Gelu Pacurar - Ph.D., Old Testament - Class of 2011
Curricula Vitae
Instructor of Hebrew and Old Testament, 1999-
B.A., Baptist Theological Seminary, Bucharest (1994)
M.A., Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Arad (1996)
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Arad (1999)
S.T.M., Dallas Theological Seminary (2007)
Ph.D. Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis (2011)
Pastor Pacurar served as pastor in six mission churches in the Sammicolau Mare area before accepting a call in 1999 from Sega Baptist Church in Arad, where he is a full-time pastor. As well as teaching in a Bible institute in Timisoara, Gelu has taught for Central Baptist Theological Seminary since 1999.
Gelu and his wife, Fanica, have two children: Filip and Daria. Besides his family, his primary interest is reading theology and history. He enjoys working with computer hardware and software.
A Word from Gelu
Earning the M.Div. at the Romanian extension of Central Seminary was a great opportunity for me. The time spent studying in the classroom and the library was a blessing in many ways. First, I had the opportunity to know and to listen to good teachers who were prepared to answer my questions, being examples to me of what a teacher should be. Then, I was blessed by the lessons and courses which were challenging and systematic in their perspective. I am also thankful to God for all the books, study tools, lexicons, and class notes that I have gained for my personal library as reference materials for my sermon preparation and teaching ministry. It is my conviction that as many pastors as possible from our country should benefit from such a preparation for ministry.
In 1999, I welcomed the invitation to teach at the Romanian extension of Central Baptist Theological Seminary. I have great joy in knowing that I can be useful for the education of pastors and students throughout Romania, and I consider the seminary teaching ministry an honor and privilege. In connection with this, my best educational experience has come through the opportunity to study in the Ph.D. program at Central Seminary. Though challenging, the intensive, hard work required for this level of study has yielded for me an ability to discern new areas critical for theology in Romania—and the competence to explore them. The Old Testament in particular has become even more interesting to me. It is deep, and worthy of the long hours of reading, writing papers, and preparing for exams. I can testify that this period of study has been a blessing in my life, even though it has come in conjunction with hard work on my part. The Ph.D. degree contributes to the credibility and reputation of the Romanian extension. I myself have confidence that I am now better prepared for the teaching ministry here, and I have come to anticipate each teaching session in Romania with higher expectations and goals.
There are many theological, philosophical, and social influences coming into our country. Pastors must base their ministry on the authority of the Bible so that they will be well prepared both theologically and spiritually for the ministry. Not only has Central Baptist Theological Seminary responded to our need for preparing pastors fully equipped to work in Romanian churches. It has also underwritten the expenses for placing credentialed Romanian instructors in the seminary. May God bless the ministry of Central Seminary for its dedication to helping the work of God in Romania.
Marius Birgean - Ph.D., Historical Theology - Class of 2013
Curricula Vitae
Instructor of Historical Theology 1999-
B.A., Baptist Theological Seminary, Bucharest (1994)
M.A., Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Arad (1996)
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Arad (1999)
Pastor Birgean makes his home in Timisoara, the starting place of the revolution that led to the demise of the Romanian Communist regime in 1989. Timisoara is one of the largest cities in Romania and an important university center. It features a diverse ethnic and religious atmosphere with a strong evangelical and Baptist presence. Marius has served as teaching pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Timisoara, Romania since 1994. In addition to his pastoral and graduate-level teaching ministries, Marius also teaches at Timisoara Baptist Bible Institute, which offers basic theological training for missionaries, pastors, and laypeople.
Marius and Alina have three children: Rebeca, Debora and Michael. Besides family, his primary interests are reading,writing and traveling.
A Word from Marius
What some might call an "accident" has proven to be a "divine appointment" and one of the greatest blessings in my life. In the month of February 1995, after only three months of ministry in my home church, I heard about the work of Central Seminary in Arad while visiting a pastor friend for an evangelistic meeting. Enrolling in the M.A. program without delay, I became immersed in a whole new and exciting world of theological study. I had never encountered anything quite like this. The depth of the theological expertise of my teachers, the seriousness of their approach to handling the Word of God, their mature character and spirituality—these left an indelible mark upon me. I determined that I should study as best I could, so that I might serve my congregation and equip other servants of God in a similar fashion. I continued, therefore, with the M.Div.
