The founder's story, Petru Dugulescu, and his vision for helping the vulnerable
At the heart of every great work stands a man with a vision. For the Evangelistic and Charitable Association “Jesus Hope of Romania,” that man was Petru Dugulescu – pastor, poet, freedom fighter and, above all, a man of God.
Born on November 18, 1945, in a modest family in Chelmac, Arad County, Petru Dugulescu understood from a young age what suffering, faith and divine calling meant. He tried to run away from God, but His grace caught up with him and, at the age of 20, his life was changed forever. He chose to serve, bring hope and fight for those in need.
In times of hardship, In the midst of the communist dictatorship, he was a courageous pastor, preaching the Gospel and remaining steadfast in the face of persecution. Serving at the Baptist Church in Hațeg and later at the Bethel Church in Timișoara, he was more than a spiritual leader – he was a voice for the voiceless.
The Moment of the 1989 Revolution found him on the front lines of change. The “Our Father” prayer he recited in front of the Timișoara Opera House resounded like a cry for freedom, a symbol of hope for an entire nation. However, after the fall of the regime, Dugulescu understood that freedom must be accompanied by responsibility and concrete action.
But his faith did not stop at words. He was a man of action. Thus, in 1990, he founded the “Jesus Hope of Romania” Association, with a single mission: to bring the light of faith and Christian love to where it was most needed - orphans, the elderly, homeless people. He created the “Onisim Brothers” Home for street children, the “Bethany” House for the elderly and girls with disabilities in Hațeg, and the “Manna” program for daily feeding of dozens of elderly people in Timișoara. He was a pioneer, founder of Christian high schools in Timișoara and initiator of the “Resurrection March”, an event that continues to inspire today.
He was the first Baptist pastor. elected deputy in the Romanian Parliament, where he used every opportunity to serve, founding the Parliament Prayer Group and advocating for freedom, dignity and faith.
Among all these achievements, Petru Dugulescu He was a man of poetry, sensitivity and love for people. His books, "They Scheduled My Death" and "Democracy and Persecution", as well as his poetry volumes "Enigmatic Journeys" and "Millennium Sunset", are testimonies of a life lived with passion and devotion.
He left us in 2008., but his legacy lives on through every child saved, every elderly person cared for, every soul who found hope through the Association's projects. Today, we continue the work he started, with the same love, the same vision, and the same desire to change the world for the better, one person, one family, one community at a time.
Thus was born "Jesus the Hope of Romania" Association – from an unwavering faith, from a dream to do good, and from a heart dedicated to the most vulnerable. And so, with the help of God and those who believe in this mission, it will continue to exist and bring light where it is needed.
Today, his legacy is carried forward by his daughter, Ligia Iunia Dugulescu. With the same compassionate heart and unwavering dedication, Ligia leads "Jesus the Hope of Romania" Association, continuing the work started by her father. Under her guidance, the projects grow, diversify and touch more and more souls, keeping alive the spirit of love and dedication that was the basis of this mission.
Thus, what began as a vision of one man has become a movement of hope, faith and change. And through every gesture of generosity, through every prayer and every outstretched hand, the story of Petru Dugulescu and the "Jesus Hope of Romania" Association continues to be written even in these moments.