly sick or old. We were due to do some street evangelism, but with a temperature of 38 degrees C this was cancelled.
In the evening we joined with a ladies group meeting under Pastor Cornell’s leadership. Before the mission began, our English ladies were asked to look at the book of Ruth, and each of the team spoke about what they found. After they had shared around 40 women were prayed for.
They also provided some lovely home made food. About 15 of the children and youth took their first step in following Christ.
Day 3 – Visiting Churches
Wednesday 1st July.
Today we link with Pastor George Stancu, who is also a music teacher. He who oversees three churches at Trian, Turnu and Rosiori de Vede.
Trian and Turnu are close to the Danube and Rosiori de Vede is further in land. The work was similar to yesterday, and in the evening we went to the church in Rosiori de Vede where we took part in their mid week service. Here Clive preached the gospel message.
A similar number of children and youth as yesterday took the first step to following Christ by praying the salvation prayer.
Days 4–7 – Serving the Villages Around Alexandria
Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th July.
We linked with Pastor Octavian Ivinca. Pastor Octavian is the leader of the Alexandria Baptist church and also works as an IT consultant. Alexandria Baptist church is a very active church with 28 mission outposts.
We visited 3 of these, in the villages of Copaceanca, Piatra and Olteni. Each of these outposts is overseen by a local church leader, bringing together people who we meet in homes and the local churches.
Further groups of children were seen at each of these villages, those gifted in children’s mission worked with the children.
They took time and provided teaching and Christian games.
Other members of the team took part in home visits.
On the Thursday, the Alexandria church hold an evening service. This is a large church with many gifted musicians. Including a large group of talented Mandolin players who played for us, it’s rare to see such a large group.
We were asked to sing, and Simon Ward led us in worship. Singing ‘WE WANT TO SEE JESUS LIFTED HIGH’ and ‘AMAZING GRACE‘. Following a wonderful worship time, Simon preached and people came forward for prayer.
We returned to Alexandria each evening during the mission. On the evenings of the 3rd and 4th July, Harry Lamaison and several other members of our group led a discussion group. There were about 12 older youth from inside and outside the church.
Our last full day of mission was Sunday 5th July.
In the morning the team split into three and visited one of the villages to lead the service and preach the gospel. Tony and his team went to Copaceanca, Harry and his team went to Olteni and Simon and his team went to Piatra. I was part of Simon’s team, had the opportunity to share part of my testimony.
Following lunch all back together in Alexandria, we attended discussion groups.
Then in the evening we went to the Sunday evening service with communion. Where Clive preached the Gospel powerfully. We shared so much joy together that evening. There was also much sadness, because the trip was coming to a close and this was the last night of the mission.
What God Did
What was achieved.
50+ salvations
Approximately 200 people prayed for.
What was the major prayer request?
It was and always has been Sanatate.
Sanatate means health.
Why do we keep on hearing this time and time again?
It is because people want to stay well and stay out of hospital, for which they have to pay. The people we see are poor, and to go to hospital means paying for their treatment. Also it may mean having a family member with them to get the essentials they need for their stay. So Sanatate is what they need for survival and keeping families together.
Prayer requests for family who do not know Christ and for the elderly and the sick, is also a big part of the ministry.
Graeme's Reflections on the Romanian Mission
We were not aware of any miraculous healings this time, whilst we were there. However during my 21 years and 25 missions to this beautiful country, there have been many.
If we can return next year, God willing, we may find out the results of our prayer ministry.
This year, I didn’t get the opportunity to preach. I got to support the new members of the team, who got to experience doing it for the first time. Due to the shortness of the mission there were only a few preaching slots.
However, I was tasked with leading the early morning prayers. Every day this included Ephesians 6 verses 10 to 18.
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."
We put on our armour every day to give protection while we were on the Mission field. Most of the team are from Anglican backgrounds and I am the only Full Gospel Businessmen member. So it was great to see them experience a different way of serving God.
Find out more about the Barnabas Outreach Trust.
