From the September-December 2010 Issue
A VISIT TO TRANSYLVANIA
Keith Noldt
Janette and Keith NoldtTransylvania is a region north-west of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, which is geographically adjacent to Hungary. For centuries the region was part of Hungary until the Allies redrew the national boundaries after WW1. Consequently there is in the region a considerable minority of people who consider themselves Hungarian and who speak that language. So today, alongside the Baptist Union of Hungary and the Baptist Union of Romania, there is a separate ‘Convention of Hungarian Baptist Churches in Romania’. Three couples from this group of churches are supported by the European Missionary Fellowship: István and Marta Borzási, Pál and Anna Borzási, and Sándor and Napsugár Kelemen. EMF leaders invited me to visit Transylvania in May for a ministry of preaching and encouragement with these three men.
As a base for our time in Transylvania my wife, Janette, and I were the guests of István and Marta Borzási at Pericei, a large village in Salaj county. He had arranged a full schedule of meetings that would gladden the heart of any true preacher. Hungarian Baptist churches – in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Canada, USA and Australia, have the custom of holding services for preaching and prayer on each of the days between Ascension and Pentecost. They use common agreed texts on an 8-year cycle. I was invited to participate in this programme and preached the assigned texts on 21 occasions in 10 churches over 13 days. I trust it was as much a blessing to the hearers as it was to me.
Two visits were made over 250km to the south-east, to the city of Targu Mures. István had formerly been the pastor there and during his ministry he was instrumental in planting churches in some of the surrounding villages. Visits were made to four of these churches. Sándor Kelemen is the present pastor of the Targu Mures church. The final area of ministry was the village of Luna de Sus near the city of Cluj, where Pál and Anna Borzási and their three children have recently moved for Pál to take up the pastorate. The excellent building, which includes the manse on the top floor, was built entirely by the labour of the church members. It is a great credit to their faithfulness and skill.
There are approximately 240 churches in the Convention and approximately 60 ministers, so obviously each man has more responsibility than just one church. This is true of the EMF missionaries. Both István and Pál also lecture at the denomination’s theological seminary in Oradea.
The services proved to be a great blessing. Men and women sat in separate blocks of seats, with what appeared to be an equal balance of men and women. All ages were represented, although more older than younger. The singing was robust, usually accompanied by an organ, with the organist selecting and announcing the hymns. The Sunday morning service was preceded by a one-hour prayer meeting led by two of the brothers. All were present and prayer flowed smoothly and rapidly. Then the Sunday school children entered and the ‘normal’ service followed immediately, making 2.5 hours in total. There were no late-comers and attention appeared to be 100% throughout!
In the villages everyone has a vegetable garden – often quite large – chickens, and perhaps a cow and pigs. This provides much of their food, but there is high unemployment and, therefore, a lack of cash. Shared food can only support a pastor so far and there remains, therefore, a need for some pastors to receive financial support from outside the country – so “Thank you” EMF supporters.