Praise & Pray with Us
PRAISES
Stephen and Lydia are both doing well and staying on schedule with their schooling this year.
Scott continues to make connections with new
people who either are or are planning to start new churches in different locations in Romania.
Health!
PRAYER NEEDS
Pray for our cell group as we begin to implement some practices that will take us to a higher level effectiveness and fruitfulness.
Pray for our local church in Arad, Emmanuel Christian Center, to experience revival.
Pray for our ministry financial needs to be met.
Pray for Paula's ministry with children both through Oaza and through the public school religion class.
Pray for more contacts with Romanian church planters.
Monthly Prayer Guide from Prayernet.ro - Romania's prayer network (Click on this link, then click on "Prayer Points."
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By scottdunn, on February 8th, 2010
By scottdunn, on February 2nd, 2010
 I had a good first meeting today with a couple who are preparing to launch a new church in Timisoara, a city about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Arad where we live. Sava and Wendy are calling this new work Kairos Christian Center. One of their unique launch strategies is to build awareness and interest through social internet sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Take a look at their website (available in Romanian and English) and join us in prayer for this new work.
By pauladunn, on February 2nd, 2010
 Roxi and I waiting on our fish and chips Life is so filled with contradictions…and for me this past week it has gone between peace and concern or elation and saddness all within a few minutes. Last Wednesday morning, I was privledged to travel to London, England, with my friend from our church here, Roxanna, where we would attend a worship conference over the weekend. (www.thekwm.co.uk) We arrived safely and were cared for by a very kind and generous family. We spent part of the day Wednesday and Thursday touring London. Time didn’t allow for a full tour of London so we just visited a few places, had coffee, and relaxed. Friday and Saturday were spent at the worship conference. The worship leaders and speakers were tremendous as they shared the thoughts God had given them on being a 21st Century Levite. Following are a few words from the notes I took: “It’s not about what a Levite does…but rather WHO a Levite is.” (Celia Apeagyi-Collins); “Private practice produces public performance.” (Celia Apeagyi-Collins); “As good as the seed is…we still can’t grow unless we have the appropriate atmosphere.” (Celia Ageagyi-Collins); “When we enter into rest we stop “clock-watching” and we rely on God’s timing.” (Lara Martin); “We too must die before we can receive the resurrection power.” (Mark Beswick); “God is in our hell (our wilderness) because we are there.” (Mark Beswick); “The love of what we tell vs. the love of the telling.” (Graham Kendrick quoting CS Lewis) The Holy Spirit was alive and active in our times of worship and prayer…and His Spirit strong even in moments of absolute silence. The leader of the conference, Noel Robinson, has a catch-phrase that I like…”I am a worshipper who happens to be…” then fill in the blank. For me, the conference has just continued to stir in me the desire to be more than just a worshipper…but to be involved in the advancement of worship in the form of music and the arts, especially in Romania as God and opportunity allows.
 my Aunt Helen May 2007 on a visit to us in Romania On Saturday of the conference I received a call from my Dad in the States saying that my Aunt Helen, my mom’s sister, had suddenly passed away following a heart-attack. I went from a high to a low… I knew my aunt was ready to see Jesus but its the knowledge of never experiencing her here again. I am also feeling low that I cannot be with my family in yet again another difficult loss (and my sister passed away three year ago this week). When we left the States four years ago, I knew I wouldn’t see my family for a while. But never did I imagine that so many would move on to Jesus before I saw them again…this is a difficult reality. However, I am more than thankful that my Jesus is Lord over death and that I have the hope…but even more…I have the promise that we will one day stand TOGETHER before Jesus in worship.
Please pray for: 1. My family, if you will, in this difficult time. 2. For opportunities for me to participate in the advancement of worship in Romania. 3. Scott and I as we continue to lead the cell leader training group. 4. Scott as he travels to Budapest this weekend to fellowship with our church there. 5. Stephen and Lydia and their school work. Thank you!!
By scottdunn, on February 1st, 2010
Yesterday evening I had the privilege of attending the first baptism service for the Adoram church plant that I’ve been coaching for the last year. Three adults made their public confession of Christ last night, and it was a grand celebration. The pictures will be worth a thousand-plus words. Rejoice with us!
