Progress is man’s pursuit. These pursuits are sometimes noble and beneficial. However, as with everything that man undertakes, all that he touches with his sinful little fingers usually winds up undermining something that is spiritual. In our battle to rescue those in the bondage of sin we have run into a casualty of man’s progress. The European Union (EU flag above) is not only a pursuit for European oneness and power which is erasing the nationalism among each of her countries, but also is the driving pursuit of financial and economic power to which all men wish to bow down with the hopes of being enriched. The GOD OF THE LOVE OF MONEY is driving Romania and Eastern Europe as never before. The openness to the gospel is lessened as the trucks of progress and EU money roll in. Romania, and all of Eastern Europe, has indelibly changed. Money, jobs, rent, stores, goods, legislation, attitudes, etc. have all changed drastically since we came in 2004. Not only is it getting harder to get people interested in the things of God because of these changes, but we have also had to endure the loss of 25% of the US dollar’s power. In addition the rent and cost of things have DOUBLED. We have had church in the same place since 2005 in Brasov paying 600 Euros per month for rent. That was worth $698 in 2005. That same 600 Euros is worth $831 now because of the dollar’s fall. If that were not enough, as we are now in the EU and progress is coming, all rents have skyrocketed, and the landlord of our church property has increased the rent to DOUBLE the price to 1200 Euros, which is equal to about $1,661 per month. Our little church is basically one room (140 square meters) which will seat about 75 people. We have looked all across the city and real estate is all the same. It is literally more expensive to buy or rent property in Romania than it is to buy or rent the approximate same property in Germany, Austria, or France. All of this is happening while the wages of the Romanian people have hardly changed at all. I tell you this only to enlist your prayers on our behalf and to inform you that for this reason we have had to MOVE THE CHURCH outside the city of Brasov about 15 minutes to the village in which our family lives. This will certainly affect our attendance and the church as a whole even though we will be running vans for transportation to and from the city. Though I know this is going to hurt things in the short term, I am hopeful that it will allow us to reach new territory and people. Pray that the village (Harman) to where the church will be moved will be turned upside down for Jesus! We will continue our ministry in reaching the city and will not stop looking for property there. Please pray for these things. The first Sunday in the new building will be August 5th.

Gladly bowing my knees (Eph.3:14) and giving my all (I Chron.21:23),