Once upon a time- Persecution (Romania)

God keeps ‘taking me back’ to Drăgănești-Olt, Romania and three years later, I am only now learning torealize the impact that was made upon my spiritual life, while there.  Truly, it is the place that began to open my eyes to the ‘unseen supernatural’ world that is around us every day. 

*Now, I feel as though I should also place a disclaimer.  When I mention the ‘unseen supernatural world’, I am only referring to that which is talked about throughout scripture, nothing more.  As a point of reference; I would like to highlight Ephesians 6:10-20 but take note of verse 12 specifically.  This is the world that God truly began to open up my eyes to while in Romania.  I pray that Grace and understanding will fall upon you as you continue to read.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.¹⁹Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

I would like to share a story with you that involved myself, team-mates, our contacts and local police authority.

September 2013

I remember the day as though it was yesterday.  After spending another morning soaked in prayer, worship and meditation our ‘mission’ for the day was to visit a nearby town and hand out tracks.  Handing out “tracks” is one way in which the local church evangelizes.  The goal was simple.  Break into groups of 2-3 people and go door to door in the village handing these tracks out.  We were too knock on each door and engage the homeowner in conversation (if they were home and open to having a conversation), or place a track at the door if there was no reply and move onto the next homestead.  

Simple and harmless right?

I would think so, however, I have neglected to mention a few key political aspects.  In Romania, you are free to follow Jesus.  You are free to believe what you would like to believe.  However, when it came down to evangelism, local authority (police/ mayor etc) had final say as to it being allowed or not.  Basically, you could end up in jail if you were caught evangelizing in a town/community that deemed it illegal.  

Not so simple anymore is it?

Keeping this in mind, we piled into vans and collectively headed out.  As we drove, I wrestled.  I bargained with God and I pleaded to Him to simply keep me safe.  I am not sure if my contacts or my team could tell how nervous I was about what we were about to do.  Nervous is actually an understatement.  I was flipping scared…Like a broken record, the thought of ‘I could literally get thrown into jail simply for talking about Jesus’ continually filled my brain.  Guilt filled me, as I recalled countless of conversations with friends/family back home in Canada in which I proclaimed that I would ‘die for my faith’. Yet here I was, afraid to simply hand out tracks at the thought of it potentially landing me in jail.  I was so out of my comfort zone and we hadn’t even started.  With the final words of “have fun!” from our contacts, we were dropped off in the middle of the village; with half the teams going right while the rest of the teams took the left side of the village.  Before I knew it, I was walking up to the first house whether I was ready or not.  Truth be told, I don’t remember much of actually handing tracks out or the response from the locals.  It was like time had stopped.  Perhaps what happened next, is why I don’t remember much of anything else.

The group I was with, had run out of tracks and so we headed to our central point for more to keep going.  It was there that we were informed of what was going on by a fellow squad member.  We were asked to stop what we were doing and to pray.  Remember how I mentioned earlier about how the local authority had the final word in evangelism being legal or not?  Turns out, the local authority (police and town council/mayor) of the village we were in, had established a law AGAINST street evangelism.  Basically, we were all committing a ‘crime’, punishable with jail time, by simply handing out pieces of paper that included the Jesus’ work on the cross (aka Tracks).  I think my temperature must have risen about 25 degrees. 

Information was limited about our squad-mates.  We knew that the group of about 10-20, who had gone the opposite direction than my group did, were being held at the local police station.  To our knowledge at the time; local authority was debating what to do with them.  There was talk of simply giving them a fine and releasing them but there was also word about jail time as the mayor wanted to ‘make an example’ of them. By this point, those of us who were able to, were literally on our hands and knees praying.  Not only were we praying but we prayed with the authority in Jesus’ name.  An authority ABOVE ALL authority.  We knew God is LORD and that HE would prevail.  We knew, well I was honestly learning ‘on the fly’, and that our battle wasn’t against flesh or blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Our contacts were actively involved in trying to settle this quickly (while still holding to the Truth of God’s Word).  They knew of the ‘battle’ that laid ahead as they had personally experienced this form of persecution before.  However, my admiration/respect for my contacts, grew as we got word that they refused to ‘back down’.  They were sticking to what they believed, trusting that God would provide what was needed, even if that meant going straight to the USA embassy in the capital. (*side note, I was the only Canadian on my squad so those being held were all American and because of this, I was personally told to try and stay further back from everything-but to continue to pray).

