He gave him a three-word challenge: REMEMBER THE CHILDREN

In the 1990’s, our founder Andy Baker found himself sitting on a tour bus next to a young Romanian gentleman named Mircea Toca.  Mircea asked Andy a surprising question, “would you like to see my 16 children?”  Andy was in disbelief and thought, how could this young man have 16 children?  Mircea began to show Andy pictures of the children he had adopted, and then did something even more surprising— He invited Andy to meet them.

The next year, Andy and his wife traveled to Romania to visit Mircea.  He introduced the couple to two groups of children:  the kids he had adopted, and the kids in the government facilities.  It was a huge change to move from the wonderful home that Mircea and his wife were leading with the children they had adopted, to the government facilities where children had been left and simply forgotten, living in horrific living conditions and suffering from neglect.  Andy and his wife were deeply moved, and knew they had to do something.  As Andy finished his trip, Mircea hugged him and gave him a three-word challenge, “remember the children.”

As a response, Andy founded Remember the Children in 1996.  Over the last few decades, we have remembered the children of that fateful trip by ministering to the orphaned and forgotten in Romania.  We have provided resources, built homes and churches, ministered through acts of kindness, trained leaders, and advocated for the voiceless.  

In 2017, Mircea approached Andy once more. He said, “Andy, I am 48 years old and all my children are grown and on their own. I still have the desire to keep going. I believe I need to take my experience to Africa.”  That began our 7 year journey of working directly in Tanzania. During that time we were part of establishing Eternal Families Village 1 and 2, caring for over 120 children in family homes. We also established a now thriving pre and primary school, planted 4 churches, partnered with FAME to open a Christian medical clinic, and started many agriculture projects including corn, rice, sunflower and ground nut crops, a chicken and cattle farm, and a fish hatchery.

Over the course of time, the providential meeting of two individuals turned into the significant impact and reach we experience today. Countless relationships and partnerships lead the way of growth for RTC as the needs continue to evolve and communities experience true transformation.

Quick Facts

  • We were founded in 1996

  • Our founder is Andy Baker

  • We work in Romania

  • Extended reach in Ukraine and Tanzania

  • We have a 501(c)(3) Structure

  • We are a Christ-centered organization

  • We work with leaders, churches, and orphans.