Ioan Sovrea

Ioan Sovrea – cunoscut ca „fratele Ionel" – s-a nascut pe 6 ianuarie 1938, într-o familie de arani din satul Traian, jude ul Satu Mare, fiind al doilea copil al familiei, dupa o feti a care a murit în primul an de via a, din cauza lipsei medicamentelor i a îngrijirii medicale necesare. Parin ii, Vasile i Lucre ia, au mai avut înca un fiu dupa Ioan, pe Gavril.
Fratele Ionel s-a nascut în condi ii vitrege, premergatoare celui de-al Doilea Razboi Mondial. Tatal, Vasile, a fost luat la munca silnica de catre regimul hortist, care a invadat partea de nord-vest a României, pe când Ionel avea doar patru ani. Când Lucre ia îi scria scrisori so ului, micu ul Ionel copia scrisoarea mamei, litera cu litera, fara sa tie ce scrie, pentru ca iubea sa scrie înca de mic copil. Fiind un mare iubitor de „carte", Ionel a fost foarte dezamagit când tatal sau nu i-a mai dat voie sa î i continue studiile dupa clasa a IV-a, spunându-i ca nu va avea nevoie de prea multa carte, fiindca oricum va continua sa munceasca pamântul.
Pe la vârsta de 14 ani, în satul Traian au ajuns misionari din mi carea Oastea Domnului. Auzind cântarea „La miezul nop ii va veni Isus cu pas domol", Ionel i-a pus problema mântuirii i a cerut sa fie botezat la Biserica Penticostala din satul natal, în apa râului care trecea pe la marginea satului. Au urmat mai multe discu ii cu fratele pastor Simion Man, care îi cerea sa mai a tepte, considerându-l prea tânar, însa Ionel nu a cedat i pe 14 aprilie 1952 a primit botezul cu toata seriozitatea, în elegând ca acesta este un legamânt cu Domnul pentru toata via a.
La vârsta de 18 ani, Ionel a parasit satul natal cu gândul de a ajunge la Marea Neagra i de a se îmbarca clandestin pe un vas, cu scopul de a ajunge în America. Însa nu a ajuns prea departe, deoarece mama îi ascunsese actele. A ajuns totu i la Baia Mare, în casa fratelui Sitar, unde a început sa înve e meseria de croitor. Acolo a cunoscut-o pe sora Rodica Mate an, cu care s-a casatorit pe 18 mai 1958.
Mutându-se împreuna la Satu Mare, familia Ionel i Rodica a fost binecuvântata cu patru fete, dintre care prima a trecut la Domnul în urma unui accident în casa. Ionel i Rodica le-au crescut pe Lia, Adriana i Doina cu toata daruirea i dedicarea de parin i, încercând sa le ofere o educa ie cât mai buna, în ciuda condi iilor vitrege impuse de regimul comunist.
Fratele Ionel a fost un iubitor de Domnul i de biserica. În anii '60, Biserica din Satu Mare se întrunea în casa sorei Hutton, o casa mica, lânga gara, unde se adunau i fra i maghiari. Fiind un om vizionar, fratele Ionel a dorit sa mute fra ii români într-o casa în centrul ora ului, unde limba de comunicare sa fie limba româna. În timp ce lucra la construirea noii biserici, fratele Ionel i-a continuat studiile, absolvind clasele V-VIII, apoi liceul seral, în tot acest timp fiind urmarit i presat de Securitate, dar luptând sa pastreze linia bisericii dreapta, în ciuda multor fra i „turnatori" la Securitate. Totodata, era înscris la coala Populara de Arta pentru a înva a notele muzicale.
Fratele Ionel a avut un vis: acela de a forma un cor mixt în biserica. S-a luptat din greu i a înfiin at corul mixt din Satu Mare, devenind primul dirijor de cor al Bisericii Penticostale din ora Cântarea „Sfânt e, sfânt e, sfânt este Domnul" a fost prima din sutele de cântari pe care corul le-a înva at de-a lungul anilor.
Repeti iile de cor aveau loc mai întâi în casa fratelui Ionel i a sorei Rodica, cu câte 3-4 membri la o voce, fara instrumente, doar „dupa ureche". Lucrurile au progresat când fetele Lia i Adriana au fost admise la Liceul de Muzica din Satu Mare, ajutând astfel la repeti ii cu vioara. Mai târziu, repeti iile au fost organizate la biserica, unde corul era acompaniat de fratele Tinu Modoc.
