I’m John Militaru, and I am an Evangelist. For those of you who might be interested in my background, here is a brief testimonial.

I was born in Romania, in a city called Timisoara. My family’s background was Greek Orthodox. When I was two years old my mother and father was divorced. My mother has never remarried. At the age of fifteen I became very ill with Hepatitis, Anemia, and Rheumatism – – all at the same time! I became very thin and sickly. The doctors tried many things, and finally could think of no more medications. She then took me to see an Orthodox Priest, just one of many forms of religions. Under Communism, the custom is, the more money you give to the priest the longer he will pray for you. But, his prayers did nothing for me.

Until the time I was sixteen years old, I had never seen a New Testament Bible. One day I saw that many people were going to a house. Over a period of weeks I noticed frequent activity at that house. Finally, I discovered that people were going there for prayer and worship. So, I attended the next time I saw there was going to be a gathering. I was very moved and impressed because I felt good after the service

. I asked them if I could have a Bible and they gave me one. In the next two and a half weeks I read the entire Bible. Amazingly and unexpectedly the Lord had healed my body from the terrible illness during that two and a half weeks while I was reading the Word.
It was also a great experience for my family, seeing me completely healed in such a short time. Under the Communist Society, families are forced from any sort of religious activity in their homes. This is because to practice Christianity is considered a disgraceful form of activity. A person who turns to Christianity is immediately ostracized by society. This means loss of your job, expulsion from the university, if a student, and sometimes even banishment from the family home. A Christian will be mocked and persecuted every day by neighbors, friends, work associates, and fellow students.

After my introduction to the new Christian life and being thrilled by my healing, I began attending prayer meetings every evening. My fellowship with God grew rapidly. I felt the Lord had called me to be an Evangelist after 8 to 10 months. My activities during this time consisted of attending prayer meetings and Bible studies every night and attending missionary field meetings twice a week. There were two kinds of Christian church activities at that time; “registered” and “underground.” The Government directly controls the registered churches. They choose the pastors and the leaders. The registered churches are informants. The Holy Spirit can be discussed, but “manifestation” of the Holy Spirit is not permitted. Manifestation such as healing, prophecy, or any of the gifts of the Spirit is prohibited. If anyone dares to do these things within the church that person will be fined or even arrested. In the “underground” church that I attended, all of the gifts of the Spirit were accepted and practiced. The people who did this were in danger of being arrested, fined, and persecuted. A fine could amount to as much as six months or even one years’ salary.

Each day we expected a “Miracle” from God at those meetings. Many wonderful experiences with God occurred. For example, one day there were about a hundred people praying to God in loud voices. An informant directed the police to come and arrest the people at the meeting. When the police arrived God blinded their eyes so they could not find the entrance to the house. They listened at the windows and heard no sounds. The police left saying they had been sent to that house on a false report.
At the age of seventeen the Lord called me to preach the Gospel. During the next six and a half years I preached in a thousand villages in Romania. The risks were great, but I always saw the “hands of God” protected me. I had many narrow escapes. Numerous times I was arrested and interrogated, but the brutal police authorities seemed to have no power to touch or harm me.

One day the Lord spoke to me, telling me to leave the country because the police were preparing to put me in prison for up to twenty years because of my preaching activities. To leave Romania was extremely dangerous because the borders were policed by guards with machine guns and even “killer dogs” in some places. The soldiers were instructed to kill on sight anyone seen attempting to cross the border. Anyone who is apprehended near the border is arrested, tortured, and even beaten to death. If they survived the beatings or torture they are imprisoned for two years. To escape from Romania would take a miracle. During the week when I was planning my escape, I went to a prayer meeting hoping to get a confirmation from God. A prophet came to me and told me of a vision he had from the Lord. He said “I saw you go into a river, but before entering the river you were stopped by a soldier. The Lord said, ‘Do not be afraid because I will blind the solders mind so that he will become confused and he will let you go.” This river was a mile and a half wide. My escape occurred exactly as the prophet had describe it to me. I was stopped by a soldier who became confused and walked away. I entered the river at that time and swam to Yugoslavia and my freedom on the other side. After staying a week in Yugoslavia I went to Italy. From then it was easy to make it to Austria. While in Austria I received news of an old friend of mine who was tortured and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel in Romania. With friends we launched a protest in Austria to petition the Romanian government to release him. Amazingly this actually happened. But, in the meantime the Secret Police attempted to kill me in Austria by running me down with a car. The Lord saved me and I only sustained a broken leg from this attempt on my life.

Two months after I escaped from Romania my fiancée, Alexandra, also escaped in the same way I did. But, on the rivers edge a soldier had spotted her as she was crossing the river. He set his telescope sight on her and prepared to shoot when suddenly he recognized her to be his former high school classmate. He then did not shoot because God had touched his heart and he felt mercy for her. Later, he told Alexandra’s parents about that night that she escaped from Communist Romania.
Alexandra and I met in Austria and were married in that country. We then went to the United States in 1979. When we arrived we did not know any English. Because of our difficulties with the English language we struggled. The Lord blessed us though and gave us opportunities and ways to support ourselves. In time, we were blessed with three children.

Since 1990, when the communists were overthrown, we have been able to go every year to Romania. We do missionary work, going into areas where the gospel has not been heard before, especially, Southern Romania. We see virtually thousands of people saved every year. I also have been preaching as an Evangelist in many churches across America. My vision for the future, besides the work here in America, is to reach more souls in Romania and other eastern European countries for the Kingdom of God.

However, this ministry requires financial support to continue these missions. Support by individuals, like you, who are making a difference in lives touched by the gospel. We would like to thank you in advance for all of your prayers and financial support that will allow us to seize opportunities to bring more souls into the kingdom. This is very much appreciated !We do missionary work, going into areas where the gospel has not been heard before, especially, Southern Romania. Since 1990, when the communists were overthrown, we have been able to go every year to Romania. We see virtually thousands of people saved every year. I also have been preaching as an Evangelist in many churches across America. My vision for the future, besides the work here in America, is to reach more souls in Romania and other eastern European countries for the Kingdom of God.