By pauladunn, on January 18th, 2010
 Stephen and Bogdy...ohsotough! Well, it is official now…Stephen is an adult…18 years old! But last night he said…”technically”. hmmm…what does that mean?!  After church in the morning, our family went to see Avatar 3D, which we all really enjoyed. Then Stephen went and played in the worship band at Adoram church, the same church Scott is mentoring as a church plant and we are meeting with on Saturday nights for training of cell leaders. After the service, Stephen came home to enjoy a nice surprise party (that Lydia, her boyfriend Raul and I put together) with the band from Adoram and some friends from the Emmanuel church. Stephen’s good friend, Bogdy, came and joined us too. We thank God for Stephen and the man we see him becoming through Jesus Christ. As Scott wrote in a blessing for Stephen, we see him as a gifted scientist and artist and a man of gentleness and conviction. Scott, Lydia and I pray for God’s blessing in Stephen’s life today and forever!
 Stephen and Lydia Two prayers come to mind as I write this morning… I remember the day I prayed that God would make my children “world changers for His Kingdom”. And the day I asked God to use Romania and this “adventure” as a spiritual building stone in their relationship with Him and their impact for His Kingdom worldwide. We yet do not know where God will take Stephen and Lydia or what the road will look like along the way, but I can see the answers to my prayers everyday. They are both truly amazing young people…and we thank God for them…everyday!!
Please pray for Stephen and Lydia today. They have four months of school left (Stephen will graduate from high school in May) and then our huge transition back to the States. These are both matters of concern; that they finish their schooling well and they find strength and peace as we face changing relationships once again.
Thankful for your prayers!
By pauladunn, on January 14th, 2010
 New Year's Eve, Arad RO This is my first attempt at using the new website so…I hope this goes well. Just wanted to write a brief note and share a few pics. We hosted a New Year’s party for the youth of Emmanuel Christian Centre. They came at 6pm and left at 6am! It was great…food, games, dancing, and fireworks! Just before we left for the fireworks downtown, we all shared a memory from 2009 and a desire for 2010. It was interesting to hear some of the things on their hearts.
 hang time at cell group Two weeks ago our cell group had a mexican night and just general fellowship time. We are so pleased to sense a deepening spirit amongst our cell group. Please pray for two ladies who both have relationship with a family in our cell group that they will sense their need for Jesus.
 listening patiently For several months now, I’ve been working at the after-school program of Oaza especially helping with a music class and setting up computers. For a Christmas program, the children played Jingle Bells on handchimes which were donated by United Church of South Vienna (OH). Since
 practicing then, we’ve been working on recorders. Have you ever sat in a room of children all trying to learn to blow into recorders??!!
As I write, our thoughts are very much with our missionary colleagues and FM church family in Haiti. Please pray…nothing else we can ask that will have greater impact than your prayers. If God leads you to help in other ways, online giving for Haiti is now available at: http://www.fmwm.org/give/help_haiti_heal.php
Thankful for your prayers and support! Blessings…paula
By scottdunn, on January 12th, 2010
 December 31, 2009  December, 2005 Happy Anniversary! Four years ago today our family arrived in Arad, Romania to begin our first term as “missionaries.” Wow, a lot has happened in the past four years! As we laid down to sleep in our first apartment that night, the year 2010 seemed so far away. And now, here we are. If you’re interested, you can click HERE to read our blog posts from four years ago. Also, you can chuckle with us at our family pictures taken in December, 2005 (just prior to our departure) and New Year’s Eve, 2009/10.
By scottdunn, on January 12th, 2010
Recently our Emmanuel church leaders decided to begin focusing on developing cell groups as our primary method for discipleship and evangelism. Paula and I have been leading a bi-lingual cell group for over a year now, and the leaders of our youth have been moving their meetings more towards the cell group format as well. So this decision comes as a welcome and natural progression of what has been developing in the church. In addition, the Adoram church plant that I have been coaching since the Spring has also decided to implement cell groups as their primary method of evangelism and discipleship, and they have asked me to teach them how.
 Preparing Cell Group Leaders So this past Saturday evening Paula and I began a new 8-week training course with both churches combined. We had 14 people at this first training. We are encouraged and excited about this new step for both churches. As some of our blog readers know, we started and led a cell church in Columbus, Ohio in the years prior to our move to Romania. So doing church via cell groups is a passion close to our heart.
