Showing posts with label Kool News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kool News. Show all posts
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Kool News written by Dr. Dorottya Nagy
Six days may not seem to be too long but in the present situation they were six days reminding us more and more of the six days of creation: six days of recreation. And creation continues, we do live in the rhythm of six plus one; again and again six plus one. It is Saturday night and we are looking back to the last, special six days.
It started with Monday; it started with peace, with the knowledge that it was the right decision to go for the operation. It was this peace in which she slept during the operation on Tuesday. We all know something from her character, how enthusiastic she is. Right after the operation she was already planning things for the next academic year. Her heart is there, at the university; and it can be there because she feels the warm nest of you, dear people, who care and pray for her. This is so clearly visible to her.
Wednesday: the day when she has started her corridor walks. These were quite special. Once per hour she went for a walk. You might already think: these were walks not all of might be able to make. There were other people walking on the corridor as well. As she walked she spoke to, smiled at and looked at people. These walks became moments of encounters not only between Anne-Marie and others but between those who, in this way, got connected by Anne-Marie.
Thursday: more and more people popped in. There were also moments of solitude. There were precious moments of being alone and precious moments to connect with people worldwide. The ministry towards her room-mate was there as well.
Friday: the process of healing goes on. Physicians, nurses and other experts are content with the developments. Anne-Marie is told that Saturday she may leave the hospital.
Saturday morning she is back in her lovely home. A beautiful bouquet of flowers welcomes her: love from Ma, Pa and sisters. ...and in this way we have reached the ‘open-house’ phase. There are people coming and going, bringing on the right time the right things... it is good to be at home.
We are grateful that Anne-Marie is at home. The path of healing may seem long but surely we count the steps and not the jumps.
Here bellow you may find some tips which you might secretly integrate in your moments of contacts with her:
Please, remind her that
· everything she does, she should do slowly
· she is not allowed to lift up things (she is coping with this quite all right, but just in case J)
· she should not forget to eat her pre-prepared portions of food.
On her turn, she will call our attention to thousand other things such as:
· God moves in a miraculous way
· God provides
And other personal things we all need to be reminded of.
My six-day time of being an eye-witness of how Anne-Marie is getting better ends tonight but I am sure that from tomorrow on there will be another person in charge who will inform you about her situation. We may not know who and how: it will be provided!
I wish you all a beautiful Sunday and a blessed new six-day in the creation process. Thank you for being there for Anne-Marie in thoughts and prayers and in so many different (creative) ways.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Kool News of the Károli -- 8
Lord, hear me when my cry is brought before you,
and when I call you, listen graciously.
“Come, seek God’s face,” my heart within me murmurs.
Your face I seek, God; do not hide from me.
Turn not in wrath away from me, I pray;
You, my sure help, do not cast me aside.
If father, mother should forsake me now,
my faithful Lord will keep me at his side.
Psalm 27:4 (Genevan psalter)
Budapest - 18th April, 2009
Dear Friends and Family of Anne-Marie
At the end of January, we had to inform you of the illness of Anne-Marie Kool. She was then rushed into one of the hospitals in Budapest. After a number of weeks, she was discharged in order to continue to recuperate at home. Her recovery is going slowly and humanly speaking, it will still take a number of months. For Anne-Marie, this is not a simple task. She says about it herself:
I won't quickly forget that Tuesday morning, at the end of January, at my family doctor's. For a few months already, I had been constantly knocking on her door. I had just told her about the latest development, that my back caused me problems, with pain in my left leg. I showed her the X-rays that had been taken the previous day. 'That's not to be sneezed at', she said tellingly. On leaving, I felt myself feeling sick with pain. 'I don't know whether I can still work with pain like this', I managed to gasp, to which she responded, 'You should take a week's sick leave...' A few days later, I was back at the specialist-rheumatologist's. 'What has happened to you since last week? Your condition has become much worse. Not only is your hip worn out and you may have a rheumatic disorder; I also strongly suspect that you've got a herniated disc.' A day later, I was lying in hospital on a drip.
(pictures: see below)
1 So there you are ...
Actually I had a feeling of relief, because for a year and a half, I had had all sorts of undefined physical complaints.
Frequently asked questions
1. What was it like to be admitted to hospital so suddenly?
I was happy that my friends Kati and Gabor had given me all the right instructions: make sure you take a plate and cutlery with you, and a mug, a glass and some tea towels. And don’t forget the toilet paper... I will never forget with what care and love Rózsa, a Romany woman, received me in the hospital ward. She immediately shared with me her 'stock' of fruit juice and fruit. She was literally the one who immediately gave me a glass of water. Meanwhile she told me a lot about her life, her children, her concerns. We regularly read the Bible and prayed, together with our other roommate.
2. Rózsa
On Monday, Mineke Hardeman came to visit me (this Kool News is also written by her), a visit which had been planned months previously. As she had already been closely involved with the ins and outs of the Missions Institute for three years, she was immediately able more or less to take over the helm. What a sign of God's provision. She helped to create order in the 1001 questions which were shooting through my head: what to do about teaching the courses? About responding to my e-mail? And where possible, she got on with the job.
3. Mineke at my bed: What can I do for you ...?
Not only Gábor and Kati, Rózsa and Mineke were ministering angels. Many friends from all over the world, family members, and Church members from the Gazdagrét Church, from Houten and from Oud-Alblas demonstrated their concern, and where necessary also helped very practically. For someone who is used to fending for herself, it was not easy to learn to ask for and receive help.
2. How do you spend your days?
Fortunately I am very fond of reading. Apart from the 'hospital rhythm' or 'home rhythm' of treatments, exercises, visits to doctors, physiotherapy etc, it is a boon suddenly to have more time to reflect and to pray. It is also a blessing in the darkness of a (sleepless) night to be able to sing psalms. First the Psalms 62 and 63 were very close to me; then Ps. 42, 130 and, of course, Ps. 27 regularly come to mind. In the past weeks, I have been able to sit up for longer (I was even back in church again for the first time at Easter!), and now short walks outside are allowed as well.
I am very much enjoying the flowers around me, especially the beautiful orchids.
4. Flowers to cheer the heart
3. How do you keep going for so long?
Having never really been ill, it was quite a shock when the doctor said a few weeks ago, 'We are just at the beginning of your treatment...' At this time, it means a great deal to me to experience your concern and prayers. Someone remarked, 'Prayers are being said for you twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, referring to responses from Botswana and South Africa to the Philippines and America. The many post cards are the silent witnesses to this. And the many surprise telephone calls too! Perhaps it helps me most that from the first day it was clear that the Lord had placed me on the sidelines to reflect on the many questions which for years I had rushed passed. And then there are of course the many visits: a former student who comes to share how things are going in his Church, students who report that the courses of Rev. Szeréna Edit Vass are going so well. Messages from colleagues of that make me very thankful that the work of the Missions Institute is still going on.
'Lord, am I after all not so important that everything depends on me?'
'No, it turns out that I can manage, even without you!'
'What a relief.'
'But I am now preparing you for a new phase in your work!'
Experiencing in practice that mission is God's work is something quite different than presenting that to the students. Every Thursday evening brings a beam of light, because the Bible study group to which I belong meets at my place. First, I was 'reclining at the table'; now fortunately I can join in sitting up. In many respects, this illness is a time of testing, and also of refining, with all the ups and downs that go with it. A student recently prayed,
'Lord, will you make Anne-Marie better, but if you want to teach her even more lessons, which she will later be able to pass on to us, will you then wait for a bit longer.'
This really touched me.
4. Why is your illness taking so long?
It is becoming increasingly clear that there are complex problems with my back, much more than only a slipped disc. Also that I badly needed 'overdue maintenance', a 'major overhaul', if you like. Fortunately, it is the case that there is slow progress, but sometimes also a step backwards. With a lot of physiotherapy and exercises, and constantly with new medication, they are trying to solve the problems of pain.
5. How can we pray for you?
Very strongly I am experiencing that the Lord is now giving me a different type of missionary field, simply by being instead of by doing. Sometimes I have the feeling that I am on work experience, in order to learn at firsthand what is happening in Hungarian society. Please pray that in all weakness, I may remain a faithful witness of Him. Pray for those who have crossed my path during my illness: Rózsa, Irene, Marika, Kati, Edit, Lilli, Maria, Erzsebet and Agota.
Pray also for inner peace, for light and prospects in times of storm and darkness. Especially for a clear view of Christ and His cross. Also for surrender, patience and trust in the Lord in times when I wonder if it will ever turn out all right.
Finally, please pray for further healing, to be strengthened in body, mind and spirit for the task that is waiting.'
God's work goes on ...
Following the developments in the missions institute from a great distance - more is not possible at the moment. The second term of the college year began at about the time that the admission to hospital took place. This meant that the first concern was to hand over the various lectures at short notice. Thanks to the efforts of a number of people, this was managed. One of these people is Edit Serena Vass MA, a research assistant of Anne-Marie, who is working on her doctoral research at the Karoli University. In the past, she also did parts of her study with Anne-Marie and by now has broad experience with missionary work in the rural areas. She is giving a number of mandatory lectures, alongside her work as a Church pastor.
5. Edit Szerena Vass ThM
Dr Dorottya Nagy from Utrecht, who graduated under Professors Jongeneel and Kool in December, has also taken on a number of lectures. We will come back to this graduation in more detail in this newsletter.
Besides this, Rev. Dr. Andras Lovas, one of the pastors of the Gazdagrét Church in Budapest, now also working on his PhD thesis, will be taking on a few lectures. Finally, Rev. Eszter Dani ThM teaches an elective course about missions and the Romany.
Besides this, the staff of the institute consists of a librarian - Gabrielle Maros - she has now been in service of just over a year, an office manager, Mónika Józsa, in service since September 2008, and a volunteer as host, Cindy Ippel.
6. Gabi
7. Mónika and Cindy
For the staff, the absence of the director-professor means that many additional matters are left to them. With much effort, the whole is being organised, even though the core tasks of teaching and research cannot be borne by them.
Highlights
In the next Kool News, you will hear more about the three PhD defences which took place in the past four months, as well as the course by guest lecturer Prof. Daniel Jeyaraj about the Dalit in India. We will also tell you more about the seminar about money and fund-raising for Christian organisations, a very topical subject in Hungary. It is a cause for great thankfulness that these courses and this seminar were organised independently by the staff! This too is a sign that the work of God is going on!
