Sunday, December 27, 2009

"Do the next thing"

When feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks to do, I remind myself of a quote by Elisabeth Elliott: "Do the next thing", a variation on Ecclesiastes 3. I put it on my computer as a screensaver a month or so ago...

Do the Next Thing

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Eve with Gábor and Kati

Christmas Eve is very special in Hungary. After 4 p.m. no public transport is running in Budapest. Everyone gathers with their families. So did I, as I was invited by Gábor and Kati Draskóczy.
When I first celebrated Christmas Eve with them, many years ago, all of their eight children joined us. Now six of the eight have emigrated, the eldest married a Swed, four have moved to London, for reasons of work, study or marriage. The sixth will move to London with his family the middle of January. Making a living in Hungary as a very gifted violin maker has turned out to be impossible.
Gabor's explanation: in today's Hungary it is impossible for young people and their families to make a living without the financial support of their families. In cases where that is not possible only one option remains. Obviously their situation is not unique. The plane which brought daughter Judit from London was full with young people visiting their families over Christmas. Unnecessary to comment that for Gábor and Kati visiting their children and 11 grandchildren often involves using the budget flight options of Europe to the full.
We had a wonderful time together, celebrating Christ's birth and the significance for us today. Gábor and Kati are always an example to me of openness, love and hospitality.
You will not be surprised that according to the famous Hungarian custom I went home with the fruits of Kati's baking gifts, I received the so called: utravaló, "for on the way", the "left overs" you receive after visiting friends.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

„Tijd Koude Oorlog nog weinig onderzocht”


15-12-2009 11:30 Kerkredactie

Dr. Beatrice de Graaf.

DEN HAAG – Waar het gaat om het communistisch tijdperk ligt er nog altijd een enorm onderzoeksterrein braak, stelt dr. Beatrice de Graaf. Deze maand is het vijf jaar geleden dat de historica in Utrecht promoveerde op de dissertatie ”Over de Muur. De DDR, de Nederlandse kerken en de vredesbeweging”.

„Ronduit jammer” vindt De Graaf het dat er sinds 2004 niet één proefschrift op dit gebied meer is bijgekomen, zegt ze in het vandaag verschenen nummer van het christelijk familieblad Terdege. „Er ligt nog een enorm onderzoeksterrein braak. Kilometers archiefmateriaal van de voormalige geheime diensten in de Oostbloklanden zijn nog nooit wetenschappelijk onderzocht. Neem ook een thema als de Bijbelsmokkel, of de betrekkingen van Nederlandse kerken met christenen in Roemenië, Tsjechoslowakije of Hongarije.”

Lees verder: http://www.refdag.nl/artikel/1451315/Tijd+Koude+Oorlog+nog+weinig+onderzocht.html?nieuwsbrief=1

Voor delen van het boek: http://books.google.com/books?id=jkQ5N4H4m-kC&dq=Over+de+Muur.+De+DDR,+de+Nederlandse+kerken+en+de+vredesbeweging%E2%80%9D.&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=o8YnS7P6Jo-smwP4zeioDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Friday, December 11, 2009

Onbehagen onder minderheden - Trouw 11 dec. 2009



Roma en Noord-Afrikanen in EU-landen ervaren vaak discriminatie
Roma nemen hun intrek in een verlaten huis in een buitenwijk van Parijs.




Roma nemen hun intrek in een verlaten huis in een buitenwijk van Parijs. © AFP

Overal in de Europese Unie ervaren minderheden discriminatie, Noord-Afrikanen en Roma voorop. De kanalen om te klagen kennen ze niet.

In de 27 lidstaten van de EU is sprake van ’schokkend’ racisme. Dat stelt het EU-bureau voor de grondrechten FRA in een gisteren verschenen rapport. Die conclusie is aanvechtbaar, want het rapport beroept zich geheel op wat geënquêteerden zelf vertellen over hun ’discriminatie’.

Lees verder:
http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/europa/article2937214.ece/Onbehagen_onder_minderheden__.html.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Future of Christianity depends on theological education. says report

Proper theological education is of strategic importance for the future of Christianity. So is ecumenical formation for the future of active Christian cooperation, says a world report on the future of theological education.

The key issues were highlighted by Dr Dietrich Werner, coordinator of the Ecumenical Theological Education programme of the World Council of Churches (ETE/WCC), and expressed in a World Study Report on Theological Education released in Nairobi recently.

The 90-page report subtitled "Challenges and Opportunities for Theological Education in the 21st Century – Pointer for a New International Debate on Theological Education" was produced by an international study group as part of the Edinburgh 2010process during the last 12 months.

The world report on theological education – as well as accompanying papers – is available in a shorter and an extended version. It includes case studies on various regions of the world and key recommendations for the future of theological education.

The report states that "theological education is the seedbed for the renewal of churches, their ministries, and their commitment to the unity of the church. If theological education systems are neglected or not given their due prominence, over the following decades the church will experience a decline in the competence of church leadership and in their capacity for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and for dialogue between church and society."

Read full newsbrief on: http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/10778

See the World Study Report on Theological Education, long version:
http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p5/ete/ETE-WCC%20&%20WOCATI%20November%2009.pdf

or the shorter version:
http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p5/ete/E2010_summary_World_Study_Report11_2009.pdf

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Kool News of the Károli - 11

Kool News of the Karoli - 11

Encouragement from Bulgaria

Thank you for the PP from your presentation (on "Re-envisioning theological education and the role of mission in the light of the crisis of the family and its effects on students and pastors", which I held last week at a consultation in Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria, amk). I liked it really so much. Of course you are a very good speaker and it is so easy to follow you, but what I really liked was your fairness and the courage to speak so open about this topic in front of all these delegates. In fact you have really something to say and it is a privilege to have you here in Eastern Europe.

