Weekly Update

SUNDAY WORSHIP

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Above: Lidia and teammate Brenda in worship team practice. Months ago, we challenged various church members to seek God’s will in where they could serve in the giftings He has given. Since that time, Lidia has been gradually taking on more responsibility in the worship team. As with many Hungarian believers, she has sometimes struggled with fear and insecurities that challenge her commitment. Brenda and Miki have graciously walked her through God’s truth in those times and constantly encouraged her through fellowship and prayer. We praise God for the growth we see in Lidia!

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Above: After service, we prayed for Zoli and Mani who were celebrating their birthdays. Many of you will recall that Zoli was saved in an English camp years ago and Mani (who lives in Budapest) has been a tremendous help in planning and serving in our VBS each year.

TUESDAY OUTREACH BIBLE STUDY

Hungarian church planting partners Miki and Erika have begun a Bible study at their house on Tuesdays to reach out to those who do not yet attend church but showed interest in the past in spiritual things. Various old friends attended like teenager Zoli’s mother Ildiko who over the past year and a half ceased participation in any fellowship. Teenager Niki also attended. She has faithfully attended church over the past year and seems closer to understanding the good news of Jesus.

WEDNESDAY ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY

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Above:
Teammate Heidi (due in late April) speaking with Tünde.

We rejoiced to see Tünde and Klári who joined regular attenders Edina and Timi for our English Bible Study on Wednesday. I am thankful that they all seem to have open hearts and are enjoying reading the Bible and discovering truths about God for the first time.

In this morning's study, we talked about the fall of mankind and the consequences of choosing a way opposed to God's way. Students asked questions such as, "What does it mean that they would die after they ate the fruit?" Also, "Don't you think the punishment was harsh for Adam and Eve?" This opened up opportunities to explain physical and spiritual death. We also explained the necessary "harshness" of the punishment.

God gave full proof of His love and full provision for man in the garden. God also created an atmosphere that gave mankind the freedom to choose to respond in love or to reject God's love. Without this freedom to choose God, or to choose to disobey, a freedom to love would not exist. God clearly warned Adam of the consequences and Adam and Eve still freely chose to reject God. God’s warning of the consequences of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not a lie, but a promise that He would keep because He is holy. We closed the study with the hope found in God’s words to Satan in Gen 3:15 “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Though Satan would successfully strike the Savior, Jesus would ultimately crush the enemy and bring salvation to all of those who turn to Him in faith. Please pray for Tünde, Klári, Edina and Timi as they are hearing these truths for the first time. Pray that they would see the destructiveness of sin, and the salvation that is found only in Jesus Christ.

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Above: Klári (who attended our Bible study for the firs time this week) talking with church members Hugi and Erika.

EVENING ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY

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Above: English students Józsi and Feri.

Over the past three weeks, no students have come to our evening time slot for English Bible study. We were about to call it quits tonight and consider using Wednesday night for a different ministry when there was a knock on the door. Feri, who just began attending our English club recently, strolled in. He said that his girlfriend Edina (a different Edina from the student in the morning) would soon follow. Edina is a preschool teacher in town and has been to various outreaches and even visited church in the years we have been in Petőfibánya. Church member Dezső also joined us to help with outreach and translation. As this was the first time for them, I spoke about two major world views: 1. All things came about from chance, 2. All things came about from a Creator. We read the creation account together and Edina blurted out afterwards, "I never knew that Adam named Eve!" We talked about what God revealed about Himself in the verses we read and then opened up the study for discussion.

Edina said, "You know, the church killed my faith. The corruption, the misuse of power to oppress others..." I was able to say that Someone else felt the same way about the abuses done in the name of God. Jesus was most harsh with those trained religious teachers of his day as they put more weight on tradition and outward righteous appearance than on the rightness of their hearts with God and mercy towards others. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6)

Edina said, “You guys were the only ones that helped me turn back again and begin paying attention to God. I have always respected how everything you do has love and not judgment as a motivating factor.” This is an openness in Edina that I haven't seen for 3 years since she stopped visiting our various outreaches. Praise God for bringing Feri and Edina to tonight's Bible study and revealing Himself through His Word to them.

THURSDAY ENGLISH CLUB

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We had fun using our cell phones to call our students (in the other room) and they were role playing someone who had to take down a take out order. It was funny to see how the students improvised when we said unexpected things to them while ordering. One beginner student who didn’t know how to answer the question, “What time do you close”, said, “non-stop, non-stop, never close.” At which Brenda replied, “You must be pretty tired.”

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Above: In our second hour, teammate Roger shared the song Masquerade by Caedmon's Call. The students discussed the meaning of this song about being redeemed from a life of darkness and deception. Here are some of the lyrics:

And the thunder cracked down
And His lightning conquered everything around
That dark had to flee
Now the light of the little town
Was as dark as the night compared tothe light

We are thankful for opportunities every week to turn the student’s attention to the important matters of the soul. Please pray that our students would turn to the only One who stands ready to rescue them from darkness and death.

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Above: Elianna and Kira enjoying a quick bake cake in a cup.

SHORT TRIP TO THE US

Allen will be back in the US for a week from Sunday to Saturday. The initial reason was for the renewal of his drivers license, which can only be done in person. Thankfully, it’s not just for the license, as he is scheduled to visit various small groups of Brandywine Valley Baptist Church as they focus on missions this month.

Prayer requests:

• That church member Gábor and family of church members (Peti) would be able to find work in this trying economic time.
• Tünde, Kári, Edina, Timi, Feri and girlfriend Edina. (Each has attended our English Bible study. Pray for their salvation)
• Allen’s trip to the States. (Health, quick adjustment to time change, connecting with small groups)
• Sharon and the kids. (While Allen is away, transporting kids to and from school, wisdom and strength)
• The team (taking on more responsibilities while Allen is away, strength and wisdom for English Bible study and English club. Help with preparation for Easter puppet ministry)

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