THE KUKMIN DAILY

“I’m so delighted to build this new relationship. I hope the two countries get closer not only politically, economically and culturally, but spiritually as well.” (Ben-Oni Ardelean, member of Romanian Senate, at left in photo)

“I have felt that a leadership practicing Christian values is necessary for a people who believe in God.” (Ioan Cupsa, member of Romanian Chamber of Deputies, on right in photo)

The two Romanian parliament members were invited to the ceremony for the Korea-America Friendship and Mission Cooperation Award, held on March 11 at the National Assembly VIP Hall. Christian leaders from various areas, including National Assembly members, pastors, and entrepreneurs, gathered early in the morning at this “hall of the people’s will,” read the Bible together, prayed and encouraged each other. Ardelean (40) and Cupsa (49) seemed very impressed by this rare experience.

National Liberal Party (PNL) Senate member Ardelean, a Baptist pastor, currently serves as secretary of the Senate Foreign Policy Committee. Chamber of Deputies member Cupsa, a Romanian Orthodox believer and former attorney, is a member of the PNL Committee for Legal Matters, Discipline and Immunities; and chairperson of the Friendship parliamentary group related to the Republic of Korea. The two are often referred to as the “two-headed carriage” for mission in the Romanian parliament.

This was their first visit to Korea, which was made possible largely by the perseverant prayers of missionary to Romania Jeong Hong-gi (61, Zion Presbyterian Church, at center in photo), who has been communicating the Gospel in Romania for the past 22 years. About 10 years ago, missionary Jeong changed the paradigm of his ministry.

“Romania needs thorough social transformation. For that purpose, I thought, it was crucial to change not only the general public but the ‘opinion leaders' as well.”

Missionary Jeong began by organizing a seminar on “Christianity and Society,” to which he invited leaders in politics and economic circles. From 2008 he threw his full support behind Ardelean, at that time his associate pastor, when he decided to run for parliament. On his third try, Ardelean became a member of the Romanian parliament; prior to that, he also ran once for the European Union parliament.

Cupsa supported the PNL for more than 25 years while critiquing the political sector. Then he changed his mind and ran for parliament, to become directly involved in bringing positive change to Romania.

Missionary Jeong acts as a consultant for the two parliament members. He said, “God listened to my prayers for just one ‘John the Baptist’ in the political sector… In the future, these two will play a crucial role in Romania, expanding the political leadership who are based in the Gospel.”

The two members of the Romanian parliament shared their thoughts on Korea and the Korean church.

“I’ve heard that the churches in Korea contributed to the development of the nation. It seems there is a lot for Romanian Christianity to learn from the mission model of Korean Christianity,” Ardelean noted.

“With our experience under the Communist regime, there should be a definite role that Romania can play for Korea in its preparation for reunification. During the process of reaching toward reunification, it is inevitable that you will endure a certain cost and sacrifice,” Cupsa said.

Missionary Jeong asked for more attention and prayers for mission in Romania. “Right now, Romania is polarized socially and economically. And there are worries about heretical groups, because there are not enough well-trained Protestant leaders. Support from the Korean church is needed. Approximately 85% of the 22 million Romanian population are Eastern Orthodox believers, and Protestant believers are about 2.2 million.

Reporter Jaechan Park (jeep@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok


Click here for the original article in Korean
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