The Ambiguous Beginnings of the Modern Mission Movements in the Reformed Church of Transylvania Between 1895 and 1918

This study looks at the ways how the Reformed Church encountered the new modern mission movement in Transylvania with the arrival of Dr. Béla Kenessey and Dr. István Kecskeméthy to the newly established Reformed Theological Seminary at Cluj in 1895. By the time being, some theologians expressed grave concerns about the dangers of theological liberalism to the Confessions. The paper argues that these young professors, touched by the mission movement and revival also sought to encompass those who had an evangelistic fervor to reach unbelievers and to serve those people in their personal and social needs. As a result, Christian Covenant was established in 1896, with official recognition in 1903 as the Christian Endeavor. It is hoped to unfold the major shifts regarding the attitudes to mission in the Reformed Church of Hungary and throw lights on ambiguous beginnings of mission movements.

COVID-19 in missiological and historical perspective

COVID-19 is affecting Christian mission in many different ways. Doubtless it is inspiring some people to initiate new mission efforts, while in other contexts it is causing thriving mission to change radically or cease altogether. In this forum article, three missiologists write essays about how mission was affected during the influenza pandemic of 1918–1919, the event most frequently compared to COVID-19 for its similarly worldwide scope. James Krabill’s essay describes how the earlier influenza pandemic led to renewed spiritual vigor in Nigeria and the establishment of several new denominations in West Africa, which remain influential today. Robert Danielson’s essay examines how a ministry to sailors in the early 20th century, known as the Floating Christian Endeavor, was negatively impacted by the influenza pandemic. This article concludes with Benjamin Hartley’s story of how the life of John R Mott, perhaps the most famous world Christian statesman in 1918, was also affected by the influenza’s scourge. These historical essays provide both inspiration and consolation for contemporary mission initiatives as missiologists and other Christian leaders seek to respond to the crises of their own day.