“Honey, We Brought the Kids on Vacation!”
Wednesday 30 September 2026 12:06 “Honey, we brought the kids on vacation!” It was a joke between Tamás and Virág as they arrived at Lake Balaton with 26 young people. But after years of walking alongside these teenagers, the words carried more truth than they realised.
A few years ago, Tamás and Virág opened the doors to a simple weekly gathering in Budapest: Time To Talk. It was a space for young people to come, talk, ask questions and spend time together.
Since then, something much bigger has been growing.
The young people who come to Buda Bible have become deeply precious to Tamás and Virág. Some carry wounds from difficult family situations. Others have questions they don't know where else to ask. Over time, the relationship has gone far beyond organising a youth meeting. They have become a family — and the young people are beginning to take ownership of that family themselves.
This summer, 26 of them travelled together to Tihany for a week by Lake Balaton. Their theme was the fruit of the Spirit, but they soon discovered that they weren't only studying it. They were seeing it take shape in their own community.
They encouraged one another when cycling became difficult. They worked together preparing meals, cleaning up and carrying supplies. They served one another, worshipped together and learned what it means to put their faith into practice.
And this wasn't the first time they had stepped beyond their own group. Just weeks earlier, almost 20 young people had travelled to Szolnok to serve at another youth camp. They prepared, prayed and served wholeheartedly, while Tamás preached the Word. Through their music and service, these young believers were able to share something of what worshipping Jesus looks like.
Now the summer is over and the Friday Time To Talk gatherings are beginning again. The bicycles are back in storage, school has started — but the work God is doing continues.
Since then, something much bigger has been growing.
The young people who come to Buda Bible have become deeply precious to Tamás and Virág. Some carry wounds from difficult family situations. Others have questions they don't know where else to ask. Over time, the relationship has gone far beyond organising a youth meeting. They have become a family — and the young people are beginning to take ownership of that family themselves.
This summer, 26 of them travelled together to Tihany for a week by Lake Balaton. Their theme was the fruit of the Spirit, but they soon discovered that they weren't only studying it. They were seeing it take shape in their own community.
They encouraged one another when cycling became difficult. They worked together preparing meals, cleaning up and carrying supplies. They served one another, worshipped together and learned what it means to put their faith into practice.
And this wasn't the first time they had stepped beyond their own group. Just weeks earlier, almost 20 young people had travelled to Szolnok to serve at another youth camp. They prepared, prayed and served wholeheartedly, while Tamás preached the Word. Through their music and service, these young believers were able to share something of what worshipping Jesus looks like.
Now the summer is over and the Friday Time To Talk gatherings are beginning again. The bicycles are back in storage, school has started — but the work God is doing continues.
Beyond the Story
Across Europe, young people are growing up surrounded by questions, pressures and uncertainty. They need more than activities. They need to encounter Jesus, hear His Word and discover what it means to follow Him.
Tamás and Virág didn't need to cross a continent to serve the mission field. They said yes to God right where He had placed them — and today they are watching a generation of young people grow in faith and learn to serve others.
Please pray for these young people as another year begins: that they would keep growing in their relationship with Jesus, that new students would find their way into the community, and that the fruit of the Spirit would become increasingly visible in their lives.
And perhaps their story raises a question for all of us: where is God asking you to say yes?
There are young people across Europe waiting to encounter Jesus. There are communities waiting for someone to step in. And God is still looking for faithful people who will trust Him and say, “Yes, here I am. Use me here.”
Tamás and Virág didn't need to cross a continent to serve the mission field. They said yes to God right where He had placed them — and today they are watching a generation of young people grow in faith and learn to serve others.
Please pray for these young people as another year begins: that they would keep growing in their relationship with Jesus, that new students would find their way into the community, and that the fruit of the Spirit would become increasingly visible in their lives.
And perhaps their story raises a question for all of us: where is God asking you to say yes?
There are young people across Europe waiting to encounter Jesus. There are communities waiting for someone to step in. And God is still looking for faithful people who will trust Him and say, “Yes, here I am. Use me here.”
Stories from Europe > 2026
September
- 9/30/2026 9/30/26, 12:06 PM - “Honey, We Brought the Kids on Vacation!”
