Lancaster pastor safe during her imprisonment in Romanian jail

[TomSea]

Lancaster pastor safe during her imprisonment in Romanian jail
    EARLE CORNELIUS | Staff Writer Feb 4, 2017

This is all you need to know about Luminitza Cristecu Nichols’ faith: She was willing to die for it.

A former nurse, she is the first native-born female Romanian Baptist pastor in the world. On Feb. 26, the 46-year-old will become the first female pastor at First Baptist Church in Lancaster. The church is affiliated with the American Baptist Church, which has long ordained women.

Frank Kautz, moderator for First Baptist Church and a member of the church’s selection committee, said her passion impressed the committee.

She preached a sermon at the church on Jan. 22 and answered questions from the congregation. It was during that session that members first learned about her unique story and deep faith.

Present-day Romania is a member of both NATO and the European Union. It has a democratically elected government. But in 1989, the country was ruled by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Among the many repressive laws in Romania at that time was one that made it a crime to own a Bible — a book that is central to her life.

A fateful day

Nichols’ story begins on the day her life nearly ended — Dec. 16, 1989. ...

Continued: http://lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/her-faith-and-her-bible-kept-a-lancaster-pastor-safe/article_668dd198-ea4c-11e6-ae61-43186af87505.html