Budapest, 17th November 2007
Dear Friends,
To conclude my final lecture in Princeton, I showed a picture of the painting by Rembrandt of the prodigal son. A Ghanese pastor, Attah, who had attended all the lectures about missions in Central and Eastern Europe, asked a penetrating question: “I have the impression that there are many lost sons and daughters in this area. To what extent are the Churches able to help them find their way back to the Father?” In my reply, I called on the Churches in Africa to take missionary calling to Europe seriously, and to allow Churches in Europe to share in their spiritual vitality. I have often reflected on this penetrating question.
Increased openness (1)
After last week's Sunday Church service, Orsolya and Zoltán came over for Sunday coffee (for Dutch insiders, this is the best coffee of the week because of the related family time). They were surprised about what they had just experienced. “People welcomed us and were interested in us. We have never experienced anything like this. The sermon was about us. What a beautiful songs! We will certainly come again!' They were there for the first time. Orsolya had spent the last years of her secondary education in America and had come to faith in her host family. Through a mutual friend from Grand Rapids, I came into contact with them. They had both grown up in what they called “typical” Hungarian families: there was drinking to excess and divorce. Zoltán had been reading the Bible with great interest for some time.
In September, a “large meal” in the Gazdagrét church for interested people from the community attracted more than eighty-five people. Almost half of them are now attending the Alpha course. In the weeks prior to this, the themes of hospitality and openness were dealt with in the sermon: “We often reject people who are different, but the Lord accepts them. This means that we are called to do the same.” It strikes me that in recent times, openness to the Gospel has increased considerably.
A few weeks ago, I had a very open conversation with a retired Jewish professor, Gyöngyi, who had lived her whole life as an avowed atheist. Through my friends Gabor and Kati, I met her for the first time last Christmas. She had been told that she was very seriously ill and, afraid to die, had asked Kati whether I could visit her. She is really seeking. There was an openness to read Scriptures and to pray together.
Openness at the university (2)
A similar openness can be noticed among students and colleagues at the Károli University. About 25% are more or less active church members. In this sense, the University mirrors the statistics of Church and society in Hungary. Students are admitted to the university through a central national admissions procedure, no additional requirement can be made on their Christian identity or Church background. As the class rooms of the Missions Institute are frequently used by students from other departments, there are many spontaneous meetings and conversations. Recently I met János Wimmer, a history student. “Do you know that you share your name with a pastor who was extremely active in missionary work in the nineteenth century?” He expressed a keen interest in attending a course in the history of missions. Just as in 1987, when I first came to Hungary, I am more and more involved in evangelism among students.
Open doors
In recent months, it has been a real voyage of discovery to find out what the specific possibilities are to give lectures within the various departments. Where do the interests of the students lie? With whom is it possible to cooperate? One thing is clear: there are more open doors than I thought, not only for lecturing at the School of Theology, but also at the School of Humanities, in the departments of Dutch and English, and in the department of Religious Studies.
Meeting place
The library in particular has a great potential not only as a location to find unique resources, but also as an informal meeting place. To this end, we plan to transform the kitchen area into a pleasant coffee corner. Would you be willing to help to realise this through your support of the work of the CIMS?
Vision for the future?!
At the moment, Calvin Square in many respects seems to reflect the Church and political situations. The construction work on the fourth metro line is blocking the smooth flow of traffic through the city centre. There are deep, noisy excavations, which make good communications difficult. It is not easy to find your way. According to reports, it will certainly take another two years to finish the surface work... There is great faith and much vision for the future needed to be able to imagine that in 2011, a fourth metro line really will be running and will solve all the transport problems of our city.
(http://www.metro4.hu/milyenlesz.php).
The lack of vision for the future seems to be crippling the whole of society. There is an atmosphere of apathy, despondency and hopelessness. Prices are going up, inflation is increasing, the level of public health is dropping alarmingly. Sometimes it seems as if the channels of mutual communication have completely silted up through a profound feeling of mutual mistrust. Very recently, we were shocked in the Church by two harrowing incidents of suicide of young pastors. Another young pastor abandoned his wife and four children.
You also hear in increasing measure that the only way for Hungary to get out of this crisis is the strengthening of Hungary's own culture. Last week, a student expressed this as follows:
“From childhood, we learn that we must look down on the surrounding nations, that they are second rate, and that our Hungarian culture is inviolable. Now I am discovering through this course that God loves all peoples, and that it is not right to be so exclusively focussed on our own culture and our own nation. We can and must be open to others as well.”
Last week at a conference for emerging mission movements in Central and Eastern Europe, it was striking that, compared with the surrounding countries, the Hungarian Churches have much less vision for cross cultural missions and are developing far fewer activities. There is a deep resistance, even in the Churches, to be open to the gypsies, the Roma. In our local committee organising the Quadrennial International Conference of the International Association for Mission Studies we realized that there are not too many adequate exposure visit options for Gypsy ministry to take the participants to. (see http://www.missionstudies.org/)
At a recent weekly devotion meeting, the Rector of the University, Dr Ferenc Szűcs, pointed out that the only way out of this chaotic and confusing time, with many problems and conflicts, is: “Don't panic. Jesus is alive!” Pray for him and his staff for wisdom in giving leadership.
