Inter-arc – The Early Days

Inter-arc began it’s work in September 1994 after I had been “called” by the Lord to go to Bucharest, Romania to see what I could do to help the street children. We had all seen the appalling images on television after the Romanian revolution and the downfall of Ceausescu in 1989/90.

I had been made redundant in 1991 and had worked voluntarily for a local charity which had child care projects in various countries. I visited Bucharest several times with this charity and had seen first hand children of all ages. They were begging and offering themselves for prostitution and other favours in order to survive. They were living wherever shelter could be found; with clients, in sewers and underground heating ducts etc. Their plight has not left my mind ever since.

I had an overwhelming burden to “do something” but did not initially have the faith or really the knowledge of what to do or how to do it. However, in May 1994 I finally felt compelled to go to Bucharest, not knowing anyone there but in the full confidence that the Lord had prepared the way and would lead me to the people, the children and any other organisations I needed to contact.

My visit lasted only 2½ days but during that time He revealed to me all that He had prepared. I had been given the address of a church to attend on the Sunday morning by a receptionist in my hotel. It was the only church he knew of and was the only address I was given. At this church I was introduced to a man who was working with street children. With the support of a group of German Christians, he had a partly constructed house in Bucharest and intended to give home to 16 children. Contact with the chairman of the German group was quickly established on my return and we agreed to work together to finish the house they had started.

As a result of that first visit Inter-arc was formed, initially to help with the costs of house completion. At it’s peak it was home to 32 girls and boys who had previously lived on the streets or were from very poor families.

Naturally the children became young adults and progressively began making their own way in life. That first visit also opened up opportunities to work with a school for deaf children and the ENT ward of the main Children’s Hospital in Bucharest.

We made five overland trips by lorry taking educational materials, books, medicines, specialist surgical instruments and equipment, beds and bedding, clothing, food etc.

We chose the name Inter-arc to echo the Old Testament Bible story of Noah (see Genesis Chapter 6). He was instructed by God to prepare the Ark as a place of safety for his family and the animals to protect them from danger until it was safe to return to a normal environment. We believe He has chosen us to provide loving homes and safety for street children and to give help to needy children wherever He calls us to go.

Similarly, God set a rainbow in the sky to confirm that He would never again flood the whole Earth. “Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears, I will remember my covenant between me and you…….” (Genesis chapter 9 verse 14-17). This was a promise made by God to Noah.

We use the rainbow and it’s colours to remind us of all of God’s promises to us and His faithfulness to our work in His service.

Howard Wallace
Founder/Director