From the October-December 2007 Issue
A testimony to the Lord's Work in Romania
Sandor and Napsugar Kelemen
Church at Targu MuresIn January Romania entered the European Union. The western trends – materialism, secularism and New Age type of spiritualism – have already influenced society and are a challenge to the Christian church in Romania. We are facing new challenges as a church and as individuals with the changing world around us. Just to mention one of these: there is a lot of information and material streaming into the churches about Western churches, missions, music groups and so on. What are we to do with the freedom we have? What kind of churches and missions are we to imitate? Because church members, especially young people, access this information and build up different expectations of the church according to the new models. It is not easy to find the right path.
However the Lord is at work in our age and world as well, and there is still a harvest to reap. He has heard and answered many prayers this year and particularly this summer. May this be a testimony to the things he is doing in and around us, that all the glory may be His.
Strength in weakness
This year has been the year of new challenges, and also new responsibilities for us as a family. On 29th January our first child, a lovely girl, Sára Bernadett was born. So we became parents. Also since January I have been responsible for the work among the young people in the Hungarian Baptist Churches in Romania, becoming the president of the youth association. Napsugar, despite having the baby, continues her studies at the university. At the beginning of August I was appointed to oversee the emerging church planting work in Gheorgheni. (It was started three years ago and already has fourteen members; the town itself has about twenty thousand inhabitants). In the meantime I’m also one of the pastors of the church in Targu Mures. “Who is sufficient for these things?” At the beginning of this summer I received an encouraging Bible verse, the words of Moses to Joshua: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deut. 31:8). So I understood that the one who sends us strengthens and enables us for the work. When I’m aware of my weakness and inadequacy then his “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor.12: 9b).
Youth work
This summer started with a small conference for the ‘saltshakers’ in Cluj at the end of June. The idea was that 6-8 young people would go to a given village or town at the request of a local church, wanting to plant another church in a nearby location, or to reach out in their own village or town. The young people would help that church by going door-to-door, doing Holiday Bible Club for children, and holding evangelistic meetings in the evenings with the local church. There were about 25 young people from different parts of Transylvania who were able to prepare for this year’s saltshakers’ mission. This mission took place in two locations.
Being involved in the youth work I was responsible for four weeks (a camp week is seven full days and two half-days, so altogether nine days) at the Harghita Christian Camp. The first week was for teenagers, which I organized with Napsugár. For the three youth weeks we were able to appoint others as organizers. Of course every organizer needs a group of leaders to help, in the light of the fact that there are about 120 -160 campers. We went with great fears and questions in ourselves, but returned with joy and much blessing, having good experiences with the Lord again. This was not the first time for us, but every week is a new challenge.
It is not holiday time as some are inclined to think, but the most intense work in the whole year for a pastor. In the midst of this work I always face my own weaknesses and am humbled – which is good – because I can see that whatever good came out of it was not of me or of us, but entirely of the Lord. Sometimes we have the impression that it is impossible to deal with teenagers or with the youth of this age, but with the Lord everything is possible. It has been a particular joy to us that in these weeks many came from non-Christian backgrounds and also those of Christian parents or connected to the church but not converted yet, came to the cross for salvation. Backsliders returned to the Lord and indifferent Christians became zealous for the Lord. There are few who go untouched by the Lord. For these weeks leaders sleep little, but have many blessings; grow weary, but gain new strength. They are great times of harvest! Maybe one does not see any conversions in the whole year, but coming to the camp the reassurance is there: the Gospel hasn’t lost its power and the Lord still saves his own, even in our midst.
It has been a privilege to participate on every camp week for a couple of days at least. The last youth week was called “music week”, with the view to teach music, but most importantly to give biblical teaching on the music that the Lord likes. We understand that this is a great challenge for today’s youth.
In and around Targu Mures
As it is about the Lord’s work let me highlight a few things the Lord has done among us. In July there were four people baptised in our church. Three became members of our church and the fourth of another church in a nearby village. A lady dentist in her early sixties wanted to be baptised earlier, but was not able, so it was a particular joy to see her being baptized. Two young men were baptized, both were converted last year at the camp. The fourth one was a girl from the city itself who was brought along to the church by her fellow university student. May the Lord be with them all, that they may grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Let me close with a verse which I read recently and which became special to me: “…may they who love you (God) be like the sun when it rises in its strength” (Judges 5: 31). The characteristic of the rising sun is that it becomes stronger and brighter as the time goes on. May our Christian life be the same, that in every circumstance we will reflect the Son ever more brightly!