With warmest wishes, also on behalf of Anne-Marie,
Mineke Hardeman
(mhardeman@planet.nl)
and when I call you, listen graciously.
“Come, seek God’s face,” my heart within me murmurs.
Your face I seek, God; do not hide from me.
Turn not in wrath away from me, I pray;
You, my sure help, do not cast me aside.
If father, mother should forsake me now,
my faithful Lord will keep me at his side.
Psalm 27:4 (Genevan psalter)
Budapest - 18th April, 2009
Dear Friends and Family of Anne-Marie
At the end of January, we had to inform you of the illness of Anne-Marie Kool. She was then rushed into one of the hospitals in Budapest. After a number of weeks, she was discharged in order to continue to recuperate at home. Her recovery is going slowly and humanly speaking, it will still take a number of months. For Anne-Marie, this is not a simple task. She says about it herself:
I won't quickly forget that Tuesday morning, at the end of January, at my family doctor's. For a few months already, I had been constantly knocking on her door. I had just told her about the latest development, that my back caused me problems, with pain in my left leg. I showed her the X-rays that had been taken the previous day. 'That's not to be sneezed at', she said tellingly. On leaving, I felt myself feeling sick with pain. 'I don't know whether I can still work with pain like this', I managed to gasp, to which she responded, 'You should take a week's sick leave...' A few days later, I was back at the specialist-rheumatologist's. 'What has happened to you since last week? Your condition has become much worse. Not only is your hip worn out and you may have a rheumatic disorder; I also strongly suspect that you've got a herniated disc.' A day later, I was lying in hospital on a drip.
(pictures: see below)
1 So there you are ...
Actually I had a feeling of relief, because for a year and a half, I had had all sorts of undefined physical complaints.
Frequently asked questions
1. What was it like to be admitted to hospital so suddenly?
I was happy that my friends Kati and Gabor had given me all the right instructions: make sure you take a plate and cutlery with you, and a mug, a glass and some tea towels. And don’t forget the toilet paper... I will never forget with what care and love Rózsa, a Romany woman, received me in the hospital ward. She immediately shared with me her 'stock' of fruit juice and fruit. She was literally the one who immediately gave me a glass of water. Meanwhile she told me a lot about her life, her children, her concerns. We regularly read the Bible and prayed, together with our other roommate.
2. Rózsa
On Monday, Mineke Hardeman came to visit me (this Kool News is also written by her), a visit which had been planned months previously. As she had already been closely involved with the ins and outs of the Missions Institute for three years, she was immediately able more or less to take over the helm. What a sign of God's provision. She helped to create order in the 1001 questions which were shooting through my head: what to do about teaching the courses? About responding to my e-mail? And where possible, she got on with the job.
3. Mineke at my bed: What can I do for you ...?
Not only Gábor and Kati, Rózsa and Mineke were ministering angels. Many friends from all over the world, family members, and Church members from the Gazdagrét Church, from Houten and from Oud-Alblas demonstrated their concern, and where necessary also helped very practically. For someone who is used to fending for herself, it was not easy to learn to ask for and receive help.
2. How do you spend your days?
Fortunately I am very fond of reading. Apart from the 'hospital rhythm' or 'home rhythm' of treatments, exercises, visits to doctors, physiotherapy etc, it is a boon suddenly to have more time to reflect and to pray. It is also a blessing in the darkness of a (sleepless) night to be able to sing psalms. First the Psalms 62 and 63 were very close to me; then Ps. 42, 130 and, of course, Ps. 27 regularly come to mind. In the past weeks, I have been able to sit up for longer (I was even back in church again for the first time at Easter!), and now short walks outside are allowed as well.
I am very much enjoying the flowers around me, especially the beautiful orchids.
4. Flowers to cheer the heart
3. How do you keep going for so long?
Having never really been ill, it was quite a shock when the doctor said a few weeks ago, 'We are just at the beginning of your treatment...' At this time, it means a great deal to me to experience your concern and prayers. Someone remarked, 'Prayers are being said for you twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, referring to responses from Botswana and South Africa to the Philippines and America. The many post cards are the silent witnesses to this. And the many surprise telephone calls too! Perhaps it helps me most that from the first day it was clear that the Lord had placed me on the sidelines to reflect on the many questions which for years I had rushed passed. And then there are of course the many visits: a former student who comes to share how things are going in his Church, students who report that the courses of Rev. Szeréna Edit Vass are going so well. Messages from colleagues of that make me very thankful that the work of the Missions Institute is still going on.
'Lord, am I after all not so important that everything depends on me?'
'No, it turns out that I can manage, even without you!'
'What a relief.'
'But I am now preparing you for a new phase in your work!'
Experiencing in practice that mission is God's work is something quite different than presenting that to the students. Every Thursday evening brings a beam of light, because the Bible study group to which I belong meets at my place. First, I was 'reclining at the table'; now fortunately I can join in sitting up. In many respects, this illness is a time of testing, and also of refining, with all the ups and downs that go with it. A student recently prayed,
'Lord, will you make Anne-Marie better, but if you want to teach her even more lessons, which she will later be able to pass on to us, will you then wait for a bit longer.'
This really touched me.
4. Why is your illness taking so long?
It is becoming increasingly clear that there are complex problems with my back, much more than only a slipped disc. Also that I badly needed 'overdue maintenance', a 'major overhaul', if you like. Fortunately, it is the case that there is slow progress, but sometimes also a step backwards. With a lot of physiotherapy and exercises, and constantly with new medication, they are trying to solve the problems of pain.
5. How can we pray for you?
Very strongly I am experiencing that the Lord is now giving me a different type of missionary field, simply by being instead of by doing. Sometimes I have the feeling that I am on work experience, in order to learn at firsthand what is happening in Hungarian society. Please pray that in all weakness, I may remain a faithful witness of Him. Pray for those who have crossed my path during my illness: Rózsa, Irene, Marika, Kati, Edit, Lilli, Maria, Erzsebet and Agota.
Pray also for inner peace, for light and prospects in times of storm and darkness. Especially for a clear view of Christ and His cross. Also for surrender, patience and trust in the Lord in times when I wonder if it will ever turn out all right.
Finally, please pray for further healing, to be strengthened in body, mind and spirit for the task that is waiting.'
God's work goes on ...
Following the developments in the missions institute from a great distance - more is not possible at the moment. The second term of the college year began at about the time that the admission to hospital took place. This meant that the first concern was to hand over the various lectures at short notice. Thanks to the efforts of a number of people, this was managed. One of these people is Edit Serena Vass MA, a research assistant of Anne-Marie, who is working on her doctoral research at the Karoli University. In the past, she also did parts of her study with Anne-Marie and by now has broad experience with missionary work in the rural areas. She is giving a number of mandatory lectures, alongside her work as a Church pastor.
5. Edit Szerena Vass ThM
Dr Dorottya Nagy from Utrecht, who graduated under Professors Jongeneel and Kool in December, has also taken on a number of lectures. We will come back to this graduation in more detail in this newsletter.
Besides this, Rev. Dr. Andras Lovas, one of the pastors of the Gazdagrét Church in Budapest, now also working on his PhD thesis, will be taking on a few lectures. Finally, Rev. Eszter Dani ThM teaches an elective course about missions and the Romany.
Besides this, the staff of the institute consists of a librarian - Gabrielle Maros - she has now been in service of just over a year, an office manager, Mónika Józsa, in service since September 2008, and a volunteer as host, Cindy Ippel.
6. Gabi
7. Mónika and Cindy
For the staff, the absence of the director-professor means that many additional matters are left to them. With much effort, the whole is being organised, even though the core tasks of teaching and research cannot be borne by them.
Highlights
In the next Kool News, you will hear more about the three PhD defences which took place in the past four months, as well as the course by guest lecturer Prof. Daniel Jeyaraj about the Dalit in India. We will also tell you more about the seminar about money and fund-raising for Christian organisations, a very topical subject in Hungary. It is a cause for great thankfulness that these courses and this seminar were organised independently by the staff! This too is a sign that the work of God is going on!
With warmest wishes, also on behalf of Anne-Marie,
Mineke Hardeman
(mhardeman@planet.nl)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Kool News from the Hospital
Kool News from the hospital
This time not news from Anne-Marie but news about her. Just a few observations about her stay in the hospital. Let me begin with the following: a room for three with three women. They are all roughly the same age. It is home-from-home for Rosza. She is Romany. Next to her, there is Marika, of Slovak-Hungarian origin, and next to her, a Dutch lady who has been living in Hungary for many years. They have to share the ward. But, they share much more: all three belong to minority groups; two of the three are immigrants. This in itself creates a bond. But this is strengthened by the mutual help and attention and especially by the many intense discussions. What about? Actually, you can already guess: about the meaning of the Bible, about God's presence in their life, their questions and difficulties and then reading the Bible and praying together. This is possible even though one is a Roman Catholic, another is from an Evangelical Church and the third is Reformed. Again this demonstrates that missiology is not an abstract activity, restricted for only academia.
The ward is at the front of the building: a splendid view over the Danube. The location and the roommates almost make you forget that something really is amiss. The problems with Anne-Marie's back, the inflammation and the herniated disc are being treated intensively. Slowly the therapy, which initially consisted mainly of medication, is being extended. It is expected that next week she will still be in hospital. No date has been set for a discharge. As well as the contact with the roommates, it can be said that the relationship with the nursing staff is fine. You see them come in: a friendly enquiry, a bit of attention. They are happy to take charge of a patient like this. The Hungarian health care system? Considerable problems, an antiquated structure and so on. The care at the bedside in a Roman Catholic hospital of the Order of Mercy? So far mainly praise, even though you have to provide for various things yourself. Friends bring groceries to the hospital, together with the many messages that were sent following the first report about her illness. Anne-Marie is extremely grateful for the many prayers and expressions of concern.
Mineke Hardeman
February, 11 2009
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Kool News of the Károli -- 7
Budapest - 1st November, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
'Do not say anything at school about what is discussed at home.' This sentence still goes on resounding in the minds of the participants of the international missions conference which was held in Hungary at the end of August.
IAMS conference
The fourth world conference of the International Association for Mission Studies took place in Hungary under the auspices of the Gáspár Károli Reformed University. A large part of the local organization fell to the staff of the missions institute.
