BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON
This article was first printed in the February 10, 2005, issue of the Adventist Review. For more information on the Adventist work in Romania click here.
UCHAREST, ROMANIA: THE BENEFACtor of the people, most
loved son of the nation, is well into his harangue. He stands on the balcony
of the Party headquarters in his usual place, a huge crowd stretching out before
him. Summoned by the Party, they wave placards and interrupt his speech with
prolonged, orchestrated chanting of slogans.
Nicolae Ceausescu (Chau-shes-koo) is one of the last Communist
dictators to hold the reins of power. In May of this year, 1989, the Berlin
Wall has come down, and the Soviet empire is collapsing all around him. While
other socialist countries slowly opened their economies to Western influences
during the past decade, Ceausescu has retreated to strict Stalinism.
Driven by visions of grandeur, he has attempted to transform
Romania from a predominately agricultural society to an industrial state. Uprooting
farmers from the land, he has herded them in cities as he pours vast sums of
money into grandiose projects. The wealth of this ancient land of rich resources
had been looted as he pursues his megalomaniac failing ventures; now his people
have to endure rationed food and rationed gasoline, and live in unheated apartments.
Close by the Party building where he addresses the crowd on
this day, December 21, a colossal monument to his folly nears completion. Dubbed
the "People's Palace," it is one of the largest buildings in the world.
Almost as big as the Pentagon, it is constructed with marble, gold, and silver.
A stately boulevard with 41 fountains, modeled on Paris's Champs Élysées,
leads to the People's Palace, and lining the boulevard are row upon row of apartment
buildings designed to house those who work in the Palace. Ceausescu bulldozed
one third of the old city, leveling houses, hospitals, and churches to make
room for his grand design.
On this day Ceausescu levels attacks at the people who demonstrated
a few days earlier in Timisoara, a city in the far west of Romania. He brands
them "fascists" and "terrorists" as the crowd roars approval.
But the well-orchestrated propaganda exercise suddenly breaks
down. A loud noise is heard in a section of the crowd, and the people disperse
in chaos.
That night shooting erupts on the streets of Bucharest. Many
students die; their blood stains the pavement.
The next morning, a Friday, an angry crowd spontaneously gathers
in the square. At last a shaken Ceausescu appears on the balcony. He announces
economic reliefs, but the crowd only grows more restless. As the people begin
to surge toward the platform, security police pluck him away; a helicopter appears
and whisks him to safety. Protesters now take over the television station and
announce the fall of the dictator. The country explodes in jubilation.
Ceausescu is soon captured. On Christmas Day, Nicolae Ceausescu
and his wife, Elena, face a military tribunal. Found guilty, they are summarily
executed.
Fifteen years later, Romania is struggling to regain economic
prosperity. Unemployment runs 12 percent; roads close to the grand Unification
Boulevard are rutted and pot-holed.
For the Seventh-day Adventist Church, however, these years
have witnessed remarkable vitality. Some 63,000 people have joined the church--which,
with a membership of 73,000, is our strongest presence in all of Europe. Under
the Communists the church had practically no institutions; in 15 years it has
built a theological institute, schools, a health-care center, a publishing house,
and homes for abandoned children, as well as developing major TV and radio programs.
What lies behind this progress? I wanted to see for myself.
At last, after several abortive attempts and repeated urgings from union president
Adrian Bocaneanu, I made it to Romania.
My visit lasted 10 days packed with travel, activity, and speaking
engagements. Now I face a big problem: how to distill the multitude of experiences
and volume of information into a single article? So much is happening here,
so much worth reporting to the world church, that inevitably the selection process
will leave out many important projects or seriously curtail the way they are
treated. My apologies to all those who are working so hard and who hosted me
so graciously if you search in vain for coverage of your activities.
Ancient, Adaptable, Unique
From the plethora of images and impressions that crowd in on me at the end of
these 10 days, I am trying to see the big picture--of the country itself and
especially of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Three foci are emerging: ancient,
adaptable, unique.
Romania, as the name suggests, is linked to the Roman Empire.
In the second century A.D. the Romans founded a colony here. The language still
reflects the Latin influence: although the country is situated in the far east
of Europe, about half of its words are the same as French or Italian.
During the course of the centuries Romanians have lived under
foreign domination--the Turks for many centuries; the Germans in the first part
of World War II; and then the Russians. But the people learned to adapt to changing
circumstances, retaining their national identity by innovating and adjusting.
I found the people friendly and hospitable. They display the
Latin temperament--emotional, spontaneous, and reactive. The music is beautiful,
with many hymn tunes quite new to me but hauntingly expressive. The culture
claims a proud literature, but one largely unknown outside its borders.
The land covers an area about the size of the state of Oregon
in the United States and has a population of 22 million. The Carpathian Mountains
form a natural and historic boundary between the provinces of Moldavia to the
east and Transylvania to the north and west. Many people in Transylvania speak
Hungarian as their first language; the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire prior to the end of World War I.
