Romanian Orphan Ministries, Inc. functions legally in Romania through our non-profit organization there, The Agape Association. Through the Agape Association we are able to train nationals to work with orphans.

Currently the Agape Association consists of four full-time employees and several volunteers - plus Corey and Diana Burba (see American Team link) when they are in Romania. Corey is the President of the Agape Association as well as of ROM.

These team members in Romania are on the front lines everyday, fighting for the souls of the orphans we minister to. Please read more about them below!

 Cristi Lazea - Director

Hi there,

My name is Cristi Lazea. I was born on December 28, 1983 in Oradea, Romania and I have lived here my whole life. I've been married since June 4, 2005 with my wife, Raluca, and together we are members in our local church LOGOS. I was saved and baptized when I was 14 at Emanuel Baptist Church, and by the time I got married me and Raluca decided to pick LOGOS Church as our home church.

I'm studying economics, and I'm looking forward to becoming a licensed accountant. I've been working at AGAPE since December of 2006 and my responsibilities include: office manager, bookkeeper, leading bible class, leading all the boys activities together with Corey, supervising all the activities when Corey isn't around, mechanic and plumber when needed and a couple of other things.

I enjoy a lot working with kids and I feel like there's a natural connection between us. I love to sing and to play the guitar, and together with my wife we serve on the praise and worship team at our church. I absolutely enjoy all that has to do with sports: soccer, American football, volleyball, hiking and pretty much all outdoor activities, ping pong, tennis, basketball and so on. I enjoy life and I like challenges.

 Andreea Ile - Beauty from Ashes Center Director

My name is Andreea Ile and I'm 23 years old.

A couple of months before I graduated from the University of Oradea with a Psychology degree in my pocket, God unexpectedly gave me a great gift: I was hired to work with a group of people which I soon began to see as family, the unreached orphans in Romania. Sometimes (read often) our work with the orphans seems overwhelming, too hard, fruitless, but deep down inside I know that any sacrifice is worth the price because God loved us first and His heart is for these orphans forgotten by parents, relatives and society.

I have a brother, Beni, with whom I live here in Oradea. He's 19 and he is studying computers. Our parents live in a village 47 kilometers away. One of the reasons I consider myself deeply blessed is my family. Through my parents I discovered the true happiness of following the Lord. After that, God gave me a house group, in which my growth began because I started to love the Bible, to live the true friendship in Christ, a real fellowship with my brothers and sisters. Since then (10 years ago), our Lord, the church, and being useful to others have become my passions.

I know that I am here because He wants me here and He put me here. I began my work as a counselor for social reintegration and now I am blessed by being the "Beauty from Ashes Center" Director. I love kids, reading, and doing almost everything with my dearest friends. I love nature, taking photos, editing a magazine (I'm chief editor for my church's magazine), driving, visiting new places. I love adventure. I love spending time with God and with my fellow Christians! I love living my day from His perspective!

 Jennie Giurgila - Volunteer

My name is Jennie and I am from Simi Valley, CA.  I was born on October 31, 1984 in San Diego, California.  I grew up in a Christian family attending church every Sunday and various other church activities throughout the week.  I would say that I was saved at the age of 5 and even though that seems awfully young I truly believe at that age I understood that Jesus loves me and that He died for me and I knew that I wanted to live in Heaven with him.  My relationship with God has always been a process, a journey.  And sometimes on this journey I am on the right track and the way is clear and other times I am lost and in need of a push in the right direction.  I'm sure almost every Christian can relate to this. 

As long as I can remember, I've always had an interest in traveling and learning about other countries.  Though if I am honest, I don't think my intention was always to live overseas.  I thought it would be nice to travel here and there and to spread the gospel on my travels.  Since coming to Romania for the first time in the summer of 2003, I have known that the Lord has put on my heart the Romanian people, especially the orphans. I returned to Romania every summer from 2003 until 2005 and in the summer of 2006 I decided to take the next step and move to Romania to work full time with the kids. My responsibilities at Agape include teaching English, helping with Bible Studies, and most recently working at the "Beauty from Ashes Center" teaching Math and helping the girls with their educational, physical, social, and spiritual development.  The thing I love most about working at Agape is developing personal relationships with the girls and seeing how God uses me to make changes in their lives. 

I have been married since July of 2008 to my husband Cristi who I met at the church we both attend here in Romania.  I am a Psychology student at Liberty University through their Distance Learning program and I hope one day to work as a marriage and family counselor.  My husband and I attend Salem Christian Church, where we are also a part of a group for young married couples.  I enjoy reading and learning new things as well as spending time with my husband and our friends and family.