Celebrating 25 Years
1984-2001
Prequel...
Pre-revolution: Eugen Groza serving the underground church in Romania
1989 Revolution & Fall of Communism: Opening door for “Repenters” in Romania to serve openly
Jesus Hope of Romania formed by Eugen Groza and friends to bring Gospel and support to those in need
1990 Doru & Rodica serve at Recas Orphanage
1991 Eugen meets Alec Woodhull, God knits their hearts together for ministry
1992 Lorena Rusovan hired by Eugen for social ministry at Onesimus House- eventually becomes Executive Director of MLI
1993 USAffairs forms to bring US support to JHOR and friends
1994 Emil Toader joins Alpinis Youth Ministry- eventually becomes President of MLI
2001 JHOR transitions to Missio Link International (Romania) & USAffairs transitions to Missio International (United States)
Spotlight On Harmony
Harmony ministry has its roots in the early work of Doru and Rodica Rocaviceanu, who in the early 1990s developed a ministry of singing and teaching the Word of God to orphans, many of whom had been abandoned and placed in the destitute government-run institutions of the day. The faithfulness of Doru and Rodica became manifest as the children literally found their voices, and a reason to hope their lives could be different. This transformative work was eventually brought to the the Re-education Center for Minors in Buzias. Many of the inmates there were children paying for criminal activity that they, too, were victims of. The Rocaviceanus have worked tirelessly over the past 25 years with MLI’s Harmony ministry meeting and caring for these incarcerated young men and women, providing them with authentic friendship and the music and truths of the Christian faith. The Harmony ministry continues to expand with a mentoring program for the young men and a healthy cooking class for the young women.
Dani Toma recently joined Doru and Rodica at Harmony and brings his own areas of expertise and experience to complement MLI’s ongoing work. Dani’s work will focus on offering the following 2 curricula to the inmates at Buzias:
Curriculum 1
“Exploring Life: From Basic Needs to the Meaning of Existence”
- This is a guide for making responsible choices and promoting personal growth
- This is also a Christian ethics course addressing topics such as human value, friendship, good and evil and the need for salvation
Curriculum 2
“Choices for Freedom”
- A version of John Maxwell’s Keys for Success, adapted by MLI for use this minors in the prison system
- Accredited by National Administration of Penitentiaries
- Structured into 17 lessons, central focus on Jesus Christ
- Participants can earn credits towards community outings and early probation
Meeting Children at Risk staffer: Daniel Toma
Serving now with Harmony and Back to School Ministries
I was born in Hunedoara in the western part of Romania, one of five children in a Pentecostal family. From a young age, I learned the significance of my name, Daniel, meaning “God is my judge”, and I understood the calling to live my life by faith. I pursued my studies at the Pentecostal Theology Institute in Bucharest, where I developed both spiritually and academically.After completing my Master’s Degree, I served for five years as a Pentecostal religion teacher for the public school system in Timișoara and the surrounding areas. Concurrently, for four years, I coordinated a group of approximately 300 Evangelical students, engaging with them in numerous social and evangelistic projects.
My professional experience includes two and a half years with Teen Challenge, three years as a social educator working with individuals who have intellectual disabilities, and two years teaching the “Abstinence-Freedom” program in the public schools. For the past year, I have been blessed with the opportunity to join the Missio Link International team, serving with the Harmony program at the juvenile detention center in Buzias and the Back to School program in Recas.
I have been married for 12 years to Camelia, my “suitable helper”, without whom I would not have been able to serve in so many areas of ministry.
This is my personal motto:”Close to God, close to people, more useful to the Kingdom”.
Daniel Toma
Reflections of a Co-founder, Warrior,
Mother & Friend
Dear Friends,
Over the past 25+ years, I’ve had the joy of sharing many stories of hope for children whose lives have intersected with MLI’s Children at Risk (CAR) ministries, but there is one I have never shared. It comes from the early days of MLI and is simple, yet deeply personal.
The purchase contract for the house that would later become Deborah House was signed on my birthday in 2001- what an immeasurable gift from God! At home, I had spoken daily about a 240-year-old building in Giarmata, with its courtyard and well that reminded me of my own childhood, and my dream that this place would be transformed into a home for girls. So, one Saturday in March, I decided to show the house to my family.
Upon opening the gate, my 4-year-old son ran into the courtyard, stopped by the well, looked around, and said, “I like your Giarma.” To his young ears, the name of the village sounded like two words that in Romanian mean “your Giarma.” For him, an entire village was contained in that one house and its courtyard. What still touches me is not only the innocence of a child’s logic, but the sense of belonging he felt, formed simply by hearing my stories. I don’t know if that was the moment my husband and son truly understood how much that place would become part of me, but I know they embraced it with overwhelming love.
CAR has never been about buildings or projects. Those are important tools, but they are not the heart of the mission. The heart has always been children: hundreds, perhaps thousands, standing at a crossroads, unsure which way to go. It is about the house parents, the counsellors, and social workers at
Deborah House. It is about Doru, Rodica, now Fivi and Dani, and scores of others “up front” and behind the scenes… and it is about you.
Because of you, these children have not been left alone at that intersection. For every child who can heal, learn, and grow, someone is working faithfully in the background through prayers and faithful partnership. For the past 24 years, many of you have been engaged in that quiet, steady support that has invited healing transformation into the lives of hundreds of children.
When I look back and realize that the very first girl who came to Deborah House is now a 40-year-old woman with two daughters of her own, one nearly the same age as her mother when I first met her, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This is the fruit of faith, obedience, and sustained generosity.
Deborah House is now 24 years old, Aspirations and Back to School are 21, and Harmony is 18. CAR, like the children we first served, has reached its maturity. With a new generation of leaders, the mission continues. Methods may change, paths may shift, but the calling remains the same: to walk with children toward healing and hope.
Let us say together, Ebenezer, this is not the end.
With deep gratitude,
Lorena Rusovan
Short Term Mission Corner
This year, several of the Short Term Mission Teams visiting from the US partnered with CAR to provide a fun and encouraging day of “VBS” with the children living in the Recas area. Over 200 kids enjoyed singing, games, crafts and food this summer- all pointing them to a God who sees them and loves them, thanks to teams serving from First Baptist Church Clinton, Mount Bethel, West End Assembly of God and The Refinery.
“West End Assembly of God had the privilege to partner with Children at Risk in September of 2025, running a VBS for over 100 children and simultaneously serving the parents in a separate session. While the kids played games and participated in an interactive Bible lesson, the parents received health and first aid information and prayer over their families. Parents were thrilled to ask medical questions and share their struggles with our team.”
-Sue (Trip Leader)
A Word from MI Knoxville
Dear friends,
In the hustle and bustle of daily activity, especially within a busy ministry, it is easy to get caught up in the urgency of the moments, and fail to take in the beauty of the more slowly unfolding years. Working on this edition of the LINK has given me the chance to linger with the bigger picture, and my heart is full! From learning about the early pivotal events and people that set a course for MLI, to watching the years flow together in a beautifully cohesive ribbon of rescue, restoration and rejoicing – I can’t help but marvel at the steady forward motion of Christ coming for all of His children, calling them to a whole and satisfying life in Him. And now, as a generation has grown up, seeing those children matured into loving productive adults…it is amazing to behold. We hope you enjoy the timeline reflecting the past 25 yrs of MLI’s steady investment in their corner of the Kingdom of God. May He richly bless them for the next 25!
With wonder and gratitude,
Lauren Clevenger
MI, Knoxville