Today I read also your article "Leadership Issues in Central and Eastern Europe: Continuing Trends and Challenges in Mission and Missiology". Thank you so much for this. I love it to see that you are from the West but you understand both sides (East and West). Very often people from the East don't really have the courage to say and write these things and many people from the West are not interested to know them. Can you email me please this article too, because I would like to send it to some friends in West and East.
(PB)

Kool Nieuws van de Károli -- 11

Kool Nieuws Van de Karoli - 11 Final

European Social Report 2009 -- Hungary

TÁRKI European Social Report 2009
This book, the second in the series, seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the European societies of the enlarged European Union. The report concentrates on the perceptions, opinions and attitudes of Europeans. From the wide range of potential issues we selected those fields that are most relevant to economic activity.

The analyses included in this book were prepared by TÁRKI Social Research Institute Inc., as part of a research programme entitled "The Social and Cultural Conditions of Economic Growth". The research programme included, among other projects, an empirical study called "The Normative Framework of Market Economy", as well as the Hungarian part of the fifths wave of "World Values Survey". The research was conducted by István György Tóth with the assistance of Tamás Keller.

Download the World Values Survey 2009 - Hungary: http://www.tarki.hu/en/research/european_social_report/wvs_hungary_documentation.pdf

Download the whole European Social Report 2009 report :
http://www.tarki.hu/en/research/european_social_report/european_social_report_2009_full.pdf

Bidt voor Hongarije!

GZB Gebedskalender week 2 (3-9 januari 2010): Centraal en Oost-Europa

Anne-Marie Kool werkt sinds 1987 in Hongarije. Zij is hoogleraar missiologie aan de Karoli Gaspar Reformatus Universiteit en directeur van het Central and Eastern Institute for Mission Studies

Zondag 3 januari : Het algehele gevoel van hopeloosheid en apathie als gevolg van de diepe morele en financiele crisis neemt met de dag toe. Bidt dat de boodschap van hoop in Jezus Christus helder mag doorklinken. Bidt voor kerkelijke leiders met visie, geestelijk inzicht en onderscheidingsvermogen. Dank voor zichtbare tekenen van het Koninkrijk! Bidt om vernieuwing en doorwerking van God’s Geest van verzoening en vergeving in het verwerken van het verleden. Bidt vooral dat er visie mag groeien om de grote Roma (zigeuner) minderheid te bereiken.

Maandag 4 januari : Vele studenten uit Hongarije en omliggende landen wachten gespannen af wanneer het Master in Theology programma in missiologie weer kan beginnen. Bidt dat alle hindernissen zullen verdwijnen!

Dinsdag 5 januari : Het Zendingsinstituut vervult de rol van een bijtank station en een platform voor geestelijke vernieuwing en inspiratie voor studenten, predikanten en missionaire werkers uit de regio. Bidt voor de velen van hen die worstelen met familieproblemen en burn-out.

Woensdag 6 januari : Anne-Marie is aktief betrokken bij allerlei netwerken in Midden- en Oost-Europa. In de praktijk betekent dit dat ze vaak een rol van mentor vervult voor oud-studenten en (jonge) docenten missiologie. Bidt dat het vak missiologie meer ruimte krijgt als verplicht vak in de predikantenopleidingen.

Donderdag 7 januari : Dankt dat Anne-Marie na een langdurige ziekte weer kan werken. Bidt voor kracht en wijsheid, voor gezondheid en bescherming, en voor dagelijkse vernieuwing in haar persoonlijke gebedsleven om zo „stand te kunnen houden tegen de listen van de duivel” (Cf. Ef. 6: 13). Dankt dat ze zich gesterkt mag weten door de vele gemeenten die achter haar staan, m.n. die van Houten en Oud-Alblas.

Vrijdag 8 januari : Bidt voor de leiding van de Karoli universiteit, om wijsheid, toewijding en volharding, dat de universiteit haar belangrijke roeping mag vervullen als christelijke universiteit in een maatschappij die in toenemende mate geseculariseerd is

Zaterdag 9 januari : Dankt voor jonge mensen die bereid zijn elders in de wereld zendingswerk te verrichten. Bidt dat hun leven zal spreken, dat Gods Geest alle talen spreekt en grenzen doorbreekt. Bidt voor open deuren en dat meerderen hun voorbeeld zullen volgen.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

For Diversity - Against Discrimination

DE - FR

01/12/2009

The 2009 Eurobarometer Survey

On Monday 9 November 2009, the European Commission published its third Eurobarometer survey which aims to track perceptions of people in Europe towards different forms of discrimination and diversity.

This survey is the third in its kind and it was carried out between 29 May and 15 June 2009, with a sample of 26,756 people interviewed in 30 countries (the three Candidate Countries: Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Turkey were included for the first time).

Basic findings and the impact of the economic recession

Discrimination on ethnic grounds (61%) is considered the most widespread form of discrimination in the EU, followed by discrimination based on age (58%) and disability (53%). While perceptions of ethnic discrimination remain stable, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who consider the most widespread to be discrimination based on age (+16% points since 2008) and disability (+8% points since 2008).

According to the survey, the rise in perception of age discrimination is clearly linked with the economic downturn. The survey also indicates that nearly two thirds of the EU population (64%) expects the current economic situation to lead to more age-based discrimination in the job market. In addition to age discrimination, a majority of Europeans also expects the crisis to lead to higher levels of discrimination on the grounds of disability (56%) and ethnic origin (57%) on the job market. There is also an expectation that the crisis is likely to have a generally negative effect on action to tackle discrimination in terms of political and financial priority given by governments.