Not only did God provide a supernatural sense of peace to us (and those being held), I truly believed that He opened the eyes of the police and council in a supernatural way.  Before long, EVERYONE was released and we were ALLOWED to KEEP handing out tracks.  We were told later, by team-mates who sat at the police station unsure of what laid before them; of an incredible peace that they felt throughout the ordeal.  A peace that they could only explain came to them through our prayers.  They told of us unbelieving police officers who ridiculed and mocked them at first but who later asked for tracks for themselves and for their families because they too, wanted to know of this JESUS.  They wanted to know of whom these young people were willing to go to jail for!!  Talk about the power in Jesus’ name alone! What satan deemed for evil, GOD magnified into glorious POWER.  Darkness was forced into the light.  Truth became known and God’s Kingdom on earth was established further. 

God would later use an Indian missionary couple in Cambodia; to further teach me about PRAYING FOR persecution among our churches (especially the North American churches) today.  God taught me about trusting in Him in ALL situations; through a Filipino pastor couple confident that God would provide for them, a green roof for their church simply because God is a ‘God of colour’.  God would also reveal to me more of the power of the supernatural realm through a South African believer passionate about early morning prayer and meditation and bringing God’s Word through the game of football (soccer).  For now; God once again affirmed to me of His unfailing love to His children and the true honour it is to lay our lives before Him regardless of our unknown futures. 

Its taken me 3 years to begin to realize the impact this specific experience had on me and my faith.  I am not claiming to ‘know all the answers’ as I am still on this journey with God.  Rather I am simply bearing witness to the supernatural power that God has given every Believer, through the Holy Spirit.  After all, it was Jesus Himself who said that, ‘But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” John 16:7. Jesus also spoke these words, “and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and He will be in you” John 14:16-17. 

Prayer works.  God hears and He is here.

James Chapter 1

So I just started reading through the books of James...ever have it when *Bam*, scripture just hits you smack dab in the head? (Not literally course...tho sometimes I am pretty sure I need it) but anyways, James, I think it will become/is already, a favorite book...already in James 1..things are hitting close to home.  James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Practical? VERY.  Encouraging? YES.  James goes on to continue to write about temptations and trials and how God does not tempt us (v. 13) but that we tempt ourselves when we get dragged away.  It is the good and perfect gifts that come from God and God alone (v. 17).

James 1:19-20 " My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires"  Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...ok... I like to think of myself as someone who is quick to listen and slow to speak..however, being a person who likes to 'fix all things if possible", my slow to speak, often turns into quick to speak and slow to listen, and, well angry..., like I mentioned a few posts back..anger can come pretty easy and pretty quick to me... (still trying to figure out how to tame that...it will be a life long process I think/know)
James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says"  I think this verse is pretty self explanitory right? the part I dont get, is where it says, "so deceive yourself"...anyone care to attempt to explain that part to me? cause I get that we are suppose to DO what scripture says,not just listen to it...do we deceive ourselves just by listening to it, but not DOING what it says?
Verse 26, is a kicker for me..again with the ideas/thoughts on the tongue and how vicious it can be..

^" Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless"
I hope and pray, that this verse will just out at me full force the next time I wanna let me tongue loose..

I love verse 27.  It wraps up chapter one so well (at least I think) and it is a verse that has also hit home coming off of Africa...it reads, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  What a wonderful image.  But not only image..but an action...seriously people, spending time with orphans, with widows...some of the best, rejuventating, "God time", growing time you will EVER have.  it is SO easy to do in place like africa, but what about now? what about where you are? where I am? hmm..not always so easy is it? perhaps it will look different here in canada, then it does in places LIKE Africa...but that doesnt change the meaning behind the words in James, or in our actions and how we respond...