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There is something special about watching a child open a Christmas gift. I have had the privilege of watching children receive Christmas shoeboxes many times over the years, but the excitement never gets old. A carefully wrapped box lands in their hands, and suddenly the air fills with anticipation and curiosity. Then you see smiles that seem to grow bigger with every item they discover. For some of these children, receiving a gift is not something they expect. They didn't earn it. They didn't do anything to deserve it. Someone they may never meet chose to give because they wanted that child to experience the joy of Christmas. Perhaps that is one reason these moments touch me so deeply.
What Is the BOL Christian Center? Some dreams start small. Ours started as an impossible one — a home in Bucharest where teenagers from broken, poverty stricken backgrounds could finally have a stable place to live, grow, and become who God made them to be.
At the beginning of the journey, the word that best described these kids was helplessness. When you start life in an environment shaped by severe hardship, the future feels less like a promise and more like a threat. For the five young people in our community who graduated high school this summer, the starting line was a painful one. Behind their eyes lay realities too heavy for any child to carry: a girl who had to find her courage within an abusive family, and boys who grew up without the warm embrace of a mother. For them, education and finishing school seemed like a distant dream.
In Romania, more than three out of every four Roma children leave school before completing their education. For many, poverty decides their future long before they have the opportunity to dream. But sometimes, the first step toward breaking that cycle begins with something as simple as a backpack.
Another school year has come to a close, and once again we watched with great joy as students from our program received their diplomas. But graduation wasn’t where their story began. It was the culmination of years of learning, perseverance, encouragement, and faithful support. Years ago, each of those graduates started the school year with the same simple tools every student needs—a backpack, school supplies, and someone who believed in their future.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food... I was a stranger and you welcomed me...” — Matthew 25:35 ESV This past February marked four years since the war dramatically changed the lives of millions of people in Ukraine. The world’s response has shifted over time — some still remain deeply engaged, while others have found it difficult to stay connected as the conflict continues.
Every day, elderly men and women in the Broșteni, Romania area who have no one to care for them receive a hot meal delivered right to their door. Along with the food comes a warm greeting, a listening ear, and a helping hand from Iosif, who faithfully travels nearly 15 kilometers by bicycle each day, regardless of the weather. For the elderly he visits, the meal meets a practical need, but the visit itself often means even more. It is a reminder that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten. What makes these daily visits especially meaningful is the story of the young man making them.
If you have ever held a newborn in your arms, you know that few moments in life can match it. Yet the Bible tells us there is one moment that does — the moment a soul is born again. Heaven itself rejoices. Recently, I experienced two such moments in a single church service.
Dear friend and partner, God has used your generosity to build something extraordinary in Romania. And right now, at the edge of a new school year, thirteen young people are standing at the most important threshold of their lives. Our ministry at a glance Broșteni Children’s Home - A safe home and a devoted team for vulnerable children. 6 Ministry Feeding Centers - Serving hundreds of families with food, clothing, and school supplies. Youth Transition Program - Education, skills & spiritual mentorship for teens aging out .
A Romanian saying goes: “Small children, small problems. Big children, big problems. If you are a parent—or have ever helped raise a child—you know how true this is. In the early years, the needs feel simple. But as children grow, so do the responsibilities and the costs. The emotional weight deepens. The decisions become more complex. Raising children stretches your time, your energy, your patience—and often your finances.
Winter in our region is long and bitterly cold. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures make even the simple walk to school difficult — especially for children who only have thin summer shoes. At Bread of Life Children’s Home, we are dedicated to meeting the daily needs of the children in our care. During the winter months, heating, utilities, and food become urgent priorities. At times, because of these pressing expenses, replacing personal items like clothing or shoes must wait. Yet even in these moments, we see God working quietly behind the scenes.
In northeastern Romania, in Botoșani County, winter does not ask if anyone is ready. It comes suddenly and harshly, with long nights and a cold that seeps into the bones. For many elderly people in isolated villages, each day is a silent struggle — with the cold, with scarcity, with loneliness. Pensions are small, help is rare, and the silence inside their homes feels heavier than the frost outside. In Baranca, Hudești commune, we entered a home that has stayed with us. An almost 80-year-old man, struggling to stay mobile and weakened by illness, lives in very difficult conditions. Yet he is not alone — he cares for his 50-year-old son with a disability, completely dependent on him. A frail father who can barely move continues to carry the weight of caring for his child.