În 1970, fiind conducator de biserica, fratele Ionel a trecut prin tragedia inunda iilor devastatoare, iar contactul cu fra i din strainatate a deschis o noua etapa, implicându-se în distribuirea de Biblii i literatura cre tina, fapt pentru care a fost supravegheat i tracasat de Securitate mul i ani.
Fratele Ionel a fost un exemplu de credincio ie fa a de biserica i familie. A luptat atât împotriva fanatismului religios manifestat de unii membri ai bisericii, cât i pentru apararea credin ei în fa a interogatoriilor Securita ii.
Aceste condi ii dificile i stresul constant au afectat sanatatea fratelui Ionel, care a început sa aiba probleme cardiace. El povestea familiei cum asistenta de la Cardiologie l-a întrebat: „Ce lucra i, domnule Sovrea? De acum înainte ve i fi pacientul nostru pentru multa vreme." De i tânar, Ionel s-a îngrijorat pu in, dar încrederea în Domnul a fost mai mare decât orice teama.
Într-o seara, la un cerc mic de rugaciune la care participau i fra i din Suedia, Ionel a sim it un foc din cap pâna în picioare i un curent electric ce i-a strabatut corpul. La
finalul rugaciunii, unul dintre fra ii suedezi a spus: „În seara aceasta, Domnul a facut o vindecare", privindu-l pe Ionel. Acesta a marturisit imediat ceea ce sim ise i problema cardiaca de care suferea. La urmatorul control medical, asistenta l-a întrebat mirata: „Ce s-a întâmplat, domnule Sovrea? Nu mai ave i nicio problema la inima." Ionel a marturisit ca Dumnezeu l-a vindecat. A fost externat i niciodata nu a mai avut nevoie de tratamente sau interven ii la inima.
Dupa Revolu ia din 1989, biserica de pe strada Crasna s-a despar it, iar fratele Ionel, împreuna cu un grup mare de fra i, a fondat Biserica Betania din Satu Mare, unde a fost ordinat ca diacon.
În anul urmator, pe 6 iulie 1990, fratele Ionel a ajuns la Chicago, la Biserica Betania, pastorita de fratele Teodor Luca. Aici a ramas credincios i supus rânduielii bisericii, fiind ordinat prezbiter, apoi pastor, datorita calita ilor sale. El a ramas implicat i în domeniul muzical, câteva din cântarile sale preferate fiind,,Dincol' de zare",,,Pe-oceanul infinit cu valuri",,,Ma-ncred în El, orice s-ar întâmpla",,,Ce-i via a ta, e o peni a",,,La-cele armuri, dincol` de râu".
Fratele Ionel a fost i un croitor foarte bun. De la începuturile modeste în casa fratelui Sitar, pâna la Satu Mare, unde a lucrat la Serviciul Tehnic al Fabricii de Confec ii „Mondiala", i mai apoi în Chicago, unde a ajuns „sa îmbrace milionarii Americii i ai lumii", dupa cum le spunea celor dragi, Ionel a fost apreciat ca „cel mai bun croitor" în magazine de renume mondial – Giorgio Armani i Loro Piana, unde a fost recunoscut ca,,maestro tailor". Un moment remarcabil în cariera sa de croitor a fost anul când a fost obligat sa lucreze de Anul Nou pentru a confec iona un costum de schi pentru conducatorului arii, Nicolae Ceau escu – în timp ce membrii familiei i ai bisericii sarbatoreau Anul Nou fara el. Ionel s-a pensionat la frumoasa vârsta de 80 de ani, marturisind adesea ca „nu a fost niciodata bolnav în spital".
Fratele Ionel i sora Rodica au fost casatori i aproape 67 de ani, formând un model de familie cre tina. Dumnezeu le-a daruit trei fiice, ase nepo i i noua stranepo i.
Ionel i-a încheiat alergarea pe acest pamânt la vârsta de 87 de ani, dupa mai mul i ani de suferin a. Chiar daca în ultimele luni a fost intuit la pat, de fiecare data când cineva îl vizita avea o vorba buna, un compliment sau un gând pozitiv, spunând mereu ca se simte „foarte bine". Ionel i-a încheiat alergarea pe 14 aprilie 2025, în aceea i zi a anului în care, în 1952, încheiase legamântul cu Domnul prin botez.
