Mentoring Orphans in Romania
Out of concern for orphaned children and youth who spend their developing years coping with the loss of family, security and opportunity, Pathway to Joy Ministries established the Orphan Mentoring Program in 2006 to promote healing and wellbeing among the orphan youth who currently reside at the local “orphanage” in Oradea, Romania. This summer, as an extension of this ministry, we organized a Christian Camp in partnership with Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, our home church. What an amazing time of ministry, fellowship and fun we all had! We saw many lives changed, some accepted Christ for the first time and others rededicated their lives to Him.
Last year we had a similar camp where I met Rudy for the first time. He was 17 then, rude and rowdy. Rudy grew up in the local orphanage. From the time he was 3 years old, Rudy suffered within a system and environment that prevented the development of his talents and abilities. Many times, he felt alone and unloved. Rudy never knew his father and has had no contact with his mother for over 7 years.
After 12 months of investing in his life as part of the Orphan Mentoring Program, Rudy changed. This year at camp, he was intent on developing relationships and growing spiritually. I saw Rudy again after camp, and the change in his life was evident. Rudy says, “I’ve been challenged to accept God’s love last year at camp, and my mentor is teaching me how to love and to live differently.”
This year at camp we had 53 young people, aged 4-22, who face the daily challenge of growing up alone without a family. They lack hope and are searching for meaning and significance in all the wrong places. Loss in one area of a child’s life often leads to multiple losses in other areas. Most of these kids struggle with low self-esteem and lack of confidence, focus and motivation. Although loss is sometimes inevitable, many times with intervention further losses can be prevented.
Pathway to Joy’s Orphan Mentoring Program aims to help orphaned young people like Rudy to grow in confidence, esteem and their personal relationship with God. We hope to accomplish this aim by treating them with courtesy and respect, providing them with intentional discipleship and considering their personal life story and dreams for the future.
If you would like to partner with us to see people like Rudy changed forever, please consider supporting our ministry financially. It costs $30 a month to support one of these kids in our Mentoring Program. Your monthly sponsorship gift will provide the following opportunities: a personal mentor, spiritual discipleship and development, vocational counseling, educational activities and recreational events.
Thank you for your continued prayers and faithful support for all our projects.
Through His Grace,
Cornel & Karen Bucur
Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
† Orphan Mentoring Program: The 90 orphan youth and mentors.
† Foster Care Ministry: The 33 children.
† Oradea Children’s Hospital Ministry: The 22 abandoned orphans.
† Church Planting Ministry: Three churches and two building projects in Tinca and Sabolciu.
† The Bucur family.
Out of concern for orphaned children and youth who spend their developing years coping with the loss of family, security and opportunity, Pathway to Joy Ministries established the Orphan Mentoring Program in 2006 to promote healing and wellbeing among the orphan youth who currently reside at the local “orphanage” in Oradea, Romania. This summer, as an extension of this ministry, we organized a Christian Camp in partnership with Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, our home church. What an amazing time of ministry, fellowship and fun we all had! We saw many lives changed, some accepted Christ for the first time and others rededicated their lives to Him.
Last year we had a similar camp where I met Rudy for the first time. He was 17 then, rude and rowdy. Rudy grew up in the local orphanage. From the time he was 3 years old, Rudy suffered within a system and environment that prevented the development of his talents and abilities. Many times, he felt alone and unloved. Rudy never knew his father and has had no contact with his mother for over 7 years.
After 12 months of investing in his life as part of the Orphan Mentoring Program, Rudy changed. This year at camp, he was intent on developing relationships and growing spiritually. I saw Rudy again after camp, and the change in his life was evident. Rudy says, “I’ve been challenged to accept God’s love last year at camp, and my mentor is teaching me how to love and to live differently.”
This year at camp we had 53 young people, aged 4-22, who face the daily challenge of growing up alone without a family. They lack hope and are searching for meaning and significance in all the wrong places. Loss in one area of a child’s life often leads to multiple losses in other areas. Most of these kids struggle with low self-esteem and lack of confidence, focus and motivation. Although loss is sometimes inevitable, many times with intervention further losses can be prevented.
Pathway to Joy’s Orphan Mentoring Program aims to help orphaned young people like Rudy to grow in confidence, esteem and their personal relationship with God. We hope to accomplish this aim by treating them with courtesy and respect, providing them with intentional discipleship and considering their personal life story and dreams for the future.
If you would like to partner with us to see people like Rudy changed forever, please consider supporting our ministry financially. It costs $30 a month to support one of these kids in our Mentoring Program. Your monthly sponsorship gift will provide the following opportunities: a personal mentor, spiritual discipleship and development, vocational counseling, educational activities and recreational events.
Thank you for your continued prayers and faithful support for all our projects.
Through His Grace,
Cornel & Karen Bucur
Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
† Orphan Mentoring Program: The 90 orphan youth and mentors.
† Foster Care Ministry: The 33 children.
† Oradea Children’s Hospital Ministry: The 22 abandoned orphans.
† Church Planting Ministry: Three churches and two building projects in Tinca and Sabolciu.
† The Bucur family.
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