- Name: Iosif Sarac (Sărac)
- Born: 1935
- Birthplace: Socialist Republic of Romania
- Overcome Story: Protested church restrictions along with 50 other pastors. For this he was exiled from Romania. But he brought hundreds to freedom.
- Interview: August 2022
- Links:
Copy of memorandum (first page PDF)
Watch the video on YouTube
They transferred him, harassed him, watched him. Finally, they exiled him. Yet his courage gave Christian churches a taste of freedom.
In 1973, Iosif and three other pastors launched a bold plan. They gathered signatures across Romania. Additionally, fifty pastors joined them. Together, they sent a memorandum straight to the president.
That document exposed the truth: The government demanded approval for every baptism. They dictated who could preach on Sunday morning. They even controlled how churches spent their own money.
None of it was legal. All of it served one purpose: to strangle the church.
While on this mission, Iosif says, “I lost my fear of death.” In fact, so did all the fifty who signed with him. Afterwards, they sent the memorandum to the president — and to U.S. senators — so that if they disappeared, the world would know why. The risk was real. People had been jailed and deported for less.
But their effort paid off. Over 2,500 churches gained freedoms. During negotiations for “most favored nation status,” U.S. leaders raised the memorandum. Romania’s president had no choice. He ordered a review.
The churches sighed in relief. They grew. But soon the regime struck back — not at churches, but at individuals. Believers paid fines for praying in homes. Employers blocked promotions. Students were barred from college.
When the authorities had enough of Iosif, they branded him a criminal. They barred him from every job in the country.
Therefore he fled. He found refuge in the United States. From there, he helped hundreds more escape to freedom.
Reflection Questions:
- What kind of fear is holding you back from speaking your mind at work, or with your friends?
- How (or why) does the freedom of association, or people peacefully praying threaten the government?
- How is a political refugee different than an economic refugee? (intensity, source of threat, etc.)
- How does “go along to get along” create a type of corruption even in the most devout christians?
- Why is Christianity, or the Christian church a threat to tyrants, or totalitarian regimes?