Baptistic Theologies, 2009

o grow and develop. The second thing that proved his power to organise the church happened before the first baptism. During his second visit to Bicazu Ardelean, a group of people expressed their wish to be baptised. Dunca analysed the situation and decided that the most important thing they needed was a leader. Even though they were not baptised yet they were asked to make an election. They chose Gheorghe Handaric (Clocea) and the only thing Dunca did was to confirm this person as the leader of the church. " This election was unusual because the church was not yet formed and the people who were asked to vote were not baptised. Nevertheless the approach proved Dunca’s discernment in giving the church a ministry that 40 Dunca, Amintiri din viatci mea, pp. 118-119. 41 Interview ofTepes Paleu Gheorghe. 4 " Dunca, Amintiri din viatci mea, p. 120. 50 Baptistic Theologies would continue in his absence. The future successful development proves that the method was inspired. The baptismal ceremony was a third aspect, illustrating his organisational spirit. In the night between 26 th and 27 th April 1925, at two o’clock, sixteen people were baptised in the Bicaz River. 43 Their names are recorded in the first register of the church. 44 The missionary did not baptise all of the twenty people who asked for baptism. He does not give any account of his reasons. 45 The holding of the baptism at two o’clock in the night, and his departure from the village immediately afterwards, should be interpreted in the light of persecution from the state and from people in the village. This shows that Dunca was not tied up by regulations. He had a free spirit. Indeed he organised the church services in a specific way but he felt free to organise a ceremony in the middle of the night. Dunca was an organised man and a free spirit at the same time. The first baptism in Bicazu Ardelean, therefore, shows another important aspect of Dunca’s power to influence: his organisational spirit. This was proved by his power to organise the church services in a specific way, his desire to let leaders be chosen by the congregation and his free spirit which could discern the proper moment to abandon any regulations. The example of endurance in persecution Gavril Dunca was an influential personality, with his influence stemming from and being seen in his authentic transformation, his missionary strategy and his organisational spirit. To all that a fourth trait should be added: the example he gave in enduring persecution. In the memory of local people he was a man of God who suffered for the cause of Jesus. 46 As already stated, he was beaten many times by the gendarmes. His success in Bicaz caused the creation of an organisation similar to that of the Inquisition. The members swore an oath of allegiance to the Greek Catholic Church and were enemies of the Baptist outreach. Under the influence of this organisation, Gavril Dunca was be