Romania Missionary Letter No. 139

June 30, 2025

From Romania: Missionaries Hongshick Kim & Soo-Jung Hong

To our respected missionary partners,

Greetings in the name of the Lord. Romania has been very hot this June, with temperatures reaching 35–37°C every day this week. In the midst of this heat, we continue to serve by God’s grace.

We want to express our deepest gratitude for your faithful prayers and financial support for the Romania mission. During the past two quarters, I had the opportunity to visit several regions in Europe for ministry, fellowship, and training. Below is an update on recent ministry activities and news from the field.

1. Easter Food Distribution to Romani (Gypsy) Church Families

Romania is largely an Orthodox cultural area. This year, Easter was celebrated on April 20, the same day as Protestant Easter Sunday. Easter is one of the biggest holidays here—much like Lunar New Year in Korea—when families gather, prepare special meals, and celebrate together.

Every year, our missionary center prepares food packages and visits each Romani church we have established to distribute Easter supplies to poor families. However, because our ministry funding ended this year, we had no budget for this outreach.

In response to our prayers, our children provided support so we could purchase Easter food packages (eggs, rice, flour, cornmeal, sugar, and other necessities). With this help, we were able to distribute food to families attending the Kampachi Church, Darvari Church, Stella Church, and other nearby Romani congregations. We give thanks to God for allowing this ministry to continue even in difficult circumstances.

2. Kingdom World Mission Seminar – House of Words and Prayer (England)

From April 7–10, I was invited to the House of Words and Prayer, a rural retreat center near London, England. Pastor In-Sik Kim, representative of Kingdom World Mission and senior pastor of Wethill Presbyterian Church in the U.S., led the seminar. About 30 participants from across Europe attended.

This gathering focused on world evangelism as well as the national, geographical, and spiritual restoration of Israel, including the mission of Aliyah (the return of Jews scattered around the world). Pastor Kim and his wife, Mrs. Woong-Ja Kim, preached passionately that all believers in Jesus Christ should be filled with the Holy Spirit, live with assurance of salvation, and serve world missions with joy and spiritual power.

It was a meaningful time of training, encouragement, and renewed calling.

3. Hapshin European Presbytery (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

The Hapshin European Regular Presbytery was held April 28–29 at the Hangul Korean Church in Amsterdam (Pastor Gwang-Hyun Kim). Pastors and missionaries serving Korean churches throughout Europe attended. Representatives from the Hapshin General Assembly in Korea also joined, offering guidance, support, and fellowship.

After the presbytery sessions, we shared a short tour of downtown Amsterdam and enjoyed warm fellowship and mutual encouragement. The presbytery leadership is now planning to strengthen future gatherings with pastoral training sessions as part of the European presbytery meetings.

4. Completion of the 366th Duranno Couple School (Istanbul, Turkey)

From May 14–16, the 366th Duranno Couple School was held in Istanbul, Turkey. Twenty-five missionary families from Europe were invited for three days of teaching, reflection, and renewal. The event took place at a hotel, with accommodations and meals provided.

We drove 18 hours round trip from Romania to attend, and it was truly worth the journey. Missionary couples ranging from their 30s to their 80s participated. For some, it was like experiencing a wedding ceremony again even in their 70s—an unexpected and joyful blessing.

The headquarters arranged special details in advance (including custom dresses and rings for the couples), and the love shown to all participants was overwhelming. Through deep lectures and practical sessions, we were reminded again of God’s design for marriage and how couples are called to live as one body until the Lord calls them home.

All who attended returned to their mission fields encouraged, refreshed, and filled with gratitude. We sincerely thank all instructors and staff who served so faithfully.

5. Looking Ahead: The Second Term of Children’s Development Ministry

For the past 21 years, with the support of Korea Food for the Hungry International, we were able to provide meals, daily necessities, school supplies, and educational support for children from Romani families until they graduated high school. Sadly, this project has now ended.

However, the need has not ended. We have newly identified 140 children in Romani villages connected to newly established churches, and we are preparing to begin the second term of our Children’s Development Ministry for them.

We have submitted a sponsorship application to Global Children Foundation (GCF) in the United States. If the headquarters reviews and approves the project in the second half of this year, some ministry funding will begin in January 2026.

Please pray that this decision will be made according to the Lord’s will.

Although our ministry scale is smaller than before, our married daughters are helping us modestly with expenses, and by God’s grace we are continuing as we prepare for the future.

Until our next update, we pray that God’s grace and blessings will be abundant in your church, family, and work. Thank you always for standing with us.

Shalom!

Prayer Requests

1. Health and strength for our familyPlease pray that our whole family remains healthy physically and spiritually and fulfills each calling faithfully.In particular, my wife, Seon-Gyo Hong, recently fell in the yard and injured her right ankle and rib cage. She was taken to the emergency room and, on the afternoon of June 28, underwent surgery to insert a metal bar into her ankle. She is currently hospitalized.Please pray for her full and speedy recovery.

   
   

2. Growth of the Romani churchesPray that the Romani churches we pioneered will grow both spiritually and numerically through the Word and prayer, and become faithful witnesses to their communities.

   
   

3. Second-term Children’s Development Ministry (140 children)Please pray that the second-term ministry will be fully established and supported.Especially pray for provision of school supplies for the new semester in August.
   

4. Continuing church-planting ministryPray that church-planting will continue in traditional Romani villages where there are still no churches, and that all needs—finances, workers, and resources—will be supplied.
   

5. Prayer for our youngest son, Young-Jun KimYoung-Jun is in his final semester of his 4th year of medical school. He has a very important final exam on July 30.With these results, he will be able to apply for the specialty he desires (cardiac surgery).Please pray for wisdom, strength, and excellent results.