In the north of Suceava County (Romania), near the border with Ukraine, lies the town of Vicovu de Sus. It’s an area where many people have an interest in faith. Churches in the municipality have understood the need to invest in children and young people so that they can grow up to be faithful people with a positive impact  in both church and society.

In several evangelical churches, the number of children is almost as high as the number of adults, meaning children’s ministry has become a priority.

Mihai Bujdei, pastor of the Holy Trinity Church in Vicovu de Sus, speaks of the potential of the congregation. “We have about 450 members baptised members, and we have almost as many children”, he told Alfa Omega TV.

Also in the nearby New Life Church in Bilca, the focus on helping children grow in their faith has become central. Pavel Crăsnean, the church’s pastor, says “children need to have the training, the preparation, of being able to cope with the pressures of the times we are in, and they need to be prepared and respond well with their life choices".

The responsibility for education lies first with the family, and then with the church and society. “Many people think, as parents, that we have to indoctrinate children with religion”, continues Mihai Bujdei. “Yes, we have to tell them about God, but the formation of a godly character (“dignity, respect, respect for authority”) needs to come with Bible teaching, says Mihai Bujdei.

A relevant and sensitive ministry

Pastor Pavel Crăsnean thinks older members of the church need to be wise in how they include children during the church activities. “We were in a church and the children were together in the church balcony. The parents kept saying, ‘Don’t move! Close your eyes! Why did you go outside?’ Wait a minute, I don’t know if that’s what really works in the long run. The child will listen to you and close his eyes today, but tomorrow he won’t open the door”.

The pastor believes churches have to make an effort to be “relevant” to the children among them. “We’re going to have to do something to make them understand that the worship service is not bondage. Church is not bondage, it is liberation, it is a work of love. Let’s speak their language and win them”.

Tabita Mitric, of  Holy Trinity Church, is convinced about the role of churches. “At school, maybe they have one religion class per week. But in Bible School they have special programs for them. I can say that this has had an impact on my life too, because I started going to Bible School as a child. What we plant in children’s hearts now can help them throughout their whole lives”.

“The foundation laid well will grow strong people, good for society and the church”

Rodica Dumitrescu, who coordinates the children’s ministry at the same church, adds: “Every time I sit in front of them, I don’t just see them as anxious, slightly mischievous, too quiet, or too shy children, I see more in them. I see what people they will become in life, because the foundation laid well, settled, will grow strong people, and gifted, and good for society and the church”.

In the Suceava area, hundreds of children attend Bible Schools in churches, and to support this work it was necessary to invest in equipping teachers. Pavel Crăsnean of New Life Church says his team “encourages Sunday school teachers. We have an annual conference for them. We have at least 400 Sunday school teachers in the region”.

Rodica Dumitrescu underlines the need for excellence in the work with the youngest. “You, as a teacher, do what you are called to do, and you must do it well, you must do it with passion, you must do it with dedication, you must live it first as a teacher”.

“God has endowed the child with a mind, a wisdom, a discernment of things, and he will understand”, she adds. “I am convinced that all children can make a decision to welcome God into their lives, to live as God pleases and to love God, if God is presented to them correctly, not just as a tyrannical God who strikes, who punishes at the first offence. Let God be presented correctly. God is righteous, but God is also love”.