October 2012

Sunday Baptisms

”The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isa 61:1)

Jesus continues to bind up broken hearts and set captives free in our midst. We praise God for six women who publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at their baptism on Sunday.

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Above: Sisters in Christ just before being baptized: Jennifer, Betti, Fanni, Anna, Lili and Timi. Maybe you can pick one of them to pray for over the next few weeks.

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Above: Dezso and Miki. Two of the six being baptized (Betti and Anna) are daughters of these Hungarian partners in ministry.

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Above: Miki and Erika were kind enough to hold the baptism at their house which ended up being packed.

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Above: Timi’s husband János looks on from the kitchen.

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Above: Jennifer giving testimony of her faith in Jesus. How amazing that Jennifer is German and moved to Hungary seven years ago. God was gracious to chase after her, meeting her in this little town of Petofibanya with His love! She said in her testimony, “I invited Christ into my life because I felt that I needed Him. I understood I was sinful and He died to cleanse me from my sins. Now in difficult times I sense His love and I am secure in His hands. I've come to see that in my own power and strength I can't do anything. I've learned to talk with Him and to trust in Him.”

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Above: Fanni who said in her testimony, “In 2011, I began attending this church. In 2012, I went to the Hope Festival [Franklin Graham Outreach]. After the Festival in Allen's car, we began talking about faith in God and I became a Christian. I understood that Jesus was my Savior and without Him I was nothing…God has delivered me from depression, from smoking cigarettes and many other bad things. I've begun to talk to others about Jesus and I really enjoy it. They all ask, "What has happened to you?" Many have said that I've become a different person in the same body.”

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Above: Dezso praying for his daughter before her baptism. What a privilege and time of rejoicing!

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Above: Timi shared in her testimony, “In my family, God wasn't mentioned for two generations. In my own view religion was a dead, hypocritical and fashionable thing to do. I didn't seek God.” Timi went on to explain how she met Miki and Erika and how she became more interested in God through them. She said, “I came to understand that I was in need of God and that He loves me and accepts me. The Gospel opened my eyes to see that I am also a sinner and I give thanks to Jesus that He saved me from my debt of sin and gave me a new life. God's word says in Zephaniah 3:17, ‘The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.’ As I walk in His way I feel that He stands with me and I can entrust all that I am to Him.”

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Above: Miki talking with Jennifer’s husband Sanyi who also attended. Please pray for Sanyi, that his heart would be blessed through his wife’s salvation and that he also would be drawn to God by His grace.

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Above: One of Timi’s daughter’s who is also named Fanni [not to be confused with the Fanni who was baptized]. Fanni attended English camp over the summer and has heard the Gospel clearly presented multiple times. We ask you to pray for Fanni to escape the influence of the world, the pull of peers who are rejecting God and that God would save her by His grace. Praise God that now Fanni’s mother Timi is walking with Christ and surely that will be a great testimony and blessing in Fanni’s life.

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Back from Thailand

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Above: Taxi in Thailand. In the cab various religious relics hanging from the mirror and just in front of me a small Buda plastic figure stuck to the dashboard. Reaching to buckle my seat belt, the taxi driver quickly said, “No, no, it’s o.k.” In other words it would be culturally insensitive and offensive if I buckled my seat belt which would communicate that I did not trust his driving.

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Above: Some of God’s beautiful creation in Thailand.

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Above: Some of the various temples I saw as I strolled through Chaing Mai.

This was my second residential for leadership training in Thailand. Spending a week with fellow missionaries serving in unreached areas around the globe is such an encouraging time. The stories shared over meal times, the testimonies and the times of worship were powerful. Worship is just different when you sing with people you know are returning to unreached lands to proclaim the Gospel and together you sing, “Let your name be lifted higher!” to Jesus Christ.

God’s word tells us that, “A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” will stand before Jesus praising Him. This is the prophecy that God is at work fulfilling through His children, a work that is not void of great trials. There are missionaries in isolated places persevering by God’s grace. Some have been threatened multiple times by local authorities, some abruptly kicked out of areas they so loved, some struggling through the pain of being the suspicious outsider for years. They join a long line of witnesses that seek to obey Christ’s call to make disciples of all nations and “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” (Heb 12:1-2)

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Above: The group I was privileged to spend time with this week in Thailand who serve all over the globe. Praise God for a refreshing week of prayer, learning together, fellowship and encouragement.

OPEN DOOR



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Above: Public schools recently purchased by the Baptist Church of Hungary.

Just before leaving for Thailand, core members of our church planting team met with the leaders of the Baptist church of Hungary to discuss their recent purchase of over 50 public schools throughout Hungary. As I’ve mentioned previously, one of those public schools happens to be in the town we have planted a church!

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I was very encouraged to hear one of the leaders talk about his excitement of how this could transform the nation. He talked about the opportunity to reach out to the teachers at each school, and the opportunity to invest in the next generation throughout the country.

Sunday Worship



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Above: Marcsi wishing Gyula (baseball cap) happy birthday after worship service on Sunday. Teenager Fanni (pictured left of Gyula) is one of six people who will baptized next week! We would appreciate your prayer for Fanni, Jennifer, Timi, Anna, Betti and Lilli as they publicly proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at this Sunday’s baptism.

Random Shots



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