Gândindu-se cu drag la cel care le-a fost so tata, bunic i strabunic, familia a ales câteva cuvinte care l-au caracterizat cel mai bine: discre ie, demnitate, seriozitate, dedica ie, credincio ie, harnicie, pozitivitate.
Ramân în urma îndurera i, dar plini de speran a revederii în ve nicie:
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Rodica – so ia iubita alaturi de care a trait timp de aproape 67 de ani
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Fiica Lia – cu Nelu i Hanna
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Fiica Adriana – alaturi de copiii Andreea, casatorita cu Jose (cu 2 stranepo i: Selena i Aiden) i Ralph
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fiica Doina cu Vasile – alaturi de copiii Sandra i Sami (cu 4 stranepo i: Nicole, Natalia, Nathan, Nicodim); Andrew i Eunice (cu un stranepot: Azariah); Claudia i Bryan (cu 2 stranepo i: Caleb i Isaiah)
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Cumnata Marioara ovrea din România, cu familia extinsa
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Cumnata Viorica Mate an din România, cu familia extinsa
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Cumnatul Ghi a cu Paula Mate an i familia extinsa
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Cumnata Mary Mate an din Arizona, cu familia extinsa
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Cumnata Emilia Zaharia cu familia extinsa
Ioan Sovrea, known by many as "fratele Ionel" or "Brother Ionel", was born on January 6, 1938 in the village of Traian, county of Satu Mare, Romania. He was the first son born to his parents Vasile and Lucre ia after their first child, a daughter, tragically died due to the lack of medical services. Later, his parents were blessed with another son whom they named Gavril. Born during hard times just before the outbreak of World War II, Ionel was four years old, the Horthyst regime had invaded northwestern Romania and his father Vasile was taken for forced labor. Whenever Lucre ia wrote letters to her husband, young Ionel would carefully copy her writing, letter by letter. Although not yet understanding what he was writing, he began showing his love for writing from an early age. A lover of literature, Ionel was deeply disappointed when his father refused to let him continue his education beyond the fourth grade, telling him that education wasn't necessary since he would be "working the land". Around age 14, missionaries from the Oastea Domnului movement arrived in the village of Traian. Hearing the hymn "At midnight, Jesus will come with gentle steps", Ionel began to contemplate the matter of salvation and asked to be baptized at the Pentecostal church in his village. Pastor Simion Man advised him to wait because he was young, but Ionel decided to proceed with the full understanding that this is a lifelong covenant and commitment with the Lord. On April 14, 1952, he was baptized in the flowing water of the river that ran along the outskirts of the village. Ionel had a dream of leaving his village and boarding a ship bound for America and at the age of 18 years old, he secretly left the village to try to fulfill that dream. Sensing his plans, Lucre ia hid Ionel's travel documents and thus, he was only able to get as far as the city of Baia Mare. There he stayed at the home of Brother Sitar and began to learn the basics of the tailoring trade. While there, Ionel met Rodica Mate an and they married on May 18, 1958. Ionel and Rodica moved to Satu Mare and were blessed with four daughters. Although their first child went to be home with the Lord after a tragic household accident, Ionel and Rodica strived to raise their three daughters, Lia, Adriana, and Doina, with love and devotion and striving to provide them with a solid education despite the challenges imposed by the Communist regime. In the 1960s, the Pentecostal Church in Satu Mare would gather in the home of Sister Hutton, a small house near the train station, where both Romanian and Hungarian believers met. A true visionary and devoted follower of the Lord, Ionel longed to establish a church in the city center where services would be held in Romanian. While working on the construction of the new church building, Ionel resumed his studies and completed grades 5 through 8 and later finished high school. The entire time, he was monitored and harassed by the Securitate or Communist secret police. Despite betrayal by close informants, Ionel upheld the church's integrity. One of Ionel's biggest dreams was to establish a mixed choir in the church and thus he enrolled and studied music at the School of Arts. After a considerable amount effort, he succeeded in founding the Satu Mare Pentecostal Mixed Choir and becoming the first choir director of the Pentecostal Church in the city. The hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord" was the first of many that the choir would learn under his leadership. At first, the choir rehearsals were held in Ionel and Rodica's home, with three or four members per voice part and with no instrumental accompaniment. They had to learn the songs by ear. Things changed when their daughters, Lia and Adriana, were accepted into the Satu Mare Music High School. They were able to