IEREMIA RUSU | Co-director
Serving in Romania, Ieremia has observed the cultural shifts and dynamics of a changing Europe as reflected in his own story.
Though raised in a Christian family, he was educated in the atheistic system established by the communist government. This was a system that led Romania and other Eastern Bloc countries to become secularized societies where the “established” Church was primarily cultural, if anything.
This educational training and societal environment would initially cause Ieremia to reject the faith of his parents. However, at the age of 16, he became convinced that it was the educators who were teaching the lie about God and that the truth was, in fact, found in the life and message of Jesus Christ. This truth profoundly impacted Ieremia’s life and future.
While working as a computer engineer, he began to study theology through the underground (Romania was still communist at that time) with seminary professors sent by the Eastern European Seminary of Vienna, Austria. During this time Ieremia was being prepared for an influential work that would come when Romania was no longer a communist State.
This work began in 1991, two years after the fall of communism, when Ieremia quit his job as a computer engineer in order to help establish the Timotheus Bible Institute in Bucharest where he serves as the Dean of Education. In addition to his efforts at the Bible Institute, Ieremia also helped Radio Voice of the Gospel set up seven Christian radio stations in Romania.
Another important chapter in Ieremia’s ministry occurred in 1995, when he was sent by his denomination to the United States, to be trained in the area of cult awareness and countercult apologetics.
For three months, he received intensive training in these areas, primarily under the instruction of Bob Waldrep.
With this educational training, he returned to Romania to help establish a much needed ministry in apologetics and theological education. Since that time Ieremia continued to receive periodic training from Bob and has implemented this into his efforts in Romania. One area where he does this is the Timotheus Bible Institute where he has added, and teaches, courses in apologetics (including new errors and heresies), systematic theology, and the history and philosophy of the world religions.
Though his home is in Romania, Ieremia has traveled and spoken in several European Countries and in India. His travels help him to have a good understanding of the cultural trends not only impacting his own countries but those that surround him, as well.
Through the Bible Institute, the Church, and in his everyday life, Ieremia uses this knowledge to engage, and train others how to engage, the European culture with the truth of the gospel.
