‘Train a child in the way in which he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it’ Prov 22:6
On recent trips to Romania, interaction with young people in different centres has given great cause for encouragement. It is apparent that they are being taught important biblical principles and are responding very positively.
Young people at School
The Emanuel Baptist Church in Oradea is one of the largest evangelical churches in Europe, with several ongoing projects that have a great social and spiritual impact in the community. Their kindergarten provides a bright, well-run and welcoming facility for pre-school children. As we visited the children in their classes it was clear, from the smiling faces and the way in which they readily sung for us in English, that they were thoroughly enjoying their day. The care being exercised by their teachers and the Christian example being set was obviously laying a good foundation in these young lives, in an atmosphere which combined love and discipline in equal measure, offering an attractive alternative to much contemporary western thinking on childcare.
Many, though not all, of these children continue on into the primary and secondary school which is also part of the Emanuel complex. This school teaches the same curriculum as other schools with the addition of Christian education. All the teachers are evangelical Christians, many of them members of Emanuel Baptist Church. The Christian influence is again apparent in the demeanour of the students as they move around the school and in the way in which they all immediately stand, as a mark of respect, whenever visitors enter the classroom. One of the most striking sights was to see some of them pause for prayer in the sports area before starting out on a session of physical activity in a contact sport.
Young people at Church
It was a privilege to meet with the young people in Peceui village. At the end of the message questions were invited. One young lady was concerned about how she could properly respond to a friend who was beginning to enquire about the Christian faith, but who was very confused by other influences on her life. This young lady was certainly taking her responsibility to witness for Christ very seriously. They all then attended the Church service that followed, participating in it. A young lady from the group translated for the SGA team and afterwards shared how meaningful the message had been for her. Not only had she translated for the benefit of the congregation but in that process had heard God speak to her.
On the following evening the young people gathered in Zalau to hear a Bible message and then to rehearse for their participation in the Easter services. The Bible message took precedence and they listened attentively as an SGA team member shared a message on making appropriate choices and avoiding the distractions of the devil. The rehearsal that followed was conducted with care and an obvious determination that their contribution to the service should set a standard for excellence, worthy of the occasion. A young girl with Downs Syndrome was part of this group and it was heart-warming to see the way in which all of the young people made sure that she was included as far as possible within their activities.
Groups of young people regularly go out from the city churches to assist in services in the smaller village churches. One such visit from Suceava to Vama on a snowy Sunday morning included a group of ten young people and an SGA team member. The village folk expressed their appreciation practically in the generous buffet lunch that followed the service. It was a delight to see the Suceava youth group leader and his wife inviting the young people to attend events at the city church, so that they would have opportunity of fellowship with other Christians of their own age.
Young people in the Mission Schools?
At Zalau the translation for the Mission School and church services is done by Hanni, a bright young Christian who is in his final year at High School. He comes straight from the High School to the Mission School and often has assignments to complete after the evening’s studies are completed at the Mission School. Hanni hopes to start at Cluj University after the summer of 2009. When we remarked that we would greatly miss his services as translator, he confirmed that he would try, university studies permitting, to return when the School was in session. This commitment demonstrates that he sees his role as a vital contribution to this ministry and a responsibility which he takes very seriously.
The abiding image carried away from the day-long Mission School at Satu Mare was the example being set by young parents. At this School children came along with their parents so that the parents could attend the teaching. The children were able to pursue their own activities in the basement of the church under supervision, and it was a striking picture on the Saturday afternoon to see the youngest of them sleeping in a Moses basket at the back of the classroom. The message being communicated by these parents to their children was that the teaching being given at the Mission School assumed a high priority in their lives and that the opportunity to learn more about the Scriptures and biblical principles was an opportunity not to be missed.
These observations reflect the heartening reality that many of these young people ‘know the Holy Scriptures from childhood’. It is our prayer that they will ‘continue in what they have learned’. |
