In July 2025, David and Hilary joined a medical mission to Suceava, Romania, to help plant churches in unreached villages in northern Romania. They plan to return to continue the work in July 2026.

The team leaders and some of the same team members also went to Bulgaria for a similar mission in September 2025. The local news in Bulgaria produced a feature (see YouTube video below) that provides an excellent glimpse into what the team will be doing in Romania this summer.  

Recap from David and Hilary in July 2025

We had an exceptional week of ministry in four villages in northern Romania at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Our team visited four villages, one per day, set up medical clinics, and shared the Gospel with those who came for medical care. Here are some raw numbers from the trip. The team made 116 Gospel Presentations (four people made new professions of faith; our team shared Scripture or words of encouragement with others, prayed with many, and comforted several who mourned). The medical team examined 257 patients and provided vitamins, over the counter medicines (things available in the United States but not readily available in rural Romania), and prescription medications. The eye care team examined 306 patients for eyeglasses and gave away reading glasses to many. It was an honor to work with a team that came together quickly and united to advance the Kingdom of God. Local pastors will continue to follow up with people who came to the clinics.

On our final day of medical clinics in Romania, we served in a village that, until recently, had been closed to the Gospel. When our national partners approached the mayor, who is Orthodox, in 2016 about bringing in a medical team, he said no. This year, the same mayor not only gave us permission to serve, but he also showed up in person, received eyeglasses, toured the clinic, smiled broadly, and later posted enthusiastically about the day on his official social media account. His post garnered nearly 200 likes and 40 affirming comments. What had once been a closed door is now open; our partners are praying and planning for future ministry in this Orthodox community.

Nevertheless, we felt the resistance to the Gospel while we were at this village. We encountered many people who were hesitant or uninterested in hearing Scripture or receiving prayer. It was a contrast to our first three days. However, God was at work. Hilary met Gheorghe, a man who had experienced deep personal loss. She had the opportunity to pray with him during her medical assessment, and she asked David to follow up with him. In a mix-up, David’s interpreter (also named David) mistakenly invited another man, Dumitru (pictured at top with David and Hilary in front of the village museum), to sit with them instead. David (Hilary’s husband) kept watching for Gheorghe, hoping to catch him before he left; that never happened. David (Hilary’s husband) felt like he had missed a divine appointment.

But God had other plans. After the conversation ended, Dumitru came back. He asked for prayer for his daughter Daniela, whom he had adopted as a newborn and was now preparing to support with a home of her own. Dumitru had tears in his eyes as he shared their complicated relationship and his desire to do what was best. “Team David” prayed with him and saw his heart. Later that day, we learned Dumitru is a respected member of the village—he owns the land where we held our clinic, and he founded the small village museum. He gave our team a personal tour. We realized then that God had directed our steps. Hilary had already ministered to Gheorghe. Team David had been led to sit with Dumitru—a man of peace, an influencer, and someone God may use to open further doors in this village that once said no.