The material we’re using is written by a new contact here in Romania. Kamal is an Egyptian married to a Romanian, and they live and minister in Oradea (a 1½ hour drive north from us). Kamal was a successful cell leader and staff pastor at a church in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to Romania about the same time that we did (2006). He is coaching churches in how to implement cell groups (www.eegateway.org), and he has graciously allowed us to use and teach his material. And who knows what other kinds of partnership we might develop in the future!
So as the next 7 Saturdays come, please stop and say a word of prayer for these training sessions. They have tremendous potential to train leaders and dramatically increase the effectiveness of both churches.
By scottdunn, on January 1st, 2010
Happy New Year! And yes, you’re in the right place. With the new year we’re taking the wraps off of our new website. Our old site, while adequate was…er…a bit tired. Add to that the changes in software and web technology, and it was time for a change. Stephen and I (Scott) have been working on this site here and there for the last few months, and we’re excited to finally be taking it public!
Most of the information from our previous site is still here (albeit in different locations), and we’ve tried to add some new things that we hope will be helpful as well. So take a look around the various pages, and then let us and our other readers know what you think by posting a comment at the comment link below. And as always, thank you for your interest in our ministry…I mean, lives (read our tag line above if you don’t get this correction) .
By scottdunn, on December 29th, 2009
Hey readers, Lydia here. I haven’t written myself on our blog for a long time! But I thought I would share a very interesting, slightly disgusting, and somewhat funny event that I took part in the week before Christmas.
Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… Oh, wait, wrong story. The week before Christmas my boyfriend’s family invited me to come along to their annual family gathering when they kill their pig. This is a tradition for Romanian families during the Christmas season. I was slightly nervous to go as seeing animals killed isn’t really my “thing”, and I knew that I would be completely surrounded by Romanians forcing me to eat who-knows-what of the pig.
When I first arrived at the great-grandmother’s house I was greeted by a large Romanian family in a small living area (country houses are typically two or three rooms including the kitchen). I praise God for the ability to speak and understand Romanian that He gave me during this time and for the patience of the family. So, I was greeted by the family and then immediately put at the table to eat sarmale (cabbage rolls). There was lots of conversation before everyone went to bed early as everyone had to wake up at 4 in the morning.
 At around 6 in the morning, after all ready being up for at least an hour and preparing the pig to walk down death-row, the pig was brought out and killed. (I dared my boyfriend that before they killed the pig he had to say some loving words to the pig. He actually did it! His family all looked at him and told him to shut up and get out of the way. ) Here they do not use a gun. Instead they slice the pig’s throat. Of course this causes the pig to squeal and squeal. Thankfully my Betsy (as I called the pig—my brother informed me however when I got home that Betsy is a cow’s name… oh well) did not squeal very much. I watched the actual killing of the pig from a window as it was well below zero with 3+ inches of snow on the ground outside.
  The next step was to torch the pig’s skin and clean the skin. Then they cut the pig up. First they cut off the head and the legs. Then they cut a chunk out of the pig going down the back that included the tail. Next, they got all of the innards from the pig. All of this and the meat and skin were taken to the kitchen to be prepared for food. I didn’t get to help much in the kitchen as the kitchen was the size of a typical American bathroom and the women of the family needed to be in there as they actually knew what they were doing. Carnaţ,   cardabos (types of sausage) were made, and they used the intestines as the packaging for these. Most of the innards were put into a very large boiling pot. I did not see what they specifically used all of these for, but I did eat liver. No, I did not like it.  I also ate pig brains. Surprisingly, they tasted good, but the texture was exactly what you would expect of brains, and they sort of melted in your mouth before you could chew. This was not so pleasant. This whole process started from around 6am and lasted until around 7pm. The family’s farm also had cows, sheep, chickens, horses, and rabbits. I did not see the horses and rabbits, but I did enjoy the cows and I even helped lead the sheep out onto the pasture.
 Throughout all of this, conversation, laughter, jokes and some playing in the snow was everywhere. It was a truly Romanian cultural experience! I won’t be forgetting this. I had a great time. Lydia
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