The Conference

One of the main reasons for me traveling out to Transilvania was to speak at a conference of a number of the rural pastors. These men have real hearts of compassion for the people in the villages, and for the congregations of the small churches which they have been instrumental in planting and growing over the years. Most of them hold down other jobs as well, because the churches can't afford to pay them, and they have had limited opportunity for training in their roles.

On this occasion Dan, Mircea and I had discussed what we would try to accomplish. First of all, I needed to get to know the men and the work that they do among the churches. Thus an additional benefit of visiting and speaking in a number of the churches over the previous week was to appreciate the circumstances in which they serve. Second, as it was the first time for us to meet, I needed them to gain confidence in me, and that I could, in my teaching, provide training in biblical studies, in practical pastoral advice, and provoke some thinking among them regarding the often fairly traditional way that their churches function.

There is an apparent gap in Romanian culture. It is, of course, only 24 years since the fall of communism, and of the dictator Ceausescu. So many of the older generation have grown up accustomed to following instructions and doing things in a set way. The churches that did exist in that time had to be very careful as the secret police sat in on every service, and pastors were regularly imprisoned. many of the Christians, including people like Mircea, were part of an underground church movement that risked imprisonment for some of their activities. (Not unlike countries such as Iran and North Korea today.)

The younger generation know little of this past, and exposed as they are to the internet, with both it's distractions and global culture, are restless for something different. Helping the church to bridge this gap, without rocking the boat sufficiently violently to throw out the older generation for whom the older ways provide security, is a great challenge.

An oversight on my part - I forgot to take any photos.