Christian Endeavour (CE)

ORGANISATION CE (Christian Endeavour) Union Romania

ADDRESS str.Hegyi Lajos nr.9
4300 Tg.Mures
Romania
E-MAIL cemaros@fx.ro
TELEPHONE 0040-265-132591; 0040-265-164681; 0040-265-257649

CONTACT PERSON/S: Istvan Halmen

HISTORY
The Hungarian CE-Union (the Bethania Society), was founded in 1903 as the result of the spiritual awakening from the turn of the century by Rev. Dr. Aladár Szabó and Dr. István Kecskeméthy in Budapest. The first aim of the CE was to propagate the Gospel, but it distributed evangelical literature and carried out charity work too. Their activity covered the whole country and a lot of people accepted Jesus as their Saviour, getting a new life.

The Transylvanian CE-Union has the following periods in its history:

1. Before 1918. In this period the local CE organizations were formed from
Kolozsvár (Cluj), Zilah (Zalau) and Marosvásárhely (Tg. Mures).
Transylvania belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, so they belonged to the Hungarian CE-Union.

2. Between 1918-1940. After the First World War Transylvania was connected to Romania and the local organizations had to organize their separate existence.

3. During the Second World War half of Transylvania was connected again to Hungary and the Transylvanian CE-members could participate in the Hungarian conferences. Thousands of people went, sometimes with special trains to the conferences. This period was the high-point of the activity.

4. 1944-1989. A short time after the war, in 1948, the Communist system forbade Christian organizations. In this period the CE-union had an underground life. The meetings happened under the pretext of birthday meetings or weddings. In 1958 20 members of CE-union (ministers and believers) were imprisoned for their faith for 7-22 years as enemies of the state. Their families were deported or persecuted. They were released due to pressure from the USA government in 1964. From 1972 summer, trips or camps took place, where the youth had opportunities to worship God. So a new generation (the children of the former CE-members) of believers appeared.

5. Youth programmes:

• The PHILOTHEA Tea-club
Is together with the YMCA (CVJM Sachsen-Anhalt) from Germany, an out reach youth work by weekly meetings and discussing about different topics (theological and others, for ex. abortion, euthanasia, films, music…) from a Christian point of view.
Other PHILOTHEA activities:
-Prayer meetings
-Mum's club for mothers with little children.
-Bible-study for teenagers
-Meetings for physically handicapped youth
-Program for children from the state-orphanage.
-English classes
-Guitar lessons for children.
-Library/reading room for periodicals

• Genézius Association from Cluj (Bible studies, evangelisations and programs for students).
These activities are supported by donations and by the following limited companies:

• CE Basilea Prodcom Ltd.Co Tg.Mures
In 1995 the CE-organization launched his own limited company The CE BASILEA
PRODCOM Ltd. Co. to support and rise funds for its activities. These are their activities:
- Importing and selling second-hand clothes, bikes, type- and sewing machines.
- Joinery
In 1998-99 the activities were moved in new economical buildings.

• CE Idea Ltd.Co Oradea
• CE Parmenas Ltd.Co Zalau

FUTURE PLANS
More activities for children and young people (follow up meetings for campers and other daily activities) in the renewed CE house from Tg.Mures.

PRAYER POINTS
To reach out the campers and participants in our programs with God’s word.
To build by our activities the Kingdom of God.
To get funds for the campsite development plans.