From the January-March 2009 Issue
Manifold challenges in ministry
Sandor and Napsugar Kelemen
Church at Targu MuresThe challenges inside
Sometimes I ask myself if I am the right person to do what I do. But then the Lord comes along and searches my heart and asks me: ‘What is the thing you think is worth living for?’ And at that moment, all the things I thought I would rather do than serve the Lord full-time collapse. This reason only, to build His kingdom, towers over every earthly ambition. With Amos I can say: ‘I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son … but the Lord took me…and said to me, Go prophesy…’ (Amos 7:14-15). Therefore, in whatever I do and we do as a family, we try to seek God’s glory by doing His will. That’s a challenge…
Challenges in the church at Targu Mures
The first challenge for me and for the church was that István Borzási – my fellow pastor – had been called to another church. Since February 2008 we have been left to continue the work. I had no idea what it is like to pastor a church alone, but it was obvious that it would be different and harder. The greatest difference I sense is that the responsibility is far greater than before. However, we are very thankful to the Lord, because the church has accepted us and we also have found our place in this new situation.
Speaking about work within the church, there is another church I should mention (besides the two mission stations we visit regularly). At the beginning of 2008 a smaller church was attached to the congregation at Targu Mures. This is the church in Idrifaia. It is quite a young church and consists of 19 members at the moment. We meet twice a week there. Our greatest desire is for leaders within the church who can be trusted and burdened with the responsibilities of the church and of the mission there. Because Bahnea and Idrifaia are neighbouring villages we stopped meeting regularly in Bahnea, but we bring those who are interested (2-4 people) to the Idrifaia church every Sunday.
The challenge of outreach
The greatest number of Hungarians in any location within Transylvania is in Targu Mures (more than 70,000). Besides our church there are some evangelical churches or groups, but still there are a lot of Hungarians without the gospel to reach out to and we feel a burden in this matter. We are doing what we can and trying to look out for new possibilities to bring Christ to the lost Hungarians here.
We have 36 young people in the church and most of them are university students. So there are two university Bible groups run by students from our church (one of them was started last autumn). About one year ago a group of young people started to do hospital visitation every Sunday evening. Targu Mures being a medical and university centre, we have big hospitals and a lot of students coming every year to the town and some to our church, too. Our plan for the future is to organise a teenagers’ club or youth meetings for the younger generation. As usual for us, at this time of the year we organise special evangelistic events in the church and also for young people. We know that our endeavours are all in vain if the Lord is not the initiator and finisher of these things. Therefore, knowing the importance of prayer and true fellowship, we have tried to encourage the young people to pray in groups of three. In these groups we praise God for who He is; we pray for each other, for the church, for unconverted friends and a chosen area (country). A good many prayer groups have started and not only amongst the young people, but among older church members too.
The challenge of national youth ministry
My term of office will soon be over as President of the Youth Association within the Association of Hungarian Baptist Churches of Romania. During these two years we organised training for youth leaders, summer camps, regional and national conferences for approximately 1500 young people who are involved in this association. The last national conference took place in Oradea from 17-19 October 2008, when we had between 1200 and 1300 people present.
The topic was ‘In step with the Spirit’. The charismatic influence is felt among the young people, so we needed to address some of the issues. We sought to counterbalance the new ideas with the teaching of the Bible on the Holy Spirit, and within that, especially about guidance and the gifts of the Spirit. We are very thankful to the Lord for the good biblical teaching we received there and also for His work in bringing the young people closer to Himself. We are in a critical period, because under the pressures of the temptations of this world and of false teaching (of an easy-going, antinomian Christian life) the strong spirituality among the young people and indeed in the churches is slowly declining.
The elections for the new leaders for the young people will be in January. We pray for men after God’s heart.
We have shared all these things with you in hope that the Lord will hear our joint prayers and glorify His name amongst us.