A few years ago a very specific decision was taken to hold it in a country in Central Europe and to have as the main theme of the conference, Human Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation, a theme which fits with the burning issues in the region. (See more: www.iams2008.com)
Six young women in mission
In order to give the more than 250 participants from 44 countries - according to one of the participants a real 'abundance of nations, tribes, people and languages' - insight into this situation and in particular to make them acquainted with the experience of the Communist time, a number of young women participants were asked to tell something about their lives and that of their families, and in particular to reflect on what it meant to live as a Christian in an atheist system.
Figure 1, from left to right: Vija, Olga, Tanya, Dorottya, Eszter and Edit
Not telling anyone that your parents and your grandparents hold to the message and values of the Bible and go to Church on Sundays, taking you along. Because of this, being an outsider, being avoided as a child, not being able to play naturally with friends. It all seems so long ago that this occurred in the families in the various countries of the region. So many years ago, yet still quite fresh in the memories of Vija, Olga, Tanya, Dorottya, Eszter and Edit and many others who experienced it. It remains a part of your life, even if you were only ten years old at the time. The shadows of the past have not yet disappeared either.
For many participants, it was a moving introduction into what went on behind the Iron Curtain.
Figure 2 Some of the fifty participants from Central and Eastern Europe
A world opens up...
For the missions institute it was a very special experience to have so many guests for a whole week and to introduce them in various ways to Central and Eastern Europe. Gina, one of our students, expressed it like this,
'So many different people from different parts of the world: it was such an encouragement... It was wonderful to receive them. I was proud of my home country. It warmed me to see how they were surprised at the beauty of Lake Balaton, Budapest and the countryside... The conference helped me to broaden my vision of the Church of Christ.'
For two days, Hungary was in the spotlight. On the Sunday, many of the participants were guests in Churches in Budapest. More than forty congregations received foreign guests during the Sunday worship services. Many were able to preach or to bring greetings from their home Churches. A second day focused on the subject of missionary work. Exposure visits were made to a great variety of projects: the problem of the urban cities, the so-called 'house of terror', Jewish diaspora yesterday and today, and much attention was also paid to the work among the Roma (gypsies).
Identity and reconciliation
Of course there were other days hallmarked by introductions to the development of missions and missiological research. The central theme was constantly “Human identity and the Gospel of reconciliation”. In Christ we receive a new identity, which means that other identities disappear or slip into second place (cf. Gal. 3:26-19). One of the fruits of this is that 'enemies become friends'.
The theme and the stories from the region continue to resound in the minds of the participants, and in Hungary itself as well. It was not just a conference you go to, pick up something or not, and then proceed to the order of the day. It was not for nothing that there was so much media interest.
Hungary 'moral sacrificial lamb'
Hungary is facing the burning question of reconciliation with the past. This has to do with the shadows of the past at all levels of society.
I had wanted to write this Kool News already quite soon after the conference, but there were many things that still had to be rounded off and the new academic year was about to start straight away. Now I am writing it, it has taken on an extra charge. I read last week in a Dutch newspaper (NCR - 22nd October):
'Hungary is a moral sacrificial lamb. Hungarians no longer have any trust whatsoever in politics. This is seen with a vengeance now that the country is being hit by the credit crunch. The ultra-right is taking advantage of this dissatisfaction.'
The questions which are now facing Hungary had been around for some time, visible in political debate, through the great conflict between government and opposition, and more under the surface among many Hungarians. With the credit crunch, many nerves seem to have been laid bare.
This relates to several matters: economic growth is severely restricted in comparison with the surrounding countries; there is an urgent need for a revision of the health care system; there are issues relating to the future of education; and there are major questions about the way in which things are run. Partly because of the great political contrasts, it has not been possible to achieve a substantial approach in many areas.
Wonderful task for Church and university
Churches and universities are part of this society. When it says 'sacrificial lamb', there is a wonderful task for the Church and the university to bring into the limelight the values for which they stand and to be an example for society. After all, reconciliation is taught in God's Word. Unfortunately, in practice it is not (yet) the case that this task is being taken up.
Mission as a ministry of reconciliation
The institute is trying to incorporate in the lectures some conditions which are necessary in the present situation to be an example. Students remarked that what they learn at the lectures is 'very useful in many area of the work of a minister', or 'I expected dry and boring teaching material. Instead of that I was given a wonderful new perspective on the Church and missions.' Another remarked, 'The subject of missiology has taught me an openness, so that later when I am a minister that I will not only be concerned with those who come to Church, but also with those who do not have any contact whatsoever with the Church. Besides this, I have gained the courage to go and seek them out and talk to them about the gospel. In the future, I also want to find fellow workers and to equip them.' 'Missiology helps us to be more consciously involved in questions of mission, to talk about them and not to allow it to be an ad hoc matter.'
An important lecture that is on the timetable for this semester is, Missions as a service of reconciliation, in which we translate the issues from the conference into everyday life. What do the Biblical notes about reconciliation mean for our own identity in Christ and for dealing with conflicts? Yet another lecture, also for students from the whole of the university, is linked with human identity. The students invite persons known to them from the Church and society and put question to them such as why these people believe, what drives them as Christians in their professions.
Figure 3 Students listen attentively to a Nigerian guest speaker
One of the first guests was a senior official from the Nigerian embassy and the pastor of the African Church in Budapest.
A personal note and some topics for prayer
1. Against the background of the crisis in Hungary, there is a strong tendency throughout society to turn back to forms of leadership which were widely applied under Communism. This situation does not pass the Church and the university by. Please pray for all the attempts which are being made to uphold the truth and to live in the Truth.
2. This autumn, elections are being held in the Reformed Church of Hungary for new Church leadership and for new bishops. Please pray that people will be elected who are an example in doctrine and in deeds and who are capable of leading the Church and the congregations in the way of hope, faith and love. Pray that the Spirit of Reformation will continue to work with power, even today.
3. Pray for the Károli University. Pray for the leadership of the university, for wisdom, dedication and perseverance, that the university may fulfil its important calling as a Christian university in a society which is becoming increasingly secularised.
4. Give thanks for the new team of the Missions Institute. Also for the lectures this semester and for the positive feedback from the students. Please pray that the students will be touched, and will be stimulated to follow Christ in all the areas of their life. Pray for the development and accreditation of new programmes, not a simple matter at this time. The difficulties are not only in the area of the finances (no small challenge either!), but voices are also being raised in favour of tinkering with the equal rights of Christian education.
5. In these troubled times, with God's help and trusting in His strength and wisdom, I am trying to stand steadfast and to be a signpost for students and colleagues. Please pray especially for my role as the mentor of a new generation of preachers and teachers, who are posing missionary questions in the Church and university and studying them and trying to share their vision and knowledge with others. 2 Tim. 2:2.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Dear Friends and Family,
'Do not say anything at school about what is discussed at home.' This sentence still goes on resounding in the minds of the participants of the international missions conference which was held in Hungary at the end of August.
IAMS conference
The fourth world conference of the International Association for Mission Studies took place in Hungary under the auspices of the Gáspár Károli Reformed University. A large part of the local organization fell to the staff of the missions institute.
A few years ago a very specific decision was taken to hold it in a country in Central Europe and to have as the main theme of the conference, Human Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation, a theme which fits with the burning issues in the region. (See more: www.iams2008.com)
Six young women in mission
In order to give the more than 250 participants from 44 countries - according to one of the participants a real 'abundance of nations, tribes, people and languages' - insight into this situation and in particular to make them acquainted with the experience of the Communist time, a number of young women participants were asked to tell something about their lives and that of their families, and in particular to reflect on what it meant to live as a Christian in an atheist system.
Figure 1, from left to right: Vija, Olga, Tanya, Dorottya, Eszter and Edit
Not telling anyone that your parents and your grandparents hold to the message and values of the Bible and go to Church on Sundays, taking you along. Because of this, being an outsider, being avoided as a child, not being able to play naturally with friends. It all seems so long ago that this occurred in the families in the various countries of the region. So many years ago, yet still quite fresh in the memories of Vija, Olga, Tanya, Dorottya, Eszter and Edit and many others who experienced it. It remains a part of your life, even if you were only ten years old at the time. The shadows of the past have not yet disappeared either.
For many participants, it was a moving introduction into what went on behind the Iron Curtain.
Figure 2 Some of the fifty participants from Central and Eastern Europe
A world opens up...
For the missions institute it was a very special experience to have so many guests for a whole week and to introduce them in various ways to Central and Eastern Europe. Gina, one of our students, expressed it like this,
'So many different people from different parts of the world: it was such an encouragement... It was wonderful to receive them. I was proud of my home country. It warmed me to see how they were surprised at the beauty of Lake Balaton, Budapest and the countryside... The conference helped me to broaden my vision of the Church of Christ.'
For two days, Hungary was in the spotlight. On the Sunday, many of the participants were guests in Churches in Budapest. More than forty congregations received foreign guests during the Sunday worship services. Many were able to preach or to bring greetings from their home Churches. A second day focused on the subject of missionary work. Exposure visits were made to a great variety of projects: the problem of the urban cities, the so-called 'house of terror', Jewish diaspora yesterday and today, and much attention was also paid to the work among the Roma (gypsies).
Identity and reconciliation
Of course there were other days hallmarked by introductions to the development of missions and missiological research. The central theme was constantly “Human identity and the Gospel of reconciliation”. In Christ we receive a new identity, which means that other identities disappear or slip into second place (cf. Gal. 3:26-19). One of the fruits of this is that 'enemies become friends'.
The theme and the stories from the region continue to resound in the minds of the participants, and in Hungary itself as well. It was not just a conference you go to, pick up something or not, and then proceed to the order of the day. It was not for nothing that there was so much media interest.
Hungary 'moral sacrificial lamb'
Hungary is facing the burning question of reconciliation with the past. This has to do with the shadows of the past at all levels of society.
I had wanted to write this Kool News already quite soon after the conference, but there were many things that still had to be rounded off and the new academic year was about to start straight away. Now I am writing it, it has taken on an extra charge. I read last week in a Dutch newspaper (NCR - 22nd October):
'Hungary is a moral sacrificial lamb. Hungarians no longer have any trust whatsoever in politics. This is seen with a vengeance now that the country is being hit by the credit crunch. The ultra-right is taking advantage of this dissatisfaction.'
The questions which are now facing Hungary had been around for some time, visible in political debate, through the great conflict between government and opposition, and more under the surface among many Hungarians. With the credit crunch, many nerves seem to have been laid bare.
