Reformed Pastors’ Retreat in Romania

This month (Oct. 4-7) it was my great joy to organize another retreat in Romania for several Reformed church planters from Europe. Last year we were not able to meet because of the pandemic so now we rejoiced in spending a few days together in Sighisoara, a medieval city in Transylvania (NW Romania).

The purpose of this retreat is to foster cooperation among confessional Reformed or Presbyterian church planters in Europe. We had 14 participants coming from Germany, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Romania and Moldova. As the countries we minister in have very few Reformed churches which are far away from each other, it is helpful to be able to spend time together.

In the two full days we spent together, we had some fruitful group discussions as we focused both on the past (what happened since we last met) but also on the future (our hopes, plans, and prayers for the next year).

As we each shared our past experience and future expectations, we sought to learn from the wisdom and efforts of the other laborers. It also got us thinking how we can work together and help each other. We discussed new projects related to ecclesiastical relations, publishing works, and theological education.

This retreat also felt like a brief break from the busy life of ministry and we were able to reflect on what he have learned in our personal study but also brainstorm ideas for the future.

A few of us also enjoyed having a little Westminster Seminary California reunion: 5 alumni who labor in Italy, Germany, Turkey and Romania. In some sense, these days spent together reminded us of time spent in Seminary. As I am thankful for my time at Westminster, my prayer is that one day there will be also a confessionally Reformed seminary in continental Europe which could train students coming from our countries.

We also enjoyed reading the Scriptures, praying and singing together. These devotions were very encouraging as were reminded to come before the Lord with all our burdens. While pastors working in cities and countries with a higher number of Reformed churches and established Reformed denominations can experience this more often, such fellowship is a rare occurance in continental Europe. Although there are some other Christian leaders and churches around, we long for the fellowship with those who share the same understanding of the Christian faith.

But good fellowship would probably not have been complete without a good meal. With its complicated history, there is a rich culinary heritage in Transylvania which includes German, Hungarian and Romanian food.

Most of our nations have been enemies in the past as Transylvania was disputed by Habsburgs, Hungarians, Turks and Romanians. Now we share a meal not only as friendly foreigners but as citizens and ministers of the one nation of God, the Church.

I am thankful for these days of fellowship and I am looking forward to meeting these brothers again, Lord willing, in 2022.