It seems that this difficult situation forces people to seriously think about questions of faith. But the question raised by Attah, regarding the extent to which the Church is able to help them find their way back to the Father, often arises in me. More and more it seems that issues with which Hungary is struggling, are also on the table in other countries, especially the question of how you can combine appreciation of and respect for your own culture with an openness and appreciation of other cultures.
(Former) Students recount...
Regularly, I bump into former students. Last week, I met Angelika. In 1995 and the following years, she attended missiology courses. For several years, she and her husband worked as missionaries in India. Now they coordinate the work of an international mission organisation in Hungary. There was also Janet, who completed her Master’s in Missiology training last year. As part of her study assignment, she came into contact with some girls from Mongolia, who are living in Hungary. By now, a Mongolian Church has come into being, and a desire has grown among several young people to be sent out themselves as missionaries. It is wonderful to see how Janet is mentoring them and involving other Hungarians to come along. There is a huge need for training and education. Janet is also involved in co-teaching a course at the Károli in cross-cultural communications. I met Emőke in Princeton. From Serbia, she studied in Pápa and did her field work in downtown Rotterdam. There she was challenged to step out of her 'Hungarian' world, and she realised what enrichment this brings. Now she is involved in the office for international affairs of Princeton Theological Seminary, and is responsible for nurturing the contacts with American and foreign students. Another student from Pápa, Krisztián, comes one day a week to do voluntary work at the missions institute. Nóra, also from Pápa, is actively involved in a network for pastors working in urban mission settings. László invited Gábor to become involved in a Vacation Bible Club in his Church, with children from a deprived area. Both of them completed their postgraduate programmes in June. There will be a follow-up at Christmas. In September, I visited the Church of Szerena, which is taking part in the PhD programme, for the opening of the restored parsonage. For three weeks, everyone rolled up their sleeves, and neither trouble nor expense were spared. “They appreciate what we are doing. This is why we enjoying working with them so much.” Last year, the Church grew considerably. “There is much surprise in the village that so many different people belong to the Church.” 1 Cor. 12 in practice! Another Nóra, who graduated last year with distinction, is recently accepted as a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators preparing to become a missionary. I could go on… SDG!
Laying foundations ...
In recent months, besides conducting and supervising the course, the emphasis of my work has been mainly on providing the proper facilities. After fourteen years of faithful service, the photocopier has given up (5,000 USD is needed for a new one). Besides this, the computer network needs to be updated and expanded, because of more intensive use of the library (3,500 USD). The setting up of the coffee corner also requires investment (total 2,500 USD). This is what is needed this year.
As you know, the contribution of the University to the Institute is limited, and we depend largely on external sources of funding. We are in the process of setting up sustainable programmes, such as the Master of Theology programme in cooperation with the University of South Africa. There are also shorter courses and programmes in the pipeline, directed towards equipping the Churches for missions and training missionary workers. The training of trainers is particularly needed! A fund has been set up, from which students can apply for grants (20,000 USD needed). Also pastors from Central and Eastern Europe (and from the non-western world) who want to come for a study furlough of a few weeks could apply for support from this fund. May we call on your support for this fund?
You will understand that it is not easy to make long-term plans if you do not know how the finances will develop. May we ask you to make a pledge for the amount of support you will give to the Institute in the coming year?
We are thankfully anticipating your Christmas gift.
Plans for the coming months
Besides rounding off courses this semester and preparing for the coming semester, I am actively involved with three PhD students, who will complete their theses in the coming months: László Gonda, Dorottya Nagy and Randy Robertson.
· 23rd-25th November, 2007: Urban missions consultation (60 participants from 9 congregations!)
· 25th-29th November, 2007: Visit of Prof. Dr Klippies Kritzinger (South Africa) to the KRE-CIMS (lectures, negotiations about cooperation in Master of Theology programme). (for picture report see: ….)
· 14th December, 2007 – 4th January, 2008: Home assignment/vacation in the Netherlands.
· 19th – 30th January, 2008: Brief study leave and ExCom Meeting of the International Association for Mission Studies in Los Angeles, USA.
· 9th February, 2008: Training day for twinning link Churches (for info cims@kre.hu)
· 4th March, 2008: Inaugural Lecture at the Károli Reformed University (info: cims@kre.hu)
Thank you for your support and prayerful concern. As we enter the Advent and Christmas season may I wish you moments of quiet reflection and prayer in preparation, and many blessings with your family and friends.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. On 1 September 2006 she was appointed at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
Great news!
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. We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website http://www.ideaministries.org/, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box “KRE/CIMS”.
If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
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 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 2162054, ext. 101.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