The poll also indicates that one in six (16%) people in Europe claim to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year. In terms of reporting cases of discrimination, most Europeans would first contact the police (55%), while 35% would get in touch with the national equality body and on average 27% would turn to the trade union. The Commission points out that the trust in the organisations that tackle discrimination varies enormously from one country to another.

The Eurobarometer survey furthermore looked at factors influencing people's attitudes to discrimination and concluded that a diverse social network, being highly educated and belonging to a minority all greatly raise awareness about discrimination issues.


The complete report

The Special Eurobarometer survey on discrimination – summary, report and national Factsheets - can be downloaded from: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb_special_en.htm


Thursday, November 19, 2009

Nine countries warn Hungary over corruption

By Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than

BUDAPEST, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Nine embassies in Hungary warned in a joint letter that recent instances of what they called "non-transparent behaviour" would discourage foreign investment and hamper growth in the central European country.

The release, sent by the United States, Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands late on Wednesday, said such behaviour may hinder foreign investment -- key to expected future growth.

"It is therefore with great concern that we hear of significant new instances of non-transparent behaviour affecting investors in such areas as public utilities, broadcasting and elements of the nation's transport infrastructure," it said.

Last month Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said his government would mediate in a dispute between Suez Environnement (SEVI.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and the city of Pecs which took control of a water utility company in which Suez had a minority stake [ID:nLR453068].

The letter did not name specific cases or companies involved and the British Embassy said in an emailed response to Reuters, "We cannot give any specific examples of non-transparent behaviour as cases may still be subject to legal procedures."

"We are genuinely concerned that at a time when the government is trying to promote an anti-corruption programme, these worrying reports surfaced. They affect our investors and make them less inclined to do business here in the future."

"That is not good for them or for Hungary," it said.

Hungary is in the throes of a deep recession and expects its economy to contract by 6.7 percent this year.

Read more:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLJ41850720091119?sp=true

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tienduizenden vieren val van de muur

Tienduizenden mensen vieren val van Muur
Door onze correspondent Joost van der Vaart
Berlijn, 10 nov. Tienduizenden mensen hebben gisteravond in Berlijn twintig jaar val van de Muur gevierd, “een waarachtig gelukkig moment in de Duitse en Europese geschiedenis”, zoals bondskanselier Angela Merkel de gebeurtenissen van 9 november 1989 noemde.

Read more: http://www.nrc.nl/buitenland/article2408579.ece/Berlijn_viert_twintig_jaar_Val_van_de_Muur

Monday, November 9, 2009

Impressions from Site Visit to Mongolian Baptist Church in Budapest with some students

As part of the course: Non-Western Christian Communities in Budapest we paid a visit to the Mongolian Baptist Church in Budapest with some students and some friends. I just had received some tracts in Mongolian from German friends. You can tell that Pastor Tsetse and his wife were visibly surprised and very thankful! Mogi Tsetse, daughter of the pastor and student of last years class, translated for us. You find an interview with her under the heading Student Interviews.

"Duitse kerk te verhullend over hulp aan Stasi"


„Duitse kerk te verhullend over hulp aan Stasi”
09-11-2009 11:07 Van een medewerker

Viering van het vallen van de Muur, twintig jaar geleden.

NEUDIETENDORF – De protestantse kerken in Duitsland zijn te verzoenend en te verhullend omgegaan met de vraag naar collaboratie van kerkelijke vertegenwoordigers met de Stasi, de voormalige Oost-Duitse inlichtingendienst.

Dat stelt Stasionderzoeker Clemens Vollnhals van het Hannah-Arendt-Institut te Dresden. Hij was een van de sprekers op een conferentie over kerken en de val van de Muur in 1989, vrijdag en zaterdag in het Duitse Neudietendorf. De conferentie was georganiseerd door de Evangelische Akademie in het Thüringse dorp.

Oost-Duitse christenen en kerken worden vaak als helden van de revolutie afgeschilderd, terwijl tientallen predikanten en kerkleiders met de Oost-Duitse geheime dienst samenwerkten. De congresgangers probeerden de balans op te maken.

Lees verder: http://www.refdag.nl/artikel/1444178/Duitse+kerk+te+verhullend+over+hulp+aan+Stasi.html?nieuwsbrief=1
(Ref. Dagblad 9 nov. 2009)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Duister verleden van de Hongaarse kerken


Duister verleden van de Hongaarse kerken
06-11-2009 11:04 Gerrit van Dijk

FABINY ...ingedutte dwaze maagden...

BOEDAPEST – De milde vorm van communisme die sinds de Opstand van 1956 in Hongarije heerste, was niet in alle opzichten een zegen voor het land. „Niemand wist meer wie vriend of wie vijand was”, zegt de lutherse hoogleraar Tibor Fabiny uit Boedapest. „Het krioelde van informanten, ook in de kerk.”

Hoewel de Opstand van 1956 in Hongarije met grof geschut van Russische tanks werd onderdrukt, werd op dat moment niet opnieuw het harde stalinisme ingevoerd. In plaats daarvan kwam er een softe vorm van communisme: het zogenoemde ”goulashcommunisme”. In Hongarije –het land dat ironisch wel „de gelukkigste barak van het Oost-Europese concentratiekamp” werd genoemd– was de val van het communisme in 1989 dan ook niet zo’n dramatische gebeurtenis. Er was eerder sprake van een ”fluwelen revolutie”.
Lees meer: http://www.refdag.nl/artikel/1443703/Duister+verleden+van+de+Hongaarse+kerken.html?nieuwsbrief=1
(Ref. Dagblad 6 nov. 2009)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

„Communisme was vreselijk trauma”


BOEKAREST – Roemenen hoorden twintig jaar geleden via vrije radio-uitzendingen over buitengewone gebeurtenissen die zich afspeelden in Oost-Duitsland, Hongarije en Polen. „Mensen kregen weer hoop. Iedereen begreep dat het einde van het communisme was gekomen.”

