Top left: Amanda White and team members handing out backpacks with school supplies and bibles in the Roma Village. Below Sandica talking with local families in the Roma village

Fellowship night at Good News Baptist Church

Top- Mission team members with Missionaries Paul & Lori, Pastor Sindel, and Mayor Circiumaru Valerica. Bottom Pastor Sindel, Paul, and Andrew Bertrum praying for the Mayor

Gabe Stark
The Trenton Telegraph

In September, a team from First Baptist Church set out on a journey that would make a lasting impact, both abroad and at home. Their destination: Romania, a nation with a rich history, vibrant culture, and a great need for hope and support. They planned to serve alongside missionaries, encourage local churches, help orphans, and make an impact in marginalized communities.

Plans to go on the trip had gone back several years. Paul and Lori, missionaries sent out from First Baptist Church, had lived in the Trenton area and had served faithfully in Europe, ministering in Ukraine, before being relocated to Poland and then Romania following the war between Russia and Ukraine. Many of the people at the church had never met Paul and Lori even though the church has been continuing to support them. “It was a really neat opportunity to put a face and a voice to someone that the church has been supporting for many years,” team leader Andrew Bertram said. The passing of Paul’s mother brought the missionaries back to Missouri for a funeral, and it was then that relationships deepened and the conversations for the trip were started.

Planning an international mission trip is never easy. The process began more than a year in advance, with the team navigating time zone differences, language barriers, travel logistics, and the added challenge of fundraising. Plane tickets, travel insurance, van rentals, and ministry supplies all had to be coordinated. This was made easier with support from the church, members donated peanut butter (a rare treat in Romania), supplies, and financial support. Each team member also sent out letters requesting prayers and donations, and a fellowship meal fundraiser helped cover additional costs. In the end, the trip cost about $2,600 per person, with $1,600 going toward travel and the rest supporting ministry needs in Romania such as van rentals, hotels and food costs.

On the morning of Friday, September 12, the team gathered at the church, double-checking passports, weighing bags laden with extra peanut butter and supplies, and preparing for a long journey. After a smooth bus ride to the airport and flights through Chicago and Frankfurt, they arrived in Bucharest, Romania’s bustling capital. Good News Baptist Church, led by Pastor Sindel and his wife Sandica, greeted their American partners with open arms and a home-cooked meal. Many of the church’s members were former orphans, including the pastor Sindel, who has a heart for supporting the orphanage and the kids who grew up like him. “It was impactful to see Sindel and Sandica love those on the fringes- and sacrificing their lives for those in need.” Christy Gottman said about the family.

The mission trip in Romania forced the group to be flexible and willing to help however they could. Sunday began with worship, testimonies, and fellowship at Good News Baptist Church. “We just got a taste of what heaven will be like, every tongue & nation coming together & praising God.” Kim Marshall said. Maeanne Browning mentioned how one of the kids smiled and gave them a thumbs up during the worship service. Team members shared their stories of faith, and the church family responded with hospitality and friendship. Afterward, stories from adults who had grown up in the orphanage system reminded everyone why their mission mattered.

From Monday to Wednesday, the team traveled to Rosiorii de verde, a rural village two to three hours outside Bucharest. There, they partnered with Paul, Lori, and local leaders to support an after-school program serving orphaned teenagers. Each evening was filled with Bible studies, music, crafts, and sharing testimonies. In Romania, the children really love smore’s so the group roasted marshmallows around a fire with the kids, which Amanda White shared was her favorite memory from the trip.

During daylight hours, the most of the team visited a nearby Romani village, distributing humanitarian aid boxes and backpacks filled with school supplies and Bibles. Splitting into smaller groups, they prayed with families, listened to their stories, and offered practical help along with spiritual encouragement. “Anytime you’re meeting a physical need, people are more willing to listen to what you have to say,” Bertram said. The team saw firsthand how meeting basic needs can open doors for deeper conversations about faith and hope.

Others, like Stephen and Kim Marshall, remained in Bucharest throughout the week to walk and pray through the city, meeting locals and sharing hope with the community. At one point they even had the opportunity to lead a man towards Christ.

A highlight of the trip was a meeting with the mayor of Rosiorii. Andrew got to share the gospel with him, along with a Bible, and the mayor graciously received their gifts and prayers. “It was an extremely rare opportunity to share faith with a government official,” Bertram said, excited that the mayor received the gospel so eagerly.

Thursday brought a transition back to Bucharest, and on Friday the team helped the church by building a wheelchair ramp, repairing the roof, and deep-cleaning the facility. This made the church more accessible and welcoming. The group also spent time with orphanage teens, teaching skills and building relationships. “My favorite memory was being able to teach a couple boys carpentry skills and make the handicap ramp for the church” Stephen Marshall said.

Saturday offered a break from the work as the group explored Bran Castle, known as Dracula’s Castle, with several orphanage youth. Many of the teens hadn’t been outside of the orphanage very much, so it meant a lot to them to be able to see mountains for the first time and experience things they had missed.

Throughout the trip, First Baptist grew in their faith as they experienced the lives of the people in Romania. The team heard powerful testimonies from orphans and church members—stories of tragedy, loss, and the transformative power of faith and community. One young man, after hearing the gospel, asked to receive Christ. Another, a 30-year-old woman named Esther, shared how she overcame abuse and hardship through the support of the church and the love of those who invested in her life.

First Baptist shared their testimonies as well. Addison White and Lucy Gottman—students from First Baptist Church —shared their own journeys of faith. Lucy Gottman shared that her favorite memory from the trip was playing uno with the kids and Addison White said that it was cool to see that even though she was across the world and spoke a different language, she still shared a lot in common with the teens in Romania

Sindel & Sandica said, “We are very glad that this testimony is alive and strong in your community of believers. Many thanks to everyone who was involved in making this mission possible. We pray that every orphaned child will have all the opportunities to continue their university studies and to integrate into society through a job and housing. But our main goal is for orphaned children to feel loved and integrated into our church. The transitional house is a place of emergency but also their home where they find therapy for the past and hope for the future. We pray that next year’s VBS and camps will be possible for the hundreds of children we meet. We thank the First Baptist Church of Trenton for a strong guidance of the Holy Spirit, to come to our aid in these moments!”

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

Paul and Lori shared, “We are so thankful for the energy and excitement the FBC Trenton team brought as they came to serve hand in hand with their Romanian brothers and sisters in Christ to reach orphan kids and a cultural segment of society that normally doesn’t receive favorable attention.”

In just one week, First Baptist grew service, friendship, and faith, and was able to help a community across the Ocean. Their hope is that the seeds planted in Romania will continue to bear fruit for years to come.