ABOUT REV JOHN IZVERNARIU
Rev John Izvernariu is vibrant and jovial 60 year old pastor who left the oppressive communist regime of Romania in the late 70's and found freedom in Australia where he was granted political asylum.
With great enthusiasm he led the ministry of Hume Community Baptist Church also known as Dallas Baptist, Melbourne Australia where he was the senior pastor.
Rev John with great enthusiasm and unusual dedication to the work of the ministry, works tirelessly in helping new immigrants to find not only freedom in the newly adopted country, but also significance and spiritual fulfilment as they explore the claims of Christ as Saviour who claimed that the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.
Weekly you'll see cars pulling in at the church in the northern Melbourne suburb of Dallas. From the distance you'll hear discussions in Farsi, Arabic, Albanian and Bangla as well as the occasional English as people from a variety of backgrounds such as Australia, Iran, Arabian Peninsula, Albania and Bangladesh are gathering for a time of spiritual quest as they get together to study the Bible and discuss life in the new country.
Rev John Izvernariu was born in a Baptist family, and attended church regularly with his family until he was 14. After he had been in Australia for some time, he started going through a nervous breakdown that lasted two years. During this time he prayed to the Lord to help him. When the Holy Spirit ministered to him, he dedicated his life to God and to His cause.
Rev John Izvernariu was ordained as Minister in the Grace Romanian Baptist Church, Melbourne in 2001, and as he became more and more involved with the wider communities and the Baptist Union Victoria (BUV), He realised that he needed more skill than he had to be compatible in this particular calling.
John found it to be really challenging to be involved in the wider communities, to be interactive with them and the strength of character, which he achieved during the time he studied with Whitley College and the Baptist Union of Victoria (BUV). One of the hardest things for him in his ministry is the lack of time to do proper pastoral care because he works full-time, studying and have a church to take care of. He always pray to the Lord to give him good health, strength, and righteousness.
Rev John Izvernariu is very close in relationships with the people in the community, church, and always stays and do things within the boundaries of the Holy Bible.
In the last few years many Australian immigrants and refugees found freedom and fulfilled life in Christ and were baptized by Rev John Izvernariu, with new believers professing Christ as their Lord and Saviour at a regular baptism service at the 50 year old Hume Community Church. The heart of the church is greatly expressed in their vision which says that "We will be a church of people who worship God in our everyday lives. In our work, our friendships, our serving... and even our singing! We love God, and we'll work hard to show it in all aspects of our lives". The church's vision is to also make disciples through biblical teaching, constant encouragement, small groups and sticking by each other through the journey. That's what they do as they are encouraging other believers to make disciples of all people as commanded by the Master himself, baptizing them and teaching them obedience to Christ's teachings.
Rev John and his church team holds bible study one night a week at the MITA detention centre in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, Australia. Over the last few years they have averaged number of people in the class, although sometimes it gets so full, sometimes they need to get more chairs and try and make more room. John and his church team has given away lots of bibles in Persian and English, and cannot keep up with the demand.
The group of mainly Iranians, are keen to hear the truth about Christianity and ask a lot of in depth questions. Just some of the questions posed include:
Why didn't Jesus come earlier? What is sin? Can we pray people into heaven who are dead?
The group has studied: Genesis 1-5; Matthew 5-7; Colossians; and Ephesians 3.
The MITA detainees prepares the room with coffee, tea & snacks and John with his team arrives about 7.30pm. Greeted with big hello's, hugs, kisses and spend time asking after their well-being. John gets everyone to pray in their own language and all say Amen. Detainees read the passage in Persian and then John reads in English teaching with the help of an interpreter who is also a detainee learning but does a fantastic job in translating.
With Rev John’s visit to the detention centre weekly, the night always comes together in learning, encouragement and fellowship. John laughs together with them, there are tears and he offers a listening ear. He prays with them after bible study and spend some one on one time for anyone one in need.’
Recently two Iranian men gave their lives to Jesus Christ after coming to the bible study. Rev John took them through some questions and then they said the sinners prayer. Now they are regulars at bible study night as the team will continue to teach them and answer many questions.
With Rev John Izvernariu, the detainees are allowed to come along to church services on a Sunday and this encourages and reinforces study and fellowship. It is a great way for them to integrate into the community and develop relationships with Australians. Hume Community Baptist Church services are becoming more multicultural and two languages are often read at bible reading time.
One of the students who had been attending the group, a young lady from MITA, received a community visa and the Rev John's team helped enrol her into the Transformation Program at Whitley College. Her hunger for the Word and the in depth questions she used to ask prompted Pastor John to then help her enrol in the 3 year course. She and family have continued on at Hume Community Baptist Church, and have been members now for two years. Couples baptised in by Rev John through MITA detention bible study group, have also continued attending the church.
Pastor John concludes ‘we thank God for the opportunity to love and teach others in MITA detention centre and pray that they continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.’
Hume Community Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev John Izvernariu, shows the way to respond to local needs, and inspiring the rest of Victorian Baptist Union church family.
John is an evidence of fruitfulness in growing new believers who made public profession of faith in their journey from the Crescent to the Cross!
In 2008 John was nominated as the Australian of the Year.
John Izvernariu is the Grand Patron of the Melbourne International Peace Concert (MELBPEACE)
John was a former Vice President for the Romanian Community in Australia for ten (10) years.
As an Ambassador for Christ who believes that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, John has travelled to some African countries (Kenya, Rwanda & Uganda) in year 2014 and 2015 to preach and teach Peace, Love, Forgiveness, Repentance and Salvation by baptisting new converts in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Rev John likes interacting with the wider community and for relaxation, he likes Swimming, walking and reading.
For his work for peace building and work in the community, Rev John Izvernariu was in 2016 presented an Award of Recognition and Appreciation at the First Melbourne International Peace Concert by Member of Victorian Parliament - Hon Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins, Amb John Bellavance, Chairman, Victoria Peace Council, Vice-President Universal Peace Federation Australia and Amb Adeniyi Ekine - Founder/National Coordinator Melbourne International Peace Concert (MELBPEACE).
Ambassador for Christ and Ambassador for Christ, Rev John Izvernariu orgaanised and hosted the 1st Melbourne International Christian Ministers and Youth Peace Conference in Australia on 24th September, 2016.
The conference featured exhortation, praise, worship, drama, christian ministers, youth, singles, men, women, asylum seekers, refugees - session and lots more...
There was special intercessory prayers and ministrations by anointed men of God for All Nations, World Leaders, Australia, Widows, Orphans, Asylum Seekers, Refugees and the less privileges.
The special guest of honor and speaker was Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins, MP, Member of Victoria Parliament with Amb John Bellavance, Chairman, Victoria Peace Council, Vice-President Universal Peace Federation Australia
Peace), Chairman Victorian Peace Council, Vice President Universal Peace Council