Dat zegt Ion Botgros, president van de Biserica Evanghelica Romana (BER), de Roemeens-Evangelische Kerk. Botgros (62) is zes jaar voorzitter van de BER en was daarvoor directeur van een groot petrochemisch bedrijf. Hij kent het land van binnenuit. „Roemenië is een land dat zich vanwege zijn geografie altijd bevond in de schaduw van supermachten. Het gevolg was dat ons land vaak werd bedreigd. Dat gebeurde ook toen Roemenië na het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog vanwege geografische en historische factoren binnen het IJzeren Gordijn viel.”

De zogenaamde „utopie van het communisme” heeft het meest vreselijke trauma voor het Roemeense volk veroorzaakt, aldus Botgros. „Behalve het communistische systeem van de dictatuur onderging Roemenië ook nog eens een dictatuur door één persoon van een ongekende omvang.”

Eerste protesten

De eerste demonstraties tegen het communisme begonnen op 16 december 1989. „De bevolking protesteerde tegen enkele maatregelen van de regering tegen de gereformeerde predikant Laszlo Tökes. Erg snel sloeg deze demonstratie om in een anticommunistische betoging. De onderdrukkende macht, een combinatie van politie en leger, greep in en velen vonden de dood.”

De dictator Ceausescu was op dat ogenblik in Iran voor een officieel bezoek. „Na zijn terugkeer organiseerde hij een grote volksdemonstratie in Boekarest, waarbij hij de demonstranten in Timisoara beschuldigde dat zij slechts hooligans waren. Bijna direct sloeg deze demonstratie om in een anticommunistisch protest, dat uitliep op meer dan duizend doden en de executie van Ceausescu en zijn vrouw.”

Botgros stelt dat Roemenië „een stap voorwaarts” deed op de weg naar democratie en beschaving. „Een politiek deskundige zei in de tijd van de revolutie dat er twintig jaar nodig was om tot een werkelijke democratie te komen. Die twintig jaar zijn al voorbij. Hoewel er een wettelijke politieke structuur is, zijn er nog erg belangrijke verbeteringen aan te brengen.”

Botgros constateert dat de vrijheid en de welvaart niet iedere Roemeen heeft bereikt. „De privatisering heeft veel mensen werkloos gemaakt. De vrijemarkteconomie heeft enerzijds geleid tot een erg rijke minderheid, anderzijds tot een situatie waarin een groot deel van de bevolking onder de armoedegrens leeft. Met name is dat het geval onder de zigeuners.”

Het meest positieve gevolg van de revolutie is dat er nu godsdienstvrijheid is, aldus Botgros. „Voor 1989 geloofde niemand dat de roep om godsdienstvrijheid zou leiden tot de val van het totalitaire regime. Toen de protesten op straat in Boekarest en in andere steden aan de gang waren, wendden mensen zich in het gebed tot God.

Published in Reformatorisch Dagblad

Monday, November 2, 2009

Two Decades after the Walls Fall: End of Communism Cheered but Now with More Reservations

End of Communism Cheered but Now with More Reservations
The Pulse of Europe 2009: 20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Released: 11.02.09

Nearly two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, publics of former Iron Curtain countries generally look back approvingly at the collapse of communism. Majorities of people in most former Soviet republics and Eastern European countries endorse the emergence of multiparty systems and a free market economy.

However, the initial widespread enthusiasm about these changes has dimmed in most of the countries surveyed; in some, support for democracy and capitalism has diminished markedly. In many nations, majorities or pluralities say that most people were better off under communism, and there is a widespread view that the business class and political leadership have benefited from the changes more than ordinary people. Nonetheless, self reported life satisfaction has risen significantly in these societies compared with nearly two decades ago when the Times Mirror Center1 first studied public opinion in the former Eastern block.

About Hungary the report states:
"In Hungary, there is clear frustration with the current state of democracy, despite the public's acceptance of the shift to a multiparty system. More than three-quarters of Hungarians (77%) are dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in their country. This may be due in part to an overwhelmingly dismal national mood: About nine-in-ten think the country is on the wrong track (91%) and that the economy is in bad shape (94%). Disenchantment with political elites is especially strong in Hungary, where only 38% believe voting gives them a say in politics. And even more than other publics included in the survey, Hungarians are frustrated by the gap between what they want from democracy – such as a free press, free speech and competitive elections – and what they believe they currently have."

Public Opinion Two Decades After the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Pew Global Attitudes Survey of 14 Nations, Fall 2009

For interactive map:
http://pewglobal.org/docs/?DocID=25

For complete document:
http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/267.pdf.

For Executive summary:
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=267

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Celebrating and Assessing Twenty Years of Freedom

From Vajta (H) I travelled on to Osijek (Croatia) to attend a very interesting international consultation marking the twentieth anniversary of the collapse of Marxist-based totalitarian systems, which ruled for decades over the eastern part of Europe, titled: "Challenges for Church and Society in
Post-communist Contexts. Celebrating and Assessing Twenty Years of
Freedom”. It was good to reconnect with colleagues and friends from Croatia, Romania, Serbia.

