Lidija Usurel is a speaker, and a teacher and works for a crisis pregnancy centre in Romania.
When did you trust Christ?
I was raised by devoted Christian parents. At age 14, I understood I needed a personal Saviour, so I committed my life to Christ.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
I was a high school student when I started understanding God's calling. With a deep desire to help people, I felt prompted to study psychology in Novi Sad, Serbia. Soon, I realised that this knowledge requires theological underpinnings to deal efficiently and holistically with people's needs. That was when I became involved in a prayer group and met a couple of missionaries. They directed and supported my development in theology. In addition, there were theologians, faculty professors, and prayer warriors without whom I wouldn't be who I am today.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
Since I started attending, I have been able to exchange experiences with people from different European contexts facing similar challenges, bringing hope and equipping me to manage ministry dilemmas better. I would love to find additional support in the areas in which I am active and to find spiritual refreshment, which I need the most.
What is your ministry?
Starting in 2023, I have been involved in the Romanian Pro-Life Network as a part of the Romanian Leadership Forum (RoLF). I also spoke in a workshop at RoLF on spiritual intelligence, which is the subject of my doctoral dissertation. I teach and prepare volunteers to teach abstinence and sexual integrity in Christian and secular high schools. My ministry also involves discipling a youth group and leading the women's ministry in my local church.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I have been a Sunday school teacher at Elim Pentecostal Church in Timișoara, Romania; a youth leader at Church of God Pentecostal Church in Vršac, Serbia; and an assistant in the Department of Christian Counseling at Evanđeoski Teološki Fakultet in Osijek, Croatia.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
In Romania, where about 9,000 babies are aborted every three days, the Estera Foundation is devoted to saving as many lives as possible and preventing irresponsible, promiscuous, and dangerous living among young people. The staff at Estera believes that by educating the younger generation to live responsible lives grounded in Christian ethics, we can bring enduring value to society and reduce the effects of sin.