This relates to several matters: economic growth is severely restricted in comparison with the surrounding countries; there is an urgent need for a revision of the health care system; there are issues relating to the future of education; and there are major questions about the way in which things are run. Partly because of the great political contrasts, it has not been possible to achieve a substantial approach in many areas.
Wonderful task for Church and university
Churches and universities are part of this society. When it says 'sacrificial lamb', there is a wonderful task for the Church and the university to bring into the limelight the values for which they stand and to be an example for society. After all, reconciliation is taught in God's Word. Unfortunately, in practice it is not (yet) the case that this task is being taken up.
Mission as a ministry of reconciliation
The institute is trying to incorporate in the lectures some conditions which are necessary in the present situation to be an example. Students remarked that what they learn at the lectures is 'very useful in many area of the work of a minister', or 'I expected dry and boring teaching material. Instead of that I was given a wonderful new perspective on the Church and missions.' Another remarked, 'The subject of missiology has taught me an openness, so that later when I am a minister that I will not only be concerned with those who come to Church, but also with those who do not have any contact whatsoever with the Church. Besides this, I have gained the courage to go and seek them out and talk to them about the gospel. In the future, I also want to find fellow workers and to equip them.' 'Missiology helps us to be more consciously involved in questions of mission, to talk about them and not to allow it to be an ad hoc matter.'
An important lecture that is on the timetable for this semester is, Missions as a service of reconciliation, in which we translate the issues from the conference into everyday life. What do the Biblical notes about reconciliation mean for our own identity in Christ and for dealing with conflicts? Yet another lecture, also for students from the whole of the university, is linked with human identity. The students invite persons known to them from the Church and society and put question to them such as why these people believe, what drives them as Christians in their professions.
Figure 3 Students listen attentively to a Nigerian guest speaker
One of the first guests was a senior official from the Nigerian embassy and the pastor of the African Church in Budapest.
A personal note and some topics for prayer
1. Against the background of the crisis in Hungary, there is a strong tendency throughout society to turn back to forms of leadership which were widely applied under Communism. This situation does not pass the Church and the university by. Please pray for all the attempts which are being made to uphold the truth and to live in the Truth.
2. This autumn, elections are being held in the Reformed Church of Hungary for new Church leadership and for new bishops. Please pray that people will be elected who are an example in doctrine and in deeds and who are capable of leading the Church and the congregations in the way of hope, faith and love. Pray that the Spirit of Reformation will continue to work with power, even today.
3. Pray for the Károli University. Pray for the leadership of the university, for wisdom, dedication and perseverance, that the university may fulfil its important calling as a Christian university in a society which is becoming increasingly secularised.
4. Give thanks for the new team of the Missions Institute. Also for the lectures this semester and for the positive feedback from the students. Please pray that the students will be touched, and will be stimulated to follow Christ in all the areas of their life. Pray for the development and accreditation of new programmes, not a simple matter at this time. The difficulties are not only in the area of the finances (no small challenge either!), but voices are also being raised in favour of tinkering with the equal rights of Christian education.
5. In these troubled times, with God's help and trusting in His strength and wisdom, I am trying to stand steadfast and to be a signpost for students and colleagues. Please pray especially for my role as the mentor of a new generation of preachers and teachers, who are posing missionary questions in the Church and university and studying them and trying to share their vision and knowledge with others. 2 Tim. 2:2.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Monday, March 3, 2008
Kool News of the Károli -- 6
Dear Friends and Family,
A few reflections on Nehemiah by some PhD students
The discussion began with these questions: “Which sentence particularly speaks to you?``
“Nehemiah allows the bad news on the walls of the Jerusalem temple being in ruins to sink in, this leads to prayer”, responded one.
“We tend always to polish up reality, or to flee into the past”, responded another. “We don't dare to face up to reality.”
“Nehemiah confesses his own faults, but also those of his people. This is unheard of with us. How much this is needed, even today.”
The whole day, the conversation kept connecting the ruins in Nehemiah’s time to the ruins that we see around us in the Churches and in Hungarian society. The cracks are visible everywhere: especially in the widespread tendency to blame others. „It's their fault, not ours”.
On gossiping and mud slinging
Recently our pastor, Rev. András Lovas, gave a series of sermons about the Ten Commandments, which prophetically addressed the current problems in Hungarian society, but also what is means in everyday life to follow Christ. The sermon, about the ninth commandment, “you shall not give false testimony about your neighbour” raised issues that deal directly with events happening in Hungarian society over the last year and a half. It is nothing new, but a clear shadow of the past.
In 1984 Vaclav Havel (at that time still a Czech dissident) links this commandment with a striking analysis of the society of his time (in Living in Truth). It is very true in Hungary today: „...this commandment refers to all types of lies. Truthful, honest and trustworthy speech is part of the foundation of the common life of a society. Where words do not mean what they really mean, in today's terms, where communication and manipulation are the order of the day, instead of open and honest speech, there the foundations of the social community shake. The well-being and health of every community depends on honest speech, on fitting words for the reality. In Hungarian society today, we are experiencing the serious reality of this lack of honesty. In this way, we realise that bearing false testimony, that every form of lie, is not only an individual but also a collective sin.”
Gossip completely accepted
God not only warns His people not to bear false testimony because it is bad in itself, but also because it is damaging for others: 'You shall not give false testimony AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOUR.'
Lying destroys, devastates others... self-interest is set above the truth. The good name of another, his possessions, his usefulness, his health are damaged, because we want to maintain our own interests.
... Often we do this subconsciously ... we do not realise what we are doing. Gossiping, backbiting, is completely accepted in everyday life... It has become part of us to join in. In the words of John Calvin, it is a 'sweet poison, in which we take delight'. How is it that we take such delight in this deadly and destructive poison?
'You did not come to know Christ that way' ... Jesus calls us to stop this. This is possible if we turn to Him in confession and consciously turn away from the lies: 'If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' He is the only One Who can set us free from putting self-interest first. He liberates you from the compulsion to prove yourself by besmirching others. He calls you to Himself, when you have the feeling that society no longer accepts you because you no longer join in with slinging mud and blackening the name of others... He gives us His Spirit, the Spirit of truth, Who again makes us sensitive to the truth... It is to this that God calls us, also as a Church. To be supporters of speaking the truth, of love and of blessing in this world. To begin with sincerely praising others. Instead of cursing, to speak well of others. If we hear something bad, to close our ears, or if the accusation is unfounded, that we defend the other person. Let us in daily life stop putting others down and cursing others, and let us instead send messages into the world that are uplifting, showing respect for others and bringing blessing. Let us do this in very real ways in our circles, at our work, at school, with our families, in our church. Let us encourage and praise one another, build one another up, and in this way go against the stream of gossip and cynical and bitter remarks. Let us in this way be salt and yeast in our world, and so prepare ourselves for the future to which the Lord calls us. It is only a renewed and continually renewing fellowship which will reveal the mighty deeds of God in a barren land. Amen.
Being a peacemaker
At a conference of leaders of theological schools in Prague, we dealt with the topic of how to manage conflict. I was quite disconcerted to learn through their accounts of situations of deep conflicts and accusations leading to fighting, loneliness and struggles. This is all too familiar in contemporary Central and Eastern Europe. In my talk I noted elements from the post-Communist culture that easily lead to these types of conflicts and on ways to avoid conflict. The core element in avoiding conflict is being a messenger of shalom, by proclaiming peace with God in Christ and with one another. But often there is a great gap between life based on reconciliation with God in Christ and everyday life. While Paul calls us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, we either shy away from conflicts („Peacefaking”) or fan the fire of conflicts („Peace breaking”) rather than seeking peace and being peacemakers (cf. Ken Sande, The Peacemaker: A Biblical guide to resolving personal conflict, pub. Baker Books).
(Group photo from Prague)
Twinning links in East and West
Earlier this year a conference was held in Houten on twinning links with church fellowships in Central and Eastern Europe. Over fifty people met to discuss being a missional church in East and West in this Post Christian era and how we as churches can stand along side one another in a position of equality. There are no standard solutions for the tremendous challenges being faced by all churches in Europe; to find forms in which the questions can become common questions, where there is a case of mutuality instead of a kind of paternalism.
(Photo of Conference for Twinning link churches)
'Do the next thing'
In a Church and society with this 'heritage', the Károli University is in a unique situation as one of the few Protestant universities in Central Europe, called to be the salt of the earth. The challenges are many, as are the open doors, but there are also many problems! Please pray for wisdom for the leadership of the university and of the churches. A friend once gave me this advice: “Do the next thing. Every day, do the thing which is clearly the next step.”
In the past months, many miracles have taken place.
* In the first semester, I gave two courses with a total of ten students. This semester, the new Missions Institute is providing six courses, in which ninety students have enrolled.
*Give thanks for all the donations that make it possible to provide these programs. Pray for more stable partners for the Missions Institute and the University.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
A few reflections on Nehemiah by some PhD students
The discussion began with these questions: “Which sentence particularly speaks to you?``
“Nehemiah allows the bad news on the walls of the Jerusalem temple being in ruins to sink in, this leads to prayer”, responded one.
“We tend always to polish up reality, or to flee into the past”, responded another. “We don't dare to face up to reality.”
“Nehemiah confesses his own faults, but also those of his people. This is unheard of with us. How much this is needed, even today.”
The whole day, the conversation kept connecting the ruins in Nehemiah’s time to the ruins that we see around us in the Churches and in Hungarian society. The cracks are visible everywhere: especially in the widespread tendency to blame others. „It's their fault, not ours”.
On gossiping and mud slinging
Recently our pastor, Rev. András Lovas, gave a series of sermons about the Ten Commandments, which prophetically addressed the current problems in Hungarian society, but also what is means in everyday life to follow Christ. The sermon, about the ninth commandment, “you shall not give false testimony about your neighbour” raised issues that deal directly with events happening in Hungarian society over the last year and a half. It is nothing new, but a clear shadow of the past.
In 1984 Vaclav Havel (at that time still a Czech dissident) links this commandment with a striking analysis of the society of his time (in Living in Truth). It is very true in Hungary today: „...this commandment refers to all types of lies. Truthful, honest and trustworthy speech is part of the foundation of the common life of a society. Where words do not mean what they really mean, in today's terms, where communication and manipulation are the order of the day, instead of open and honest speech, there the foundations of the social community shake. The well-being and health of every community depends on honest speech, on fitting words for the reality. In Hungarian society today, we are experiencing the serious reality of this lack of honesty. In this way, we realise that bearing false testimony, that every form of lie, is not only an individual but also a collective sin.”