"People everywhere long for and celebrate freedom. The dramatic tearing down of the Berlin Wall, the most powerful symbol
of the division of Europe, signified the end of atheistic one-party
regimes that kept under their grips hundreds of millions, caused
indescribable suffering and countless victims. In addition to abuse of
political power, economic devastation and ecological disaster, this
oppressive ideology violated human rights, destroyed creativity,
personal initiative and social responsibility, and created
hopelessness and spiritual emptiness.

Twenty years after the demise of communist systems in Europe, people
in Eastern Europe and beyond need to come to terms with the lasting
effects of this failed social experiment, to assess the painful
transition from totalitarianism and centralised economies towards
open, democratic and just societies and to discover where hope resides
for the future. Christians are called to join hands with people in all
cultures and communities to work for the wellbeing of all citizens and
shape a better world for generations to come.

The consultation took place 29-31 October 2009 at Evandeoski
Teoloski Fakultet in Osijek, Croatia."

(For further information and interaction see www.evtos.hr and
http://20yearsoffreedom.wordpress.com

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Emerging Missions Movement Consultation

Wednesday and Thursday I attended the Emerging Missions Movement consultation in Vajta (H).

For brochure see: http://www.biuromisyjne.pl/download/EEMAConsultation.pdf

Almost 50 people from all over Central and Eastern Europe gathered to assess the extend and growth of cross cultural mission mainly outside the borders of the countries.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Megjelent! Sherwood Lingenfelter: Mindennek Mindenné

On 19th October a new book was published as a co-production of Harmat Publishers and CIMS on bridging cultural differences: Sherwood Lingenfelter: Ministering Cross Culturally. For more information on the original English edition:

Mindenkinek mindenné

Friday, October 16, 2009

Impressions from Theology of Work course

About fifteen students took part in the Theology of Work course with Prof. R. Paul Stevens from Bakke Graduate University organized in cooperation with the Reformed Church District along the Danube.
Rev. András Harmathy (Ref. pastor in Szigetszentmiklós, D. Min. student at BGU) assisted by Mrs. Mónika Józsa (CIMS) did a marvellous job in putting all the logistics of the course together, including visits to workplaces.
This course was the first of its kind to be officially recognized by Bishop Dr. István Szabó as part of the Continuous Education Program for pastors of this Church District.
One of the students, Mrs. Gea Gort from the Netherlands, captured the course in pictures. Take a look at her webalbum: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geagort/sets/72157622591016124/.

To get an impression of what you have missed by NOT attending the course, see the course outline:
TW-Outline BGU Oct09ver3

Friday, October 9, 2009

Hungary: Twenty Years after the fall of Communism

As part of Euranet's Fall of Communism series, correspondent Nick Thorpe reports on perceptions in Hungary, where economic woes are leading to dissatisfaction with how much has been achieved since the country's peaceful "negotiated transition" to democracy.

Moscow Square in Budapest on a weekday afternoon. People are hurrying home from work, while others are trying hard to find a way of making some cash.
Despite the fine weather, there's a heaviness in the air. Twenty years after the fall of Communism in Hungary, most people seem dissatisfied with what has been achieved.

"I don't miss anything from the 1980s," says a man selling books, "but the problem now is that it’s all about money. If you have work, you don’t have time to go out. If you don’t have work, you don’t have the money to go out."

Twenty years ago, Hungarians ate in a restaurant on average once a week. And they went to the cinema regularly. Now, that's out of the question, except for the richer few.

Read more:
http://www.euranet.eu/eng/content/view/full/34899

Thursday, October 8, 2009

International Consultation for Theological Educators in Sopron, Hungary

It was a great encouragement to attend just for one day the ICETE International Consultation for Theological Educators which took place from 5-9 October 2009 in Sopron, Hungary. It was good to reconnect with friends and colleagues from Central Europe and elsewhere in the world and to be re-energized by the various presentations. The distinguished international evangelical scholars Bishop Hwa Yung of Malaysia, and Professor Henri Blocher of France, were among principal speakers at the event. The Consultation’s theme was: “Energising Community: Theological Education’s Relational Mandate.”

The ICETE website gives a syllabus of the issues dealt with in the consultation:
"The 2009 ICETE Consultation will seek to focus on relational theological education, how the biblical values of relationship and community might be usefully reenergised within our contemporary patterns of theological education. In what sense might community be considered a mandated priority for theological education? To what end, with what limitations? How might a theological college best embody biblical community in its institutional culture? How can students be more effectively equipped in relational competencies and community-formation skills? In what practical ways could theological schools demonstrate biblical community in relation to other theological schools, the church, and their own local context? The 2009 Consultation programme will enable creative interaction among theological educators from around the world on the implications of these biblical values for our programmes, and for understanding our own roles freshly within such a framing.
Among those to address the Consultation in plenary session, additional to Hwa Yung and Henri Blocher, will be: Daniel Bourdanné from Chad, General Secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES); David Baer, President of Overseas Council in the United States; Joseph Shao of the Philippines, General Secretary of the Asia Theological Association (ATA); Manuel Reaño of Peru, Rector of the Seminario Biblico de Colombia; and Riad Kassis, professor at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon. Also participating in the Consultation programme will be: Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Doug Birdsall, Executive Chair of the Lausanne Movement (LCWE); and Chris Wright, International Director of Langham Partnership International (LPI). The Consultation format will also provide for a range of seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions, and much informal contact on other areas of interest additional to the Consultation theme, thereby enabling rich stimulation, interaction, reflection and fellowship for participants."

ICETE’s triennial international consultations are widely popular for offering the only occasion of its kind for evangelical theological educators from all parts of the world to gather for peer professional reflection and interaction at global level. The events provide multiple occasions for collaborative networking, cross-pollination, and reflective engagement, thus furthering a shared commitment in preparing biblically-based church leadership for the global Christian community in the 21st Century.

