Bethel Fall-2017-Magazine

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Fall 2017
As manager of Grace Christian School in Lagoj, Romania,
Emanuel Olariu ’08 has seen the power of lives transformed
through Christian education. He helped start the school with just
32 students after graduating from Bethel. Nine years later, the
school has grown to 430 students – from preschool to eighth
grade – and 80 staff members.
“My dream was to leave a legacy, to leave something after
I am gone that can magnify God’s glory in our community
and improve the lives of those that come into contact with
this project,” Olariu says. “I never dreamed this dream would
become a Christian school.” Olariu grew up on the mission field
in Romania, which is still recovering after 50 years of communist
oppression. He watched his father, who served as the director
of Percept Ministries in Eastern Europe, plant churches, build
buildings, start a kindergarten and begin renovations on the old
Jewish school that would become Grace Christian School.
It was through Percept Ministries that Olariu first heard about
Bethel College, when Professor Dennis Engbrecht, Ph.D., led a
Bethel task force team to assist in the construction of the Euro
Asia Precept Ministries Bible Training Center.
Olariu came to Bethel to study business administration, but
added another major in economics and finance because of the
impact Associate Professor Aaron Schavey, Ph.D., had on him.
“Studying business, I realized the importance of a long-term
investment and I understood that this is what a school really is …
a long-term investment in the community where God has placed
us to live.”
Grace Christian School is the only private school in Lagoj and is
accredited by the Romanian Ministry of Education. They focus on
academic excellence from an evangelical Christian perspective.
Some of the most influential families in Lagoj send their children
to Grace. But, Olariu emphasizes, this is not the school’s goal.
“Our main goal is to introduce Jesus to each child and parent
that comes our way. Our
mission is to create the best
environment so that the children
that God entrusted to us can
grow spiritually, intellectually,
physically and socially.”
So far, Olariu has not turned
any child away, and about one-
third of students receive some
sort of financial assistance.
“I started this project praying that God would help us give
a chance for a better education to any parent who wants to
educate their child in an institution that is founded, guided and
motivated by Christian principles,” Olariu explains.
He relies on God’s provision to make budget each month. Half
of operational costs are covered by tuition; the rest by generous
sponsors.
“This project was and continues to be a miracle [and] it is
impossible not to associate it with faith,” Olariu says.
Renovations are nearing completion on an old Catholic school
that will become the middle school. His next big project is the
exterior, which will require significant funding. Olariu also has
dreams of building a high school and someday, even a college.
“Education does not only open doors, it also opens minds,”
Olariu says. “Christian Education can open the doors of Heaven
for the students of Lugoj,” says Olariu.
“My dreamwas to leave a legacy, to leave something
after I amgone that canmagnify God’s glory in our
community and improve the lives of those that come
into contact with this project.”
“I currently use this school
as a model inmy Problems
and Issues in Society class
of addressing poverty
alleviation – spiritual,
relational andmaterial
poverty. Bethel’s investment
[in Emmanuel’s life] is
bringing long-termdividends
for the Kingdom.”
Dennis Engbrecht, Ph.D.,
Professor of History
IMPACT ON
THE BETHEL
CLASSROOM
LEFT: EMANUEL OLARIU ’08 FOLLOWED GOD’S CALL TO OPEN GRACE
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN LAGOJ, ROMANIA, AFTER HIS GRADUATION FROM
BETHEL. RIGHT: STUDENTS AT GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL PRAY BEFORE
LUNCH INSIDE THE FULLY RENOVATED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
Learn more and watch a video about Grace Christian School
at