Gossip completely accepted
God not only warns His people not to bear false testimony because it is bad in itself, but also because it is damaging for others: 'You shall not give false testimony AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOUR.'
Lying destroys, devastates others... self-interest is set above the truth. The good name of another, his possessions, his usefulness, his health are damaged, because we want to maintain our own interests.
... Often we do this subconsciously ... we do not realise what we are doing. Gossiping, backbiting, is completely accepted in everyday life... It has become part of us to join in. In the words of John Calvin, it is a 'sweet poison, in which we take delight'. How is it that we take such delight in this deadly and destructive poison?
'You did not come to know Christ that way' ... Jesus calls us to stop this. This is possible if we turn to Him in confession and consciously turn away from the lies: 'If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' He is the only One Who can set us free from putting self-interest first. He liberates you from the compulsion to prove yourself by besmirching others. He calls you to Himself, when you have the feeling that society no longer accepts you because you no longer join in with slinging mud and blackening the name of others... He gives us His Spirit, the Spirit of truth, Who again makes us sensitive to the truth... It is to this that God calls us, also as a Church. To be supporters of speaking the truth, of love and of blessing in this world. To begin with sincerely praising others. Instead of cursing, to speak well of others. If we hear something bad, to close our ears, or if the accusation is unfounded, that we defend the other person. Let us in daily life stop putting others down and cursing others, and let us instead send messages into the world that are uplifting, showing respect for others and bringing blessing. Let us do this in very real ways in our circles, at our work, at school, with our families, in our church. Let us encourage and praise one another, build one another up, and in this way go against the stream of gossip and cynical and bitter remarks. Let us in this way be salt and yeast in our world, and so prepare ourselves for the future to which the Lord calls us. It is only a renewed and continually renewing fellowship which will reveal the mighty deeds of God in a barren land. Amen.
Being a peacemaker
At a conference of leaders of theological schools in Prague, we dealt with the topic of how to manage conflict. I was quite disconcerted to learn through their accounts of situations of deep conflicts and accusations leading to fighting, loneliness and struggles. This is all too familiar in contemporary Central and Eastern Europe. In my talk I noted elements from the post-Communist culture that easily lead to these types of conflicts and on ways to avoid conflict. The core element in avoiding conflict is being a messenger of shalom, by proclaiming peace with God in Christ and with one another. But often there is a great gap between life based on reconciliation with God in Christ and everyday life. While Paul calls us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, we either shy away from conflicts („Peacefaking”) or fan the fire of conflicts („Peace breaking”) rather than seeking peace and being peacemakers (cf. Ken Sande, The Peacemaker: A Biblical guide to resolving personal conflict, pub. Baker Books).
(Group photo from Prague)
Twinning links in East and West
Earlier this year a conference was held in Houten on twinning links with church fellowships in Central and Eastern Europe. Over fifty people met to discuss being a missional church in East and West in this Post Christian era and how we as churches can stand along side one another in a position of equality. There are no standard solutions for the tremendous challenges being faced by all churches in Europe; to find forms in which the questions can become common questions, where there is a case of mutuality instead of a kind of paternalism.
(Photo of Conference for Twinning link churches)
'Do the next thing'
In a Church and society with this 'heritage', the Károli University is in a unique situation as one of the few Protestant universities in Central Europe, called to be the salt of the earth. The challenges are many, as are the open doors, but there are also many problems! Please pray for wisdom for the leadership of the university and of the churches. A friend once gave me this advice: “Do the next thing. Every day, do the thing which is clearly the next step.”
In the past months, many miracles have taken place.
* In the first semester, I gave two courses with a total of ten students. This semester, the new Missions Institute is providing six courses, in which ninety students have enrolled.
*Give thanks for all the donations that make it possible to provide these programs. Pray for more stable partners for the Missions Institute and the University.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Kool News of the Károli -- 5
Budapest, 17 December 2007 (send out 28 February, 2008)
Dear Friends and Family,
There's much to be learned from guests! Guests help you to see your situation through new eyes. I regularly have guests, especially from the Netherlands. In this Kool News, I have asked some of them to give their impressions.
Impressions of Budapest (1)
'For years, Kool News (and the previous Signs of Life from Hungary) has been a resource for many about mission and evangelism developments in Central and Eastern Europe. These reports reveal Anne-Marie Kool’s unique contributions to these developments. I can confidently attest to this. She has asked me to share my impressions in her newsletter with you in my own way. Since I became involved in the work of the Mission Institute as a volunteer two years ago, I have grown to know her and her work.
Since 1990, I have increasingly become familiar with this region through participating in various activities, particularly dealing with people who have disabilities. As a professor of missiology in a post-Communist region, Anne-Marie has dealt with everything imaginable: teaching those with a Communist upbringing that engenders faith in nothing and no one. Because of this, you never know if people will do what they promise and say what they think. And yet ...Anne-Marie is one of those people who take up the challenge. She believes in possibilities, because she trusts that God will help despite all the gloom. (Gloomy - that's what it looked like here last week: drab and grey.) Then this morning, suddenly the sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a refreshing breeze. Symbolic of all the brightness which can be seen in the eyes of the students with whom Anne-Marie is dealing and who are learning how to understand the commission of the Biblical message within the context of their culture.
It was an impressive moment the first Sunday of Advent, there were more than twenty-five people who expressed a desire for the first time to become actively involved in the Church. There were also many children born into the church this year. The church is experiencing true growth thanks to the relentless dedication of the pastors and the many active volunteers.. There is much to learn - you do that if you have the opportunity to work with Anne-Marie. She is a teacher in heart and soul. She seems continually to radiate, not as a goal in itself, but out of commitment to the Good Cause of Jesus Christ. Inspiration is what you gain from being under her teaching. Somewhere in a building on Calvin Square, step-by-step work is being done to help students discover their true humanity in Christ.”
(Mineke Hardeman, Budapest, 13th December, 2007)
From Saturday, December 1st to Tuesday, December 4th, Henk Massink, an elder from the Reformed Sion Church in Houten was a guest in Budapest. He, too, has been visiting Hungary since the beginning of the 1990's. Here are some of his impressions. (My, ”home churches” of Sion and the Gazdagrét both have connections here.)
Impressions of Budapest (2)
Miklos and Toncy Nagy warmly welcomed me in their flat in the Gazdagrét area. They, too, visited our Church in the Netherlands in 2005. It was good to renew our connections. Their home is about two hundred meters from the Gazdagrét church. With them, I again had discussions until deep in the night about the social and political situation in Hungary. It again became clear to me how strong the Communists aftermath still is and how harmful these influences are for society. The socialist government (under the leadership of a former Communist) is squashing any form of social creativity and responsibility.
Gazdagrét Church
On Sunday morning, the Gazdagrét church quickly filled. It is remarkable how many people have joined the Church through the Alpha course. It must have something to do with the fact that the church members are very hospitable to people from the neighborhood. In his sermon, Pastor Andras Lovas skillfully linked the situation in which people find themselves to the lament found in Psalm 13. Rev. Lovas showed that complaining is part of a Biblical life of faith that should transform from complaint into prayer and through faith into trust.
Mongolian Service
On Sunday afternoon, with Anne-Marie, I attended a small Mongolian Church. Janet, one of Anne-Marie’s former students invited us to join her at the Mongolian church that meets in Budapest. She was closely involved in the formation of this church in a poorer part of the city. The service was to start at 5:00 p.m., but at that time, we were standing in the cold outside a closed door. Just after five, a number of people came up with an unmistakably Asian appearance, one with the key to open the door. Talking was not easy but the reception was extremely warm.It was a special service, lasting about two and a half hours. It was a farewell service to two Korean evangelist-pastors who live in Germany, who had led an evangelistic campaign for the past ten days. The elder evangelist sang a song in which you could hear the wind whistling across the Mongolian steppes. Then the other Korean pastor took over in Mongolian. It happens that since the 1980's, there have been quite a lot of Mongolian women working as seamstresses in Budapest. (In 1994, I had contact with Munhjin, who came to faith in the Pasaret Church, AMK).
Now there were finally about forty people present at the service, the vast majority women. The word was like a sharp two-edged sword. The sermon focused mainly on Revelation 22:8. Eight forms of sin are mentioned. Anyone who commits any one of these sins ends up in the 'fiery lake of burning sulphur'. During the service, the pastor asked the Church members - while everyone had their eyes closed - to raise their hands if they knew they had committed any of these sins. It was a serious word through which the conscience was touched. But it was not left at this. The preacher commended the blood of Christ as the way to salvation and victory. In this, he gave the example of the powerful work of God's Spirit in the hearts of heathen (Mongolian) priests. The Church clearly expressed its joy about this great grace. This service also seemed to be a type of commissioning service where various church members were assigned tasks. sing. After that, with a firm hug, everyone said good-bye to the two Korean guest pastors, and they sang to us as special guests. It was all particularly impressive and moving.
(H.F. Massink)
Finally
When you read this belated Kool News, teaching is well underway into the second semester with about 80 students in five courses! I’m greatly enjoying it. Next week a guest professor from Ghana, Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo will teach a class on Renewal in African Christianity: the case of Ghana. Pray that the course will be a great blessing to the 25+ students who have registered. Thank you for your faithful support and prayers!
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Dear Friends and Family,
There's much to be learned from guests! Guests help you to see your situation through new eyes. I regularly have guests, especially from the Netherlands. In this Kool News, I have asked some of them to give their impressions.
Impressions of Budapest (1)
'For years, Kool News (and the previous Signs of Life from Hungary) has been a resource for many about mission and evangelism developments in Central and Eastern Europe. These reports reveal Anne-Marie Kool’s unique contributions to these developments. I can confidently attest to this. She has asked me to share my impressions in her newsletter with you in my own way. Since I became involved in the work of the Mission Institute as a volunteer two years ago, I have grown to know her and her work.
