Radu Oprea is the pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Romania.
When did you trust Christ?
I first heard the Gospel from a high school classmate. I was raised in a non-religious family, didn't go to church, didn't read the Bible, and was educated in an atheistic manner in school. For a while, I had sensed a restlessness in my heart about the future of my life, but had not considered God as an option. One day, I received a Bible from someone on the street, tried to read it, and put it away because it was too difficult to understand. My classmate invited me to church, and that was the first time I heard the Word of God preached. I believed it and decided to follow the Lord. A few months later, I was baptised and have been following the Lord ever since.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I would like to discover other church leaders who face the same challenges as we do in Romania, talk to them about the reasons and causes of these, but mostly about how they have attempted to change, what worked, and what did not work. Also, to develop long-term relations with prospective ministry partners, which will help the development of the church in Europe. Also, I would like to communicate with other experienced leaders about the way they see the church in the decades to come and how to protect communities from destructive influences, and at the same time keep its relevance for society.
What is your ministry?
I serve as pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Timisoara, Romania. This is a fairly large church, and my role is fairly diverse. My preaching style is mainly classic expository, with a touch of a narrative approach. I also supervise the youth and couples' ministry of the church. Working with developing men (especially young men) for church and missions ministry. Our church is dedicated to missions, in-country and in other countries. We are supporting several missionaries and try constantly to keep in touch with them and support them in as many ways as we can.