Participants in ICETE’s 2006 Consultation in Thailand came from: Angola, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, England, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad, Ukraine, USA, and Zambia.

For more information: http://www.icete-edu.org/.

The ICETE website contains excellent articles for downloading on extremely relevant issues related to theological education from e.g. Alister McGrath, Chris Wright and Miroslav Volf: http://www.icete-edu.org/resources/.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Church and State, twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall

An interview with Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, President of the Council of Bishop's Conference of Europe summarizing the Conference in Paris, 1-4 October, 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsZ0xS16-1k

The Plenary Assembly, which discussed the theme of Church-State relations, decided, in the light of changes that have taken place in the twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, to draw up a message which witnesses to how faith in Jesus Christ can give birth to a clear outlook full of hope. The participants adopted a message entitled:

"Europe, have courage. 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall: rediscovering the impetus, a hope to proclaim." To be downloaded at: http://www.ccee.ch/ressourcen/download/20091003184837.doc

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Impressions from Missiological Research Fellowship Seminar

On September 29th and 30th a Missiological Research Fellowship Seminar was organised with Erasmus visiting scholar Dr. Wojciech Kowalewski from the Evangelical School of Theology in Wroclaw, Poland (http://www.ewst.pl/en/about-est,407.html)



As always it is very interesting to discuss issues in a Central European perspective. Take a look at the program:

KRE-CIMS MMK 2009_9_29

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Hongaarse koffiehuiscultuur zelfs voor McDonalds niet te weerstaan! McDonalds Hongaarse stijl...

Woensdag 30 september 2009 - Als er wereldwijd één bezwaar tegen McDonalds is, dan is het wel dat de komst van het bedrijf iedereen de Amerikaanse cultuur door de strot duwt: een snelle, vette, overal gelijke hap in een omgeving die ook overal dezelfde is en die erop is gericht om iedereen zo snel mogelijk de deur uit te werken. Het heet niet voor niets fast food.

Lees meer: http://www.scribblesfromhungary.com/2009/09/mcdonalds-hongaarse-stijl.html

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Course announcement: Theology of Work - "Making sense of the other 6 days"

Course of Paul Stevens in Budapest, October 12-16, 2009

About the course:Most people spend most of their waking hours working, yet seldom reflect on its significance. Further, the church frequently gives priority to the in-church activities and the professional ministries without affirming that the whole people of God are in “full time” ministry Monday to Friday, and often Saturday as well. It is therefore worthwhile to explore the definition of “work” from a theological point of view. This course offers this opportunity for the participants, with a focus on the Bible in the context of the everyday life. The course will involve learning as a community and putting into practice the theology of work one has gained.

For more details and application:

TOW Invitation Letter English

KMTI Kurzus: „ A másik hat nap értelme” - a munka teológiai és missziói megközelítése

Ismertető:
Az emberek többsége, miközben energiái és ideje legjavát a munkahelyén tölti el, csak ritkán gondolkodik el mindennek mélyebb jelentőségéről. Az egyház is elsősorban a falain belüli rendezvényekre koncentrál, s az ehhez szükséges szolgálatokra. Megfeledkeztünk arról, hogy Isten népének egésze, hétfőtől-péntekig és szombaton is, „teljes állásban” áll szolgálatban a világban. Szükség van tehát a „munka” teológiai végiggondolására, az egyház és tagjainak szolgálata, missziója szempontjából. Ez a kurzus ezt kínálja résztvevőinek, egyszerre figyelve a Bibliára s a mindennapok kontextusára.

Részletes kurzusleírás és jelentkezési lap a mellékelt dokumentumban található!

Monday, September 7, 2009

My latest article

"Changing Images in the Formation for Mission: Commission Five in the Light of Current Challenges: A Western Perspective." In Edinburgh 2010: Mission Then and Now, edited by Kenneth R. Ross and David A. Kerr, 158-81. Regnum Books International, Oxford, UK and Paternoster Press, Carlisle, 2009, pg. 158-181

Edinburgh 2010: Mission Then and Now
Edited by David A. Kerr and Kenneth R. Ross Regnum Books 2009, ISBN: 978-1-870345-73-6
Though the outcomes of the 1910 World Missionary Conference have differed in many ways from the expectations of its participants, after a century its momentous significance is clearer than ever. While the missionary movement went into decline, from its work emerged a world church, with deep roots and vigorous expression on every continent. As the centeneray of the Conference approaches, the time is ripe to examine its meaning in light of the past century and the questions facing Christian witness today. This book is the first to systematically examine the eight Commissions which reported to Edinburgh 1910 and gave the conference much of its substance and enduring value. It will deepen and extend the reflection being stimulated by the upcoming centenary and will kindle the missionary imagination for 2010 and beyond. For further information please visit the publisher's website.
The book was co-published by WCIU Press and is now available to a North American audience on amazon.

For table of contents see: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865850135/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1245HNEJA841HJX6S9E6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938131&pf_rd_i=507846#reader

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Monday, August 24, 2009

Zendingsdag GZB

Beste Vrienden,
Eind deze week kom ik voor enkele dagen naar Nederland (tot 2 sept).
Op zaterdag 29 augustus hoop ik aanwezig te zijn op de jaarlijkse GZB zendingsdag (zie http://www.gzb.org/).
Zondag 30 augustus ben ik in de Sion Kerk in Houten (diensten beginnen om 9.30 en 16.15).
Ik zie ernaar uit velen van u te ontmoeten.
Met hartelijke groet!
Anne-Marie Kool

Flyer Zendingsdag

Kool News of the Károli -- 10

Kool News of the Karoli - 10

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Hungary arrests over Roma murders - By Nick Thorpe BBC News, Budapest

Hungarian police say they have detained four men suspected of a series of attacks on Roma (Gypsy) settlements in which six people have been killed. The attacks have sown terror among the Roma, who make up around 7% of the Hungarian population.
The men - aged 28 to 42 - were arrested at a nightclub in the eastern city of Debrecen in the early hours of Friday.

