Steve and Rosie relocated with their two daughters to Cluj-Napoca in December 2020. They are working with the Tóvidéki congregation of the Hungarian Reformed Church in outreach ministry to English speakers in the city.
The Tóvidéki Church congregation have a vision “To become a welcoming, joyful fellowship of believers building the kingdom of God”, and their vision is citywide. Steve is involved in preaching, teaching and the observance of Sacraments; organising gatherings for prayer and fellowship; developing pastoral care; and work amongst students. Rosie is involved in developing the outreach ministry, as well as initially settling family and focussing on language skills. Steve and Rosie will also be developing opportunities with IKE, the youth board of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Transylvania. Outside of their formal roles, Steve and Rosie are engaged in incarnational mission as they live and work in the city.
Transylvania has for many centuries been a region where multiple ethnicities and cultures reside alongside each other. The Tóvidéki Church congregation has for some time sought to build bridges through providing simultaneous translation of worship services from Hungarian into both English and Romanian, as well as welcoming mission teams from a range of countries. English language provides a connection point for many different groups in Cluj, and a ministry began in 2008 to reach out across the city through this medium.
Steve and Rosie have a passion to see the gospel reach far and wide across the city, and so are excited to be invited to be part of the relaunch of this ministry.
They write, "We have a deep belief in seeing disciples of Christ grow in their faith and missional outlook in day-to-day life, and are passionate about the organic growth of the church through relationships, hospitality , welcome and worship. We are excited about the connections we are making in the church, but also through family, school and community life."
Steve previously worked in business for 20 years before entering training for the ministry at Union Theological College in September 2014. He was actively involved in music and worship at the family's home congregation of Orangefield. Most recently, he served as Assistant Minister at Kilbride Presbyterian Church.
Rosie grew up in East Africa as her parents served as missionaries in Uganda. She returned home in 1991 to continue education, and worked in a number of administration roles, including in Belfast Bible College. Most recently, she worked as a SEN Classroom Assistant in Belfast.
Steve and Rosie have two daughters: Julia who began secondary education in September 2020 and Lucy who is primary age.
Digital Dispatches
Steve and Rosie record short 3 minute video clips every few months which can be downloaded and used in church services, prayer meetings or events to raise awareness and prayer for what God is doing across the world, as we seek to go deep and wide in global mission involvement.
(For previous Digital Dispatches video clips click here)
Latest Report
April 2024
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11
We continue to be thankful for places of fruitful ministry in Cluj-Napoca.
The Alpha Conversations run by Poarta Regelui continues to bring blessings and surprises. While the guest attendance has been somewhat inconsistent, there are regularly new faces at each gathering, and conversations are each week infused by the Holy Spirit. Julia has had the opportunity to sing on two occasions, something she has missed since the end of services at Cluj Christian Fellowship.
The Bible Study Group for teenage girls has completed its study on the book of Esther, and gathered at the end of March to watch a movie version of the story. We are considering how to press forward with this group, and hope to combine with Poarta Regelui to run a Youth Alpha Course, encouraging each of the young people to reach out to others. Julia in particular has invited some school friends who are keen to come along.
Opportunities for pastoral support continue, as has Rosie’s work helping some individual women with English language skills.
Our primary focus has been on following God’s guiding into our next phase of ministry, and on Monday 25th March, Steve received and accepted a call to be Minister in Enniskillen Presbyterian Church…
Details of his installation are still to be worked out; however, Rosie and the girls plan to see out the school year in Romania and return to Northern Ireland in July.
While this is earlier than we had initially anticipated, we have reflected with joy and thankfulness on our time of ministry in Cluj-Napoca: for the fruitfulness with which God has blessed our ministry; for the faith and growth He has been developing in each of us, and for how aspects of ministry in Romania has prepared us for the next chapter.
Prayer Points
Give thanks for:
- Continued opportunities for ministry in ClujNapoca.
- For the clear sense of call to ministry in Enniskillen Presbyterian Church.
Please pray:
- For us as a family, as we prepare for another transition.
- For friendships developed in Cluj-Napoca, that will be both a support in the coming months, but also for a sense of continuity as we move.
- For the likelihood of living between two countries for a number of weeks, Steve in NI and Rosie and the girls in Romania.
- For the provision of new schools for Julia and Lucy, and a smooth transition between curriculums.
- For Steve as he prepares for installation in Enniskillen, and gets to know the congregation.
To download a printable PDF of this bulletin or for a previous bulletin visit the Mission Reports listing at the top or the Global Mission monthly bulletin archive.