Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest, in southern Romania, is a cultural melting pot for many European nations; Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Poland, Czech Republic, and Sweden. Bucharest in recent years has also seen an influx of expatriates from Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan, China, and South Korea. Bucharest is the country's capital and commercial center. Its iconic landmark is the massive, communist-era Palatul Parlamentului government building, which has 1,100 rooms. Nearby, the historic Lipscani district is home to Eastern Orthodox Stavropoleos Church and 15th-century Curtea Veche Palace, where Prince Vlad III (“The Impaler”) once ruled.

Meet Out Missionaries

I (Lewis) am an elementary education graduate of Western Michigan University where my focus was on kindergarten thru eighth grade, with an emphasis on Social Studies, Language Arts as well as a serious side interest in Science. I am first and foremost a believer in Jesus Christ, a devoted husband to my wife Jessica, loving father of three boys (Caeleb, Micah, Joseph), a slow runner and a movie aficionado. This will be my family’s fifth school year serving at Bucharest Christian Academy in Bucharest, Romania where I serve as the 5th & 6th Grade classroom teacher as well as middle school history teacher. Jessica (my wife) is a graduate of Hope College, with an education degree focused on dance education and religion. During our time in Romania Jessica has served our school as youth protection advocate, senior seminar advisor, 3rd & 4th grade classroom teacher and will continue her role this year as our schools’ elementary principal.

Jessica and I began serving on short-term missions together in Hungary in 2013, which ultimately landed our family in Romania in the fall of 2017 with the purpose of teaching and sharing the good news of the gospel with young people. Our school, Bucharest Christian Academy (BCA), provides a quality education from a Biblical worldview seeking to prepare students academically, spiritually and emotionally to face challenges inside and outside of the classroom. Our goal is to equip students to influence the world through Christ-centered thoughts, character and action.

How is this site strategic?

Bucharest Christian Academy was founded a little over 25 years ago to help meet the need of missionaries who came to Romania and were forced to divide their time between homeschooling and ministry work. Our schools’ presence helps ensure parents have the time necessary to focus on the work that God has called them to do. The school also presents opportunity for outreach in our own classrooms as we welcome students from the international community who desire to learn English. Romania sits as a gateway between Europe and Asia.