I never thought i would experience something like this,
Church being closed down is something i read one or two times in some articles, and now this is happening in my Church in Ajka. There are around 6 Churches in Ajka from Catholic, Reformatus and Evangelikus. Mine is Reformatus Church in Tósokberénd, Ajka.
During my first months, when i didn't know the operational hours of the church in Tósok, i went to the Catholic Church because it's the only Church which i know the service time. And eventually i got information about the other Church and i go there every week ever since.
The priest is very helpful and speak english, although during service of course he preaches in Magyarul. He introduced me to a woman who can speak english and we became friends since then.
The Reformatus Church in Tósokberénd congregation consist of around 100 people, unfortunately the amount of people who goes to church on weekly basis is only around 25-30 people. So 2 weeks ago i heard the information from the preacher that there is a possibility that the Church is going to be closed because of financial crisis as the operational cost for the utilities is quite expensive. So the people will be assisted to attend service in the downtown Church instead.
I am very sad to hear about this news.
Personally, the experience i got in Ajka's christianity has been quite something compare to what we have in Manado.
Let's talk about some major points which can be seen easily :
. Building
European's Architecture is very fascinating, it's like visiting a time machine. Building with old stone blocks from hundred years ago with it's art deco style, so many details, small windows and pillars , etc.
Ajka Tósok's Templom is quite the same, it is just simpler, no exquisite details, pilars and such. Just plain Church with it's old walls. I will take a picture of it next week when i go there.
Honestly the first time i saw this Church i thought it's already closed and out of service, because it looked so dull, cold and colorless. During winter time we held the service not in the church but in the second building next to it, it's like a medium room built specially for winter service. Because it has a low ceiling which is good for cold wheather . It is very cold inside the Church in winter time because there is no radiator installed, so you can imagine how cold it is with high ceiling and old stone walls.
It is quite different with the Catholic Templom which looks nice and in a good maintenance. Good wall color, quite fascinating interior and most of all, looks alive.
If you look at Tósok Templom you will feel sad and alone. I think it's been quite a long time since it's last upgrade. Oh God, i feel very sad considering how the Church in my hometown Manado keep on upgrading to almost a luxury church as of this year.
. Congregation
As i mention before, from the 100 people only 25-30 goes to Church everyweek. You can imagine how shocked i was when i first time attend the service. Compare to the people in my church in Manado, on Sunday we have 3 service times, early morning, morning and evening. In every service there are minimum 200-300 persons. And here, in The country with a Cross in it's Flag,the attendants only 10% from that. And mind you, Indonesia is a moslem majority country, so Christianity is a minority there.
. Community
I don't need to ponder hard as to why the people in Ajka Templom is getting lower and lower, the main reason is community. Communoty It is a very important part of a Church. I have to mention again how the community in My hometown Church is, in Manado we have around 4-10 preacher per Church, while in Ajka Templom only 1 preacher per Church. In Manado we have children community, teen community, youngadult community, mothers, fathers, old people and the last is mixed community. Each community has its own service day and time. And also has its own competition, for example Choir competition, Singing, Bible Quizz, Etc. The competition can be inside Church and also can be between Churches in Manado. The Regional Scale Competition is the biggest event. We do Parade during Christmas and Easter or during Church Anniversary, we visit the sick in hospital together, we go to orphanage, we do outside service ( beach or park themed service ), we do Birthday or Anniversary service , etc. All this services is held by the preachers and by the group leader. Usually every 5 years we have to choose 2 person as a group leader in the church, every 10-20 family has it's own leader, and these 2 people will help the preacher to do the service in a smaller community , like in a mothers weekly praying service. So, for example my hometown Church has not only almost 10 preachers, but also almost 70 group leaders.
The community in Manado is alive. Unfortunately it is not the same with Church community in Ajka, we have only 1 preacher who is obviously cannot attend all the member's service all by himself, it is a very hard task for him.
We are taught to lead a prayer since we still in sunday school, we are taught to lead a prayer and do biblical learning since we are in teen community service, so when we are older we can help each other everytime we have a prayer service.
But in Ajka, when i attended the sunday school, there were roughly 5 children which were not even taught the Lord's prayer.
I know it's about culture difference, but i think this difference is so massive it affects the Church life and now 1 Church is going to be shut.
I really hope and pray that the Church leaders in Hungary will open their eyes and start to do something.
I pray that God will show us the way.
Amen
