Entrust in Romania
An Overview
1979-1989
The Development of Multiplying Study Groups
In the fall of 1979, Entrust launched its first course, The Life of Christ with a small group of pastors from all over Romania. The number of pastors and groups quickly grew, despite security concerns, as these pastors wanted
their friends to receive the same training. Western missionary-facilitators would travel to one city, hold meetings for one or two days, and then move on to the next city. From 1984 to 1989, a large network of ministry circuits was developed among Baptists, Pentecostals, Brethren, and the Lord’s Army. The Entrust-Romania team began to focus on developing a multiplication strategy: “first generation” study groups facilitated by Entrust staff would spawn second- and third-generation groups led by Romanian nationals. Among the courses used were Romans and Galatians, Evangelism and Discipleship, New Testament Survey, Old Testament Survey, and Christian Life. Also during this period, Women’s Ministry was launched with the formation of several groups of women. It was a time of risk and sacrifice in Ceausescu’s Romania; it was also a time of growth and joy.
1990-2000
The Development of Training Systems and Centers
During this period of greater freedom and opportunity, Entrust-Romania’s emphasis shifted from the multiplication of study groups to the development of church-based training centers or systems. Entrust staff assisted in organizing training centers and systems at the local level, the regional level and the national (denominational) level. National denominational teams were formed to take responsibility for the training systems within their denominations, each with a national coordinator. Entrust staff devoted time and energy to equipping pastors and other leaders to be trainers of others in the resultant training centers. At the same time Women’s Ministry flourished as more women’s groups were developed and Romanian women began to assume greater leadership responsibilities. And Entrust-Romania became a legal entity (EBE-Romania), with its own board of directors. The ministry was beginning to be led by nationals.
2000-Present
Indigenization
Some movement in the direction of indigenization had already begun in the late 1990s. The EBE-Romania foundation had been incorporated, and a full-time EBE administrator had been hired. But the Entrust-Romania ministry was entirely indigenized in the years that followed. Mircea Deteşan, a Romanian pastor who had been trained in Entrust’s ministry during the 1980s and 1990s, became executive director of EBE. Likewise, nationals were hired as full-time coordinators for Women’s Ministry (Lidia Şchiopu) and for each of the evangelical denominations or associations with which EBE works (Nelu Muresan, Adi Paul, Petrica Ursache, Mitica Iliesi). Entrust expatriate staff continue to live and to minister in the country. But they no longer direct the ministry; rather, they assist the EBE team in their ministry, functioning as consultants and mentors. Entrust-Romania has become not only a ministry to Romanians but a ministry of Romanians.