Saturday, September 04, 1999 9:55 PM
I want to ask each of you to join me in praying for a few additional people for the Hungary partnership. We have had some teams disappear, who were going, and others look like they may shrink. The dates are Oct 1 to Oct 12.
We need 5-10 more people. Please pray for this! I encourage you to make yourself available and, if the Lord leads, to join us. It is one of the lowest cost mission ventures I have led in many years. I will be about a thousand dollars, plus or minus some.
Thank you for your prayer.
More information is available at http://home.texoma.net/~jerryb/Partnerships/Hungary99-En.html. I have photos of the churches at http://home.texoma.net/~jerryb/Partnerships/hungary_photos.htm.
I leave September 16 for Portugal, Spain and England before going to Netherlands for the start of that campaign. Then Italy and France before going to Hungary to help with the start of that one. Finally, back to Holland for the closing there, then back home. Doyle Enloe, a VP with International Crusades, will lead close of the Hungary campaign and come home with the group.
God's blessings on you.
Friday, October 01, 1999 3:13 PM
We have everyone now in Hungary for the effort here. We have folks from 4 states in the US, plus English and a South Africaner. We have had a great time of fellowship getting to know each other and bonding 5 teams and one unit serving the Lord.
We have the Opening Rally Saturday night, instead of the usual Friday night. It looks to be time of inspiration and challenge. Part of a task force from Colorado who is considering an on-going partnership with Hungary is here and will be on one of the teams.
A young Hungarian nanny in England is here with the team from Stopsley Baptist in Luton. A cowboy youth pastor-musician-fiddler (not necessarily the same thing) is here from Wyoming and joined with the Hungarian gypsy musicians tonight at the restaurant.
The group is ready. The fields are white. Laborers, ready, set, GO!
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 9:44 AM
We are back in Texas, recovering from travel and colds.
I am forwarding 3 emails that I have received from one of the team leaders, Robert Gunn, in Hungary. It appears God is doing a great work there.
#1 Tuesday night .....
Dear Fellow Prayer Partners,
It is now Tuesday night at 11:00. This is the very first moment we have had to send a word of report. The work has been from early morning until we finally quit by midnight. What an exciting and wonderful time. I'm sure this is much like showing your vacation pictures to your friends. As exciting as it was for you personally, it is difficult to share the experience. Just a few glimpses. I have had the opportunity to Preach 4 times - will have 6 more opportunities. God is still in the miracle working business! Please continue to pray sincerely for each of these services and for each evangelistic visit we are making.
In the beginning there was a reluctance on the part of the Pastor and my interpreter for us to offer an invitation. We have had several interpreters. On Sunday, it was Julia, the wife of the former Pastor (he died). In a meeting on Sunday afternoon, I assured the Pastor that this week he is my Pastor and I totally subject myself to his leadership and I would be pleased to do anything he asked. I assured him that in my church, my Pastor is my spiritual leader and I am accustomed to his authority. The Pastor, from that moment, assured me that he would trust my judgment. I told him that he was in good hands because I am totally relying on the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We are having a great time working together, even though his English is limited and my Hungarian is limited to "yes and no". His report to me tonight is that he feels this is a great time of training in evangelism for his people. He feels they have been asleep and are awakening. He says he is very encouraged about what God will do the remainder of this week and in the future.
Sunday evening, a successful businessman, Bela Lukacs, the Director of Marketing of a company here in Budapest, made a public profession of his faith. He received Christ last Easter. This evening, while I was Preaching, Jane went with our host to visit Bela's wife in their home. She has a major hearing problem. We are still praying about that visit.
Monday morning, all four of us (Jane, Lisa from Denver, Vicky from Wyoming and myself) were in the home of Josef and his wife for an evangelistic visit (Josef, our Pastor and our host - all three are married to wonderful Christian sisters). They had invited a couple in their 70's for a meeting with us. Neither had invited Christ into their life. The man told us of some of his experiences during World War 11. They had experienced a very hard life. After 3 hours of discussion and explanation, both of them invited Christ into their lives.
Monday afternoon another couple in their 50's came to the home of our host for an evangelistic meeting. He was a believer and she was not. She is a very good woman, but has not received Christ. She is tied by guilt to her Mother's religion, the Catholic Church. Even though both were weeping, she resisted the opportunity to receive Christ. We are still praying for her.