Since 1990, I have increasingly become familiar with this region through participating in various activities, particularly dealing with people who have disabilities. As a professor of missiology in a post-Communist region, Anne-Marie has dealt with everything imaginable: teaching those with a Communist upbringing that engenders faith in nothing and no one. Because of this, you never know if people will do what they promise and say what they think. And yet ...Anne-Marie is one of those people who take up the challenge. She believes in possibilities, because she trusts that God will help despite all the gloom. (Gloomy - that's what it looked like here last week: drab and grey.) Then this morning, suddenly the sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a refreshing breeze. Symbolic of all the brightness which can be seen in the eyes of the students with whom Anne-Marie is dealing and who are learning how to understand the commission of the Biblical message within the context of their culture.
It was an impressive moment the first Sunday of Advent, there were more than twenty-five people who expressed a desire for the first time to become actively involved in the Church. There were also many children born into the church this year. The church is experiencing true growth thanks to the relentless dedication of the pastors and the many active volunteers.. There is much to learn - you do that if you have the opportunity to work with Anne-Marie. She is a teacher in heart and soul. She seems continually to radiate, not as a goal in itself, but out of commitment to the Good Cause of Jesus Christ. Inspiration is what you gain from being under her teaching. Somewhere in a building on Calvin Square, step-by-step work is being done to help students discover their true humanity in Christ.”
(Mineke Hardeman, Budapest, 13th December, 2007)
From Saturday, December 1st to Tuesday, December 4th, Henk Massink, an elder from the Reformed Sion Church in Houten was a guest in Budapest. He, too, has been visiting Hungary since the beginning of the 1990's. Here are some of his impressions. (My, ”home churches” of Sion and the Gazdagrét both have connections here.)
Impressions of Budapest (2)
Miklos and Toncy Nagy warmly welcomed me in their flat in the Gazdagrét area. They, too, visited our Church in the Netherlands in 2005. It was good to renew our connections. Their home is about two hundred meters from the Gazdagrét church. With them, I again had discussions until deep in the night about the social and political situation in Hungary. It again became clear to me how strong the Communists aftermath still is and how harmful these influences are for society. The socialist government (under the leadership of a former Communist) is squashing any form of social creativity and responsibility.
Gazdagrét Church
On Sunday morning, the Gazdagrét church quickly filled. It is remarkable how many people have joined the Church through the Alpha course. It must have something to do with the fact that the church members are very hospitable to people from the neighborhood. In his sermon, Pastor Andras Lovas skillfully linked the situation in which people find themselves to the lament found in Psalm 13. Rev. Lovas showed that complaining is part of a Biblical life of faith that should transform from complaint into prayer and through faith into trust.
Mongolian Service
On Sunday afternoon, with Anne-Marie, I attended a small Mongolian Church. Janet, one of Anne-Marie’s former students invited us to join her at the Mongolian church that meets in Budapest. She was closely involved in the formation of this church in a poorer part of the city. The service was to start at 5:00 p.m., but at that time, we were standing in the cold outside a closed door. Just after five, a number of people came up with an unmistakably Asian appearance, one with the key to open the door. Talking was not easy but the reception was extremely warm.It was a special service, lasting about two and a half hours. It was a farewell service to two Korean evangelist-pastors who live in Germany, who had led an evangelistic campaign for the past ten days. The elder evangelist sang a song in which you could hear the wind whistling across the Mongolian steppes. Then the other Korean pastor took over in Mongolian. It happens that since the 1980's, there have been quite a lot of Mongolian women working as seamstresses in Budapest. (In 1994, I had contact with Munhjin, who came to faith in the Pasaret Church, AMK).
Now there were finally about forty people present at the service, the vast majority women. The word was like a sharp two-edged sword. The sermon focused mainly on Revelation 22:8. Eight forms of sin are mentioned. Anyone who commits any one of these sins ends up in the 'fiery lake of burning sulphur'. During the service, the pastor asked the Church members - while everyone had their eyes closed - to raise their hands if they knew they had committed any of these sins. It was a serious word through which the conscience was touched. But it was not left at this. The preacher commended the blood of Christ as the way to salvation and victory. In this, he gave the example of the powerful work of God's Spirit in the hearts of heathen (Mongolian) priests. The Church clearly expressed its joy about this great grace. This service also seemed to be a type of commissioning service where various church members were assigned tasks. sing. After that, with a firm hug, everyone said good-bye to the two Korean guest pastors, and they sang to us as special guests. It was all particularly impressive and moving.
(H.F. Massink)
Finally
When you read this belated Kool News, teaching is well underway into the second semester with about 80 students in five courses! I’m greatly enjoying it. Next week a guest professor from Ghana, Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo will teach a class on Renewal in African Christianity: the case of Ghana. Pray that the course will be a great blessing to the 25+ students who have registered. Thank you for your faithful support and prayers!
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Kool News of the Károli -- 4
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.
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.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Kool News of the Károli -- 3
Budapest - 7th July, 2007
Dear Friends and Family,
Surprises
During a study furlough, you of course spend many hours in a library, particularly if it is one like the Speer library of Princeton Theological Seminary (www.ptsem.edu). It is a gold mine for the study projects I was working on. But my time in Princeton went differently from what I had planned. There were surprises in the form of unforgettable meetings with students (especially the mission committee!) and colleagues. Even more special was that the Lord 'put a new song in my mouth', after a journey through the desert during which I had almost completely lost the desire and capacity to sing.
Figure 1 Singing in the Nassau Presbyterian Church choir
It was an unforgettable experience for two months to (learn to) sing (again) in the choir of the local Nassau Presbyterian Church.
Figure 2Attah, Stephen, William, Daniel and Samuel
I also learned a lot of new songs in the prayer meetings with brothers from Ghana and a sister from Korea. And how great it was at Easter to sing Handel's Hallelujah chorus!
The new song is the 'song' of the rediscovery of God's unconditional love and grace in Christ, of redemption from the power of sin and true freedom. 'It is finished.' It is the song of a new trust that God is willing and able to provide for all our needs; the rediscovery that mission ultimately is God's mission. He is the Rock on which we can build entirely. It is the song that Christ has given us His Spirit to support us, to lead us, and to comfort and teach us everything we have received in Christ. These are old songs, which suddenly light up and become like new. 'God moves in a mysterious way!' Many came to an impromptu farewell party. 'Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord.'
Friends of CIMS
Through the years I got to know many people in the Chicago area (Wheaton) and in Michigan. They continued to faithfully pray through the times of ups and downs and expressed a clear willingness to continue support the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). It is good to see that new churches are joining the group of Friends of CIMS in Glen Ellyn and Winnetka. As always I was welcomed warmly and felt very much at home. It is such a great privilege to be part of the colourful, worldwide family of Christ and to be upheld by that family.
Back in Hungary
And then after three and a half months in America, to come back home.
Figure 3 Veronika, my mom and "Uncle" Karoly
It was a particularly warm reunion, at the university, and in the Gazdagret Reformed Church: 'they put the flags out'. A few days after my return, an international conference was planned in Papa for those teaching missions and those interested in reflect on the missionary practice from Central and Eastern Europe. For some reason or other, the logistical organisation fell in my lap, study furlough or no. Fortunately we could count completely on a second-year student from Papa, Krisztián. I was so proud of him! The twenty-two participants came from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, America and Australia. The discussions issues related to mission and evangelism in Eastern Europe were very honest and open, and key questions were raised.
Doctorate
It was a special occasion on 12th June, for the first time to act as (second) supervisor at the defence of the PhD dissertation of Rev. Ete Álmos Sipos on the Hungarian mission theologian Gyula Forgács (1879-1941) at the University of Utrecht, the fruit of ten years' diligent work (for the supervisor too!).
Figure 4 Prof. Dr. Jan Jongeneel, Dr. Ete Álmos Sipos and myself
His conclusions are of significant importance for the Reformed Church in Hungary as a missionary church in a post-Communist era and for the teaching and the research of missiology in Central and Eastern Europe. In the previous month Rev. Sipos turned seventy; he has eleven children and twenty-eight grandchildren!
Graduation
Three students of the professional Masters program in missiology graduated in Papa.
Figure 5 Rev. Pluhár, Rev. Szalkay and Rev. Draskóczy
Rev. Gábor Draskóczy defended his thesis about the work of evangelism among Romany children, Rev. Gábor Pluhár wrote about how church structures should be changed in order to be able better to meet the needs of today's youth, and Rev. László Szalkay focussed his study on what it means to be a missionary church. It is no small achievement for them to have completed this program in four years' time along side their full-time work in churches or mission organisations.
Nine students finished their seminary training.
Figure 6 Graduation ceremony in Papa
During their church examinations, the exam board listened with great interest to how they explained missiological questions such as the relationship between mission, witness and dialogue, as well as explaining the need for contextualisation, applying it to their work as pastors in the western part of Hungary.
Farewell to Papa Theological Seminary
At the beginning of this year, it had become very clear that my work in Papa as professor of missiology could not be combined with my new appointment at the Károli University.
Figure 7Farewell from students in Papa
After nine years, I decided to resign from my position at Papa as of 1st August next, in order to be able to concentrate completely on the unique challenges of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS) at the Károli. Let me share a few! And so to prayer...
Praise and prayer
1. Give thanks for the study furlough and the time of personal renewal at Princeton. Give thanks for the many valuable meetings and new friendships, especially with students and colleagues from non-Western backgrounds!
2. Give thanks for open doors to contribute to strengthening the Christian identity of the Karoli Reformed university with four thousand students. Please pray for the plans to develop formal and non-formal programs like lunchtime lectures, and for the numerous opportunities of (in)formal meetings with staff and students.
3. Give thanks for the possibilities to teach courses in missiology to students from all departments, and so to help train them to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in church and society.
4. Pray for wisdom in setting priorities (very necessary!), in order to enable the CIMS to be salt, light and yeast in the KRE university. “Lord, what do you want us to do?” The central location and the library are extremely suitable for making it into a meeting place, and an international learning community including for those from other Central and Eastern European countries come for a study leave.
5. Pray for the upcoming courses and the students of the new PhD programme and thank God for the unique opportunity of the formation for mission of future leaders of the church Pray for the supervision of PhD students and the development of a new Master's programme.
6. Pray for the necessary financial means to have the library up and running again, for scholarships and for the development of new programs. The university is able to contribute financially in very limited ways to the new Institute. Pray for a spirit of sacrificial giving among the Friends of CIMS!
7. Give thanks for the sacrifical voluntary help of Mrs. Mineke Hardeman in setting up the organisational side of the CIMS. Pray for volunteers in establishing a circle of Friends of the CIMS, in developing a web site, in formatting and editing English texts (like this newsletter) and for a couple to serve as a host family (host and hostess) for a period of half a year to a year.
