While on home assignment, I share in local churches and with supporters about what is happening in the Church of the Nazarene in Romania. This not only raises awareness for Nazarene missions, but is also a key component for my fundraising. (Click here to read about how I’m funded.)
 |
| Speaking at South Weymouth (MA) Church of the Nazarene Photo credit: Jeremy D. Scott |
In the past, my usual schedule has been to do 6 weeks of home assignment each year. However, due to the pandemic, sabbatical, and the addition of new responsibilities, this was only my second home assignment in the past 6 years! During this year’s home assignment, I spoke in churches on the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Philadelphia Districts (in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Massachusetts). Here's the video of the message I shared at my home church on the first Sunday I was in the US:
For various reasons, I wasn’t able to schedule as many churches during this year’s home assignment as I often have in the past. That gave me more occasions to schedule informal and one-on-one meetings, often with people who have been to Romania in the past and are looking for ways to continue to support ministries here. As a result of these conversations, I created a list of Opportunities for Ongoing Partnership, which includes both opportunities to give, opportunities to serve (short or long-term) in Romania, and opportunities to pray for specific areas of ministry. (Click here to view the list.)
 |
| Selling Romanian handcrafts to raise funds for ministry in Romania |
With fewer formal speaking engagements, I had much more time during this year’s home assignment to listen to the stories of those I visited. The recent closure of Eastern Nazarene College is near and dear to many of us and came up in many conversations. While the direct impact on some of us is relatively minimal, to many others it has meant losing their jobs and housing, and it still may significantly affect the churches in the area.
Again and again, I was given first-hand accounts of how recent government firings and rumors of future cutbacks are creating uncertainty and fear – of losing jobs, of funding through grants being cut off and putting future plans on hold, that benefits will be cut (from social security to Medicaid to FEMA relief). One father shared with me that he fears that his brown-skinned daughter who ministers to immigrants will be scooped up by ICE and deported without the opportunity to prove her American citizenship.
On the world scale, these 6 short weeks of home assignment saw the election of a new pope and a new president for Romania.
With everything going on around us, I found it essential to begin my message each week with the Good News of the Easter season: Christ is risen!
 |
| Boston Skyline: Walk along the Charles River on a spring day |
Interspersed amongst the official activities of home assignment, I also enjoyed visiting family in Pennsylvania and friends in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Massachusetts. One of my favorite moments was when my brother came home to Pennsylvania for a few days after Mother's Day. We took our parents out to eat to celebrate both Mother's Day and Father’s Day. I also baked a cake, and we celebrated all 4 of our birthdays for this year!
While I was in the US, new Nazarene missionary team members arrived in Romania. Andre & Brenda Berkhout will be serving as the new coordinators for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Romania. Already in the few days since I’ve returned, we’ve had a handful of really good conversations about what their responsibilities will include as they settle into life in Romania.
 |
| Celebrating all of our birthdays with one cake! |
While I was in the US, new Nazarene missionary team members arrived in Romania. Andre & Brenda Berkhout will be serving as the new coordinators for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Romania. Already in the few days since I’ve returned, we’ve had a handful of really good conversations about what their responsibilities will include as they settle into life in Romania.
 |
| Andre & Brenda Berkhout |
Mark Your Calendars for Home Assignment 2026!
I’m already planning my home assignment for next spring. In March and April 2026, I will be on the Mid-Atlantic, Kansas City, and Florida Districts. If you live in any of those areas and are interested in having me speak at your church, please let me know so I can get you on my schedule! (Click here to view my schedule.)
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Speaking at churches on home assignment raises slightly less than a third of my overall expenses. I rely on support from my home church and regular monthly donors to cover the rest of my expenses. In the past year, I've lost a few of my long-time monthly supporters who have had to discontinue their support. If you would like to support me financially as I minister in Romania, you can click here to make a donation to my deputation account.
 |
| My cat is happy I'm back. |
Having returned to Romania a few days ago, I find myself
recovering quickly from jetlag. I'm feeling an overall sense of refreshment from
the 6 weeks that I spent in the US and am looking forward to jumping back into life and ministry in Romania.
Jonathan Phillips
Pentecost Sunday 2025
Sighișoara, Romania
No comments:
Post a Comment