Read More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8215552.stm

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

De Missie van een Roma Elite -- Trouw


De missie van een Roma-elite

Een Romavrouw met kind bedelt op de trappen van de metro van Boedapest. Veel Roma hebben niet meer dan lagere school. Ouders, noch onderwijzers geloven in een schoolcarrière voor Romakinderen. En pientere Roma moeten het stellen zonder rolmodellen.
Een Hongaars Romakind dat de universiteit haalt, is een zeldzaamheid. Sterker, zelfs een een middelbareschooldiploma is al bijzonder. Discriminatie zit diep in het systeem, zeggen de studenten die het wel haalden. Zij gaan de strijd aan.

Stefan Grinvalsky werd op zijn zesde naar een basisschool voor verstandelijk gehandicapten gestuurd. „Niet omdat mij psychisch iets mankeerde, maar omdat ik Rom was”, zegt hij. „In ons dorp was het gebruikelijk dat Romakinderen naar zo’n school gingen.”
Lees meer: http://www.trouw.nl/achtergrond/deverdieping/article2839995.ece/De_missie_van_een_Roma-elite_.html

Monday, July 13, 2009

Welcome in Berekfürdő!

Are you joining us for the camp? Do you remember the camp of last year? During the last few weeks the Gazdagrét Reformed Church was bubbling with enthusiasm and preparation. This year even more people than last year would join the congregational camp in Berekfürdő, a small village 185 km east of Budapest: in total 160 people, 110 adults and no less than 50 children. The capacity of the conference center was not enough, therefore additional bed and breakfasts had to be rented.
For one week we will be together for a retreat, to hear talks in the morning on Spiritual Growth by Pastor András Lovas, followed by a time of solitude and small prayer groups.
The afternoons are set aside to enjoy the famous local spa and swimming pool opposite the street from the conference center. It is a time of relaxation, of informal conversations and getting to know each other better, and off course: to swim or to for those who are afraid of water: join an excursion in the neighbourhood. I decided to take the advise of one of my doctors serious and use the opportunity to go daily for a good swim. This afternoon I made a good start. I was wonderful!!
In the evenings Rev. Eszter Dani will teach us about Listening prayer.

Pray for Eszter and András and for the small group leaders.

To get an impression of the beautiful village of Berekfürdő take a look at www.berekfurdo.hu.

Monday, July 6, 2009

1989 Het jaar van de omwentelingen -- NRC

Hoe verliepen de "veranderingen" in Midden- en Oosteuropa ook al weer? Een uitstekend overzicht geeft het NRC! Aanbevolen!

http://www.nrc.nl/redactie/flash/valvandemuur/1989/

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Interview with Mogi Tsetse -- Cindy Ippel

