In 2009, YWAM Romania celebrate the 10th anniversary of a ministry in the city of Cluj’s which focuses on women in crisis pregnancy situations.

In response to the extremely high abortion rate in Romania (the second highest in the world), YWAM Cluj launched the House of Joy Maternity Home in 1999, to provide an alternative for pregnant women who could not keep their babies. The home meets the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of unwed mothers by providing a safe, loving, peaceful home where they can spend time evaluating their past and making important decisions for their future. There is no easy answer: single parenting, adoption, marriage -- each present a unique challenge. Yet when these options are considered and demonstrated in a loving, supportive environment, each carries a hope and a future--life for a child and new start for the mother.

Kathy Miller, founder and director of the Living Alternatives ministry of YWAM Cluj, which includes the House of Joy as one of its projects, reports, “Nearly four years ago, it was clear to us that we needed a larger maternity home to meet the growing demands. We sold the small maternity home we had in the city and purchased land right next to the YWAM Cluj ministry center. Now we are working to finish the first floor, and license the home to accommodate up to 5 mothers. If all goes as planned we will be ready to open the home this autumn.”

The project is being done in phases, and once the second and third floors of the home are done there will be room for 12 mothers and their babies at one time as well as a classroom for parent education and vocational training. This exciting alternative to abortion as a solution for an unexpected pregnancy has offered hope to many desperate young ladies over the last ten years. With the new building, the House of Joy will be able to continue supporting mothers and their babies for many more years, providing a safe place in their time of need.

For more information contact YWAM Cluj at: LivingAlternatives@mac.comor go to http://www.livingalternativesromania.com