Monday night at the invitation a man in his 20's came to receive Christ. After the invitation closed, the Pastor brought a 9 year old lad into the counseling room where we were. You cannot imagine my joy. His name is David. A wonderful young man. We are staying as guests in his grandparents home. He lives in the same home, along with his parents and two sisters. This is one of the Godliest families I have ever known. The grandfather, Istvan, two years younger than me, is the Chairman of the Deacons in our church and is considered the church leader, under the Pastor. On Sunday morning Jane had met with the children in the church and had given them bracelets (two of our granddaughters made before we left the USA) that are used to give your testimony of how to receive Christ. David had worn his to school on Monday and many had asked him to explain. He gladly did so and is well trained in the scriptures by both his parents and his grandparents. On Monday evening, he was under conviction by the Holy Spirit to give his life to the Lord. This was one happy house. This morning three of us went with a different interpreter to the home of an 80 year old couple. Our interpreter, Sylvia, is a wonderful Godly young lady, attending the Baptist Seminary here in Budapest. She is also affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ - not on staff, but involved in ministry. The wife of this 80 year old man is an invalid in bed. She had a stroke some time ago and is bedfast. She had been a believer and member of our church for many years. Her husband, Zsigmond, told of his World War 11 experiences, of being captured and wounded. I have never seen a man struggle with receiving Christ as he did. He knew the scriptures well. It was even hard for him to admit that he is a sinner because of his personal morals and ethics. He testified that he felt it was too late for him because now both his head and his heart are so hardened that God could not reach him. His greatest struggle was for him to accept and believe in the life after death. Yet, in spite of all of his struggle and resistance that he had practiced his 80 years, at the end he said that he did want to call on the name of Jesus and invite Him into his life. He prayed a wonderful prayer of repentance and thanksgiving and received the victory. I cannot describe in this memo that joy expressed by both he and his wife. She had listened the entire time, weeping much of the time and hoping for his salvation.
There is so much more that could be said but I do not want to wear out my welcome on your machine. Please continue to pray. For example, there is a young man by the name of Edmond whose family belongs to the church but he has not received Christ. I believe he will. A few moments ago I learned that Jane and I have an all-morning visit on Thursday scheduled with a couple we met Sunday. Neither are believers. He is Hungarian but retired last year after 33 years in the US Navy as a Lt. Col. and now lives in Budapest. They are very interested in talking with us. We are trusting Christ for their salvation. On Friday morning, we have an invitation for a 7:00 a.m. prayer meeting at the Parliament in Budapest. We have provided our Passport numbers and have been cleared for that meeting. I have no idea of what that opportunity may lead to. On Friday afternoon, all four of us are scheduled to be at a girl's detention center. We will be singing (!!!???) and sharing the Gospel and our testimonies. We do not know how many will receive the witness or how free we will be. Pray for that event. Because we do not want to be an imposition on our hosts in the use of their telephone, we may not have another report until the end of the week.
THANK YOU AGAIN for what you are doing for the Lord in your prayer support!
Robert and Jane - TWO FOR SURE!
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#2 Wednesday morning ......
GOOD MORNING! My excuse for no communication is that I am following the instruction of my leader (you) in not using the host telephone. THANK YOU [Jerry] FOR INVITING US! The report that is coming to you under separate e-mail explains what is happening. Are you okay? Are you feeling better? Will I ever see you again?
What wonderful people. While the numbers do not appear to be large, the victories are huge! The Pastor is encouraged. If I am understanding correctly, there is a real concern about the ongoing leadership in this church. This good Pastor is the 4th Pastor in 5 years. Two have died. Another went???? This one reaches pension in one or two years. He is a great man - teaches at the seminary. Sylvia, our interpreter yesterday, is the most fabulous Christian you could hope to meet. She is married, age 22, and in the 4th year at the Baptist Seminary. If you ever need help, an interpreter, in Budapest, please consider her. She is an able and compassionate witness. What a compassionate heart. She worked with us as we witnessed to the 80 year old man who finally invited Christ into his life. Enough for now.
See you on this side or on the other!
Robert
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#3 Early Thursday morning .....
GOOD MORNING! It has been very difficult to find a way to attach to a computer available telephone line. I think it has finally happened. Hopefully you are getting the messages.
