The Team

Vasile and Cristina Holerga.
Vasile and Cristina became Christians while Vasile was completing his Degree in Economics at Bucharest University . Turning his back on a possibly lucrative commercial career, Vasile followed the Lord's direction into full-time children's ministry. Serving as an elder at Bethany Baptist Church , Fagaras, he established a successful work into Romanian orphanages and nearby deprived villages.

As this work developed into leadership training and camp ministry, Vasile and Cristina had the vision for a residential training centre for young people who would otherwise have no opportunity for further education or training. Vasile became co-founder of the charitable trust Horizon of Hope. At the moment he and Cristina are house parents/directors of a boys home in Cisnadie, Sibiu prior to the opening of the Horizon of Hope facility.

Vasile is the President of Horizon of Hope and will oversee all areas of the training program with especial emphasis and responsibility for the spiritual training and development. Vasile and family will live in the staff quarters and serve as the host family to 18-20 young men and women.

John and Pauline England
John, a New Zealander and Pauline from England were married in 1967.Originally training as a craftsman plumber and heating engineer, John soon followed his interest in helping young people .He gained qualifications in Social Welfare and ran a government foster home for teenagers on police remand. Pauline was a trained teacher. Their work and faith led them both into training for the ministry and after pastoring a church in New Zealand , they left in 1989 for Europe as missionaries working in Belgium , Germany and Luxembourg . They are international directors for the New Zealand mission “The European Evangelical Mission” (TEEM) and have been involved in church planting and support ministries. John also served as government appointed Prison Chaplain in Belgium for 14 years.

In 1991, John and Pauline visited Romania and were dismayed to see the conditions in the orphanages and Romanian villages. In conjunction with Bethany Baptist Church , Fagaras, they have worked for several months each year helping to develop ministries in these areas. They are now residents in Romania . Concerned about the lack of education and opportunities for young people in Romanian villages and orphanages, John and Pauline had a vision for a residential youth training centre. Together with Vasile Holerga who had an almost identical vision, they co-founded Horizon of Hope especially to cater for deprived youth needing life skills, work training and most importantly - spiritual direction. John is the vice-President of Horizon of Hope.

Petry and Kyle Groza
Petry and Kyle live in Fagaras with their daughter, Lydia. They play an active role in Bethany Baptist Church, where Petry’s father serves as lead pastor. Kyle, an American, worked as a Christian school teacher in Dallas, Texas, for five years before becoming a full-time missionary. After two summers volunteering in Romania, Kyle decided to make it her home when she and her translator, Petry, fell in love and married in 2003. Kyle and Petry previously volunteered with the Romanian Chapel Project. Kyle currently works with the youth in their church and teaches English to neighborhood children. Petry volunteers extensively with the church youth as well as children in nearby villages, and he leads the church choir. At Horizon of Hope, Petry handles all administrative responsibilities, and Kyle will serve as a teacher. The Grozas are volunteers for Horizon of Hope who are supported as missionaries by various individuals and church groups. They are also working on setting up a 501(c)(3) organization in the US with the same name, Horizon of Hope - Wisconsin.

Board of Members
Vasile Holerga, Romania
John and Pauline England, New Zealand
Petry and Kyle Groza, Romania and United States
Marcel Ratoiu, Romania
Mihai Gherlit, Romania
Mugur Pastin, Romania
Liviu Rosca, Canada