My Testimony – Severus Astancai
My name is Astancai Severus and I was born in Piatra Neamt city - Romania, in an Orthodox family as are many families today. My father worked at a big company, my mother was home with us, with me and two sisters. It was hard for my mother, to maintain us, because my father always drink and do not bring money home.The mother told me when I was little going to church, and she taught me to do only what is right. When I go in the Orthodox Church was so confused because all the walls were filled with icons and does not understand why. I thought to myself as though there is someone more powerful over all this. I have long sought a Bible to read, but I have not found anywhere, and nobody gave me one. I finished high school and started working in a large company. I met two colleagues who became my friends. One day while we were returning home together, I found out that they go to church and there to read and explain the Bible. For me it was great to hear that the Bible reads.They have invited me to listen to Gods Word. I went to the Baptist church, and I got there a Bible, which I read with the greatest joy in a few days. For 8 months I have had many questions for pastor, and the people there about what the Bible. But one day the Lord spoke to me personally, I accepted Lord Jesus in my heart and He saved me in the month of March 1991 and then I was baptized August 1991. God took care of me, and even though I was alone, I felt his presence with me. My parents did not agree with me, and Ive always had problems because of this. After about two years I was married to a wonderful woman named Mihaela, and we have two daughters Bianca and Anna Maria. My mother was saved after a while, also my father after many years. I have had many experiences with God, and and He has called me to serve him. I am heavily involved in evangelism in youth ministry as also leading music leader. But God wanted more than to get involved, so He called me to be a pastor. I finished the seminar in Bucharest and I took two churches in the south of the country, Constanta city, near the Black see, where I was a pastor for 7 years in Union. After I left the union, I was assistant pastor a year, in an Independent Baptist Church, and two years, pastor, in another independent Baptist Church in Slobozia city. As a pastor, I saw the mighty hand of God at work, and while many people were saved. God called me with my family as a missionary. Rhine River Baptist Church from Manheim Germany, church, which we visited many years, and we met great people, became our church, and Pastor Tom Lancaster, became our pastor. They received us members, and they sent us as missionaries in Romania. With Gods help, along with another missionary family, we planted an independent Baptist church in the city of Sibiu. Now many things have changed. The U.S. military base closed in Manheim, my pastor left, and Walter Clark came another pastor. The church being small and powerless to sustain too much, our support has been greatly reduced, the only church that receive monthly support, and less from another church, we receive support after three months. Our monthly support is 10% of what we need for family and ministry. Because of this we have to go to visit churches that want to support the ministry in Romania. We are preparing to go to Europe in deputation, and expect responses to emails sent. During this time as we have gone, the other missionary family will remain with the church and well be back with the help of God to plant another church. Pray for us that God will help us to have a response from the churches, and go in deputation. God bless your heart!
Your servant in the Lord Jesus