From the July-September 2009 Issue
Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock (Acts 20:28)
Istvan and Marta Borzasi
Church in PericeiFor more than a year now, we have been working in a larger and older congregation, and this is different from what we had before. Some possibilities are taken away: there are no new church-plants here (because all the villages have Evangelical churches), however the given possibilities are increased: I preach always to large congregations, I teach more young people and children than before, and I am closer to the Seminary, where I also teach (at Emanuel University and our Seminary in Oradea). We can go on mission trips with the choir, the brass band and the young people, and we are more intensively involved in the life of the other churches by organizing mission conferences, women’s conferences, youth conferences, Sunday school teachers’ conferences and different courses (such as courses for Sunday school teachers and for choir directors). The geographical area is not larger, only the impact is greater.
The churches in Mures
We didn’t leave everything behind when we came here last February. Visiting the churches from time to time in Mures County we help the pastors in their efforts to plant churches around Targu Mures. In Sangeorgiu de Padure we opened the new church building in March. Our choir and brass band took part in this celebration. We were able to buy a building in Fantanele also, and its renovation and conversion into a church building is on the way. Another similar purchase will happen hopefully in Peris, when all the 250 churches of our Convention will make a collection for this in the autumn. There is a new chapel in Gornesti, and separate services are held now for the Hungarian-speaking Gypsies as well. For the Gypsy children from Apalina (near Reghin) we will have two camps this summer near Sibiu, as we did last year. Some other Gypsy children (from Sangeorgiu de Padure and Chibed) will be taken to the Harghita Christian Camp. All these (and two more camps) are organized by Márta, my wife, and our girls, together with other Sunday school teachers.
The power of the Word of God
The good news is that the Word of God is powerful enough to change the lives of the people. Preaching faithfully the Word of God is the most powerful tool in dealing with relational, moral and doctrinal problems. Lives are transformed, relationships are restored, and new attitudes towards the church and the Lord’s service are developed. More and more people are coming to the midweek services and to young people’s meetings to hear what the Lord wants to say. The sermons and teaching are recorded, multiplied and broadcasted, taught among the children and young people, and in this way reach even more people. Praise the Lord for the power of the Gospel!
The hope of the next generation
There are about one hundred children and young people who belong to the ‘flock’. If this new generation will grow up loving the Lord and His people, this may bring good changes for the future. Four classes of Sunday school, four classes in primary and secondary schools, youth meetings, baptism preparations, Bible clubs, girls’ and ladies’ meetings, orchestra practice – all are important activities when we teach the Word of God and pray together. The Lord is at work among us and this gives us much hope for the future. We pray that the Lord may give repentance to these young people, and through the grace of God they may become members and leaders of the church. Reaping may not come just after planting and watering, but one day there will be a reaping for sure! The Lord has allowed us to taste the first fruits already. Our task is just to be faithful in the Lord’s work and ‘take heed to all the flock’ of God.
Learning and teaching
I submitted my doctoral dissertation and defended my views in April at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj. The Lord was gracious in helping me to finalize this large work about 2 Samuel (670 pages). Five residential students and five part-time students from our Seminary are preparing for the close of the study year. The broadcasts on Radio Cluj and Voice of the Gospel Radio are going out every week. Our girls, together with my wife, are a great help in leading the work with the young people, children and ladies. To God be all the glory!