Another brief prayer request. This morning at 7:00 Jane and I have a meeting with the Mayor. We plan to ask him about his relationship to the Lord. Later this morning we have a meeting with an elderly lady who is ill. This afternoon, a meeting with a neighbor. Everything is great with us. God still is moving.
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Continue to pray for all the teams as they serve the Lord in Hungary
Saturday, October 09, 1999 9:37 AM
Here are 2 more reports from Robert Gunn from Hungary. (I am sorry that I don't much information from other teams, but most have not emailed me with any news.) I did call the home of Janos Kelleman, our friend in Hungary and his wife (who speaks very little English) told me that the work (where the team from McKinney is serving) is going very well. She did not know how many people had made decisions, but that the church was experiencing great awakening.
Now from Robert Gunn ...
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Thursday .................
WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!
We (Jane and I) began at the Mayor's office at an 8:00 meeting. Was supposed to be one hour. Lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. He was very open and receptive. I gave to him a copy of my testimony along with a plan of salvation. He is a member of the Reformed Church. Not for sure he has received Christ. Our Pastor and his wife were with us alone with a wonderful young man from the seminary as our interpreter. A great opportunity for all of us AND FOR OUR CHURCH! At the conclusion we held hands in a circle as I prayed for the mayor. He was visibly moved and with tears in his eyes he expressed great appreciation for us coming. He asked us for an interview for their television to be played next week. I was able to talk about our host church, my home church (gave the webb site www.hpbc.org), the Southern Baptist Work and the work of International Crusades. The Pastor was interviewed for some time. All together over 30 minutes. I gave a copy of the testimony and salvation plan to the television interviewer. God will do what He wills.
We went immediately to the home of a very distressed lady who had invited us. She is age 45. Her husband committed suicide after attempting to kill her. He said Satan told him to do so. She was burdened with sorrow and guilt. Jane and our interpreter worked slowly and carefully with her. They first expressed the love of God and His concern for her needs. Later they went through the necessary steps to explain how she could receive Christ. She joyfully did so and was wonderfully saved.
After lunch, at 4:00 we had an appointment at our host's home. He had invited a neighbor family. Sandor (father, age 64) is a retired engineer. He struggled with a decision because he had been "baptized" and felt that was all he needed. His 24 year old beautiful daughter received the same witness, as did his 52 year old wife. After 2 hours he said the family would consider this further and thanked us. I asked the daughter if she was ready to receive Christ (she spoke English). She said yes. I asked his wife if she was ready to receive Christ. She said yes. As we began to pray the sinners/believers prayer, his voice led the way. At the end, all 3 of them invited Christ into their lives. It was now almost 6:30 p.m. Our evening service, at which I was to preach, began at 6:00. All of us, including the 3 new believers, rushed to the church. We got there just in time for the preaching. The only time I had during the entire day for preparation was while Jane was witnessing early this morning. WHAT A GREAT DAY.
Tomorrow morning Jane and I are to be at the Parliament at 7:00 for a prayer meeting. The mayor told me today that he is also a member of the Parliament. I told him we were going to pray for him.
Tomorrow afternoon, all 4 of our team will be at the girl's detention center to present our witness. Pray for that event. I know we have a full day tomorrow. Our youngest team member, Lisa will have special responsibility at a youth meeting on Saturday. I have not yet seen the Saturday schedule.
Enough for now. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS!
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Friday ......
ANOTHER GREAT DAY.
Jane and I began with a 6:30 a..m departure for Prayer meeting at Parliament. Never have we seen such a beautiful building. Approximately 35 believers gathered at a large table in a beautiful meeting room. A music team consisting for 4 young adults - guitar, keyboard and 2 violins - plus a fine young politician/leader. The hour included spirited singing, prayer requests, reports and the majority of the time spent in small group praying. A wonderful way to begin the day. They meet every Thursday morning. Afterwards, we took a brief tour of this beautiful facility located directly on the Danube River (remember the Blue Danube Waltz - Strauss?).
We were picked up by Karl and Maria - the couple mentioned in an earlier report. We were with them until 4:30 p.m. Among other things, we went to a mountain town where we met her nephew, a surgeon. After surgery, he showed us the hospital. He showed me the hospital internet connection. I immediately hooked up with www.hpbc.org - MY CHURCH! What an awesome website. He stored it as a "favorite". He is not a believer. It is my prayer that he will tune in regularly to listen to my Pastor in hopes of learning better english - and receive the gospel!
