Baptistic Theologies, 2009

116 baptised persons in 1939, 1 2 3 and a building that could host more than 200 people was erected in 1930. The professor of Romanian Baptist History from the Seminary in Bucharest, loan Bunaciu, calls this ministry ‘the great spiritual awakening in Bicazu Ardelean’ (the name of the parish), and the first missionary, Gavril Dunca, entitles the work in this area as ‘the awakening in Bicaz’. Martyn Lloyd- Jones defines an awakening as a ‘period of unusual blessing and activity in the life of the Christian Church’. 4 This church experienced unusual blessing, growing rapidly in a period of persecution, and it also experienced unusual activity. Its activity can be seen in the people’s involvement in building the church, helping the poor, and giving for the ministry. 5 But which were the factors that contributed to this impact? Is it possible for this church to have the same influence again? These are the questions to which the present paper is trying to offer an answer. In order to do that it will analyse three factors and areas of influence: the context of Bicazu Ardelean at the beginning of the twentieth century, the activity of the first missionary, Gavril Dunca, and the behavioural traits of the people from the area. The conclusion will try to offer an answer to the questions enunciated. There are several primary sources on which to rely: the written memories of the first missionary, Gavril Dunca, the membership registrar from 1926 to 1975, a written memory from the inauguration of the church 1 Biserica Crestina Baptista Bicazu Ardelean, Re gist ml cu spesele: 1926-1975 (located in the archives of the Baptist Church in Bicazu Ardelean) records only 96 members in the church in 1939 but also refers to another 20 members who moved to Banat. Therefore it can be stated that the number of baptised people from the area was 116. 2 loan Bunaciu, Istoria Bisericilor Baptiste din Romania (Oradea: Editura Faclia, 2006), p. 86. 3 Gavril Dunca, Amintiri din viata mea (unpublished typewritten script, 1978), p. 104. 4 Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Trezirea (Oradea: Editura Faclia, 2006, translated), p. 15. 5 Biserica Crestina Baptista Bicazu Ardelean, Registrul cu spesele: 1926-1975 mentions that in 1929 there was a Women's Society, there was the giving of the money for the poor, and there was help for ‘the starving brothers in Basarabia’. The Beginnings and Growth of Baptist Witness in Bicazu Ardelean 41 building, and interviews of people who met the contemporaries of these early beginnings. I.The context of Bicazu Ardelean at the beginning of the 20 th century Any movement is influenced by a wider context of which it is a part. People can relate to it consciously or unconsciously. It cannot be stated how much the people in the parish of Bicazu Ardelean were aware of the influence that the context played in their response to the evangelical movement but this influence can be seen when three domains are analysed: t