Thank you all for your love and support. It was good to meet many of you in May and together to worship our Lord! I pray that you will all have a restful holiday season, in which you too can learn a 'new song'.
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. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli 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.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Dear Friends and Family,
Surprises
During a study furlough, you of course spend many hours in a library, particularly if it is one like the Speer library of Princeton Theological Seminary (www.ptsem.edu). It is a gold mine for the study projects I was working on. But my time in Princeton went differently from what I had planned. There were surprises in the form of unforgettable meetings with students (especially the mission committee!) and colleagues. Even more special was that the Lord 'put a new song in my mouth', after a journey through the desert during which I had almost completely lost the desire and capacity to sing.
Figure 1 Singing in the Nassau Presbyterian Church choir
It was an unforgettable experience for two months to (learn to) sing (again) in the choir of the local Nassau Presbyterian Church.
Figure 2Attah, Stephen, William, Daniel and Samuel
I also learned a lot of new songs in the prayer meetings with brothers from Ghana and a sister from Korea. And how great it was at Easter to sing Handel's Hallelujah chorus!
The new song is the 'song' of the rediscovery of God's unconditional love and grace in Christ, of redemption from the power of sin and true freedom. 'It is finished.' It is the song of a new trust that God is willing and able to provide for all our needs; the rediscovery that mission ultimately is God's mission. He is the Rock on which we can build entirely. It is the song that Christ has given us His Spirit to support us, to lead us, and to comfort and teach us everything we have received in Christ. These are old songs, which suddenly light up and become like new. 'God moves in a mysterious way!' Many came to an impromptu farewell party. 'Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord.'
Friends of CIMS
Through the years I got to know many people in the Chicago area (Wheaton) and in Michigan. They continued to faithfully pray through the times of ups and downs and expressed a clear willingness to continue support the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). It is good to see that new churches are joining the group of Friends of CIMS in Glen Ellyn and Winnetka. As always I was welcomed warmly and felt very much at home. It is such a great privilege to be part of the colourful, worldwide family of Christ and to be upheld by that family.
Back in Hungary
And then after three and a half months in America, to come back home.
Figure 3 Veronika, my mom and "Uncle" Karoly
It was a particularly warm reunion, at the university, and in the Gazdagret Reformed Church: 'they put the flags out'. A few days after my return, an international conference was planned in Papa for those teaching missions and those interested in reflect on the missionary practice from Central and Eastern Europe. For some reason or other, the logistical organisation fell in my lap, study furlough or no. Fortunately we could count completely on a second-year student from Papa, Krisztián. I was so proud of him! The twenty-two participants came from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, America and Australia. The discussions issues related to mission and evangelism in Eastern Europe were very honest and open, and key questions were raised.
Doctorate
It was a special occasion on 12th June, for the first time to act as (second) supervisor at the defence of the PhD dissertation of Rev. Ete Álmos Sipos on the Hungarian mission theologian Gyula Forgács (1879-1941) at the University of Utrecht, the fruit of ten years' diligent work (for the supervisor too!).
Figure 4 Prof. Dr. Jan Jongeneel, Dr. Ete Álmos Sipos and myself
His conclusions are of significant importance for the Reformed Church in Hungary as a missionary church in a post-Communist era and for the teaching and the research of missiology in Central and Eastern Europe. In the previous month Rev. Sipos turned seventy; he has eleven children and twenty-eight grandchildren!
Graduation
Three students of the professional Masters program in missiology graduated in Papa.
Figure 5 Rev. Pluhár, Rev. Szalkay and Rev. Draskóczy
Rev. Gábor Draskóczy defended his thesis about the work of evangelism among Romany children, Rev. Gábor Pluhár wrote about how church structures should be changed in order to be able better to meet the needs of today's youth, and Rev. László Szalkay focussed his study on what it means to be a missionary church. It is no small achievement for them to have completed this program in four years' time along side their full-time work in churches or mission organisations.
Nine students finished their seminary training.
Figure 6 Graduation ceremony in Papa
During their church examinations, the exam board listened with great interest to how they explained missiological questions such as the relationship between mission, witness and dialogue, as well as explaining the need for contextualisation, applying it to their work as pastors in the western part of Hungary.
Farewell to Papa Theological Seminary
At the beginning of this year, it had become very clear that my work in Papa as professor of missiology could not be combined with my new appointment at the Károli University.
Figure 7Farewell from students in Papa
After nine years, I decided to resign from my position at Papa as of 1st August next, in order to be able to concentrate completely on the unique challenges of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS) at the Károli. Let me share a few! And so to prayer...
Praise and prayer
1. Give thanks for the study furlough and the time of personal renewal at Princeton. Give thanks for the many valuable meetings and new friendships, especially with students and colleagues from non-Western backgrounds!
2. Give thanks for open doors to contribute to strengthening the Christian identity of the Karoli Reformed university with four thousand students. Please pray for the plans to develop formal and non-formal programs like lunchtime lectures, and for the numerous opportunities of (in)formal meetings with staff and students.
3. Give thanks for the possibilities to teach courses in missiology to students from all departments, and so to help train them to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in church and society.
4. Pray for wisdom in setting priorities (very necessary!), in order to enable the CIMS to be salt, light and yeast in the KRE university. “Lord, what do you want us to do?” The central location and the library are extremely suitable for making it into a meeting place, and an international learning community including for those from other Central and Eastern European countries come for a study leave.
5. Pray for the upcoming courses and the students of the new PhD programme and thank God for the unique opportunity of the formation for mission of future leaders of the church Pray for the supervision of PhD students and the development of a new Master's programme.
6. Pray for the necessary financial means to have the library up and running again, for scholarships and for the development of new programs. The university is able to contribute financially in very limited ways to the new Institute. Pray for a spirit of sacrificial giving among the Friends of CIMS!
7. Give thanks for the sacrifical voluntary help of Mrs. Mineke Hardeman in setting up the organisational side of the CIMS. Pray for volunteers in establishing a circle of Friends of the CIMS, in developing a web site, in formatting and editing English texts (like this newsletter) and for a couple to serve as a host family (host and hostess) for a period of half a year to a year.
Thank you all for your love and support. It was good to meet many of you in May and together to worship our Lord! I pray that you will all have a restful holiday season, in which you too can learn a 'new song'.
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. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli 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.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Kool News of the Károli -- 1
Budapest 15 January, 2007
Dear Friends,
A new year has begun. Another year has passed. New perspectives are opening up in my work at the Károli University. After thirteen years, it is time to give the Signs of Life from Hungary a new look. The Moravians' text for the year from Isaiah poignantly expresses my feelings, „Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing...”
Old and New
What is old, what has not changed, is my physical place of work. You will find me in the same office. But still I considered it important to make a new start by literally turning my desk around 180 degrees, and hanging new pictures on the walls. I assumed I could manage with my old chair, but my chair thought differently, it collapsed a week later...
What is new is being part of a larger entity, a university with four thousand students. Now it is possible to build on the support of skilled, competent and dedicated members of staff from the Rector's office, under which the new Institute for Mission Studies is located organisationally. It is literally at a stone's throw from the 'old PMTI', which continues to function as a legal entity only. The activities have been taken over by the synod office and by the university (CIMS) respectively.
It is also new to be actively involved in considering the Christian identity and mission of the Károli university, as I was asked to give the keynote lecture on the mission of the Károli at a retraite with 120 lecturers early December.
What is old and new with regard to the content of my work? In fact not much has changed! My vision for the renewal of the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe, and a strengthening of their vision in cross-cultural mission has not changed! A glimpse into the first working week of this new year!
Saturday
After giving my apartment a thorough sort out (how much better that makes you feel...), I decide to go shopping at IKEA. As a reward for the hard work, I allow myself a cappuccino, and get into conversation with an Arab doctor from Libya, who, because of her husband's studies, has been living several years with her three children in Hungary. We exchange experiences as foreigners, and discuss at length her experiences about living as a Muslim in a 'Christian' country. I am reminded of Christmas Eve with Gábor and Kati: fifteen of us (of five nationalities) squashed like sardines in a tin into their living room around the Christmas tree. The party included their daughter, who recently married a Palestinian, and a Jewish neighbour, a professor emeritus at the University of Budapest. She realised that she actually knew nothing about her own roots, but was very interested in talking more about it.
Monday
After the Christmas holiday, I try to pick up the thread again. At about eleven, I go to the Rector's office to attend the weekly devotions and to collect my mail. The meeting has been cancelled today because the Rector is absent. In the afternoon András comes by. He is going to lead a working group which is going to prepare my lectures of the last ten years for publication on the Internet. We discuss whom we will ask to join this group.
In the evening, we have our usual 'prayer triangle' with Éva and Vera. We pray especially for the preparations for my sabbatical.
Tuesday
Early in the morning, I leave for Soponya, a village with 2,400 inhabitants near Lake Balaton, to meet Serena. We discuss possibilities for her to take over my lectures in Papa for the next three months. I have not seen her for five years.
'During my studies, I learned a lot from the missiology lectures. I am thankful for the theoretical foundations which I gained.'
She tells about her experiences in three small rural villages, which used to be strongly Communist.
'There were fourteen of us in one of the Churches, six in the other and very few in the third too. We started with a prayer meeting, and I took up home visitation. For seven years, the Church was without a minister. Now, five years later, there are over sixty people. Many of them have grown from being completely unchurched into faithful co-workers. Every week, there are at least eight different meetings, for children, youth, catechism, 30+ and 60+ groups, etc. Through the children, the mothers come to the Church, and because of their changed lives, their husbands come to faith as well. We really have seen great miracles, for example in a family in which there was domestic violence, where the mother was getting increasingly into debt and in desperation wanted to take her own life. Through pastoral care, the children came to the children's club. Then first the mother came to the Church and later the father. Now they are leading the 30+ group. The family is again living in harmony. It is a matter of much prayer and pastoral care. The key is that whole families come to faith, and that it is then evident that they are living as true Christian families. Credibility in their way of life - that is what counts.
“Paradoxically, what strikes me”, Serena continues, "is that those who have attended the Church for many years are now opposed to seeing the former atheists coming to faith and joining the Church.” It is difficult for them to overcome the past.