help the by playing the violin. Rehearsals were later moved to the church, where Brother Tinu Modoc accompanied the choir. In 1970, Satu Mare faced the devastation of severe floodings that impacted half the city. This event led Ionel, while serving as a church leader, to make new connections with Christian brothers from abroad. Thus began a new chapter in Ionel's life, distributing Bibles and Christian literature, which led to years of surveillance and harassment by the Securitate. Throughout his life, Ionel consistently served as a dedicated example to both the church and his family. He challenged instances of religious fanaticism that occasionally appeared among followers and steadfastly defended his faith during numerous interrogations by the Securitate. Years of stress and hardship took their toll on his health, leading to heart problems. He would often recall how a cardiology nurse once asked him, "What do you do for a living, Mr. Sovrea? You'll be our patient for a long time." Though still young, Ionel was momentarily concerned, but his faith in the Lord was always greater than any fear. One evening, at a small prayer meeting attended by some guests from Sweden, Ionel felt a sensation of fire from head to toe, as if an electric current passed through his entire body. At the end of the prayer, one of the Swedish brothers remarked, "Tonight, the Lord has performed a healing," looking directly at Ionel. Ionel immediately testified to what he had felt and mentioned his heart condition. At his next medical checkup, the nurse asked, surprised: "Mr. Sovrea, what happened? There's nothing wrong with your heart anymore." Ionel boldly testified that God had healed him. He was discharged, and never again needed any heart treatments or surgeries. After the fall of Communism in 1989, the original church on Crasna Street, that Ionel helped build, experienced a split. Ionel, together with a large group of believers, went on to found Betania Pentecostal Church in Satu Mare, where he was ordained as a deacon. The following year, on July 6, 1990, Ionel moved to Chicago. He became a member of Betania Church, which was then under the leadership of Pastor Teodor Luca. He continued to be an active member and was eventually ordained first as an elder and then as a pastor, due to his consistent participation and commitment. He also remained deeply involved in music ministry, his favorite hymns including: "Beyond the Horizon", "On the Infinite Wavy Ocean", "I Trust in Him, No Matter What", "Your Life Is but a Pen", and "At the Distant Shores, beyond the River." Ionel was also a highly skilled tailor. From his humble beginnings learning the trade in Brother Sitar's home, to his years at the Technical Service Department of the "Mondiala" Garment Factory in Satu Mare, and later in Chicago. There he often said, he "dressed the millionaires of America and the world". Ionel's craftsmanship earned him great respect and was recognized as the "best tailor" or held the title of maestro tailor at world renowned stores such as Giorgio Armani and Loro Piana. A significant event in his tailoring career occurred when he needed to work on New Year's Eve to create a ski suit for Romania's president, Nicolae Ceau escu, while his family and church were observing the New Year without him. Ionel retired at the age of 80, often mentioning his gratitude that he had "never been hospitalized for any illness." Following several years of physical suffering, Ionel finished his race on this earth at the age of 87. Even during his final months, while bedridden, whenever someone came to visit, he always had a kind word, a compliment, or a positive thought, insisting he was feeling "very well." He completed his earthly journey on April 14, 2025 - the very same day on which, back in 1952, he had made his covenant with the Lord through baptism. Ionel and Sister Rodica were married for nearly 67 years, serving as a model of a Christian family. God blessed them with three daughters, six grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Thinking fondly of the man who was their beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, his family chose a few words that best capture his character: discretion, dignity, seriousness, dedication, faithfulness, diligence, and positivity. Left behind, grieving but filled with the hope of a joyful reunion in eternity, are: • Rodica – his beloved wife of nearly 67 years • Daughter Lia – with Nelu and granddaughter Hanna • Daughter Adriana – together with her children:
o Andreea married to Jose (with great-grandchildren Selena and Aiden)
o Ralph • Daughter Doina, with Vasile – along with their children:
o Sandra and Sami (with great-grandchildren Nicole, Natalia, Nathan, and Nicodim)
o Andrew and Eunice (with great-grandchild Azariah)
o Claudia and Bryan (with great-grandchildren Caleb and Isaiah)
• Sister-in-law Marioara Sovrea, from Romania, and her extended family
• Sister-in-law Viorica Mate an, from Romania, and her extended family
• Brother-in-law Ghi a with Paula Mate an and their extended family
• Sister-in-law Mary Mate an, from Arizona, and her extended family
• Sister-in-law Emilia Zaharia and her extended family
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