10 Years in Sighișoara

On Sunday, October 4, the Sighișoara Church of the Nazarene honored Rev. Magda Balaban—who has served in Sighișoara for the past 10 years—and blessed her as she enters a new chapter of her life.

Magda came to Sighișoara in September 1999, following her graduation from European Nazarene Bible College. Her original assignment was to work in the Veritas ministry for disabled persons. In time, Magda devoted full-time to church-related ministries at the Sighișoara church . Her ministry focused on working with the senior adults who attend the church and the daily elderly program at the church. Magda's ministry has also included leading weekday prayer meetings and Bible studies, translating both sermons and literature, serving on the District Advisory Board, teaching children's church, and teaching American students who come with the Romanian Studies Program.

After preaching the morning message, Magda announced to the congregation that she has accepted a job offer in Bucharest and will be returning to her hometown in just over a week. Magda, an ordained deacon in the Church of the Nazarene, is like many ministers on the Southeastern Europe Field who must rely financially on employment outside the church.

After an all-church dinner following the service, those gathered viewed a PowerPoint presentation celebrating Magda's 10 years in Sighișoara (view below). Many offered words of thanks to Magda for her service. The church board presented Magda with three gifts to serve as momentos of her ministry: a piece of Transylvanian pottery, a painting of Sighișoara, and a Sighișoara mug. As one person shared, “The Sighișoara Church’s loss is the Bucharest Church’s gain.”