He joined us as we went to another mountain area to visit a sister of Maria. Along the way we visited a church built in 1200 and a totally restored (historically correct) village over 900 years old. Beautiful. Upon arriving at the sister's house, we realized that the man is dying of cancer. This young doctor had discovered it only a short time ago and performed surgery. It appears he will die soon. I presented to him my printed testimony along with the questionaire of how to receive Christ (we were already running late for the 3:00 appointment). This was one I did not want to leave. We prayed for this man and his wife with all holding hands. They both were so grateful that we came. I really preached from my heart tonight as I continued to think about that man that will soon die without Christ - unless he accepts the written testimony. Not enough time!
We missed our 3:00 meeting with Vicky and Lisa at the girl's detention center. They understood (??!!). Their visit was difficult and could not measure the results - but they were greatful for the opportunity.
We had another large group tonight. The spirit was good. Two men recommited their lives openly during the public prayer time that followed the service.
Tomorrow a full day is scheduled. I will probably not provide a report. We have scheduled meetings at an elderly rest home, a home where a lady (age 40's) and her daughter are not believers, but are active in the church, and we have another afternoon visit with a lady who is a believer but her husband (invalid) is not. That takes us all the way up to the evening service. Lisa and Vicky have a meeting with the youth group tomorrow afternoon.
Sunday morning at 9:00 I will meet with all of the men while the ladies will meet with Jane and Lisa under Vicky's leadership. It is our plan to "hold class" in the use of the printed testimony and invitation to accept Christ. I will preach at 10:00 and the Pastor will conduct a church "forum" after the preaching to discuss any questions the congregation might have. I have not discussed with the Pastor, but it is my plan to have the concluding service on Sunday night as a time of church testimony. Although we have had a testimony from a church member every night (and all were excellent), I would like to open it up to a celebration time. We will see.
We still have several we are directly praying for. Please remember Edmond (teenager), Ilde (lady 47 - almost ready), Karl (says he is a believer, but no affiliation with the church), Maria (Karl's wife - not a beliver), Louis Szabo (young Surgeon) and others whose names we do not know.
We will arrive at the hotel on Monday morning and to a wrapup meeting at one of the churches on Monday evening with all 23 of the team members (5 churches) plus many of the Hungarian church members. To Austin on Tuesday - midnight.
Again, thank you for your continued prayers.
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I will pass on any additional information that I receive. We are grateful for your prayers!
Jerry
Sunday, October 10, 1999 4:22 PM
I got a SHORT note from the church where the folks from FBC McKinney are working in Hungary and also another from Robert Gunn .....
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Hi , just a note to let you know that we are doing well and are staying very busy. We have been to schools, nursing homes, police station, and in the homes for visits. Several people have accepted Jesus but we don't have any idea about most of the ones we have spoken to. We will have two services tomorrow and are praying that God will do great things. Vicki has found you cold and other than eating too much we are fine. See you Monday and God bless.
Steve Evans [team leader]
A lot of greetings from Janos Kelemen and the Baptist Church of Rakosszentmihaly as well.
Kind Regards, Janos Kelemen
PS: This e-mail has been sent from Gyorgy Reichert's e-mail address. (also participates this week's activity). Respond to: gyorgy.reichert@ac.com --------------------------------------------------
Well, I changed my mind. I was not going to report. Such a HEAVY day. At 10:00 this morning all four of us plus our Pastor and two church members went to a "rest home". Fifteen widows, very elderly, attended a meeting in the sitting room. The minute Jane walked into the room where they were all seated and waiting - she began to embrace them, one at a time. They were so hungry for love and affection. We had a time of singing. I asked Josef (our Messianic Jewish brother who has been so helpful in the work - a brother-in-law to the Pastor) to give a word of hope from Psalm 103. I then asked him to share with them the love of Jesus for the widow who gave what she could (Luke 21) - how they can all give praise to the Lord and he will be pleased with that. At that meeting, the Pastor announced a new name for Jane. He said from now on we will call her JOY because of her obvious happiness. He then called on her for a word of testimony. And Vicky gave her testimony about the influence of her grandmother on her life. We then went to another area in the building to share with some bedfast ladies.
