George Ardelean · founder and president
George Ardelean is the founder and president of Asociația ‘Samariteanul în Acțiune’. The work that now underpins the Association did not begin with its legal registration. It grew from a journey that started in adolescence, continued across several countries and became increasingly focused on children, young people and people facing difficult circumstances.
Documented profile · updated 11 August 2026
Where I come from
I was born on 3 May 1991 and come from a modest family in Budești, Maramureș. Our circumstances have remained modest to this day. I never knew my father. I attended school through Year 7 in Budești, Year 8 in Cavnic, and secondary school at ‘Carmen Sylva’ Technical College in Baia Mare.
During my secondary-school years, I lived for several years at Comunitatea Miani, a family-style residential social centre similar to a small residential care home, where teenagers lived and received support to continue their education and prepare for independent life, because my family could not afford boarding accommodation or another form of housing in Baia Mare. That period gave me the support I needed to continue my studies and showed me first-hand how much it can matter for a child or teenager when someone offers stability, guidance and trust.
After turning 18, I began to work, travel and build my own path. I lived and worked in Romania, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy, both as an employee and as an entrepreneur. I managed several companies of my own and came to understand from the inside the administrative, professional and personal difficulties people face when starting over.
In 2022, after committing my life to Christ, I came to understand that following the Lord Jesus means living by His example: drawing close to people, serving and turning faith into action. This conviction led to the ‘Samariteanul în Acțiune’ initiative, the desire to work with children and young people, to train in Christian counselling and, later, to return to Romania to continue the work.
Documented timeline
The stages below bring together personal, professional, community and Christian activity. Where articles, letters, public posts or certificates exist, they are published in the documents section.
1991-2009
School through Year 7 in Budești, Year 8 in Cavnic and secondary studies at ‘Carmen Sylva’ Technical College in Baia Mare. During secondary school, he lived for several years at Comunitatea Miani, a family-style residential social centre similar to a small residential care home, which supported teenagers in their education and preparation for independent life.
Involvement in youth and volunteer organisations, educational projects, camps, events and training in communication, project management, fundraising and organisational development. His 2008 work was featured by the newspaper ‘Graiul Maramureșului’ on 9 January 2009.
2009-2021
After turning 18, he began working in Romania, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy, first as an employee and later as an entrepreneur, eventually managing and coordinating several companies of his own.
As founder and director of the Romanian Community Centre in Luton, he was involved in informing and supporting Romanians in the United Kingdom, including in administrative, social and integration matters.
For the parliamentary election of 11 December 2016, an important vote in which Romanians elected the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the Romanian Community Centre in Luton mobilised the community and helped meet the requirements for opening a polling station in the city. This gave Romanians in the area the opportunity to exercise their right to vote closer to where they lived. Read the article about Luton · View the official election context.
A letter from the Committee for Romanian Communities Abroad records his work supporting the community in Luton, particularly people in special circumstances.
Dan Mihalache, Romania's ambassador to the United Kingdom at the time, publicly records his visit to the Community Centre and expresses appreciation for the work of the team led by George Ardelean. View the post.
His professional activity focuses on business-administration consulting and administrative procedures, organising documentation, procedural guidance and relations with institutions.
He took part in a meeting held at the centre with the Minister for Romanians Abroad, the Mayor of Luton and police representatives. View the post.
The ministerial letter highlights the work of informing and integrating Romanians in the United Kingdom and preserving their cultural and linguistic identity.
The Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom documents the participation of Luton's Romanian community in the International Carnival parade. View the Embassy post.
Ambassador Dan Mihalache congratulates George Ardelean and his collaborators by name for their work in the Romanian community. View the post.
He was nominated at the Luton & Bedfordshire Community Awards for supporting Romanians through integration and difficult social circumstances.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked with local volunteers to support people in Bali who had lost their income. Romanian television channel Antena 3 covered the initiative in the report ‘Hero of the Day: George Ardelean, the Romanian who works wonders for people in need in Bali’. Watch the report.
2022-2025
After committing his life to Christ, he understands that following the Lord Jesus must be visible in the way he lives: through compassion, service and practical action. This conviction becomes the starting point for the ‘Samariteanul în Acțiune’ initiative and his later work with children and young people.
