Fred and Madeleine Van Klingeren first felt called to serve as missionaries to Romania while living in Myrtle Beach where their permanent residence is located. The couple now leads a charitable organization, Building Hope Together Ministries Inc., that was founded by Tucapau Baptist Church, Startex.
Fred Van Klingeren, left, speaks during a worship service at a Pentecostal Baptist church in Campia Turzii, Romania, while Daniel Rus, a native Romanian and youth minister at the church, interprets for the team.It was through a chance meeting in 2001 that the Van Klingerens got involved with Tucapau Baptist. While sitting on a hotel bench taking a break at an International Gideons convention in Charlotte, N.C., Madeleine struck up a conversation with the lady sitting next to her. She began sharing about the mission work in Romania and received an invitation to visit Tucapau.
One thing led to another, and soon Tucapau Baptist – which is active in both home and foreign missions – decided to form an independent organization specifically for the critical needs in Romania. Serving as president and director of BHTMI is William Pate Jr., pastor of Tucapau.
“We are held accountable for the money we receive – first, to God, and, second, to the board members of Building Hope Together Ministries, and the church as a whole,” Fred stressed. “Tucapau is now our home church in America.”
“It is so hard to find honest people in Romania who are sincere in their faith,” he continued. “We are crying out to God to send us people who are real!”
Romanian women always sit on the right side of the sanctuary, while men sit on the other side during worship services, which can last upwards of three hours. Young people usually lead the musical program.Now that Romanians enjoy religious freedom, one would think churches in that country are prospering. However, an elder at the Baptist Church of Campia Turzii said the opposite is true.
“Communism is not good for anything, but at least it drew Christians closer together,” explained “Gaby” as we sat with several church members in a small room in his home on a Sunday afternoon. While the fellowship was warm, it felt strange that every one was minus their shoes – practicing a Romanian tradition of leaving them at the door upon entering a person’s home.
“Freedom to worship openly didn’t start taking place until 1992, so you knew those who were part of the church prior to that were committed Christians, because we met despite the consequences of getting caught,” Gaby continued. “Now Christians are preoccupied with getting things other than God.”
Even so, all of the church services I attended were nearly filled to capacity – including one on Friday night, which is unheard of in America. I’m not sure how much of it had to do with the news some Americans might attend and possibly speak.
Striking observations included the fact that men always sit on one side of the sanctuary, and women sit on the other. Also, the music program is largely led by the youth – particularly the orchestra – and they are very talented. I recognized several songs popular in America, but most Romanian churches lack hymnbooks, so the words are projected on a wall.
Madeleine Van Klingeren sings during a morning worship service held in Campia Turzii, Romania. Madeleine can sing in both the English and Romanian languages.Many churches also lack indoor plumbing, which means using a smelly outhouse if you can’t wait until you get home. Church services generally last three hours, which could pose a problem for some folks. However, for many Romanians living outside the city, an outhouse is the only option at home as well. With winter temperatures dipping to minus-30 on some occasions – topped with lots of snow – nothing is easy in Romania.
I learned that the Van Klingerens return to the U.S. each December-February to avoid the harsh winters, as well as to celebrate Christmas with their family and give a full report to all the churches that support them.
The missionary couple also makes an annual trip back to the U.S. each summer for another update and to conduct fundraising for future projects.
“But we don’t beg for money,” Madeleine emphasized. “We believe God will supply our needs through his people, and maybe through some unbelievers as well.”
The most pressing project on the Van Klingerens’ hearts at the present time is the construction of a ministry center in Campia Turzii for the youth and where church leaders can be trained.
“The building will be used for youth meetings, to teach the Bible, and to worship the Lord,” said Fred.
(Related story: Romanians still seek true freedom.)