Wonderfully Made in His Image

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” 
– Psalm 139:16

None of us chose to enter this world, nor did we select the families or circumstances into which we were born. These aspects of life are beyond our control, yet they shape us deeply.

Now, consider the orphans and poor children in Eastern European countries like Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Moldova. None of them chose their circumstances either. They didn’t ask for lives marked by hardship and scarcity. Any one of us could have been born into their place. 

Yet, God—our Creator—did something remarkable. He chose to come into this world, to take on human form, and to make us His family. He chose you, me, and every orphan, every poor child, and every elderly person. Each of us is wonderfully made in His image, deeply loved, and eternally valued. 

It brings me great joy to share with you how you, as part of God’s family, have chosen to bless the vulnerable members of His family. This Christmas, through your generosity, over 2,000 children in Romania, Ukraine, and Bulgaria received a personal gift. 

 The excitement and wonder in their eyes as they opened their shoeboxes were indescribable. But the gifts were more than presents—they were a tangible expression of God’s love. And, because of your continued support of Bread of Life Ministry, their needs will be cared for well beyond the holiday season. 

You have been Jesus’ hands and feet, bringing hope and joy to many children and elderly individuals. Thank you for being a vital part of this ministry. We are honored to partner with you in showing Christ’s love to those in need. 

 As we enter 2025, we pray for God’s protection and favor over you and your loved ones. We look forward to sharing more stories about how God is at work in Romania and other neighboring countries. May God bless you abundantly in this new year. 


With gratitude, 

Alin Panican BOL Co-founder 

Thank you for your interest in Bread of Life Ministries. We have been able to accomplish a lot with the help of our supporters around the world. There is still more for us to do. Please prayerfully consider how you might help support Bread of Life as we provide support to children and families in need.

Become A Partner

Other articles you may be interested in

Child with shoebox gift

The Joy Giving Brings

By BOL Team • September 24, 2026
There is something special about watching a child open a Christmas gift.  I have had the privilege of watching children receive Christmas shoeboxes many times over the years, but the excitement never gets old. A carefully wrapped box lands in their hands, and suddenly the air fills with anticipation and curiosity. Then you see smiles that seem to grow bigger with every item they discover. For some of these children, receiving a gift is not something they expect. They didn't earn it. They didn't do anything to deserve it. Someone they may never meet chose to give because they wanted that child to experience the joy of Christmas. Perhaps that is one reason these moments touch me so deeply.

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By BOL Team • September 24, 2026
What Is the BOL Christian Center? Some dreams start small. Ours started as an impossible one — a home in Bucharest where teenagers from broken, poverty stricken backgrounds could finally have a stable place to live, grow, and become who God made them to be. 

From Hopelessness to a Purpose and Direction in Life

By Luminita Panican BOL -YTP Coordinator • September 24, 2026
At the beginning of the journey, the word that best described these kids was helplessness. When you start life in an environment shaped by severe hardship, the future feels less like a promise and more like a threat. For the five young people in our community who graduated high school this summer, the starting line was a painful one. Behind their eyes lay realities too heavy for any child to carry: a girl who had to find her courage within an abusive family, and boys who grew up without the warm embrace of a mother. For them, education and finishing school seemed like a distant dream.