Lidija Usurel
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.
I was raised by devoted Christian parents. At 14, I understood I needed a personal Savior, so I committed my life to Christ.
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. Those missionaries directed and supported my development in theology, first in Timisoara, Romania, and then in Osijek, Croatia. In addition, there were theologians, faculty professors, and prayer warriors without whom my endeavours toward becoming who I am today wouldn't have happened.
I am a PhD student and would love to learn more about issues of great interest to other European doctoral students through the Forum's Academic Network. Since I started attending, I have been able to exchange experiences with people from different European contexts facing similar challenges, equipping and bringing hope for better managing ministry dilemmas.
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.
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.