Choir from Transcarpathia - Ukraine

A group of 34 young people visited us last week, beginning with Thursday, until Sunday. This is a part of the Central Youth Choir of the Baptist Churches from the Transcarpathian Region, Ukraine. Their leader was Nehro Valentyn, the pastor from Berehovo.

They were singing and preaching in eight churches all together, in four days. The people received us warmly, and the Lord blessed their ministry. These are serious Christians, serving the Lord faithfully. They were the guests of our church here, housed at different families, in Pericei. The supper was served at the churches, where we closed our trip on that day: in Borla, Pericei, Nusfalau and Crasna. We also served in Guruslau, Camar and Zalau as well. Thank you, Brothers and Sisters, for the warm welcome everywhere!

On 30th November I am planning to visit Transcarpathia again, taking part in the ordination of two deacons and visiting the new church in Uzhgorod. My wife and the pastor from Bistrita is going to join me.

There are 3 million people living in Transcarpathia. In the western part (near the border with Hungary) there are 120.000 Hungarians (twice more than in Salaj County, where I live now.) But, there are only 200 Baptists in eight small churches! (In Salaj there are more than 3000.) So, the need is great!

May the Lord bless His Word as it is preached in this area of the world!

Children and pastors

We had two special meetings this week.
First, we started the music-school with children, with the hope, that after finishing the theory we will be able to learn how to play mandolines, guitars and keyboards. I thought, some children (or their parents) will be interested in this - but the enthusiasm succeeded every expectations! There were 65 children present, and there are some more, who are going to join them!

So, we made four classes. Every week, Monday and Tuesday we will have our music-study with these four groups. This is also a tool for bringing these people to the Church, and teach them how to pray. (At each class all of them pray.) Next year some of them (the older ones) will be playing already these instruments, and their parents will also be there to see, how their children are singing for the Lord... Please, pray for these families!

Here are two pictures about the first meeting:

The other meeting was in Hungary, the XV. TELEK meeting, which is a joined fellowship of the Baptist pastors near the two sides of the border with Hungary. More than 40 pastors were present, from Hungary and Romania. My lecture on Friday morning was: "The influence of democracy upon our churches" and "How can we become the blessed of God in the midst of democracy". The written and audio version of this message will soon be available on www.theologos.ro (in Hungarian :)
Here is a group photo of the participants: These pastors are preaching on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Hungary. The next (XVI-th) meeting will be in Romania. Please pray for the ministry of these pastors, to be a clear and faithful testimony of the truth.

Weddings and Special Services

Last Summer we had three weddings in our church.
These new couples remained members here. Let me share their photos:
Ferike and Noémi - Sanyi and Kati - József and Lídia -
Yesterday and today I was teaching at Szeklerland Biblie School, at Hargita Christian Camp. Johanna (our older daughter) was with me. This is the second and final year with this class. I was teaching Homiletics (= how to preach) for nine hours (in two days).
Tomorrow we will have our Thanksgiving Day here in Pericei and in Varsolt. In the morning we will have the Lord's Supper together. May the Lord bless us on these special services!
Monday I will be in Cluj for a funeral service. The pastor in Cluj (Bálint Pál) is in the hospital, recovering after a surgery. The family asked me to take this funeral service. I need your support in prayer.
There will be another funeral in Viforoasa. Please, pray for Bro. János Tőtős, because his ministry will be even harder there... May the Lord be gracious to His people!

Szatmárnémetiben

Mivel holnap a Hargitára utazom, két napra, a Székelyföldi Bibliaiskolában tanítani - rávettem magam, hogy most írjak a blogba, nehogy valaki újra szóvá tegye, hogy csak angolul van... Mert ugye, szombat este mindig angolul van a bejegyzés, hetente egyszer.
Tehát, számoljunk visszafele. Kedden Gyulafehérváron voltam Kovács József főtitkárral és Kovács Gyula alelnökkel az Unió Tanácsülésén. Éjjel sikerült hazajönni. A gyűlés kora reggeltől késő estig tartott.
Vasárnap Szatmárnémetiben voltunk egy vendégszolgálaton, szombaton pedig Férfi Imanapon, Zilahon. Vagy 150 férfitestvér jött el az imanapra, plusz vagy 50 vendég Magyarországról.
Október 26-án tehát (a múlt vasárnap) Szatmárnémetiben voltunk az énekkarral és a zenekarral. Erre a vendégszolgálatra szívesen vállalkoztunk, és örömmel mentünk - egy bérelt busszal. Gondolom, a mi javunkat is szolgálta! Vékás testvér Făget-en volt (Lugos mellett) 30 éves találkozón (ennyi ideje, hogy befejezték a Szemináriumot, Tőtős testvérrel és Máté testvérrel együtt), de a másik szatmári lelkipásztor (Szűcs Sándor) otthon volt...
Tehát, ezen a napon ott szolgált az énekkar, a zenekar, és a buszban is sokat énekeltünk... Persze, prédikáltunk is, ahogy csak tudtunk! Áldott legyen az Úr!
Itt teszem szóvá, hogy egy kicsit a nagyváradi országos ifjúsági konferencián is részt vettem - amelyen láttam értékes dolgokat is... :) Hiszem, hogy az Ige nem hull a porba!
Áldott hétvégét mindenkinek!
Mi Hálaadó Napra készülünk. És persze, az Úr asztalához is, a hónap első vasárnapja reggelén.

Precious times

The precious times were the couple of days spent together with other coleagues and their wives in Sikonda, Hungary (near Pécs), the weddings in our church, and our recent visit to our former churches in Mures County (Apalina [near Reghin], Gornesti, Viforoasa, Rava, and Sangeorgiu de Padure).
Let me begin with the days in Hungary. It was like a conference, but more than that. We have real rest, and spiritual refreshment there. Here is the group photo of the participants:
Last Tuesday I was in Budapest also, for the meeting with editors of the Bible reading schedule. With some of the participants and with Eric and Rosemary from H4 we had a common photo:
Then, beginning with Wednesday we went to Mures. We visited Apalina Gipsy Church. Here we have eight baptized members already, but there are much more people coming. Here are two photos about the meeting:

After this, we had the evening service in Gornesti. The new building is a wonderful jewelry:
And the Congregation:
On the following day, Thursday we went to Viforoasa in the morning. The meeting was at Gábor Lajos' house. This is the church building in Viforoasa, at the moment:
And this is a part of the Congregation:

In the afternoon we had two services. On in Rava, an open-air service, because we didn't have a place where to meet. More than fifty people were gathered, children and adults:
This is a new beginning: there are no members yet. We were preaching in the sunshine:
Then, we closed out trip with a service in Sangeorgiu de Padure, in the evening. The new building is almost entirely ready:
The wonderful building is located near the Tarnava river (Tarnava Minor):

There is a baptismal service scheduled here for December. And the opening celebration is scheduled for March 29, 2009. You are cordially invited!

About the weddings - later.