He starts the personal ‘Samariteanul în Acțiune’ initiative, through which lived faith becomes practical help for people.
He begins active service as a Bible teacher for children at Elim Pentecostal Church in Imola, Italy, through Bible lessons, age-appropriate activities and attentive engagement with the children.
He completes the Christian Counselling Training Course organised by the Association of Christian Counsellors in Romania together with the School of Training in Christian Counselling and held in Bologna, Italy. The programme combines theoretical preparation, biblical principles, communication skills and practical counselling exercises.
He returns to Romania to continue Christian service, biblical training and the development of activities for children, young people and the Maramureș community.
He has preached in local churches affiliated with the Pentecostal Christian denomination, with each ministry engagement arranged directly with the church concerned. After the Association was established, he continued this ministry alongside his responsibilities within the organisation.
On 14 September 2025, he is elected interim secretary of the local Betel Pentecostal church in Budești, which was then being established. After the church formally opens on 5 October 2025, he continues in the role of interim secretary.
After the Church opens, he begins serving as a teacher in the Children's Bible School at Betel Pentecostal Church in Budești. Alongside his responsibility as secretary, he prepares Bible lessons and activities for the children's spiritual and character formation.
He begins serving at Elim Pentecostal Church in Ocna Șugatag through activities for the wider community, children, young people and older adults.
He attends the Bible Seminary organised by the Maramureș and Sătmar Regional Pentecostal Community, a school of biblical and theological formation for current and future ministers and preachers.
2026
He is elected a member of the committee of Betel Pentecostal Church in Budești.
After being elected to the committee, he is reconfirmed as secretary of Betel Pentecostal Church in Budești.
He establishes youth evenings at Elim Pentecostal Church in Ocna Șugatag, meetings dedicated to drawing closer to God, Bible study, prayer and the spiritual formation of young people.
He establishes the Children's Bible School at Elim Pentecostal Church in Ocna Șugatag and continues serving there as a teacher after his period of work with children at Betel Pentecostal Church in Budești.
He attends the Teacher–Parent Partnership Course within the ‘School for Christian Parents’ programme, organised by the Pentecostal Christian denomination — the Apostolic Church of God in Romania, through its Department for Families and Children, and held at the Maramureș and Sătmar Regional Pentecostal Community. The training develops cooperation between teacher, child, family and church.
After returning to Romania, he consolidates his consultancy activity as founder, sole shareholder and administrator of ARDELEAN GENERAL SOLUTIONS SRL, Romanian company ID (CUI) 54256386. The company provides consulting, assistance and administrative representation services for individuals and legal entities that need documents or administrative procedures in Romania. View the company page.
As the work with children, young people and older adults at Elim Pentecostal Church in Ocna Șugatag develops, he steps down from his role as secretary at Betel Pentecostal Church in Budești and focuses his service in Ocna Șugatag.
The initiative begun in 2023 receives the legal framework of a nonprofit association. George Ardelean becomes president of the Association and coordinates the development of Christian, educational, social and community projects.
With the establishment of the Association, he moves into a broader stage of Christian service. In view of the institutional incompatibility between membership of the denomination and leadership of the independent activity of a private-law association, he ends his membership and steps down from his official roles within the Pentecostal Christian denomination and continues the work as founder and president of Asociația ‘Samariteanul în Acțiune’.
Experience with children and young people
Since 2024, George Ardelean has worked consistently with children and young people within the Pentecostal churches where he served. Bible lessons, children’s Bible programmes, youth meetings and training for cooperation with parents come together in one direction: drawing children and families closer to God and supporting the healthy formation of the new generation.
During the 2024-2025 school year, he served as a Bible teacher for children through Bible lessons, age-appropriate activities and attentive relationships with the children.
In October 2025, he began serving as a teacher in the Children's Bible School alongside his responsibility as secretary, preparing lessons and activities for biblical learning and character formation.
In 2026, he established the church's youth evenings and Children's Bible School, continuing his direct service with children, young people and older adults there.
