Reformed Missions

The Diaspora Churches of the Mezoség

At the heart of Transylvania is the Mezoség (“field area”), nearly 6,000 square miles of fertile, rolling, semi-mountainous farmland, filled with small villages, many with small Reformed churches at their center.

These villages have stood and their churches have stood there for centuries.  At one time it was the “breadbasket” of the nation, with hundreds of churches and Christian schools.  Now it stands desolate, populated with mostly old people who struggle to provide their own living without the necessary means to farm the land profitably.

Under Communism, the land had been confiscated.  The nobles, who had overseen the lands and  communities for centuries, were driven out, their palaces were left to fall into ruin, and all was placed under the control of government agents who cared little for the people and knew little about farming.  The young people were mostly moved into the cities to work in factories, while those who remained simply did what they were told whether it made sense or not.  The Christian schools were taken over by the state and turned into centers of political indoctrination.

The churches were never closed, but neither might they be repaired; and those who attended their services were not apt to get ahead economically.  The pastors were under heavy pressure to advance the cause of communism, and those who did not could be persecuted, and even put in prison for extended periods.  At the seminary only a handful of students were allowed to study (including a number of women, who were allowed into the ministry if they married a pastor and served as his assistant).  And the final result was that the small village churches were gradually left without pastors, and were able to hold services only when a visiting pastor would come to lead them for a day.  The result has been that hundreds of these churches are now only fragmented remains of what they once were; and with only a limited number of members, mostly old, they are in danger of extinction, and are now know as diaspora churches.   

And example of this is the village of Komlód, in which stands a beautiful little 14^th century, which has carried on through hundreds of years.  Now, however, its members are old and few.  It was chosen to be the place where the first TRAC sponsored service was held.  And since then the students have continued to work there and in many other places in the hope that a way may be found to restore the life of some of these Mezoség communities. 

Student Preaching

Background to TRAC Mission                  Discovering the Mezöség

The Renovation of Komlód Church