Signs of Life from Hungary Year XIII No. 100
Budapest, 30th September, 2006
If thou but suffer God to guide thee,and hope in God through all thy ways,God will give strength, whate'er betide thee,and bear thee through the evil days.Who trusts in God's unchanging lovebuilds on the rock that naught can move. George Neumark[1]
Dear Family and Friends,
In recent weeks, Hungary has been in the news a lot. On August 20th a hurricane suddenly sprung up causing chaos and death in downtown Budapest, where a large crowd had just assembled to watch a huge fireworks. Many were injured.
Two weeks ago, a recording of Minister President Ferenc Gyúrcsány, in which he admitted that he and his party had lied to the Hungarian people in the past years, again caused chaos. Because he refused to resign, thousands went onto the streets, and especially in the first days, serious rioting and disturbances broke out. These demonstrations are still continuing. For months the tension in Hungarian society had been tangible. The process of change does not always run smoothly.
One of the eyewitnesses to these demonstrations has been Theo Pieter de Jong, a theology student from Utrecht, who has just arrived to prepare a MTh thesis on the topic of mutual assistance in the twinning links between some local Churches in the Netherlands and Hungary. The following is a 'Sign of Life after week 1', addressed to his supervisor, Utrecht missiologist Dr Martha T. Frederiks:
'It is great to be here. Budapest is wonderful (but you know that). I have already done and seen a lot. In the mornings, jogging along the Danube, up Gellert hill, and during the day, sitting there in the sun and reading for hours. What a good book by Renée Postma (Behind the scenes in Central Europe. From Habsburg to Brussels. AMK), but also quite depressing. How will things ever turn out right in Europe...?
'Yesterday evening, for the third time in a row I participated in the demonstrations. There were considerably fewer people than last week... It is difficult to identify with what it really means to be Hungarian. I have a lot of sympathy and admiration for it, and yet also some hesitations, even slight objections... When does sincere patriotism border on dubious nationalism? A sense of superiority? And when is justified indignation transformed into lethargic, passive self-pity? The melancholy which I had heard and read about is even stronger than I thought. Besides this, with regard to the political situation, I notice much dissatisfaction around me, and it simply keeps going on. I hope that the elections next Sunday (for the local authorities, AMK) will point things a bit in the right direction.'
'I don't know if my feelings of disquiet are justified. Of course I am simply a reasonably level-headed Dutchman (with a healthy patriotism, I believe, greater than the average Dutchman, and appropriate pride), but still I am surprised at the intense, passionate Hungarian consciousness, even among the well-educated Hungarians around me. People are not very self-critical. They are hardly able to see themselves in perspective, and everything is related to Trianon and the concept of the Greater Hungary (in the Versailles peace treaty, after World War I, Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory and one third of its inhabitants, AMK). There is much simplistic thinking in terms of 'them and us'. And when pride is not accompanied by modesty, it is so easily transformed into arrogance, and that is scary, certainly if all sorts of religion is mixed up with it. Then I am afraid of fanaticism...
'It is extremely fascinating to discuss this a bit with the people around me. Fortunately, I also notice that my questions cause them to think. This is already a good principle of mutual assistance, we might say. Good, I am going to do a chapter of my Hungarian course book. Yesterday I was in Kiskunhalas. Very good!!! I just wanted to let you know that it is going well. Theo Pieter.'
A personal note
As you will have understood from previous information, the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) has decided to establish a new institute: the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). From the 1st September, I have been appointed as professor of Missiology.
In the past months, I have continued my work as professor in Papa and my lectures at KRE, while at the request of the Rector of the KRE, I prepared a feasibility study into the possibilities within the KRE of establishing an interdenominational, international institute for missiology. For this, I have worked on a strategic plan with a financial analysis and an implementation plan. In drawing up these plans, I have made grateful use of the input of many from the academic world and from missionary practice, who expressed their ideas about the possibilities of such an institute.
At the end of June, the KRE senate accepted this plan. For the time being, I am working alone, without staff at the institute. A number of members of staff of the university will provide administrative support where possible.
In this period of preparation, besides my work as professor in Budapest and Papa, I will also take time for study in a number of areas (including a paper on the preparation of missionaries for Europe, in Edinburgh on 7th October next), and for the organisational development of the institute. Fundraising is inseparably linked to this. I have determined to round off a number of grant proposals in the foreseeable future.
At the time of writing, it is not yet clear to what extent the library of the Protestant Institute for Mission Institute and its infrastructure will be made available to the university and the new institute. Please pray that a solution will soon be found.
During the past period - in many respects often stormy - I have experienced great support from many of you: in conversations, in prayer, and countless emails, there were repeatedly signs of your concern. But above all, I have experienced God's guidance in recent months. This is guidance I can rely on for the future. And so, singing with you, the beautiful song of George Neumark (Bach Cantate 93) I can face the future, in the knowledge that Christ is the Lord of all the storms of life, whether great or small.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was sent out by the Reformed Missionary Union (GZB) in 1993 and for years was attached to the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest (Hungary). Since 1998, she has also been working as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and since 1st September, 2006, at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the residential area of high-rise apartments where she lives (Budapest/Gazdagret).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 9,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1-455 90 60.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
[1] http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh142.sht
