Years ago, before even moving to Petofibánya to join Jesus in planting a church, He gave us a vision statement that bundled up our passion and helped maintain the direction we wanted to move in ministry in Hungary: “To initiate and facilitate evangelistic and discipleship ministries that empower Hungarians to lead a dynamic church planting movement.” I shared with my team how excited I am in this new season of ministry, a season that has the potential to see our church multiply and plant another church in the neighboring village of Rozsasentmarton.



Above: Dezso (far left) and Marcsi open up their home to receive various neighbors and the core group in their first evangelistic study.

Just last week, Dezso and Marcsi launched an evangelistic Bible study in their home in Rozsaszentmarton with the long term goal of church planting in their home town. Through various outreaches and personal evangelism God has already saved Dezso’s next door neighbors and some teens from the area and they have grown in maturity attending our fellowship in Petofibánya over the years. Now our church is sending them out (back to their hometown), and they are joined together as a core-group seeking to join Jesus in planting a church-planting church in Rozsaszentmarton!



Dezso commented how amazed he was at the response to invitations to this first meeting from neighbors and friends. God was clearly at work preparing peoples hearts, one neighbor saying, “I was waiting for you to invite me.” This is so surprising because this Northeastern county is “hard” ground and many people are turned inwards and very suspicious instead of open. The number participating in this first meeting (core-group and those invited) exceeded the number we had when we began in 2003 in Petofibánya. May our Father bless this new church plant and cause growth through the powerful working of His Holy Spirit and through the bringing of His good news!



Above: Our county packed with small towns and vlllages.

Our team worked through an all day meeting on Tuesday discussing our next steps in church planting. Over the past few months we have noticed that we are exceeding the capacity for the room we have been renting in Petofibanya for weekly worship. We have people that are being saved and traveling from Lorinci, Roszassentmarton, Apc, Jobbágyi. We have believers from the town of Jaszfenyszaru below Hatvan (large city bottom of map) traveling to our church since they have no local church in their area.



Above: A good problem to have, running out of room.

Taking into account all that God is doing in our area and seeking to equip church members for living out their callings in community, we will be voluntarily dispersing our local congregation in small teams back to their home towns on a bi-weekly basis. It is our hope to see new works as a church not only in Rozsaszentmarton, but Apc and Lorinci in the coming year. These are major changes that we believe will lead to growth in church member’s lives as they begin using their various giftings and also growth of the body of Christ as more are saved in these surrounding villages.



Above: Miki helping Tamás learn to play the guitar.

In each area (except Apc) we have a mentor leader and one being mentored (like Tamás above). Those being mentored are also attending theological training through a correspondence course that meets one Saturday a month. I am thankful that what they are learning does not remain theory, but they get the opportunity to live it out in their hometowns. These are truly exciting times and we look forward to Christ continuing to build His church throughout this spiritually dark region.









Above: Family hiking on the hills behind Petofibanya.



Above: We are in the final weeks and are awaiting with joy the birth of our new baby girl. Sharon is recovering from a head cold and congestion. Please pray for healing so that Sharon could be physically strong when the time for birth comes. Thank you all for your continued support and prayer!