Jane and I had lunch at the Pastor's house. What an experience. The Pastor's 18 yr. old daughter Lydia and her boyfriend of 2 1/2 years, Tomaz, were at the lunch. I asked them if both had invited Christ into their lives. Was shocked to learn that neither had. Jane and I began the witness immediately after lunch. At 3:00 she had to go to other appointments. I continued until 4:30 with the couple. We worked through a lot of resistance, but in the end, neither was ready to make the decision. I prayed for them and expressed my love for them and left.
I joined Jane at another home where she had been witnessing to two lost ladies (late 30's). What a difficult witness. One is very supportive of the church but believes she will go to heaven because of living a good life. Sewed a lot of seed - but no harvest. Had an excellent worship service ( arrived only a few minutes before the service for a quick clothes change). The man that made a public confession last Sunday evening gave his testimony! And, Willie, who last night rededicated his home to the Lord (and whose wife is lost) gave a testimony. (Jane and I will have lunch with them tomorrow. They also have a lost son who admits he wants to receive Christ). At the end of the day, the burden is so heavy. There are so many that are so close.
The Pastor, without identifying his specific request, asked the church to pray for his family (Lydia and the boyfriend!). Tomorrow is our final effort. I told the Pastor I would preach about "The Sheep With Six Legs". Both he and his wife think I am joking. They do not believe the story is in the Bible. So, I announced to the church tonight the title of my message and told them that even if I am not able to preach tomorrow, I am sure the Pastor will find that passage and preach from it. We will see! Thank you again for your prayers. Please remember especially the older people who are so lonely.
Robert and Jane - TWO FOR SURE!
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Thank you for continuing to pray!
Wednesday, October 13, 1999 10:33 AM
This is an email I received this morning from the national coordinator for Hungary
Praise the Lord for His work in Hungary this past week!
-----Original Message-----
From: Macher Tivadar [mailto:machti@elender.hu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 7:46 AM
Subject: Crusade in Hungary
The Hungarian Crusade is over. It was a great time with God and fine brothers and sisters in Christ. The churches in Hungary and the guest groups were enthusiastic about Gods work we could seen in October 3-10. On the 11th we have had a long Victory Rally with many reports.
As you know, this was the first crusade for 4 of the 5 churches. We could taste, how much work is needed to fill the week with appointments. I have heard from Rákosszentmihály (they had a second experience with IC), that they had a lot of places to visit. The other churches struggled with the timetable. Our guests had plenty of time to get know each other and the hosts. However God gave many discussions and some decisions also. It seems, most of the decisions did happen during the visitations, and only a few as public decisions. I did not have the exact numbers, but I guess we could speak about 30-40 total decisions. However this is a large number according to our evangelistic activity before and quality of our preparations. On the other hand I think God knows about our follow up capacity. Our church has also a lot of to do with our 11 new believers and to continue the testimony for those, who were not able to make a public decision now, but are near to do so.
One of the greatest effect of this Crusade was the renewal of our thinking. We have believers, who gave at first time testimony, who were able at first time to follow the decision process of others, and none of us were involved so long and so deep in fighting for others. We have got courage and tools to continue the mission.
Our church started in an unusual way. On Sunday afternoon we have opened a new church building in Budakalász. We had nearly 90 people on that evening, and 70-80 on the other evenings. 4 decisions and a good start for the new small church. We could visit the mayor also. In the second part of the week we held the meetings in Angyalföld. On Friday we met the mayor in Üröm, where we would like to start with a small church also. We have had a good conversation with her. She has got a Gospel presentation (a drawing from Bob about the broad and narrow way), the testimonies and a book about the history of the Hungarian Baptists.
Although we have had excellent preachers, only on Sunday evening did we have 3 people who made a public decision. Two of them made it after the decision during the visitation. Ron seems to be a very good teacher, Bob has wonderfully explained the gospel (his drawing was very useful, we have translated and copied it), Henri`s excitement was a little bit unusual to the church, but had a good effect. Shane preached simple but God used his sermon to change a life.
Jerry, thank you for your prayers and the ones of other brothers and sisters! You helped us very much.
I plan to evaluate this Crusade on 24th with the church and on 27th or 30th with the steering committee. I hope to start with motivation [for next year] in November. Because of Christmas we wont be able to have the definite number of the participants for the IC 2000 Hungary before end of January. Is it O.K.?
So far for this report. I would like to hear other reports also. If you have a question, I try to answer.
Tivadar