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Make a difference in Hungary |
Introducing Hungary
Hungary, a landlocked nation in Central Europe, has a colorful past going back at least 1,100 years. The Magyar peoples arrived in the Carpathian basin in 896 AD. In 1,000 AD the Pope crowned Stephen king of the Magyars.
Part of the Austro-Hungarian empire from 1867, the Hungarians lost considerable territory and population as a result of the aftermath of World War I and fell under Soviet domination following World War II.
Hungary became known for its rebellion against Soviet rule in 1956, resistance which was brutally suppressed. So it is fitting that Hungary should have been the first Communist bloc country to begin privatizing its economy and record positive economic growth, and the first to abandon Marxism and institute a multi-party democracy in 1990.
Evidence of the economic and social progress made lies in the fact that Hungary joined the European Union in 2004 and is looking forward to adopting the Euro by 2010.
Hungary’s charming capital, Budapest, cut in half by the Danube river, has been called the Paris of the East. Although small, Hungary’s Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Europe. While it has a population that is 64% urban, agriculture is still an important part of the economy. Hungarians’ mother tongue, Magyar, is a Finno-Ugric language, distinct from its Slavic or Germanic neighbors.
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Geography:
(Operation World 2001)
Area: 93,030 sq km
Population: 9.7 million
Capital: Budapest
Population: 1.8 million |
Language: Hungarian
Website:
Hungary- Tourism
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Spiritual Climate
Hungary has had freedom of religion since 1990. Many have identified themselves as Catholics since Hungary was predominantly Catholic prior to World War II. There appear to be more atheists indifferent to the gospel, and more protestants/evangelicals that the Operation World numbers below seem to indicate. Some members of the Evangelical Alliance, have found that this membership has facilitated their work in Hungary.
There are many openings for evangelism, primarily for those who work together with, or under the authority of a Hungarian fellowship or denomination with a vision for reaching their locality. Such work provides local ownership which will not fade when outsiders leave.
Prior to World War II, ECM had full-time missionaries in Hungary, but currently have none. Our principal contact is through churches that were at one time connected with ECM and pastors who wish to retain links. ECM is working toward a full-time presence in the country again, but no definite plans have been formulated yet. Summer teams however, continue each year.
A testimony from Mike Gardener from Leeds, England, who went to Hungary to participate in English teaching in Tatabanya:
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Application accepted! Joy! After three years of frustration, not being able to go for various reasons, at last it is now possible.
How do I prepare? What do I take? Or leave behind? As for the travelling itself, I am thankfully with someone who has gone before. But our baggage goes astray, together will all the teaching resources (not to mention clothes), only to be reunited with us two days later, on the very day that the teaching is due to start.
Thrown in at the deep end, it is sink or swim. I know no Hungarian but am to teach English to about a dozen Hungarians, of varying ages (16 ? 40+) who want to brush up on their skills. And Hungarians are unused to sharing openly in a teaching environment, so how do I handle this, Lord? Get them into small groups as much as possible and coax them out.
The programme involves pure English teaching in the mornings, and mild evangelism via the English medium in the afternoons involving singing, games and a talk. How will they respond? They thrive on the warmth and love clearly seen in the team, and find themselves opening up and not being offended by the Christian in put. Most return each day and on the last day share in a church service, followed by a buffet meal together. New relationships are forged for the small local church and lives are touched by the gospel. This is reward in itself.
Just one week, but a week never to be forgotten. Will I go back? Yes, please! But next time hopefully for a longer stint. |
Long term
Career missionaries. Men and women who can commit themselves to church planting in conjunction with Hungarian churches, and to learning Magyar within the first two years.
Short Term
Native English speakers are needed who are willing to teach English for a summer or more.
Contact
| Please send us an email with your name, country of origin, and interest to one of the addresses on the right. Be sure to include Hungary on the subject line. |
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- For existing Hungarian church leaders. That they could continue to Shepherd the congregations in which they serve while holding full time secular employment.
- For additional co-workers. Many pastors are trying to do it all and are spread too thinly.
- That Hungarian church leadership will square up to their past, via repentance, reconciliation and renewal.
- That the church may be a relevant witness to Hungary.
- For church lay leaders with high morals and fresh vision.
- For the less-reached segments of Hungarian society: the Roma (Gypsies), and refugees for former Yugoslavia.