The challenges of biblical ministry in an urban setting, plus the teaching opportunities at two Bible schools, soon demonstrated the input of Central Seminary to be vital for my personal, academic and ministerial work. The abundance of books, study tools—a plethora of theologically sound resources—have also become priceless over time. Nevertheless, after engaging the task of theological instruction at the graduate level, I soon realized my own need for yet more theological training. I deemed it essential to acquire a research Ph.D., and found support for this objective in Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis. Both I and my congregation consider the opportunity to pursue Ph.D. studies under the sponsorship of Central Seminary a God-given privilege and opportunity. In turn, we hope to be a source of blessing for others, in all ministry venues that lie ahead.
Sergiu Dobre - Ph.D., Systematic Theology - Class of 2013
Curricula Vitae
Instructor of Systematic Theology 2000-
B.A., Emanuel Bible Institute, Oradea (1996)
M.A., Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Arad (1997)
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Arad (1999)
Born in Turda, Transylvania, in 1969 into a nominal Greek–Orthodox family, Pastor Dobre has been living in Hateg since 1993. He came to know the Lord in 1988 and was baptized in April 1989 before the fall of communism in Romania. In 1990 he left for Great Britain where he was challenged to study theology by a friend providing lodging. Sergiu developed an immediate and serious interest in theology. This confirmed for Sergiu a personal call to Christian ministry. After returning to Romania in 1992 he pastored his home church in Petrosani, only to leave for Hateg next year where he began pastoring six village churches belonging to the Salasu de Sus Baptist Circuit. Seventeen years later he still pastors five of them.
Besides shepherding God's beloved flock in the mountain villages of southwestern Romania, Sergiu is co-founder of a Bible college in the city of Deva, 35 miles from Hateg, where he was involved for more than 10 years. In 1997 he started a charity, Philadelphia-DSM, aimed at meeting the material and spiritual needs of a large number of struggling families in and around Hateg. Key components of the growing charity include Philadelphia House, a home for abandoned children, and the prospect of a home for elderly people, both in the village of Salasu de Sus.
Married in 1992, Sergiu and Monica have two sons: Denis Manuel and Alexis Andreas. Second to God, Sergiu's other loves include family, the churches he has been pastoring for 17 years, reading, and traveling.
A Word from Sergiu
The year was 1996. I had determined to emigrate to Canada, and I was in the very last stages of preparing to leave Romania. God's Holy Spirit, however, divinely interrupted this plan, taking me completely by surprise. For at this very time I just happened to visit a pastor friend in Turda, and just happened to notice some really good books in his library. As an avid reader I immediately interrogated him about the source of such literary bounty. I was told that if I desired such blessings I should get in touch with Beny Costea, a pastor from Arad, who was running the Romanian branch of a very reputable American seminary. Somehow, albeit hesitantly and skeptical about my chances, I decided to pursue this lead. Suddenly I found myself abandoning Canada for Romania and the ministry of Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis in Arad. In addition to the books I had wanted so badly, I found equally important benefits: a friendly environment, top teaching from great American professors, and a healthy dose of real Christian fellowship.
After graduating in 1999 I was honored to be invited to teach for Central Seminary, Arad, an opportunity that has proved invaluable for ministry. Involvement in seminary education as both student and teacher has provided a unique opportunity to ponder critical theological issues. This has resulted in a crystallization of my own theological beliefs, and the ability to articulate them with greater precision. Coupled with this, I have enjoyed many opportunities for greater theological influence upon my parishioners as well as pastor friends from the Hunedoara Baptist Association. I am truly grateful that Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis has seen fit to bring me under the auspices of its Romanian Faculty Sponsorship. I consider it a privilege to study for the Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Central Seminary. In addition to providing credentials for teaching in Arad, this Ph.D. degree adds substantial credibility for furthering the cause of premillennial dispensationalism in the predominantly amillennial and covenantalist Romanian theological milieu.