Mid-America Partners with Romanian Seminary, Offers PhD Scholarships

Nicolae Ceaușescu was the general secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989. During his reign of terror, Christians experienced persecution and martyrdom for their faith in Christ. Finally, the Romanian people rose up and overthrew the tyrant and his communist regime. Ceaușescu and his wife were executed December 25, 1989.

The next year, Emanuel Bible Institute was founded by Biserica Baptista Emanuel Oradea of Oradea, Romania. The underground school emerged from secrecy and developed into a fully accredited university.

Emanuel University of Oradea is the largest accredited conservative university in Europe and the only one accredited. The school awards bachelor and master’s degrees and has over 2,500 graduates in 39 countries.

Dr. Paul Negrut cofounded the university in 1990 and serves as the Rector of Emanuel University as well as co-pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Oradea. Often called “the Billy Graham of Europe,” Dr. Negrut is an accomplished scholar and preacher. He has penned numerous books and articles and has served as President of the Romanian Baptist Union and as President of the Romanian Evangelical Alliance. Above all, he has a passion to train men and women to share Christ with a lost world.

Dr. Negrut and Emanuel University have a long history with Mid-America. Dr. B. Gray Allison spoke at Oradea years ago, and Dr. Michael Spradlin spent time teaching and preaching there last fall. Mid-America will provide Doctor of Philosophy courses to current Emanuel University faculty so that they may, in turn, begin a new fully-accredited Master of Divinity program. This will better enable these fine evangelical leaders to teach and preach the word of God in Romania and beyond and fulfill our ongoing mission “to all the world for Jesus’ sake.”