A field placement tutor travels to rural Transylvania to discover the state of preaching at rural churches. Amidst the tranquil landscapes and ancient traditions, Ian and his team confront the complexities of rural spirituality and culture in Romania’s heartland.
Landing in rural Transylvania in winter has a Narnia-like quality to it. Snow blankets the ground and mile after mile of conifer woodland is weighed down under the latest fall. However, behind this brumal beauty lies hardship. Rural communities struggle to eke out a living from strip farming and, at least where I stayed, mains water and sewage are still on the authorities’ to-do list. The towns and cities have such a magnetic attraction that people with get-up-and go have mostly got up and gone.
What is true of the villages is also true of the churches. In the cities, churches can thrive, in towns they can survive, but in out-of-the-way places like Lapoaia, it feels as if the odds are stacked against them. Leadership is carried out by local men (and yes, it is still almost entirely men) who have other jobs that often make heavy demands on their time and expertise. For them, leading a church is one requirement among many and only a tiny handful have received any training for their role. However, their passion for the gospel remains undimmed. It is deeply moving to see the sacrifices many of these leaders make for the sake of their churches.