Among Romanians who have gained world fame are: Nadia Comaneci,
the diminutive gymnast who was first to attain a perfect 10 in the Olympic Games
(1976); Ilie Nastase, fiery-tempered but outstanding tennis player; Professor
Mircea Eliade, authority in religious studies; and George Enescu, composer of
classical music. On a quite different level is Count Dracula, whom legend has
it lived in Transylvania in the fifteenth century.
Most people in Romania today follow the Orthodox expression
of Christianity (87 percent). Protestants comprise 7 percent, and Catholics
6 percent. Interestingly, Islam is almost nonexistent: only a few pockets can
be found. Although the Ottoman Empire controlled the country for many centuries,
the religion of the rulers did not take root.
Adventists learned to adapt to Communism. They not only survived;
the church grew. Members and pastors suffered greatly, with torture and jailing,
or loss of profession because they refused to work on the Sabbath. Parents faced
the terrible dilemma of their children being required by the state to attend
school on Sabbath
Out of the suffering of the past, perhaps in part because of
the suffering, a strong church has emerged. I have been struck by several features
that seem unique--in themselves, or in their adaptation of ideas and practices
from elsewhere in the world Adventist family:
On the first Sabbath we drove two hours west of Bucharest
to Peretu, a village of about 8,000 inhabitants, to take part in the dedication
of a new church. The building, constructed by members, seats 300, and it overflowed,
with many people standing across the back.
The mayor of the village and politicians at the local and national
levels attended and gave speeches of appreciation for the impact of Seventh-day
Adventists in the life of the community. One aspect of the morning puzzled me,
however: the church was simply called "Peretu 4." Then I found why:
Because we already have several churches in Peretu, Adventists distinguish them
by number. In actuality, the new church was the fifth one, Peretu 5 having been
started about the same time as Peretu 4, but completed before it.
Conference leaders told me that they had dedicated new churches
elsewhere every Sabbath of the previous eight weeks. Leaders in other fields
I visited shared similar information. Today, Adventist congregations in Romania
total about 1,100.
The media plays a large role in Adventist life and witness
of the church here. Many churches have a satellite dish and use this technology
as a major element in evangelism. The church produces daily programs that air
on its own radio stations in Bucharest and five other cities, plus paid time
on other stations. Adventists also produce seven hours of TV programming each
week for a channel that covers the whole of Europe. Under construction is a
new building next to the union office to bring radio and TV production into
modern studios with the goal of 24-hour TV programming in the Romanian language.
For a church at the union level to commit resources and so
much energy to radio and TV demonstrates the aggressive, confident spirit of
our people in this country.
Anciently the Jewish people scattered in the Diaspora; Romanian
Adventists have their own. Because of better work opportunities abroad, at least
10,000 have emigrated--to France, to Italy, to Israel, to Australia, to Canada,
to the United States. Especially to Spain, where Romanians count for almost
half the membership. And the needs of new congregations in the diaspora have
attracted pastors from the home country to serve the people abroad.
The loss of thousands of members, most of them in the 25-40
age range, might have discouraged leaders and people. But instead they have
extended their ministry, encouraging those in the diaspora to remain faithful
to the Lord wherever they find themselves. For the past two years the union
has invited congregations abroad to send representatives to a conference to
discuss how to enhance mission in their adoptive countries.
Adventist young people are involved in multifaceted programs
of community improvement. The basic idea was developed in the South Pacific
Division, where it is called StormCo; the Romanian church has adapted it and
run with it.
Projects begin with one or two people visiting with the mayor
of a village where Adventists have no presence or a church struggling to survive.
From the list of projects suggested by the mayor--painting the school, environmental
cleanup, restoring the home of a needy family, and so on--the Adventist team
selects those they have the time and the skills to complete. The young people
descend on the village for 10 to 15 days--occasionally up to four weeks--and
go to work. They donate their time and expenses, often staying in the local
school; the mayor's office and different private or corporate donors provide
the building supplies as needed.
Youth director Cristian Modan told me that the local people
respond with delight and appreciation. They gain a new and positive understanding
of Adventists and are receptive to spiritual follow-up activities such as Vacation
Bible Schools, while the young people themselves come back fired with enthusiasm
and a sense of pride in their Adventist identity. They return to the same place
year after year, building on the growing spiritual interest of the people.
So far Adventist youth have completed some 180 projects, many
in remote areas. Here is an idea that surely could be adapted and used around
the world. Low cost, simple, and obviously beneficial to the community, it combines
youth's energy with societal needs, Adventist practicality with Adventist witness.
Youth in Romania also run their own evangelistic campaigns; last year some 190
young people preached in about 160 public efforts, with strong response from
the public.
Vacation Bible Schools have been used by Adventists and others
for many years in various parts of the world. But the Romanian church has expanded
their potential: they not only conduct VBS in the summer but also at Christmas
and Easter, using materials appropriate to the season. In 2004 some 16,500 children
attended, the majority of whom were not from Adventist families. Now the church
is working to integrate these visitors into established programs such as Adventurers
and Pathfinders, and their parents into the life of the church.
I know of no part of the world where church leadership so
intentionally reaches out to leaders of government and other churches and educates
members on the need to involve themselves with society as a vital part of their
witness.
