Mitruts and Alina Stiopu
Location: Caransebes, Romania
Timeline: On-going
Status: Currently operating
Topics: Youth Ministry, Discipleship, Evangelism, Christian Business
The Need
It has long been an ITMI goal to see the country of Romania stand on its own two feet with dignity and self-sufficiency. Given the unpredictability of US economics, Bill Bathman has advocated that “Romanians learn how to generate funds from within the country through Christian business enterprises.” This would ultimately enable them to “sever the financial umbilical cord binding them to the West.” The goal of all this is not to create a class of “successful” and comfortable Romanian Christians. It is to develop big-hearted Christians with the financial wherewithal to support local Christian organizations.
Description
Mitruts and Alina have opened several organizations, including the Charisma Foundation. This is a foundation made up of many private enterprises, each with its own way of spreading the Gospel of Christ, be it providing low-cost child-care for working mothers or by printing daily devotionals on the menu of a well-run café. Together, these business enterprises form a powerful tool for reaching Romanians with the Gospel message. For example, underneath the umbrella of the Charisma Foundation some of the businesses offer multiple opportunities for ministry, although they do not provide much in the way of revenue. Others provide fewer opportunities for ministry and make up for that in the way of greater revenue. The combination of these small operations together enables the Foundation to balance its budget each year.
Mitruts and Alina have also established a Romanian Development Fund, which seeks to lend money to Romanian Christians that are capable of opening or expanding small businesses. As these businesses become profitable, their owners are able to financially support the local Christian organizations. Because of this focus, RDF only accepts applicants who exhibit strong Christian character and ethical business practices.
In 1984, Mitruts and Alina, along with 16 young people, held a secret camp meeting in the Banat Mountains near the village of Plopu. Activities such as this were forbidden by the Communist party. By 1992, over 300 young people came to the Camp Plopu for a week of fellowship, discipleship and fun. These youth camps have proven to be a wonderful tool in reaching Romanian youth for Christ. Many of Romania’s Christian leaders, pastors and evangelists have come through Mitruts’ camps.
Goals
- To evangelize and disciple Romanians.
- To promote Christian small business enterprise in Romania.
- To evangelize and disciple the next generation of Christian leaders.
Needs
- Personal support for Mitruts and Alina to provide the ability to work at ministry full-time.
- Prayer for the lost of Romania
Who’s Involved
- ITMI to provide encouragement and US exposure.
- ITMI’s European Director Piotr Zaremba to provide additional oversight.
- The widow Anna who lives on the property adjacent to Camp Plopu.
