ROMANIAN-AMERICAN LEADER DIES AT 86

 

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12

 

Reverend Samuel Isfan, 86, went to be with the Lord on February 12, 2019, from his home in Roseville, CA, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 28, 1932, in Rudna, Romania. In 1950, he met Terezia, his wife of 68 years. With a humble beginning, he left his home country, Romania, to obtain a better place for his children to freely worship the Lord without persecution. Samuel Isfan immigrated to Chicago, IL in 1969 and brought his family from Romania in 1972. Here he established First Romanian Pentecostal Church in the northside of Chicago. In 1979, his family moved to Florida, where he established First Romanian Pentecostal Church of God, Hollywood, Florida. It was there that he followed God’s call into the ministry and became an influential Church of God pastor. In 1989, he moved to Roseville, California, where he founded Maranatha Church of God in North Highlands in 1992, and in 2003, he founded Romanian Christian Fellowship in Citrus Heights. He leaves behind four churches that he planted. He used his talents as a successful businessman to build twenty-seven churches in Romania, sponsor hundreds of immigrants, and impact countless people by his extensive ministry. Pastor Isfan is remembered as one of the most influential voices in the Romanian Pentecostal movement in the United States. One of his last statements was 1 Timothy 1:12: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.” Instead of building his own kingdom, he helped to build the kingdom of God. A man of great character and integrity, his life can be encapsulated by the scripture found in 2 Samuel 3:38: “. . . Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?” Samuel’s legacy has been forever established. He is survived by his wife, Terezia, and his children, Terezia Muntean, Ileana Micula, Magdalena Ciobanasiu, and Lidia Gaode as well as six siblings, thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-five great-grandchildren.

 

A viewing and visitation will take place on Friday, February 22, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at East Lawn Mortuary, which is located at 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento, CA.  The funeral will follow on Saturday, February 23, at 10:00 a.m. East Lawn Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Because Pastor Samuel would be honored to know that continual ministry flowed from his passing, we ask that, in lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made to the ongoing gospel ministry at Romanian Christian Fellowship, 8144 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights, CA, 95610.