Thirty Years of Friendship
Our connection with Romania stretches back over thirty years, when we were first introduced to the Andronic family — Mircea & Felicia Andronic, who lived in the north-eastern city of Bacau with their seven children: Daniel, Daniela, Cornel, Cornelia, Simon, Simona and Marcel. They were faithful members of the local Baptist church, and we visited them regularly — often two or three times a year.
Mircea was both a pastor and a missionary. Joining him on visits to the churches he had planted across the surrounding area gave us a window into a world of quiet, resilient faith. One of those church plants began in a farmer's house in a village called Calin — and that small gathering eventually grew into the Baptist church ofSatu-Nou.
Mircea and Felicia have since passed on to glory, and their children are now spread across the world. But Simon Andronic — one of those seven children — became the pastor of the very church his father planted. He now leads it alongside his wife Oana, and the work continues to grow.
A Village in Need
Satu-Nou is a very poor village. Most homes are heated by wood-burning stoves that double as the family cooker. Many are still built the old-fashioned way — walls of clay and cow-dung bricks, strengthened with branches woven through them. For many families, fresh water means a walk of more than a quarter of a mile to the nearest well.
Many parents travel away for work, leaving children to look after themselves — a situation that brings real risks of abuse and neglect. When some of the men do find labouring work locally, they are sometimes paid in alcohol rather than money. Simon recounted the story of a young boy who turned up at church drunk — a sobering reminder of the pressures the community faces.
Despite all of this, the church in Satu-Nou is a genuine beacon of hope — offering community, dignity and the love of Christ to a village that badly needs it.
The Dental Mission & Our Team
During our August 2022 visit — with Mick, Lorraine, Brooke Smith and Micah Powell — a dentistry mission team arrived for a week and ran a free clinic in the village school. This team, led by Simon's brother-in-law Daniel and Simon's sister Cornelia (who live in America), has served the community for the last three years running. The clinic is open to all surrounding villages, not just Satu-Nou, and is full almost every day.
Brooke and Micah helped at the clinic, taking blood pressure readings as adults signed in. Lorraine got stuck in too — helping nurses prepare free hygiene bags (toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss) for patients on their way out, and spending most days cleaning and sterilising the drills and equipment used for fillings and extractions.
Once the week in Satu-Nou was complete, the team moved on to a further week of dental mission in Moldova — a remarkable commitment.
Children, School & Casa Andrei
Brooke and Micah also spent time with girls from the village during the visit — playing games, doing their hair, and simply being present. The girls came back most days, especially when they knew food was around. It was a simple but powerful expression of care in a community where many children go unnoticed.
Because of the village's remote location, getting to secondary school is a genuine challenge. The nearest option is in Bacau — roughly an hour away. Simon runs a sponsorship programme where supporters fund a child's weekly accommodation in Bacau so they can attend school Monday to Friday. He also arranges extra tuition on Monday evenings, because the standard of primary education in these villages leaves a lot to be desired.23 children from surrounding villages are currently on this programme. Simon takes them in on Sunday evenings and collects them again on Friday.
Opposite the church in Satu-Nou, a house is nearing completion that will serve as a home for vulnerable children from the village. It has been named Casa Andrei — after the first boy who will live there. Hope Community Church aims to help support and run this house alongside Simon and Oana as this becomes possible.
Ministries in Satu-Nou
- Baptist church led by Simon & Oana Andronic
- Annual dental mission clinic (open to all surrounding villages)
- School sponsorship for 23 children from remote villages
- Casa Andrei — a new home for vulnerable children
- After-school tutoring and pastoral care for sponsored students
A Long Road, Still Walking
We have been visiting this village for many years, and long may it continue. Romania holds a deep place in our hearts — a place where we have seen resilience, warmth, and the grace of God at work in the most unexpected circumstances.
We pray that we can be a genuine help in some way, as God continues to work out his purposes through Simon & Oana in Satu-Nou. The needs are real and the challenges are many — but so is the hope.
— Simon & Oana
Please Pray for Romania
- For Simon & Oana as they lead the church and serve the whole village community
- For the 23 sponsored children — that education opens doors and changes their futures
- For the completion of Casa Andrei and for wisdom in running a home for vulnerable children
- For protection for children left at home while parents work away
- For the annual dental mission team — for health, provision and continued impact
- For Mick, Lorraine and the team as they plan future visits and support from the UK
- For the church in Satu-Nou to be a place of safety and hope for the whole village
Partner With the Work in Romania
Whether through prayer, sponsoring a child's schooling, or supporting the Casa Andrei children's home, there are meaningful ways to stand with Simon & Oana in Satu-Nou. Get in touch with Mick or the church office to find out more.
Contact Mick & Lorraine
- Phone:01455 233798
- Email:info@hopecc.org.uk
Contact the church office and ask about the Romania mission — we'll put you in touch with Mick & Lorraine directly.
Sponsor a Child's Schooling
Simon's programme funds weekly boarding in Bacau so children from remote villages can attend secondary school. Your support gives a young person a future they would not otherwise have.
Find Out More →Support Casa Andrei
Casa Andrei — named after the first boy who will live there — is a home for vulnerable children from the village, nearing completion opposite the church. Hope Community Church is committed to helping support this work alongside Simon & Oana.
Get Involved →