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

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.

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

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