Visit to Teen Challenge Romania

Last month, we (Jan and Marja) were in Romania, attending the annual Europe Teen Challenge leadership conference, which was held in Cluj this year.

This city is located in northwestern Romania, in the Transylvanian region.

The fall conference is always a great opportunity to meet TC leaders from all over Europe, to relax, and to be inspired and encouraged. We had a fantastic time.

We stayed in a beautiful hotel, outside the city, offering extensive wellness and spa facilities. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had many wonderful conversations in the warm pool under the stars!

Friday was filled with teaching and worship. Saturday was excursion day. We first visited the wood workshop WeBecome, founded by graduates who completed the Teen Challenge program.

They design and make furniture for restaurants and businesses, but also create beautiful, small products. Check out their website. All proceeds go towards Teen Challenge.

And on we went. We visited the plot of land recently purchased by the Teen Challenge team in Cluj. The plan is to develop a complete TC campus there: a rehab center, a bistro, a wood factory, and much more.

We prayed together about the land and building plans, declaring that many people will find freedom in Christ at this location.

The bus then took us to the current TC men's center, a beautiful house in the heart of the city. We received a warm welcome, and the men provided a fantastic hamburger lunch for all of us.

We were personally deeply encouraged by conversations with young men who were in rehab (in Bucharest) when we were there in September 2024. Many still remember how we prayed with them and spoke prophetic words over them.

It was heartwarming to see and hear that they are doing well and that they are now volunteering for Teen Challenge and remaining involved, sometimes even as staff members.

It's so wonderful to hear time and again how much the visits, which we make on behalf of Traveling Light, are appreciated. It is valuable feedback for us.

We also had the opportunity to meet with and pray for Pastor Adrian and Sidonia Tamas of the Betel Centru Evangelical Church in Cluj. It's encouraging to hear how God is working among young people in Cluj! So many are coming to faith.

Each time we are in Romania, we meet with people who remember the humanitarian aid that used to come from the Netherlands, sometimes decades ago. Many Dutch churches and organizations have been involved in the social (and spiritual) development of Romania for years, and that is now truly bearing fruit.

Donations, large or small, for all the projects we support are always welcome. You can give in various ways:

Make a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. You can also give by card or donate directly via our website!