David M. Howard, Jr.
3/31/04

REPORT ON MY TRIP TO
THE EMANUEL UNIVERSITY OF ORADEA (ROMANIA)
March 17-27, 2004

I have just returned from my tenth trip to teach at the Emanuel University of Oradea ( EUO ) in Oradea , Romania , on March 22-26. I had only gone once in 2002-2003, due to special duties I had in those years on the Executive Committee of the Evangelical Theological Society, but these duties are behind me and I will be resuming my normal schedule of twice-yearly trips.

As usual, I flew to Budapest , where I spent a day catching up on sleep, and then was picked up and driven into Romania . I preached in two tiny village churches about 45 minutes from Oradea on Sunday: Borozel and Topa de Cris. The churches were small, but the people friendly. I was served an immense meal at the noon meal. The villagers pull out all the stops when it comes to entertaining guests. This was only the second such meal that I've had in my six years of coming to Romania - the first was on my first trip - but these meals are legendary. It began with some delicious appetizers, then continued with a large tureen of soup (soup is a staple of every noon meal in Romania ). Then, the main course came, consisting of chicken, pork, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. After this, a wonderful plate of cabbage rolls. Finally, a heaping plate of dessert pastries. Fortunately, I had had the experience of such a meal previously, and knew enough to pace myself this time. (I did not know this the first time, and left groaning, after having eaten far too much!) It was a delightful time.

The teaching schedule for the week consisted of ca. 6 hours per day for four days. I had two classes this time. The first was the first class on Old Testament Theology for the third-year pastoral theology students. These students are heading to careers as pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and church planters, the Lord willing. We had a good week together, and I look forward to teaching them the second OT Theology course in the fall.

The second class was a group of distance students, who come to campus once per term for a week. They are established pastors in their 30s and 40s, which made for a much different dynamic from the usual classes there, where the ages are in the 19-22 year-old range. These students liked to talk much more - as pastors are wont to do! - and we had a number of good discussions.

I had numerous conversations with students outside of class, some of them from previous classes in previous years. Several of them were asking good, theological questions, and I was happy to help them in this way. I was able to help 3 students who were working on their senior theses, as well. In addition, I recorded an interview with a woman who has a local radio program on the Christian radio station in town. She had a series of questions on Abraham and Lot , for her show on "Questions from the Old Testament."

Friday was devoted to Emanuel's annual International Theology Conference. It was the first one I have been privileged to attend, and it was most impressive. This year's topic was "Christianity and Postmodernism." There were three plenary addresses in the morning, and breakout disciplinary sessions in the afternoon. Guests came from around Romania , Great Britain , and the U.S. More than 70 papers were presented, in theology, philosophy, education and communications, music and the arts, social work, and business. Presenters included invited guests from other countries, scholars from other Romanian universities, and Emanuel faculty and students. I was to present a paper on Joshua's "long day," but had to leave to drive to Budapest ; the paper will nevertheless be included in the publication of the conference proceedings. It was good to see the desire for excellence represented by the work that went into organizing and pulling off a conference such as this.

The week was very busy for the people at Emanuel, as it seemed there were an extraordinarily large number of Western visitors and lecturers like me there that week. As usual, John and Ann Lenton were the perfect hosts and coordinators of all things. Elijah and Raelene Soritau graciously provided hot breakfasts for me and several others each morning, which was much appreciated. Elijah helps Dr. Paul Negrut, the school's president, in coordinating visiting missions groups to Oradea and the school, and in the school's relations with U.S. partners, as well as teaching in homiletics and mission. He and Raelene met when Elijah was doing his studies in the U.S. , and have two adorable preschoolers.

The Wednesday chapel was a highlight of the week for me, as it always is. The singing there is incomparable, and almost always moves me to tears, with its beauty and the enthusiasm with which the students sing. The chapel building has now been completed inside, and is stunningly beautiful. I have posted some pictures of this on the "Romania" page of my Website ( www.bethel.edu/~dhoward ).

If you have not watched the video on Emanuel and would like to get a feel for the ministry there, then by all means do so. It too is posted on my Website as a streaming video, and is about 15 minutes in length. Among other things, you will hear some of the incomparable singing I've mentioned.

Another highlight of the week for me was the chance to meet Lord Brian Griffiths, who was there lecturing during the week and who presented one of the plenary addresses at the conference, on "The Ethical Framework of Global Capitalism." We rode back to Budapest together on Friday and had a wonderful 3 ½ hour chat. He is a fascinating and very friendly and gracious man. He served in Margaret Thatcher's government for five and a half years in the 1980s as her chief domestic policy advisor, and was essentially the architect of her economic revolution ("Thatcherism" was roughly parallel to "Reaganism" in those years), education reform, and much more. He has been one of the main pillars in supporting Emanuel financially in recent years, and the management school at Emanuel is named for him. I have an invitation to tea in the House of Lords with him the next time I'm in London , an honor that I certainly hope to take him up on some day soon!

I again thank Bethel Seminary and Dr. Leland Eliason, Bethel 's provost, for releasing me to go to Romania this time. I also thank my colleagues and students who have asked about and prayed about my trips. I thank Mrs. Becky Neve, my teaching assistant, and Scott Strand , Bethel's instructional technology guru, for making the arrangements for showing my lecture videos and giving my final exams to three classes while I was gone. I thank Bethel Seminary's Faculty Cross-Cultural Travel Grant Committee for granting funds that have made this trip possible, along the Emmanuel Foundation Fund in Wheaton , Illinois . I thank Dr. Paul Negrut, President of Emanuel, for his kindnesses and continuing confidence in me, and also Elijah and Raelene Soritau, for their outstanding hospitality and many helps rendered. I thank John and Ann Lenton for their many kindnesses. And, I thank my wife Jan, who each trip sends me off and is left with responsibilities of home, children, dog, church, and much more, and yet who is very affirming of this ministry.