Caught with Bibles

A True Story from Communist Romania

By:Genovieva Sfatcu Beattie, Stephen Beattie

 Caught with Bibles: A True Story from Communist Romania is the story of Constantin Sfatcu, a Romanian Christian who was arrested in 1985 for transporting Bibles in his car. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. The account is related by his sister, Genovieva, who was rescued from Romania by President Jimmy Carter and emigrated to the United States in 1980. Through her struggles with grief over her brother’s imprisonment, Stephen steps into her life to encourage her. As a prisoner’s wife, Estera Sfatcu suffers months of torment, not knowing whether her husband is dead or alive. She and Constantin’s brother, Teodor Sfatcu, his wife Erzso and their mother, Maria Sfatcu, endure many threats and interrogations. Their experiences illustrate what life is like for a prisoner’s family. The Lord used an article in the New York Times, a senator’s visit to the prison, attendance at the trial by U.S. Congressmen and Members of the British Parliament, as well as economic pressure on Romania by the Reagan administration to answer prayer for Constantin and his family. His release in 1986 was a victory for the suffering church, but also a lesson for those in the free world, that they should value their freedom. The Sfatcu family received political asylum in the U.S. and now reside in California. Young people and adults alike will benefit from reading this book.