The training within the ‘School for Christian Parents’ programme, organised by the Department for Families and Children of the Pentecostal Christian denomination, complements his practical experience with a perspective on cooperation between teacher, child, family and church.
Documented training
Publication-ready copies of the documents are provided in full. Personal data not necessary for verifying the training have been anonymised.
A programme organised by the Association of Christian Counsellors in Romania together with the School of Training in Christian Counselling and held in Bologna, Italy. The school is accredited by ACCR, and the training included theoretical and practical study, biblical principles, verbal and non-verbal communication, understanding personal needs, personality development, case studies and support techniques in Christian counselling. The certificate confirms completion and fulfilment of the programme requirements.
Training within the ‘School for Christian Parents’ programme, organised by the Pentecostal Christian denomination — the Apostolic Church of God in Romania, through its Department for Families and Children, and held at the Maramureș and Sătmar Regional Pentecostal Community. The course strengthens cooperation between teacher, child, family and church in Christian education and formation.
View the certificate of participation2025-2026 school year
The Bible Seminary organised by the Maramureș and Sătmar Regional Pentecostal Community is a school of biblical formation and theological education for current and future ministers and preachers. Participation strengthened his preparation for preaching and church service.
Since 2017, George Ardelean’s professional work in counselling, assistance and administrative guidance has developed his ability to listen carefully, understand a person’s circumstances and clarify the practical steps available to them. These transferable skills strengthen his Christian counselling practice, alongside his specialist training and the moral and spiritual support he offers within the proper boundaries of that role. When someone’s needs fall outside the scope of Christian counselling, he refers them to the appropriate professional, such as a physician, psychologist or psychiatrist. Where legal issues are involved, he can draw on qualified legal professionals already within the team, through the professional relationships and collaborations built in the course of his work. This allows each person to be heard and guided responsibly, without Christian counselling replacing specialist medical, psychological, psychiatric or legal care.
Professional and leadership experience
His professional journey complements his community experience and supports the responsible organisation of the Association's projects.
Work experience in Romania, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy, followed by the management and coordination of several companies of his own.
His consulting experience, which began in 2017, continues in Romania through the company of which he is founder, sole shareholder and administrator. ARDELEAN GENERAL SOLUTIONS SRL, Romanian company ID (CUI) 54256386, provides consulting, assistance and administrative representation for individuals and legal entities that need documents or administrative procedures in Romania.
ARDELEAN GENERAL SOLUTIONS page →Since August 2025, he has preached in local churches affiliated with the Pentecostal Christian denomination. At Betel Pentecostal Church in Budești, he served as interim secretary, was later elected to the committee and then reconfirmed as secretary, while the growing work at Elim Pentecostal Church in Ocna Șugatag became the next stage of his service.
As founder and president of the Association, he coordinates current activity, projects and relationships with beneficiaries, volunteers, partners and institutions. The transition from denominational roles to leading the Association marks the expansion of his service within a private and independent Christian framework.
Documents, media coverage and recognition
The press articles, letters of recognition, institutional posts and certificates brought together here confirm the principal stages of George Ardelean's community involvement and training.
Article about his volunteer activity and projects in 2008, demonstrating that his community involvement began in adolescence.
View the newspaper page →
The work is documented by the press, official sources about Romania's 2016 parliamentary election, three public posts by Ambassador Dan Mihalache and a post by the Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom. The sources confirm the contribution to opening a polling station for Romanians in Luton, institutional meetings, the community's participation in the International Carnival and public recognition of George Ardelean and his collaborators.
Letter expressing appreciation for support provided to the Romanian community in Luton, particularly people facing special circumstances.
View the letter →
He was nominated for supporting Romanians through integration and difficult social circumstances.
View the nomination →
Recognition for informing Romanians, supporting their integration into British society and preserving cultural and linguistic identity.
View the letter →Video report · 11 May 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, George Ardelean and a group of local volunteers prepared approximately 100 hot meals, distributed to three social centres in Bali serving blind people, people with disabilities and families in need.
Watch on Antena3.roIn Christ. For people. Through action.
This page provides context about the Association's founder. For current activities, legal documents and ways to get involved, visit the organisation's official pages.
