Romania – 15th Anniversary of EEBC
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On 22nd – 23rd October, 2009, Eastern European Bible College (EEBC), Oradea, Romania celebrated 15 years of existence. The history of the school was shown to the students, graduates, families, and guests participating in the conference through a presentation clip made by the third-year media students. Rector Lars Hornberg recalled the first days of the school. On October 1st, 1994, the Bible School opened its doors and 24 young people from all over Romania, the Republic of Moldavia and the Ukraine came to the school. The school had no building, classrooms, nor funds but met in the dimly-lit basement room of a hotel in Baile Felix. The school provided accommodation and meals for the students. There were no tuition payments. This was a major challenge of faith for provision for the founders. In 1998 the first class of students graduated from the Bible School.
Lidia Muraru and Maria Lordanescu went to India and each of them founded a missionary base for their own ministry and for the numerous students and graduates of EEBC who were involved with them in the mission field. In Romania some are working as pastors, social workers, teachers, evangelists, church planters or Sunday School teachers.
Every year, God continued to call young men and women to come and be trained. During their studies some were involved in the ministry and others became involved after graduation, some deepening their training at the Masters level. The courses offered by the school cover a three-year period. The first specialization was Theology and Christian Education from which over 200 students have already graduated. This specialization was accredited in 2004 by the European Evangelical Accrediting Association.
In 2007 the Bible College opened a second specialization: Christian Journalism – Mass Media, the first of its kind in Romania. This specialization appeals to people due to the great potential and challenge media represents for Christianity. If classical missions means bringing the Gospel to the places missionaries go, media is fulfilling that description as it broadcasts the Good News to the most remote places and closed homes.
Students are trained through a varied program, combining both studying the Bible and then applying it. During the week, they are involved in different areas of ministry in local churches or communities, and on Sundays, they visit churches throughout the country challenging other youth and communities to answer God`s calling. During the summer they are involved in different mission projects that are intended to prepare them for the service that will follow after they finish school.
EEBC also offers four levels of correspondence courses in two programs, i.e., Pastoral Theology and Christian Education, which each year attract more than 100 students. Since 1993 until the present time, 8500 students have studied through IEF (International Educational Fellowship) courses. Regardless of age, gender or education, the passion for the Word remains a preoccupation that changes lives.
God’s providence remains the only factor that EEBC is based upon. Since 2006 the school has had its own building equipped with classrooms for study, media labs and library, a building that the college obtained as a result of walking by faith.
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It was emphasized at the anniversary celebration that all that has been achieved at the School has not been the result of human merits, but by the grace of God. Rev. Jorgen Lindberg and Rev. Rick Cunningham, also present at the event, emphasized the fact that this ministry, started and sustained by God, is only at the beginning. The conference also included a panel session, which brought to the discussion table students on one side and teachers and missionaries on the other side, aiming to clarify some theological issues. The ceremony concluded with an all too often neglected challenge for the church to follow Jesus’ example on being the friend of sinners.
Information provided by Ian and Sheila Hall
AGWM Personnel in Romania