- 9/23/2026 9/23/26, 12:04 PM - Strength in Our Weakness
- 9/16/2026 9/16/26, 11:16 AM - Unshakable
- 9/9/2026 9/9/26, 3:39 PM - “You Are”: An Unexpected Call
- 9/2/2026 9/2/26, 2:56 PM - Focus on the Baltics
August
- 8/26/2026 8/26/26, 2:56 PM - Five Weeks... Lasting Impact
- 8/19/2026 8/19/26, 1:59 PM - From Relief Centre to Church
- 8/12/2026 8/12/26, 2:19 PM - Taking the Word Home
- 8/5/2026 8/5/26, 1:36 PM - More Than a Bed for the Night
July
- 7/29/2026 7/29/26, 3:05 PM - Where Hope Is Growing
- 7/22/2026 7/22/26, 3:19 PM - A Corner of Light
- 7/15/2026 7/15/26, 11:23 AM - Scattered — Yet Sent
- 7/8/2026 7/8/26, 5:36 PM - Together Behind Bars
- 7/1/2026 7/1/26, 4:48 PM - A Place Where Families Are Seen
June
- 6/24/2026 6/24/26, 5:16 PM - Go in the Strength You Have
- 6/18/2026 6/18/26, 11:40 AM - More Than a Haircut
- 6/17/2026 6/17/26, 12:43 PM - Hope for the Overlooked
- 6/10/2026 6/10/26, 10:28 AM - Ready for Camp Season?
- 6/3/2026 6/3/26, 12:46 PM - A New Path
May
- 5/27/2026 5/27/26, 12:51 PM - Churches Unite in Leiria
- 5/20/2026 5/20/26, 12:38 PM - A Life Saved
- 5/13/2026 5/13/26, 12:34 PM - The Sun Shines for Irene
- 5/6/2026 5/6/26, 12:05 PM - A Place for Everyone — Rethinking Ministry Together
April
- 4/29/2026 4/29/26, 1:34 PM - Faith from the Ruins
- 4/22/2026 4/22/26, 1:06 PM - Faithful Presence
- 4/14/2026 4/14/26, 12:52 PM - Searching for Hope
- 4/8/2026 4/8/26, 12:42 PM - Called? Keep going!
- 4/1/2026 4/1/26, 12:23 PM - The Triumph of the Cross
March
- 3/25/2026 3/25/26, 11:31 AM - Claremorris Church Opens Its Doors
- 3/18/2026 3/18/26, 10:55 AM - Step Into Mission: Opportunities Across Europe
- 3/4/2026 3/4/26, 12:27 PM - Women of Faith
February
- 2/25/2026 2/25/26, 11:48 AM - A Church Takes Root
- 2/18/2026 2/18/26, 12:05 PM - Encouraging Growth in Portugal
- 2/4/2026 2/4/26, 12:48 PM - New Neighbours
January
READ our stories about what is going on across Europe,
PRAY for the projects and the workers involved!
“Honey, We Brought the Kids on Vacation!”
September - 30 - 2026 12:06 “Honey, we brought the kids on vacation!” It was a joke between Tamás and Virág as they arrived at Lake Balaton with 26 young people. But after years of walking alongside these teenagers, the words carried more truth than they realised. full storyStrength in Our Weakness
September - 23 - 2026 12:04 God is still saving people in Europe — and He delights to work through ordinary people. ECMI worker Matej experienced this when a casual conversation opened the door for a woman to surrender her life to Jesus. His story reminds us that we do not need to be strong or perfectly equipped to serve God. We simply need to trust Him and say yes. full storyUnshakable
September - 16 - 2026 11:16 Unshakable faith shines brightest in difficult seasons. Read how ECMI missionaries across Europe are trusting Christ through loss, opposition, and uncertainty — and inspiring others to do the same. full story“You Are”: An Unexpected Call
September - 09 - 2026 15:39 A simple question asked from a car window in rural Spain became God's answer to a calling BJ Whitaker never expected. Years later, that call led to a church plant in a town with no evangelical church, where the gospel is transforming lives, families, and futures. full storyFocus on the Baltics
September - 02 - 2026 14:56 The Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have a combined average 4.3% evangelical population, which is above Europe’s average. Even so, the need is acute, so our desire is to serve this region where we currently have no ministry presence. full storyFive Weeks... Lasting Impact
August - 26 - 2026 14:56 A five-week sabbatical became an opportunity to strengthen churches, encourage believers, and serve alongside ECMI worker Eberson in Portugal. It is a reminder that even a short-term mission trip can leave a lasting impact. full storyFrom Relief Centre to Church
August - 19 - 2026 13:59 When war in Ukraine devastated the communities around Irpin, relief centres became places of refuge for those in need. But something even greater happened. As people encountered the love of Christ through practical care, new communities of faith began to grow. full storyTaking the Word Home
August - 12 - 2026 14:19 After three years of teaching German to elderly Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Louise was encouraged by a simple but significant moment: two of her students decided to take a Bible home. full storyMore Than a Bed for the Night
