News & Updates - June 2009

“My last deed before leaving [Romania] was to go to the grave of the colonel who had given the order for my arrest and who had ordered my years of torture. I put a flower on his grave. . .I hate the communist system but I love the men. I hate the sin but I love the sinner. I love the communists with all my heart. Communists can kill Christians but they cannot kill their love toward even those who killed them. I have not the slightest bitterness or resentment against the communists or my torturers.”

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in Tortured for Christ

Under My Thumb

In Touch Monthly Newsletter, June 2009

Secret orders. False rumors. Arrests and disappearances. The re-elected communist government in Moldova is busy securing its position in the recently disputed election of April 5, 2009 by blunt-force politics and intimidation tactics. A student once asked her professor to define Communism in five words or less. His answer? “Government under my thumb.”

In our day, it’s hard to believe that Communism in its ugliest form would manifest itself again as in the days of Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand who survived torture in prison at the hands of communist government officials. But that is because most Americans are kept in the dark by a sanitized, friendlier dose of world news.

Just prior to the Moldovan elections in April this year, ITMI Project Partner Richard Nungesser visited some Christian brothers and sisters in a village in Moldova to encourage and be encouraged by the work being done as an extension of the Polish Bread of Life ministries there.

Richard reports: “Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and one of the most corrupt. The mafia controls many of the homeless. Most recently, a local pastor named ‘Adam’ (a pseudonym to protect him and his family) started receiving death threats and phone calls. The callers said that if he didn’t stop his work among the homeless that his children’s hands, arms, and legs were going to be broken (ages 3 & 4).”

Richard went on to tell us that this pastor had gone to the city dump to share the Gospel of Christ with the homeless there and offer them hot cups of tea. A gang of four thugs pulled up in a jeep and demanded that the pastor get in their vehicle to take a ride with them. The pastor wisely refused. “Back off!” they shouted, “These people are our property!” The men soon left to inform their superiors.

Richard continues: “Soon after that encounter, Adam was arrested and stood in the mayor’s office with the head orthodox priest of the city. The priest told the pastor to stop his work among the homeless. ‘If you don’t stop your work amongst the homeless, you are going to find your head under the tire of my car,’ the priest said. ‘Boy,’ the mayor chimed in, ‘I don’t want to be there when that happens.’”

Adam was falsely thrown into jail without the appropriate paperwork. While in his cell, Adam remembered that when he was a teenager he used to watch the children of a man who became very influential in national politics. He called this man’s house and, by God’s grace, was able to reach him. “The man,” Adam said, “told me not to worry.”

In a matter of hours, this powerful man was on the doorstep of the office of the mayor - with the former and current prime ministers demanding answers. The mayor blamed the police - and the police accused the mayor of issuing secret orders.

In the end, pastor “Adam” walked out of the jail a free man. Adam was able to get out from “under the thumb” of a corrupt official because he knew the One Who is able to turn the hearts of men and women as He pleases to free His own people.

Needless to say, this was a miraculous escape. Some of our brothers and sisters have suffered greatly - even to the point of martyrdom in the service of our King. Pray for Pastor “Adam” and his family as they minister to the helpless and needy in Moldova. If you would like to designate a gift to this project, please mark your gifts with “Bread of Life - Moldova.”

Also remember Richard and Brooke Nungesser as they lead the Bread of Life Foundation in Poznan, as well as shepherding the congregation at the English-speaking Poznan International Church. Currently, their most pressing need is housing as they must move to another place no later than June 30, 2009. Your prayers and financial support allow them to continue serving and training others.

Piotr Zaremba Update: Piotr Zaremba left Poznan with two suitcases full of Polish New Testaments and Gospel of John booklets to head for his annual trip to meet with supporters in the USA. Taking part in a Chicago radio program to Polish people, he distributed all of the New Testaments and the booklets to the groups who later came to hear him sepak at various venues around the city.

While in Phoenix, Piotr participated in three separate missions conferences in the area allowing him to share the vision and work of the Bible translation team as well as the church ministries he oversees. In between speaking engagements, he continued to translate the Book of Psalms and was able to complete its translation into modern Polish by the end of his USA trip.

One major non-profit organization involved in recording audio Bibles in different languages (”Faith Comes By Hearing”), contacted Piotr to hear more about his Polish translation project. Traveling to Albuquerque, NM for a day, Piotr and Steve Evers, ITMI Director, visited with this team of audio specialists and left with a commitment to have a Polish audio recording of Piotr’s translation by the end of 2010.

Another interested and well-known vendor in the realm of Bible software (BibleWorks) is negotiating with Piotr to include his translation in their latest version.

Please keep the Zaremba family and the team leaders in their ministries in your prayers. Their greatest material need of the moment is a replacement vehicle for the ministry. Your prayers and support have helped the “new” Polish New Testament go around the world. God’s word simply cannot be kept under any man’s thumb. Thank you for helping us in Poland and Moldova!

R Nungesser & P Zaremba – Poland
with Jeff Black

Source: ITM Newsletter, 06/09