A group of churches and individual Christians in Brazoria County began working with a Romanian Baptist association of churches in the late 1990’s.  This came about after a Romanian-flagged ship and its crew were abandoned by its owners in Freeport Harbor in 1998.  Through the Freeport Seaman’s Center these crew members were assisted in both practical matters and with spiritual counsel.  Many came to faith in Jesus Christ during this time, and requested that a ministry similar to the Seaman’s Center be started in their home port of Constanta, a large port on the Black Sea in far Eastern Romania.  Several churches formed partnerships with “sister” churches in that area and sent teams to build, to teach, and to help with evangelism in the villages, towns, and cities of the region.  Because of the deep poverty of the area and the persecution of Evangelical Christians by the government and by the state-sponsored Eastern Orthodox church, most of the pastors are living below the poverty level and the churches are struggling to survive.  They have a rich and fervent faith and a true heart for the Lord and for His work, but have heretofore had little means of self-support.  This has led to unsustainable dependence on western churches and individuals for their daily sustenance. 
 In 2005, we became aware of a Christian organization actively working in the Ukraine which assists local Christian entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, thus supporting themselves and their local church as well as serving as an evangelical outreach to the community.  This organization is Breakthrough to People Network (BTPN), and is headed by Bob Crowe, a former missionary and businessman.  BTPN is recognized by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board as filling a much-needed niche in our overall mission strategy: that of planting and growing self-sustaining indigenous churches led by national pastors and leaders. In October, 2006, a team of business people from the Brazosport area and a Houston-area church traveled to Constanta and lead the first of three phases of conferences to introduce the Romanian churches and Christian business people to the concept of business operated on Biblical principles.  The second phase of training (market research and beginning the development of a business plan) was started in February, 2007, and the third phase (completing the business plan and instruction on operating their business) in May of 2007.  Of course, this story is much longer and more involved than this document can detail, but the fact is over 30 Romanian pastors and entrepreneurs were trained in Phase I, nine attended Phase II to develop a professional business plan, and three new businesses received funding startups in Phase III. 
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We are presently looking for evangelical Christian business men and women to help us start the next cycle of training so that more businesses can be started next year and the churches be strengthened and multiplied in Eastern Romania.  We are especially looking for people who
1) have a solid understanding about how a successful business “works” (business plans, budgets, management, etc.) and
2) understand how God works through a business to bless His people and to reach out to those who may not yet believe in Him. 

The immediate mission is to travel to Romania in mid-February for approximately eight days and lead a group of people in a “come and see” conference (“Phase I”) that explains the concepts and principles of a Biblical business model and helps them explore possible micro-business ventures they might be lead to start.  We will provide all the training materials and resources to you.  You are responsible for raising travel funds (approximately $1,500-$2,000) and prayer support. 

You can get more information on BTPN through their web site, www.btpn.org, or by contacting Jim Martin, 011-44-01754-765-008 (Jim is living in the U.K. until August, 2008), or Timothy Lampard, 713-256-4889. 
Thank you for your consideration of this mission effort.  May God richly bless you in your service to Him.