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12th September |
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Pray for Romania
Population 22 Million People 93 per sq km Religion 87% Christian Positives Romania has Europe’s third highest population of Evangelicals, but the number of evangelical believers has not grown substantially since 1990. Since 1989, Romania has seen a sustained church planting movement, with an average of five new church buildings opening every week until 1999. Only a lack of human and material resources prevents this from continuing at such a rate. The transition from severe persecution and restrictions, to freedom of worship and witness has not been easy. Pray for flexibility and vision for the leadership; legalism and isolationism still threaten progress.
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Prayer needs A land rich in agriculture, minerals and oil but pillaged by a rapacious elite under Communism. Government reluctance and a strangling bureaucracy has slowed economic reform as Romania lags ever further behind other former Communist states. Unemployment 45% in 1998. Communist coup in 1947 with Russian support. One of the Communist bloc's most oppressive and cruel regimes. Revolution of 1989-90 overthrew that regime, but former Communists still play a large role in government. There is a revival of anti-minority nationalism against Hungarians and Gypsies. Under Communism, manipulation and control of the churches was oppressive, with severe persecution for those who refused to submit. Only 15 religious groups are officially recognized — others can only operate as associations.
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