Nelu Suciu – Country Director
Elvis Filote – LeaderImpact Director
Spiritual Climate:
After 40 years of communism, there is an openness to spiritual things but the need for spiritual leaders and models is great. Most Romanians consider themselves Christians by tradition but not in a personal way. There is the feeling that the church is responsible for a person’s salvation as long as one does their duty (by being baptized as a child, confess sins once/year and get married in the church). Because of the lack of jobs, young people (over 4 million) go outside the country to find work and family ties and traditions can be strained.
On the Ground:
Bucharest is the capitol of Romania and the leading business center in the country. While Cru’s ministry to business and professional people, known as LeadImpact, started in Bucharest it has now expanded to three additional cities. LeadImpact in Bucharest operates a 9-month leadership development program that serves as a door opener to business leaders and their companies. During the program the staff have numerous opportunities for personal appointments and spiritual conversations. Numerous small groups operate as opportunities for participants to learn more about a personal relationship with Jesus. An additional strategy, “100 Ethical Businesses” open doors to business leaders in the city. Regular large group outreach events and annual retreats help round out the strategy in Bucharest and serve as a model for the work in additional cities.