This Sunday will be a day our family will never forget. All three of our kids will be baptized here in Romania, publicly declaring their faith in Jesus Christ! As parents, Mihi and I couldn’t be more grateful to see them take this step of obedience, affirming their commitment to follow Christ with their lives.

Baptism is such a powerful moment—not because it saves, but because it is a beautiful outward expression of the inward transformation. It is a declaration that we belong to Christ, that we have died to our old selves, and that we have been raised to new life in Him. Watching our children make this public profession is a reminder of God’s faithfulness, not only in their lives but in ours as well.

Honoring the Cultural Norms

In Romania, baptisms typically don’t take place until an individual is an older teenager or adult. Unlike in some places where children are baptized after professing faith, the cultural norm here is to wait until there is a clear, mature understanding of the commitment being made. As a family living and ministering in Romania, we made the decision to honor the cultural context we are in, which meant our kids have had to wait longer than they might have otherwise. While they have each come to faith in Christ earlier in life, this moment is now one of great joy and significance—not just for them, but for the church community surrounding them.

A Gospel Opportunity

As if this occasion weren’t already special enough, we are also expecting six unsaved friends to attend the service. These are individuals whom we have been praying for, people with whom we have had conversations about faith, Christ, and salvation. The fact that they are willing to come, sit through a baptism service, and hear the Gospel is a significant moment.

We ask that you pray for these six friends—that their hearts would be softened, that they would listen with open minds, and that the Holy Spirit would be at work in them as they witness this testimony of faith. We know that God is already moving, and we trust that He can use this experience to draw them closer to Him.

Rejoicing Together

This Sunday, as our children go into the water and come back up, we will rejoice—not just as parents, but as fellow believers celebrating God’s transforming work. We are also rejoicing in the fact that, through this event, others will hear about the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for being part of our journey, for praying for our family, for supporting the work here in Romania, and for interceding on behalf of those who have yet to believe. We ask that you continue to pray as we celebrate this baptism, that it will be a testimony of God’s grace, an encouragement to others, and a moment that plants seeds of faith in those who do not yet know Him.