August - 05 - 2026 13:36 Every pilgrim who arrives at Casa Camino Antiguo brings a new opportunity to share the love of Christ. Through simple acts of hospitality, lives are being touched by the gospel on the Camino de Santiago. full storyWhere Hope Is Growing
July - 29 - 2026 15:05 When war reached the town of Borodianka, Tolik and Lena responded by meeting practical needs and caring for those who had lost so much. Four years later, that ministry has grown into something more. Their vision is to see a thriving church established so their community can discover the hope found in Christ. full storyA Corner of Light
July - 22 - 2026 15:19 For five years, ECMI workers David, Myriam and Chloë have been building relationships with immigrant families in southern Spain. Now they are taking the next step: creating a welcoming place where friendships can grow, practical needs can be met, and lives can be transformed. full storyScattered — Yet Sent
July - 15 - 2026 11:23 What began as a devastating displacement through war is becoming an unexpected movement of gospel witness across Europe. Ukrainian believers, carrying deep pain and loss, are also carrying the hope of Christ wherever they go. full storyTogether Behind Bars
July - 08 - 2026 17:36 A young prisoner recently gave his life to Jesus through a prison outreach made possible by churches and ministries serving together in unity. His story is a powerful reminder that when believers partner together, the gospel can reach even the most difficult places. full storyA Place Where Families Are Seen
July - 01 - 2026 16:48 In a neighbourhood of Tirana, Albania, mothers and caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities are finding something they rarely experience — support, encouragement, and a community that understands their daily reality. full storyGo in the Strength You Have
June - 24 - 2026 17:16 When the task ahead feels bigger than the resources available, it can be tempting to focus on what is missing. Yet God often calls His people to move forward not with great strength, but with the strength they already have — trusting Him to do the rest. full storyMore Than a Haircut
June - 18 - 2026 11:40 In Lviv, Ukraine, Nazar and his wife Iryna continue serving their community amid the ongoing challenges of war. Recently, what began as a simple haircut became an opportunity for encouragement, friendship, and meaningful spiritual conpversation. full storyHope for the Overlooked
June - 17 - 2026 12:43 In a community often forgotten, one ministry chose to stay. Through daily presence, education, and care, trust slowly grew — and with it, new life for children, families, and neighbours. full storyReady for Camp Season?
June - 10 - 2026 10:28 Summer camps across Europe continue to offer children, young people, and families opportunities to encounter Christian community, hear the gospel, and experience lives transformed through Christ. full storyA New Path
June - 03 - 2026 12:46 Fatima* arrived carrying deep trauma and a firm rejection of faith. Through consistent friendship and practical support, her openness began to grow — until one unexpected moment changed her direction completely. full storyChurches Unite in Leiria
May - 27 - 2026 12:51 More than 200 believers from 12 churches and 9 mission organisations joined together in Portugal’s Leiria region for two days of evangelism, prayer, and outreach — with around 700 people approached and 40 decisions for Christ reported. full storyA Life Saved
May - 20 - 2026 12:38 What began as a soup kitchen relationship became something far more urgent. When Mr. Dumitru’s life was at risk, ECMI workers refused to give up — advocating, praying, and walking with him until the moment that changed everything. full storyThe Sun Shines for Irene
May - 13 - 2026 12:34 After years of searching — through religion, spirituality, and personal pain — Irene reached a point where she didn’t want to go on. But a simple online search connected her with an ECMI couple whose open table became the place where everything began to change. full storyA Place for Everyone — Rethinking Ministry Together
May - 06 - 2026 12:05 Across Europe, many live unseen — shaped by disability, anxiety, or neurodivergence. As followers of Jesus, we are learning to notice, to listen, and to create spaces where everyone belongs. full storyFaith from the Ruins
April - 29 - 2026 13:34 When war tore through Irpin, life was shattered. Yet even amid war, God’s work continues—lives changed, churches planted, and hope restored. Discover the story. full story