Some of you know that Cane Creek Stoddard Baptist Association from Southeast Missouri has partnered with me to start a "Cell Church" in Zone 9 of Galati. (This is not without the help of our friends in Northwest Missouri, namely, Jay Raines who will have sent six teams by the end of this year. This along with Noel Shepard's two teams from Oak Wood in Lee's Summit where the pastor, Steve Taylor has even been to Galati to try and boost the missions focus in his church, whose efforts will result in bringing a second team this year.) Cane Creek Stoddard's DOM, Marshal Link's has been a great help to me and is assisting in providing the funds for renting this apartment. This morning I found this apartment which is in Micro 20, (Zone 9 includes Micro 19, 20 and 21).
This will be a huge step in the right direction. Pray as I try and make this difficult decision. It has many "Pros" and some "Cons". The rent is very low compared to some other places. Right at 150 US dollars a month. It is unfurnished so I can set it up how I need to. It is only a couple of blocks away from the new hotel that is being built in Zone 9. (This is where the teams from America will stay in the future.) The apartment building is very clean. It is near the outdoor market and the school that is in this area. You can also see the school from the balcony, thinking about out reach to the teens in the area. So there are many pros!
As for the Conn's: The things that I don't like. Well it is more like the things the teams from America don't like! "It is on the 3rd floor." You must climb three flights of stairs. As we do in the apartment we live in. There is no elevator so you must climb. The Romanians do this every day, several times a day, but we Americans.....well ...I don't want to HURT ANYBODY's FEELINGS! Whah, Whah, Whah......just having a little fun with my own culture!
So... any way please pray for this very difficult but important step towards the beginning of a Cell Church, (made up of a network of homes or "small groups" that are only connected by the leadership network). They do not have a "paid pastor" or a "building." It is more like the New Testament model before the advent of Constantine which moved the church into a more rigid and slower moving structure. We will still work towards a "large group" meeting but it will not be the focus of our efforts. We want people to experiance the "commnunity of believers" with "accountablity" and "intimacy" that "sometimes escapes" the larger traditional churches. So please pray that God will show us how to do this. I am sure that it is God's will that we try! But we must try with FAITH! So please be in prayer to help me determine if this is the apartment the Lord wants. I am not the type to throw a "fleece" before the Lord but I do believe in the power of prayer.
