George Guthrie
Romanian Health Workers Congress
The Romanian Adventist Seminary now sits in Bucharest, the Capital, in the vicinity of the Union offices but the old Stiupini Seminary property is about 3 hours’ drive north in what is still an active farming area near the confluence of two mountain ranges where the nearby city of Brasov guards the southern border of the Transylvania region of Romania. This was the location chosen for a meeting of Romanian Seventh-day Adventist health workers with the purpose of encouraging one another and strengthening the health dimension of the Gospel Ministry. The old Seminary buildings are older and a bit rundown by our standards but yet there is a peace about the place with its fishpond and apple orchard next to the old outdoor tennis and basketball courts. It was easy to imagine couples of bygone days chatting on the benches surrounded by lawn and flower gardens as they became better acquainted.
The Teutonic Knights built the nearby city of Brasov in the early 1200’s at the command of King Henry II of Hungary as border security. The architecture, city square, many-colored houses, and narrow streets reflect the Saxon influence. The Black Church stands as a reminder that the Reformation had a glorious beginning here in what was the southernmost reach of the Austrian Empire. Its history seems to make it a fitting place to meet.
The city has begun to encroach on the peaceful atmosphere of the old seminary compound with the neighboring Vodaphone building and its towers providing a quiet reminder that modernity is rapidly overtaking the old farming community as well as the challenges of the communist past. A newly enlarged auditorium provides a comfortable meeting place and reflects the significant progress of the country and the church into the modern marketplace.
A significant portion of the approximate 70,000 Adventist church members have found themselves serving in a variety of health related fields. An energetic group of approximately 230 of these found themselves together at the Health Workers Congress held September 10-13, 2015. Drs. Brian and Lyndi Schwartz and Dr. George Guthrie had responded to the request to attend and present at the conference.
The Thursday evening program kicked off the Conference with a presentation by Dr. Brian Schwartz focusing on praying with patients and starting discussions about spiritual things. Friday Morning began with exercise, breakfast and a stirring devotional from the Union Treasurer. In both the morning and afternoon there was a plenary session by one of our visiting group followed by breakout sessions for physicians, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, and nutritionists.
Dr. Lyndi Schwartz was asked to share the Sabbath message she presented at our 2014 AMEN Conference: “My Life, My King, My All.” The presentation and challenge were timely and appreciated. The Dean of the state medical school in Târgu Mureş addressed the group on Sabbath afternoon. We heard a presentation by a psychologist on the challenges and imperative for balance in health care workers.
While many of the health professionals understand English the meetings were translated for those that were not able to understand. Those of us who understood no Romanian had a variety of translators who took turns providing us with understanding of the message. For each meeting we would have someone sitting behind our little group and interpret the message.
The music was outstanding and vocal presentations were often in English although much of the congregational singing was of older hymns that were new to us visitors. The musical program of Sabbath evening was quite inspiring. Exceptional talent was evident in the classical and religious music shared during the concert.
Our hosts very kindly provided opportunities to experience the local culture as well as some of the tourist sites. Bran Castle, sometimes referred to as “Dracula’s castle,” and the historical section of Brasov provided a taste of history. A morning climb up a hillside ridge above a quiet mountain village left us in awe of the grandeur of God’s creation as we took in the towering Transylvania Mountains, with grazing sheep and haystacks keeping watch over the red tile-roofed houses in the foreground.
Another inspiring experience was our visit to the thriving lifestyle center in Hergelia, an OCI-member ministry. The Center consistently runs at full capacity with about 50 patients in back-to-back programs. The staff of about fifty manages many services including delectable dining, physician consults, tasteful and healthy cuisine, hydrotherapy, massage, exercise in the indoor pool, spa treatments, and much more. The greenhouses and farm provide fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, sweet concord grapes, wheat for the bread, soybeans, and apples.
We visited a new Center of Influence that is taking shape in the center of Târgu Mure, a nearby city with a population of around 110,000 which is to include dental services, classes, coaching, and counseling services. We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at a successful vegetarian “Bistro” providing healthy “fast-food” to workers in the area and were introduced to a busy van ministry that serves the people of this city as well.
We left Romania realizing that we have a great deal to learn from them. The opportunity to share together seemed to create a fellowship between our AMEN group and the Romanian health professionals. Several expressed the desire to begin their own chapter and attended our Conference in Hilton Head. We each have lessons to learn from the other as we seek to practice Christ’s healing ministry in our own culture. Pray that God will send both the financial and personnel resources needed to continue expanding His mission for the people of Romania.
Student Testimonies By: Konrád Szallós-Farkas, 4th year medical student
What a blessing to see 31 students committed to medical evangelism attend the 2015 AMEN conference in Romania. Two students attended despite the stress of defending their thesis earlier the same day they arrived at the conference!
Students’ lives were enriched spiritually, socially and professionally. A fourth year medical student expressed how fellowship and the exchange of experiences with fellow Seventh-day Adventists working in the medical field was beneficial and encouraging to him.
Roxana, a student, said she met people with valuable goals and ideas. She was excited to hear the story of a physician who shared his miraculous experience in buying property for a very good price – property he is going to use as a clinic and hospital. Roxana was inspired by meeting physicians in Romania who have taken the initiative to open clinics and hospitals where God is uplifted as the Great Physician. This experience confirmed her desire to work in a Christian environment after she graduates. “Romania needs God, nobody can alleviate suffering better than HIM”, says Roxana. It is her desire for God to inspire us with a holy mind and unity so that we care for suffering people as Jesus did.
The medical students and Romanian health professionals long to be more involved in medical missionary work. They would love to become more involved with AMEN through mission trips and receive more training from AMEN. They also solicit your prayers as they strive to stand as beacons of light, showing the world God’s character through every aspect of their lives, especially their calling as medical missionaries.
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