Born in Braila as the third child in a family with a reach evangelical heritage, where everyone in the last three generations had a personal relationship with the Lord, Mihai received a Christian education ever since his childhood. His parents offered him, in those difficult times under communism a model of authentic living, close to Christ, while his grandparents were those who planted the Word of God in his mind and heart, and also in the hearts and minds of his brother and sister, at their early age.
As a teenager, not being able to fit in the local church because he lacked the service gifts that were “trendy” at that time, Mihai takes the path of a prodigal son. After a few years spent on the edge that separates the world from the church, without feeling that he fully belongs to either one of these realms, Mihai experiences a dramatic turn to God, facilitated by a sermon about Eutychus, delivered by the local church preacher. It was an insight from the Holy Spirit that revealed to him that being on the edge between the two kingdoms he is at the most vulnerable of all places. He already felt that, as those in the world were rejecting him because of his family background, and those in the church keeping him at a convenient distance due to his sinuous path. Finding himself in this place, Mihai took a lot of kicks and punches from both sides and in the night of December 27, 1986, touched by the verses he just heard, he realized that he had to make an urgent and clear choice: either, or. So he chose God! At that time, he was studying engineering at the University of Galati, where he graduated from in 1988.
In the meanwhile Mihai had an encounter he labeled as “divine”, with Gelu Paul, who was leading at that time an Evangelical student movement in Timi?oara, movement that developed clandestinely, both from the oppressive regime and from the official church. They developed a long-distance discipleship and mentoring relationship, extremely beneficial, and their collaboration continued up to present, Mihai being one of those who, since 1996, formed the core of visionaries that later would facilitate the birth of BIG (Churches with Global Impact).
In more than two decades of walking with God he allowed God to use him in different jobs: journalism, mission, church planting, charity, business, systems’ initiations, lobby for religious freedom, etc.
He experienced big challenges, victories and failures, serious health problems and unspeakable blessings in his life. But the journey with God goes on! Almost since the very beginning, he had Ana next to him, with whom he has been married for 19 years, having a son, Bogdan, who is 17.
Mihai is one of BIG Impact Foundation’s founders and serves in the leadership board as its communication department coordinator.
We live in a world with a dynamic of change beyond our parents imagination. Despite a historic anchoring in religious tradition, our (...)