C: Tell me your background.
M: I was born in Mongolia. I was 12 years old when my family moved to Hungary. We moved because my parents wanted their children to grow up in a European country. They saw that there was the possibility of a good life, good standard of living in Hungary. In Mongolia life was very hard. I don’t know exactly why Hungary is where they ended up except that there was the opportunity to come to Hungary. They came with a Mongolian group to a small village not far from Budapest. There was work there for both my dad and mother in a factory.
C: Do you remember Mongolia?
M: A little bit. My grandmother still lives there and my mother’s and father’s brothers and sisters still live there. But I have never been back.
C: When your family came to Hungary were they Christians?
M: No. When we came to Hungary our family was Buddhist. My mother’s parents were Buddhist and my mother was Buddhist but dmy father he didn’t really follow Buddha. Then when we came to Hungary by little sister was 9 years old and she met a girl who was a Christian. That little girl shared the gospel with my sister and she became a Christian. She started visiting a Christian church and began participating and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. At that time I was 14 years old. We saw the difference this made in my sister’s life. She was very happy. We asked her why she was so happy, always smiling and so joyful and she said that it was because she believed in Jesus Christ and was with others that loved Jesus. She was always praying and reading a black book-The Bible. My older brother and I were always laughing at her and telling her “What are you doing? You are Buddhist. You are not allowed to believe in a foreign God.” Then she would cry. But then some time later, I became really curious as to what my sister was doing in that church. She was always coming home from that Baptist church so happy. So out of curiosity, I started going to the meetings with her. It took me one year to really understand what Christianity is and why many people believe and what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So when I was 16 years old I became a Christian. My sister and I then began praying for my parents and whenever we had an opportunity we shared the Gospel with them. My parents said it was OK for us to go to church but they told us not to speak about Jesus Christ because they didn’t want a religious war in the family. We had many idols on our walls because when you are Buddhist, you don’t have to go to temple you can just worship in your own house.
Then our whole church started praying for my parents. They prayed for three years for my parents. During that time my parents went back to Mongolia to visit and they asked us what gifts we would like them to bring back for them. My sister and I told them that we wanted no gifts only that they would go to a Mongolian Christian church and listen to the Gospel in Mongolian while they were there; that’s the only gift we wanted. So when they went to Mongolia they did what we asked and heard the Gospel in their own language and their hearts were ready and they understood and they started believing in Jesus Christ. When they came back to Hungary, they threw all their idols away and began following Jesus. After that Janet D. began discipling my parents.
C: How did they come to know Janet D.?
M: I had met Janet D. at the Baptist church I was going to and we became very good friends. I asked her to teach me English and she agreed. She also taught me many things from the Bible about God. I told her about my parents becoming Christians but that they knew nothing about Christianity, she agreed to meet with them and teach them. They didn’t even have a Mongolian Bible. So my pastor at the Baptist church got them a Mongolian Bible. Janet would teach them in Hungarian and then I would translate into Mongolian. My parents then began sharing their faith with their friends. They really felt that this was the real living God-very different from Buddhism. My parents invited their friends to a Bible study meeting. We had this Bible study group for one year, and then my parents prayed for a pastor to come from Mongolia to start a Mongolian church. We invited a Mongolian pastor to come who was a gifted evangelist. Many Mongolians came to believe in Jesus Christ through his preaching. But then the pastor needed to go back to Mongolia because he had his own church there. So then my father after being a Christian for only two years accepted the calling from God to be the pastor of our church. God told him that he had to lead this small Hungarian Baptist church. At first he worked in the factory and as a pastor. But God blessed us so now he doesn’t have to work in the factory but just as the pastor. Now both my parents are working together in the church. They are serving God and the Mongolians in Budapest. Our church is made up of all Mongolians and all the preaching and teaching is in Mongolian.
C: Tell me more about yourself. Why did you come to KRE? How did you get to know Anne-Marie?
M: I got to KRE through Janet D. and Anne-Marie. They both suggested that I take the course on climate change in the church but I don’t attend this university. I am at another technical and economic university here in Budapest. This is my last year in getting my bachelors degree in international communications. When I complete this degree, I would like to continue my studies and get my masters degree in international development. Eventually I would like to work with a non-profit corporation like Baptist Love Inc. They have 3 or 4 offices here in Budapest doing humanitarian work. This kind of work really interests me so that’s why I want to get a further degree in international development. But I need to reach a certain level in my exams so that I can qualify for a scholarship.
C: Tell me about the courses you took with AMK.
M: I really liked the course on climate change in the church because of the interaction within the class. It was more than just the normal lecture by a professor. There were about 20 people in the class. We had very interesting topics that were very practical for life. We visited the Chinese church and the Korean church and then discussed what our experience taught us and how it affected us.
C: How can others find out about the courses that we offer? Do you have any ideas about how we can advertise?
M: I think in many universities there are many Bible study groups. You could visit these groups and tell them about the courses or seminars. When I told my friends about the climate change course, they were very interested because the course was very useful to me. In that course I met a guy who had a stereotype about Chinese people until he went to the Chinese church and interacted with the other Christians there. There were Chinese brothers who were really kind and they invited the class to have dinner with them. Then this guy gained a better understanding of Chinese people. Before that he only saw Chinese people from the market or restaurant so his stereotype was based on that. But now he knew them personally and it changed his impression.
C: We are thinking of having a coffee shop. Do you have any ideas about this?
M: The first thing is that there are many foreign students coming to Budapest that are very alone and would look for a place to meet and have conversation with other students. I once saw a sign that said “You have opportunity to practice your English”. If you would advertise like this and open up an area where students could practice their English for free, I think there would be students interested in this. It would be good to have a nice comfortable atmosphere with coffee and a person to talk with; a place where students could feel at home.
C: What is your hope for the future of the church and for the future of Hungary?
M: My hope for the Mongolian church is that it reaches more Mongolian people here for God. There is a lot of movement between Mongolia and here. We have a dream that there will be Mongolians here in Budapest that will grow in their faith and that God will call them to go back to Mongolia as missionaries. My parents are open to God’s leading in their own lives in this direction. As for my future, I feel called to stay here in Hungary. I don’t know yet what will happen in my life. I have a Hungarian boyfriend who is not Mongolian. He is studying to be a pastor and we planned to get married. He comes from a Christian family and he is going to a Baptist seminary.
C: How did you meet?
M: This summer, I went to a Christian camp and he was a leader of a group. We had an opportunity to share our testimonies and I observed in him a wisdom and spiritual maturity. We met and we talked and I really saw his love for Jesus Christ. This attracted me to him. Then this past November we met again and he said “Mogi, I have been praying and fasting for 3 months and God has shown me that you will be my wife.” I was really surprised and said how do you know this? He said that he was 100% sure and that when we met he observed how I served the Lord and he was attracted to me but he wanted to be sure so he fasted and prayed for God to show him if I was the one to be his wife. God gave him some scripture and prophesy that showed that I would be his wife. He said that he wanted to give me time to pray about it but he was sure that God would lead me to him. So I agreed to pray about this but God had already been preparing me for this because a month before this my girlfriends and I had begun a prayer group to pray for our future husbands. I prayed for real peace about this and God has given me peace. Previously, I had written the attributes that I would want in a husband and my boyfriend has all these attributes. So God showed me that he should be my husband. So I called him and said what God has shown me, but first I need to get to know him better before we move on to marriage. So we see each other one day each week and talk to each other on the phone each night and email each day to get to know each other not just based on physical attraction but on who we really are. We are able to be much more objective and not just base it on our emotions.
C: Is there a traditional Mongolian way of finding a husband leading to marriage?
M: Traditionally parents choose for their children. My parents were chosen for each other; but now in Mongolia many children choose for themselves. It’s very important to me to have my parent’s approval. So right away I told my parents about what my boyfriend had said and I asked them for their prayers. My father and mother said that they have peace about my decision and when they met him they saw with their spiritual eyes that he would be a good husband for me.
C: Thank you for taking this time to let me interview you. Do you have anything else to say?
M: I would like to ask you if you hear of any non-profit corporation that I might get in contact with that you would let me know.