Vini Baran currently leads two growing groups: one with teenagers and one at his workplace. When he heard about Team Leader Training, he knew straight away: this is the course I need. It would equip him to serve his groups better.
But this year the training was scheduled at the same time as a second course that urgently needed leaders. Vini signed up for the course of his choice – yet also agreed to step in at the other one if needed. A few days later the call came: they needed him. He said yes.
“God knew my desire – and he had everything already prepared.”
Vini Baran, youth group leader, Romania
Inside, he was already calculating how many years it might take before he could try again. Maybe one day he would teach there instead, he consoled himself. In the preparation meetings he gave his best – with a heavy but peaceful heart.
Then, two weeks before the start, the phone rang twice. The national leadership: “Vini, we have very good news – you can go to Team Leader Training!” Cosmin, the managing director of Youngstars International, had recognised how important this training was for Vini – and found someone to replace him at the other course. Just like that, the door opened.
Looking back, Vini believes God had prepared exactly that: so his heart would be fully open for what was going to happen. On the very first day God spoke to him – through Cosmin of all people. Usually, Vini says, that happens midway through a course. This time it started right away. And the last word of the course was Cosmin's too – as if God had framed the whole week between two talks.
Every day worked on his mind and heart – not only to change thoughts and feelings, but to move Vini to action. He made concrete decisions. That was more than inspiration, he says. That was transformation.
He learned a lot: personal and professional growth, deep conversations in small groups, powerful morning devotions. But what touched him most was experiencing God's presence very practically – like someone looking straight at him, removing stone after stone from his heart.
Vini completed Team Leader Training – with thoughtful decisions and sincere commitments that are already changing his life. The journey brought him closer to God and closer to the work of Micii Exploratori, the Youngstars movement in Romania.