"The church must not just operate within its environment,
but must shape its environment," public affairs and religious liberty director
Viorel Dima told me, emphasizing "shape." "Public figures should
know the Seventh-day Adventist Church, think well of us, and be open to us.
We should influence public opinion regarding the church."
Pastor Dima told of the challenge Adventists faced in his country:
while the public's view of members individually was highly positive, the view
of the church at the official level was negative, because church officials didn't
interact with leaders of government and the other churches.
During the past few years the picture has changed dramatically.
Dima organizes 20-50 symposia each year that bring leaders from government and
academia together to discuss topics of current concern in society, with religious
liberty as an ongoing emphasis. Adventists also attend and contribute to the
discussions. Through this means the church has become widely known and respected
at the highest levels of society.
In addition, Dima is organizing councils of influential Adventists
in each of the 40 administrative regions of the country. These councils are
to focus on social values for their region, such as the Red Cross or health
or education projects. Primarily aiming to make the church more friendly, they
will not involve themselves in public evangelism--that will come later!
Windmills of the Mind
So many images to share, so many experiences--and I am running out of space.
Let me sketch four scenes that turn like windmills in my mind.
Youth with a purpose: After sitting up on the plane
all night, I arrived in Bucharest this afternoon. A shower and nap, and now
a few hours later I meet with students and staff at the college (Institutul
Teologic Adventist) to begin a Week of Prayer series.
With the rigors of travel and lack of sleep, I should be exhausted.
But the enchanted setting--beautiful chapel, flowers, excellent music, and carefully
planned service--washes away all weariness; the students, who are pursuing degrees
in theology, Romanian literature, or social work, energize me. Clean-cut and
clear-eyed, they have come to worship: they follow the sermon attentively and
responsively.
Several of them--identical twins Daniel and Cornel, Emi and
wife, Lydia, and Josef--become my hosts and close friends. They transport me
to and from hotel to college each night, give me a tour of the city on Sunday,
and come to bid a final goodbye on my last night in Romania.
Children of God: They have been waiting for us for hours,
these children at the home outside Bacau in Moldavia. As our car pulls up they
tumble out the door to greet us. A staff member clad in national costume brings
out the traditional greeting of bread and salt. We go inside, and the kids put
on a program of songs in Romanian and English, then eagerly show us crafts they
have made. Three years ago these kids were among the thousands abandoned
in this country. They arrived here unruly and unsmiling. Now they cling to us,
sing, and study for a worthwhile future.
These children of God melt my heart.
Dreamers: With a spectacular panoramic view of mountains,
valley, and forests as backdrop, I'm engaged in an intriguing conversation with
Dr. Nicolae Dan and his sister Maria Magdalena at the Herghelia Lifestyle Center
near Targu Mures in Transylvania. They tell me the story of this outstanding
institution.
It all started with their father, who envisioned such a center
in the days of Communist rule. First came freedom; then Dan found this magnificent
site; after came years of struggle to gather finances and begin to build. Since
1996, the reality.
The institute, which takes in batches of up to 44 people for
two-week courses in lifestyle change, runs at capacity year-round. Romanians,
as well as people from other countries, come here to get help for heart disease,
diabetes, alcohol problems, smoking, weight control, stress, and so on. The
income they bring in enables the institute to be self-supporting.
It's a beacon of light--and not only for Romania. Dr. Nic and
his team, seeing the need to spread the Adventist message of better living,
established a training program. Students come from Russia and other countries
of Eastern Europe for 12 months of instruction. While I was visiting, a group
of about 70 medical missionaries, including a busload from the Ukraine, had
come back for a weekend retreat.
The health institute at Herghelia has become known nationally
for the quality of its care. And, like all other activities of the church here,
it maintains an evangelistic dimension: hundreds of its former patients have
become friends of the Adventist Church.
Delicious irony: In the grand hall Ceausescu constructed
for meetings of the Communist elite, Seventh-day Adventists have gathered for
a Sabbath convocation focused on winning Bucharest for Christ. I look out at
the massed crowd of more than 4,000 and savor the irony.
Pastor Ted Wilson, vice president of the General Conference,
delivers the keynote address. Although the meeting, with many parts, runs past
1:30 p.m., the people stay by, following closely. And when the appeal comes
for them to get involved in the various options for social engagement--ranging
from helping the elderly to participating in literature ministry--they respond
enthusiastically.
Watch out, Bucharest: The Adventists are coming!
Why?
Early in my visit I asked Pastor Bocaneanu the reason for Adventists' vitality
in his field. He suggested four factors: among the first converts to the church
were many professional people and leaders of society; Ellen White's books were
translated early and circulate widely; Adventists from the beginning engaged
in programs of social uplift; and, unlike other former satellites of the Soviet
empire, Romania has remained a largely religious society.
From what I have seen, two other elements should be included:
the strong sense of mission that pervades life and witness; and the strong leadership
of the work. These two elements interact with the four he mentioned to make
the church in Romania uniquely Adventist.
* Pastor Adrian Bocaneanu is now the director of Hope Channel in Romania.
_________________________
Now retired, William G. Johnsson served as Adventist Review editor for nearly 24 years.
