Reid Saunders Association

Photo Galleries: [ June 20 ] - [ June 21 ] - [ June 22 ]
[ June 24 ] - [ June 25 ] - [ June 27 ]
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June 27 Update
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All for Jesus!

In 1989, the communist “walls” of the Iron Curtain came down in Romania. On this mission to Romania, we saw God bring down spiritual walls in people’s hearts as many came to Jesus! I think of what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.”

During this three-city Romanian mission, 1800 people heard the Good News of Jesus Christ with 527 making decisions for Jesus! To God be the glory! At outreach events for people of all ages, many heard and responded to the Gospel for the first time, like Daniella. Daniella attended the women’s event in Targoviste, where she shared that she recently lost her six-year-old son in a tragic car accident. To add to her grief, her husband left her after the death of their son. As she heard me proclaim the Good News at the outreach event, Daniella found hope in Jesus Christ! She shared that for the first time, she had peace in her heart over the death of her son. Praise the Lord that Daniella gave her life to Jesus and can have a new beginning in Him!

There are so many stories of God changing people’s lives! We had an unexpected opportunity to minister at a nursing home. A sick, elderly woman told me after hearing the Good News of Jesus, “Today is the happiest day of my life.” Friends, thank you for partnering with me to reach Romania for Jesus Christ! Please pray for the churches as they follow up on all the new believers! I look forward to returning to Romania this October as we bring our medical team and hold many more outreaches!

In Romania rejoining with the angels…all for Jesus!

June 25 Update
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God is moving in Ramnicu Valcea.

One missionary who works in the city told Reid that it is incredible unreached; less than 1% of the population knows the Lord. There are so few churches that work together in the city. But for this mission there are 3 churches have come together to reach their communities for Christ. One of the distinctives of RSA is that we are building up the body of Christ – we work with, for, and through the local church. And clearly that distinctive is being fulfilled in Ramnicu Valcea where the outreach events have been an incredible catalyst for the churches to work together to reach people for Christ.

Local believers, like 34-year old Lilly, have been so excited to have events outside of church where they can invite their unbelieving friends and family. Lilly told Reid, “I’m so excited about what God is doing, that you are bringing the message of hope to these people.” Lilly invited a multitude of people to events being held throughout the town. In total, 23 unbelievers that she invited attended events (seniors, youth, and couples)! Lilly even invited a friend who lived 60 miles away and she drove to pick up her friend and bring her friend to the event!!! Talk about a passion to reach people for Christ! (See Lilly's photo in today's gallery.)

God did such a powerful work in the events in Ramnicu Valcea. One man at the senior’s event told Reid that he started feeling warmth and hope in his heart when he heard the message of salvation. Christians are being mobilized to reach the lost. Lives are changed for eternity. A city is being transformed by the Gospel. Thanks be to God!

Please continue to pray. Reid, Brett, Dennis and Jeramy (musicians) have two more days of events. Tomorrow (Thurs.) they will be in a new town, Targoviste, and Friday they have some outreach opportunities at a town in between Targoviste and Bucharest. They will minister at a juvenile prison and an orphanage on Friday. As you may recall, originally they were to minister in Doicesti, where there has been persecution of a local church leader in the past. But the town leadership put pressure on the venue owner to cancel the event once they found out it was an evangelical event. So the Lord opened other doors.

Please pray for the city of Doicesti to have an opportunity to hear the Good News. And pray also for the new opportunities that God has provided with some troubled teens and hurting children.

All for Jesus,
Shannon Butcher
Communications Director

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June 24 Update
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Thank you for your prayers! The Lord is answering them every day as lives are being changed for eternity here in Romania!

Today we arrived in Ramnicu Valcea and saw God once again move in many hearts. The Ladies outreach was amazing! Out of 85 women who attended, 53 made decisions to give their lives to Jesus Christ! Luminitsa (meaning "little light") coordinated the event. The event was so packed that Luminitsa gave up her seat to a guest. When I shared the good news with her that 53 of the 85 women present had made decisions to follow Christ, she cried tears of joy and humbly told them she couldn't believe that God would choose to use her to be part of leading so many women to Christ.

In the evening we had a youth outreach when the Lord again moved in many hearts! One of these hearts belonged to Maria, who had invited two friends to the event. Maria came, and told me after the event that she was moved to tears when she learned that Jesus died for her. You can see Maria and Luminitsa’s photos in today’s photo gallery.

It is such a joy to partner with you in reaching the precious people of Romania with the Good News of Jesus Christ! Please continue to pray as we still have several more days packed with outreach events!

All for Jesus!

Reid Saunders

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June 22 Update
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Wow! God is moving in such a mighty way here in Romania! Today we had three outreach events in Pitesti (the combined church service, ladies coffee, and business dinner) and many came to Jesus!

At the ladies' event I met Victoria, who told me that she invited her aunt Angelina to the event. Victoria told me that at first she was nervous about inviting her aunt because she did not think Angelina wanted anything to do with God. She was surprised when she called her aunt Angelina to ask her to the luncheon and she said she would love to come.

At the outreach God touched Angelina’s heart as she gave her life to Jesus Christ! Praise God! Please continue to pray! It is so exciting to partner with you in reaching the precious people of Romania for Jesus Christ! I'm really sensing God moving here as many people have come up to me after the events telling me how the message of Jesus Christ is touching their hearts!

Reid Saunders

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June 21 Update
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People are hungry for the Good News of Jesus Christ here in Romania! It is so exciting to see how God is moving in people's hearts. So far many people of all ages have given their lives to Jesus Christ! Today, at the children's event, youth outreach, and couple's event God changed lives for eternity!

At the couple's event a husband and wife both gave their lives to Jesus Christ. They talked with me after the event and told me how excited they both are to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! This couple has a one-year-old girl. Just think! Now, this little girl will be raised in a family that loves Jesus! To God be the glory! “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness,” (Psalm 115:1). Please continue to pray; I am preaching several times each day! It is such a joy to serve the Lord Jesus with you here in Romania! Thank you!

Reid Saunders

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June 20 Update
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We arrived on time and in one piece yesterday. Our flights were uneventful. We met up with Jeramy Burchett in Portland and his Keyboard player Dennis in Bucharest. We were met at the airport by a wonderful family, the Iacobs.

I rode with Luci (the mother) and Christiana (one of nine children now 27 years old). They work with the Romanian Bible league. They are full-time ministers who specialize in Children’s outreaches. They also work in the orphanages and with the handicapped. I learned much about the country from them. They both see the country slowly closing to the message of hope as it is now much more difficult for them to get into schools when years ago they could go to any school they wished.

The good news is the people seem to be very receptive to the gospel. They just had a festival here with Andrew Palau where about 14,000 people attended. They worked in the children’s area. I was encouraged to see locals with such passion to reach their country and to do so with such little funds. They epitomize the concept of living by faith. They are very encouraged to have us here. It appears we are a real answer to prayer for them.

Please pray as we continue to set things up and get to know the local people. Also pray that God would open up the hearts of the people that come to the events and that Christians would find a favorable reaction with people they invite.

Brett Butcher
Executive Director of RSA

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June 19 Update

Reid and Brett arrived safely in Romania. Please pray for God to prepare hearts for the events which begin on Saturday.

Two events have already been changed due to persecution in Doicesti. If you read Reid's letter, you may recall in that city an evangelical church was burned down in the past and the local pastor now holds services in his home. When the town leaders learned about the RSA outreach events being held in their town, they refused to allow them. The events were moved outside the city. Please pray that the Lord uses this persecution to bring an even greater curiosity to people who know about the event; pray that they attend, meet Jesus, and follow Him for a lifetime.

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