Gelu Paul-Faina is a pastor and the Strategic Coordinator of BIG Impact in Romania.
When did you trust Christ?
I became a believer in 1974. Since then, I have been growing daily in knowing the Lord's love, joy, and peace as I learn to watch and pray. I am growing as a loving and faithful husband, receiving God's grace and Lidija's support despite my shortcomings. I am growing in my love for Ioana and Johnny as I enjoy their passion, care, understanding, and challenges. Finally, I am growing in my love for the Lord's church and in my commitment to serve the teens, new believers, and my friends, the leaders.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
The period from 1982 to 1990 was a difficult time for Romania. There was a lot of persecution at the time because of Communism, and I could not be publicly baptised for fear of persecution. In 1981, I moved to Timisoara for college and joined a small group of Evangelical Christian students trained by Campus Crusade for Christ to share Christ on the college campus. By 1989, the underground college student ministry had reached 60 small groups and several hundred disciples. In 1995, I earned my MDiv at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and in 2013, I completed my PhD in educational sciences at Trinity International University.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
At ELF, I hope to keep the fire of my faith burning, learn and improve my leadership competencies, refine my perspective, and form strategic partnerships to develop the Romanian Leadership Forum.
What is your ministry?
I serve as the Coordinating Pastor of Missio Dei Baptist Church; it is a growing community of authentic and enthusiastic Evangelical Christians who impact the academic community. The church’s mission is to make disciples of college students and graduates, starting in Timisoara and going to the ends of the world. I am also the Strategic Coordinator for BIG Impact, a growing movement of Evangelical leaders and churches with global impact. I also help run the Estera Foundation, a crisis pregnancy centre for women with unplanned pregnancies. Lastly, I help coordinate the Romania Leadership Forum (RoLF).
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I was the president and founder of the Estera Foundation, a crisis pregnancy counselling centre.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Your investment in me will help me prepare for the Romanian Leadership Forum, where I will lead the Church Life, Leadership, and Planting Network.