Despite this disappointing attitude of the Church people, I go home immensely enriched. It seems that it is not impossible that the rural Churches come to life, as so many claim. The Word of God continues to transform and change people. Even today, miracles are still happening. And in seemingly hopeless situations, suddenly a ray of light can break through.
We speak about the possibilities for her to do her PhD at the Károli on the subject of rural mission so that her experience can be made fruitful to other people.
When I get home, I set to sending out invitations for the graduation ceremony where the Master’s thesis of the postgraduate students will be presented, followed by the handing out of the diplomas. I realise how urgent it is to get more administrative help when I come back after my sabbatical in June.
Initiatives have been taken by some friends of CIMS to create a CIMS friends network as one of its activities. Preliminary information is attached. Please let Mrs. Mineke Hardeman (kre.kmti@gmail.com) know when you would like to join or have ideas for its development. Would you join us in prayer for the Lord to provide in our needs?
Wednesday
László calls from the synod’s office diaconal department. “Thank you so much for the invitation to graduation ceremony. It greatly interests me”. One of the thesis is about social aid.
'How many people may I bring along? How good that you are organising a day like this!' What an encouragement.
Thursday
Good news. The contract with the university and the Károli to take over the rent of the 'old PMTI' facilities has finally been signed.
In the afternoon, a meeting with Rev. Wellmer, the pastor of the German-speaking Church in Budapest, offering his help with the correction of the dissertation by Rev. Sipos, who hopes to graduate in Utrecht on 12th June.
We have an open discussion about the Church situation in Hungary as 'initiated outsiders'. How can we cooperate more in order to strengthen the missionary awareness in the Churches?
In the evening, the weekly Bible study group. We sing a lot. I learn Ps. 121 from them. What a good start to the new year.
After getting home, I put the finishing touches to a report about the study trip with Dutch and Hungarian students to Ukraine. The meetings and conversations made deep and lasting impressions on them. Let me know when you are interested in receiving a copy.
Friday
At ten o'clock, an appointment with Niké, a member of staff for international affairs at the Károli. We discuss logistics matters regarding the graduation ceremony the coming week, and the meeting of the IAMS (International Association for Mission Studies) ExCom in two weeks time.
Next I have a conversation with Dr Ferenc Szűcs, the Rector of the university, about some matters concerning the new Institute for Mission Studies. As always, it is good to exchange ideas with him.
Later than expected, I telephone my friend Dóra! We have agreed to spend a few days out of the city, working on our research projects. For weeks I have been planning to work on the preparation of my Princeton lectures (March 5, 6). Twenty years ago, we worked together in student work. Now we are again colleagues at the Károli, where she lectures in English.
Personal note
It was very good to be in the Netherlands for a week at the end of November on the occasion for my parents' golden wedding anniversary. An unforgettable party, with unforgettable meetings.
'See, I am doing a new thing...' When I look back on this first week of the year, I see what this heralds. It is good first to recharge my batteries a bit for the coming months. I am thankful for this opportunity.
Please pray for my sabbatical (14th February - 30th May, Princeton, NJ, USA). Two weeks are available in May to visit friends and Churches! I’m looking forward meeting many of you. Just let me know what time fits you best!
Pray that the many openings for the new Institute for Mission Studies and for the necessary support. This effects the degree to which the plans can be realised.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie
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. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli 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).
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.
Dear Friends,
A new year has begun. Another year has passed. New perspectives are opening up in my work at the Károli University. After thirteen years, it is time to give the Signs of Life from Hungary a new look. The Moravians' text for the year from Isaiah poignantly expresses my feelings, „Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing...”
Old and New
What is old, what has not changed, is my physical place of work. You will find me in the same office. But still I considered it important to make a new start by literally turning my desk around 180 degrees, and hanging new pictures on the walls. I assumed I could manage with my old chair, but my chair thought differently, it collapsed a week later...
What is new is being part of a larger entity, a university with four thousand students. Now it is possible to build on the support of skilled, competent and dedicated members of staff from the Rector's office, under which the new Institute for Mission Studies is located organisationally. It is literally at a stone's throw from the 'old PMTI', which continues to function as a legal entity only. The activities have been taken over by the synod office and by the university (CIMS) respectively.
It is also new to be actively involved in considering the Christian identity and mission of the Károli university, as I was asked to give the keynote lecture on the mission of the Károli at a retraite with 120 lecturers early December.
What is old and new with regard to the content of my work? In fact not much has changed! My vision for the renewal of the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe, and a strengthening of their vision in cross-cultural mission has not changed! A glimpse into the first working week of this new year!
Saturday
After giving my apartment a thorough sort out (how much better that makes you feel...), I decide to go shopping at IKEA. As a reward for the hard work, I allow myself a cappuccino, and get into conversation with an Arab doctor from Libya, who, because of her husband's studies, has been living several years with her three children in Hungary. We exchange experiences as foreigners, and discuss at length her experiences about living as a Muslim in a 'Christian' country. I am reminded of Christmas Eve with Gábor and Kati: fifteen of us (of five nationalities) squashed like sardines in a tin into their living room around the Christmas tree. The party included their daughter, who recently married a Palestinian, and a Jewish neighbour, a professor emeritus at the University of Budapest. She realised that she actually knew nothing about her own roots, but was very interested in talking more about it.
Monday
After the Christmas holiday, I try to pick up the thread again. At about eleven, I go to the Rector's office to attend the weekly devotions and to collect my mail. The meeting has been cancelled today because the Rector is absent. In the afternoon András comes by. He is going to lead a working group which is going to prepare my lectures of the last ten years for publication on the Internet. We discuss whom we will ask to join this group.
In the evening, we have our usual 'prayer triangle' with Éva and Vera. We pray especially for the preparations for my sabbatical.
Tuesday
Early in the morning, I leave for Soponya, a village with 2,400 inhabitants near Lake Balaton, to meet Serena. We discuss possibilities for her to take over my lectures in Papa for the next three months. I have not seen her for five years.
'During my studies, I learned a lot from the missiology lectures. I am thankful for the theoretical foundations which I gained.'
She tells about her experiences in three small rural villages, which used to be strongly Communist.
'There were fourteen of us in one of the Churches, six in the other and very few in the third too. We started with a prayer meeting, and I took up home visitation. For seven years, the Church was without a minister. Now, five years later, there are over sixty people. Many of them have grown from being completely unchurched into faithful co-workers. Every week, there are at least eight different meetings, for children, youth, catechism, 30+ and 60+ groups, etc. Through the children, the mothers come to the Church, and because of their changed lives, their husbands come to faith as well. We really have seen great miracles, for example in a family in which there was domestic violence, where the mother was getting increasingly into debt and in desperation wanted to take her own life. Through pastoral care, the children came to the children's club. Then first the mother came to the Church and later the father. Now they are leading the 30+ group. The family is again living in harmony. It is a matter of much prayer and pastoral care. The key is that whole families come to faith, and that it is then evident that they are living as true Christian families. Credibility in their way of life - that is what counts.
“Paradoxically, what strikes me”, Serena continues, "is that those who have attended the Church for many years are now opposed to seeing the former atheists coming to faith and joining the Church.” It is difficult for them to overcome the past.
Despite this disappointing attitude of the Church people, I go home immensely enriched. It seems that it is not impossible that the rural Churches come to life, as so many claim. The Word of God continues to transform and change people. Even today, miracles are still happening. And in seemingly hopeless situations, suddenly a ray of light can break through.
We speak about the possibilities for her to do her PhD at the Károli on the subject of rural mission so that her experience can be made fruitful to other people.
When I get home, I set to sending out invitations for the graduation ceremony where the Master’s thesis of the postgraduate students will be presented, followed by the handing out of the diplomas. I realise how urgent it is to get more administrative help when I come back after my sabbatical in June.
Initiatives have been taken by some friends of CIMS to create a CIMS friends network as one of its activities. Preliminary information is attached. Please let Mrs. Mineke Hardeman (kre.kmti@gmail.com) know when you would like to join or have ideas for its development. Would you join us in prayer for the Lord to provide in our needs?
Wednesday
László calls from the synod’s office diaconal department. “Thank you so much for the invitation to graduation ceremony. It greatly interests me”. One of the thesis is about social aid.
'How many people may I bring along? How good that you are organising a day like this!' What an encouragement.
Thursday
Good news. The contract with the university and the Károli to take over the rent of the 'old PMTI' facilities has finally been signed.
In the afternoon, a meeting with Rev. Wellmer, the pastor of the German-speaking Church in Budapest, offering his help with the correction of the dissertation by Rev. Sipos, who hopes to graduate in Utrecht on 12th June.
We have an open discussion about the Church situation in Hungary as 'initiated outsiders'. How can we cooperate more in order to strengthen the missionary awareness in the Churches?
In the evening, the weekly Bible study group. We sing a lot. I learn Ps. 121 from them. What a good start to the new year.
After getting home, I put the finishing touches to a report about the study trip with Dutch and Hungarian students to Ukraine. The meetings and conversations made deep and lasting impressions on them. Let me know when you are interested in receiving a copy.
Friday
At ten o'clock, an appointment with Niké, a member of staff for international affairs at the Károli. We discuss logistics matters regarding the graduation ceremony the coming week, and the meeting of the IAMS (International Association for Mission Studies) ExCom in two weeks time.
Next I have a conversation with Dr Ferenc Szűcs, the Rector of the university, about some matters concerning the new Institute for Mission Studies. As always, it is good to exchange ideas with him.
Later than expected, I telephone my friend Dóra! We have agreed to spend a few days out of the city, working on our research projects. For weeks I have been planning to work on the preparation of my Princeton lectures (March 5, 6). Twenty years ago, we worked together in student work. Now we are again colleagues at the Károli, where she lectures in English.
Personal note
It was very good to be in the Netherlands for a week at the end of November on the occasion for my parents' golden wedding anniversary. An unforgettable party, with unforgettable meetings.
'See, I am doing a new thing...' When I look back on this first week of the year, I see what this heralds. It is good first to recharge my batteries a bit for the coming months. I am thankful for this opportunity.
Please pray for my sabbatical (14th February - 30th May, Princeton, NJ, USA). Two weeks are available in May to visit friends and Churches! I’m looking forward meeting many of you. Just let me know what time fits you best!
Pray that the many openings for the new Institute for Mission Studies and for the necessary support. This effects the degree to which the plans can be realised.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie
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. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli 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).
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.
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