Buckner in Romania

  • Buckner began its ministry in Romania in 1996 after Romanian officials sought Buckner’s expertise to help overcome mounting problems in the country’s orphanages. Buckner staff realized they had a unique opportunity to use their child care and social services knowledge to make a difference to the orphan children in Romania.
    Buckner services and country support include:
    • Four group homes with ongoing financial assistance and humanitarian aid such as shoes and socks
    • Large-scale orphanage renovations and emergency needs.
    • Staff to coordinate emergency relief and humanitarian aid efforts with Romanian Child Protective Services in Targu Mures region
    • A weekly follow-up ministry provided by volunteers for the four group homes, a day care center for homeless children and an orphanage of special needs babies and children.
    • Grandmothers program employing Christian “grandmothers” working in the special needs baby and toddler orphanage
    • A Child Development Center in Târnaveni, a primarily Gypsy community.


Make a Child Feel Special on His or Her Birthday

  • Individual recognition is also an important part of building spirit within a person and our birthday recognition program is designed to be a celebration of a child’s life. While the child is recognized on their special day, it is the whole group that celebrates. Having peers acknowledge their birthday makes the day even more special to a child who has not had many opportunities to be recognized and to feel special. Birthday cake and a small gift highlight the day, but it is the pride which begins to blossom inside that makes this day a celebration. You can send a birthday card to each child listed and know that you are making a difference to the life of a young child who needs the love that we can give them. Also, keep each of the precious children in your prayers for the month they are celebrating their birthdays. Pray that the Holy Spirit may open their heart to the ministry that God has laid upon the hearts of those involved with Go Therefore Orphan Ministry.
     
    Please mail all cards to:
    Buckner International Foundation
    Str. B.P. Hasdeu, Nr. 19
    540164, Targu-Mures
    Romania

 

Upcoming Birthdays

Rada - May 5
Klara - May 12
Claudia - May 15
Piri - May 24
Cristina - May 27
Gabi - May 27
Tereza - May 28
Daniela - June 4
Simona - June 7
Hoini - June 25

Programs

Support a Future Transitional Program in Romania

Education. Family support. Healthy relationships. Life for teenage children, young adults and single parents is challenging enough, but without these traditional means of support, it can be difficult. Transitional ministries are a response to children at a fragile time in their lives and Go Therefore Orphan Ministry’s number one goal in 2008 is to see one started in Romania. Through Buckner International, Go Therefore seeks to help orphans and at-risk children transition from the structured environment of orphanages or foster care to independent living. Trained staff and follow-up teams provide mentoring and assistance, and teach living skills, money management, housing and transportation management, personal skills, health and assist young people in planning for their future. Help us be a part of Buckner International’s transitional programs. Our goal is to start a transitional home in the Targu Mures area, primarily to support orphans from the Zau Home, in 2009.

 

Other Programs

Give Shoes for Orphan Souls

Each year, Go Therefore Orphan Ministry works in conjunction with Buckner International’s Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive and a local Christian radio station to collect shoes for the orphans of the world. This past year, Go Therefore collected 522 pairs of shoes, 562 pairs of socks, along with shoestrings and monetary funds to assist in the shipping of shoes to kids throughout the world including the United States. This part of the ministry opens the doors to reach kids by meeting a physical need…new shoes. The Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive is an integral part of the ongoing ministry of Go Therefore and is an integral ministry to the children of Romania. For more information about hosting a drive in Illinois or Ohio, click here to contact us or for more information on the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls drive visit the Shoes for Orphan Souls web site.

 

Go on a Mission Trip through Buckner International

Go Therefore Orphan Ministry works through Buckner to provide opportunities for individual Christians and groups to travel to Romania to minister personally to orphan children. Buckner provides the trip logistics, coordination, translators and travel planning to give you time to focus on showing your love and care to the children. For more information on Go Therefore Orphan Ministry mission trips to Romania, contact us at info@gothereforeorphanministry.org or to learn more about Buckner mission trips, visit www.itsyourmission.com.

 

Romanian Foster Care

Foster Care is a great alternative to institutionalized care, providing orphan children with a home setting with good care standards. Go Therefore Orphan Ministry and Buckner support foster families in Romania through humanitarian aid, training and other support.
 

 

Weekly Visits by Christian ‘Follow-up Teams’

Part of the ongoing ministry of Go Therefore Orphan Ministry and Buckner is the weekly visitation of orphans by Buckner Follow-up Teams. These weekly visits by skilled, Christian program directors are imperative to the development of social skills for these young adults. The developed program addresses the issues these kids face such as drugs and sex, abandonment and emotional needs and points them to a spiritual life through Christ. The impact of these visits will be seen in the future as the kids learn to live a life outside of the orphanage system.

 

The Christmas Program at Zau Orphanage

Everyone enjoys the Christmas season for different reasons. It may be the white snow that covers the ground, the caroling, or maybe the Christmas lights. Whatever the reason, the children in orphanages throughout the world seldom see the joy the Christmas season brings. Go Therefore Orphan Ministry is committed to show the children in the Zau Orphanage in Romania the joy that comes in the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Caroling and opening of gifts, selected for these precious children, are now part of the Christmas experience for the Zau Orphanage. GTOM funds the Christmas celebration through gifts given by the supporters of this ministry
 

Vacation Bible School Camp

Summer is a time away from school and a time for play. Go Therefore Orphan Ministry and Buckner host a summer Bible school camp for all of the kids from the Zau Orphanage and the Targu Mures area. The camp is designed to make the children think about their relationship with God. Exposure to Bible stories over a week gives the kids a chance to bond spiritually with the volunteers from the United States as well as God. The 2007 slogan for the camp was “Celebrating John 3:16.” Focusing the camp on a single verse of Scripture was an easy way for the kids to understand the importance of their relationship with Christ. In addition to providing a camp experience for the kids, we also provided a way for volunteers to be the hands, feet, and voice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.