Seven Days in Romania

What happens when believers from six countries come together to explore church planting? Read on to see how God broke down barriers and sparked hope in Romania.

Lots of people talk about loving enemies. Olga lives it.

Her husband, a Ukrainian pastor, was killed in the war three years ago. On the day she buried him, her brother was slain the same way.

“You might think my heart would be bitter, but it’s full of love for the Russian people,” Olga said. “I have no hate in my heart.”

M4 MEMORIES

Olga is just one of the inspiring people we met at the M4 Ready Camp — a weeklong gathering of folks exploring church planting in Europe. In July 2025, our Woodmen team arrived in Romania to serve alongside Christ-followers from Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia and Russia.

From teaching, to mopping, serving food, leading worship, and making espressos, our team worked with open hearts. We also encouraged and prayed with folks. And in the process, borders and barriers seemed to fall away. Let’s look at a handful of moments and memories from the week.

EMILY’S INTERNATIONAL RUNNING CLUB

Emily Hanenburg is a Colorado Springs educator and high school running coach. At camp, she was up with the sun on Monday for a solo run. Emily’s kind, welcoming way naturally drew a new runner to her trek each day.

Olga felt God telling her to join on day two. Twenty-year-old Lena from Siberia — now studying in Latvia — borrowed shoes from Emily to join the runs. On Thursday, Tanya from Ukraine came along. By the end of camp, Elliot, raised in the United States but now living in Romania, completed the crew.

Relationships blossomed and conversations flowed as Emily encouraged her young runners. Pickup volleyball and basketball games added to the collective she mentored throughout the week. God worked through Emily!

MOLDOVA ON THE MOVE

Igor and his family came to camp from Moldova. His Father is Russian. His mom is from Ukraine.

There’s a complicated history between Russia and Moldova, and many Moldovans harbor animosity towards Russians. Even though 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have poured into Moldova since the start of the war in 2022, there’s lingering resentment toward Ukrainians as well.

“On my street we have Russians, Ukrainians, Syrians, Bulgarians and Moldovans. We want to love people, even when we hate the politics,” Igor shares. “I’ve seen brothers and sisters from Russia and Ukraine gather around a table. There’s repentance. Tensions melt. God calls us to love all the people. We’ve baptized people from all three nations in the same water.”

His enthusiasm is contagious: “If you believe in Jesus — let’s do ministry together! We had people driving an hour to church. We said, ‘why not plant a church in your village?’”

Igor brought his friend, Ian, to camp. Ian shared, “This week I’m hearing from God about faithfulness and serving like Jesus — compassion, sacrifice, love all the way to the cross. I take a lot back home to my team.”

UNITED IN CHRIST

It was amazing to see the Woodmen crew bless others in Romania. Dyann and Justin McCullough served on a Woodmen team at a Native American reservation just a few weeks earlier. They’re exploring what it might look like to focus on missions full-time in the future.

It was Sheila Hood’s first Woodmen mission trip. “My kids inspired me,” she smiles. “They served on Woodmen Students trips in Nashville, Salt Lake City and Estonia.” Sheila was excited to learn that her friends, Jon and Lydia Barron, signed up for the Romania trip as well. At camp, the Barrons taught an insightful class on leadership styles found in scripture.

Rachel Scott and Mariah Patterson led the camp in passionate worship. On the last evening, voices rang out in praise — each in their home language, yet united in Christ.

PRAYERS IN OUR HEARTS

On that night, everyone at camp was acutely aware of the burden carried by our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. The war had brought suffering into each of their lives. We gathered around before they journeyed back to Ukraine, laying hands on them and praying fervently for safety, peace and mercy.

As we all waved goodbye to camp, we left with a fresh sense of hope and with prayers in our hearts. Olga shared, “I pray for peace. And I still love and pray for the Russian people, that they will find Jesus.”

Igor asks the Lord for partners from different churches to come together to expand God’s kingdom in Moldova. Ian prays, “that the church will look first to our love for Christ, not our differences.” Emily recalls, “I told Ian my Bible study would pray for his ministry. He was so excited to think of prayers multiplying in Colorado Springs.”

Claudio from Romania cautioned with a wry smile: “Be careful what you pray for, because you may be the answer to that prayer. When you pray for workers for the harvest, you might be the one God will call.”

While the region still faces strife and heartache, for one week in Romania, brothers and sisters gathered in unity. Nelutu Iubes, M4 Regional Director for Southeast Europe and the Balkans, shared, “At camp, people connected with God and each other, and they’re leaving fired-up for ministry.”

And that’s one answer to prayer. Will you take a moment and join in praying for the church planters of M4 Europe? And, like Claudio says, be careful what you pray for…

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