Signing Partnership agreement. Rev Norm Poehlke and Rev Joseph Siimon
One of the catch phrases we use in helping people understand the “missional” conversation, is that we need to recognize where God is already at work, and join Him. I can clearly see how God has been working to bring NAB into partnership with the Hungarian Baptist Convention of Romania. On the one hand, this is a new story for NAB. On the other hand, this story is over 20 years old. Perhaps it is best to characterize this as a new chapter in an ongoing narrative. About 25 years ago, with the fall of communism in Romania, a number of NAB pastors and churches ventured to Romania with the primary objective of adopting neglected children. Little did they know what strong relationships they were forging, not just with the children coming into their homes, but with the pastors of Romania who helped facilitate the adoptions. One of these is Pastor Miki Modi. For twenty years now, NAB leaders and pastors have developed a deep bond with Pastor Modi, attending each other’s family weddings and working together in ministry. About 14 years ago these men shared their dreams for ministry. Pastor Modi shared his vision for three things: mission (planting churches in other villages), training (theological education is difficult in Romania), and a camp. These men worked together on the first two objectives by whatever means they were able, but then in 2000, they had an opportunity to purchase about 40 acres of beautiful land with the hope that someday they would see a camp on this property. 
Pastor Modi, George Cuff (Edmonton), Tamas and Tunde, Paul and Tanya, Norm NAB churches and generous donors provided the funding for the land, and in 2001, a short-term team from Edmonton was able to lead a VBS ministry on the camp property. Part of that team was an energetic young man named Paul. He will admit he wasn’t the best behaved member of the team, and yet by the grace of God, Pastor Modi spoke what in hindsight were prophetic words over Paul—that he would someday return to Romania to serve at the camp. Paul and Tanya are standing beside me in the picture. Today they are NAB international missionaries to Romania. Not only are they working along side Pastor Modi in serving his eight churches, but Pastor Modi’s son and daughter in law (Tamas and Tunde) are the closest of friends of Paul and Tanya and have been appointed as Camp Director and Administrator by the Camp Board. No one could have anticipated this. We simply recognize the hand of God and respond to what He is doing. When I met with the executive of the Hungarian Baptist Convention of Romania, I told them that we were formalizing a relationship that has been in existence for over 20 years, that our churches already love each other, and that we are simply affirming a desire to continue to build relationship in the context of Kingdom mission. In the coming years, we will be giving our NAB churches many opportunities to join this family of ministry partnership in Romania. We will be raising funds for the construction of the camp facilities, sending work teams, camp counselors, and all manners of servants that will benefit from this kind of loving partnership. For today, let’s thank God for what HE is doing and for the privilege we have to be participants and witnesses of His work in Romania