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.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Signs of Life from Hungary -- 100
Signs of Life from Hungary Year XIII No. 100
Budapest, 30th September, 2006
If thou but suffer God to guide thee,and hope in God through all thy ways,God will give strength, whate'er betide thee,and bear thee through the evil days.Who trusts in God's unchanging lovebuilds on the rock that naught can move. George Neumark[1]
Dear Family and Friends,
In recent weeks, Hungary has been in the news a lot. On August 20th a hurricane suddenly sprung up causing chaos and death in downtown Budapest, where a large crowd had just assembled to watch a huge fireworks. Many were injured.
Two weeks ago, a recording of Minister President Ferenc Gyúrcsány, in which he admitted that he and his party had lied to the Hungarian people in the past years, again caused chaos. Because he refused to resign, thousands went onto the streets, and especially in the first days, serious rioting and disturbances broke out. These demonstrations are still continuing. For months the tension in Hungarian society had been tangible. The process of change does not always run smoothly.
One of the eyewitnesses to these demonstrations has been Theo Pieter de Jong, a theology student from Utrecht, who has just arrived to prepare a MTh thesis on the topic of mutual assistance in the twinning links between some local Churches in the Netherlands and Hungary. The following is a 'Sign of Life after week 1', addressed to his supervisor, Utrecht missiologist Dr Martha T. Frederiks:
'It is great to be here. Budapest is wonderful (but you know that). I have already done and seen a lot. In the mornings, jogging along the Danube, up Gellert hill, and during the day, sitting there in the sun and reading for hours. What a good book by Renée Postma (Behind the scenes in Central Europe. From Habsburg to Brussels. AMK), but also quite depressing. How will things ever turn out right in Europe...?
'Yesterday evening, for the third time in a row I participated in the demonstrations. There were considerably fewer people than last week... It is difficult to identify with what it really means to be Hungarian. I have a lot of sympathy and admiration for it, and yet also some hesitations, even slight objections... When does sincere patriotism border on dubious nationalism? A sense of superiority? And when is justified indignation transformed into lethargic, passive self-pity? The melancholy which I had heard and read about is even stronger than I thought. Besides this, with regard to the political situation, I notice much dissatisfaction around me, and it simply keeps going on. I hope that the elections next Sunday (for the local authorities, AMK) will point things a bit in the right direction.'
'I don't know if my feelings of disquiet are justified. Of course I am simply a reasonably level-headed Dutchman (with a healthy patriotism, I believe, greater than the average Dutchman, and appropriate pride), but still I am surprised at the intense, passionate Hungarian consciousness, even among the well-educated Hungarians around me. People are not very self-critical. They are hardly able to see themselves in perspective, and everything is related to Trianon and the concept of the Greater Hungary (in the Versailles peace treaty, after World War I, Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory and one third of its inhabitants, AMK). There is much simplistic thinking in terms of 'them and us'. And when pride is not accompanied by modesty, it is so easily transformed into arrogance, and that is scary, certainly if all sorts of religion is mixed up with it. Then I am afraid of fanaticism...
'It is extremely fascinating to discuss this a bit with the people around me. Fortunately, I also notice that my questions cause them to think. This is already a good principle of mutual assistance, we might say. Good, I am going to do a chapter of my Hungarian course book. Yesterday I was in Kiskunhalas. Very good!!! I just wanted to let you know that it is going well. Theo Pieter.'
A personal note
As you will have understood from previous information, the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) has decided to establish a new institute: the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). From the 1st September, I have been appointed as professor of Missiology.
In the past months, I have continued my work as professor in Papa and my lectures at KRE, while at the request of the Rector of the KRE, I prepared a feasibility study into the possibilities within the KRE of establishing an interdenominational, international institute for missiology. For this, I have worked on a strategic plan with a financial analysis and an implementation plan. In drawing up these plans, I have made grateful use of the input of many from the academic world and from missionary practice, who expressed their ideas about the possibilities of such an institute.
At the end of June, the KRE senate accepted this plan. For the time being, I am working alone, without staff at the institute. A number of members of staff of the university will provide administrative support where possible.
In this period of preparation, besides my work as professor in Budapest and Papa, I will also take time for study in a number of areas (including a paper on the preparation of missionaries for Europe, in Edinburgh on 7th October next), and for the organisational development of the institute. Fundraising is inseparably linked to this. I have determined to round off a number of grant proposals in the foreseeable future.
At the time of writing, it is not yet clear to what extent the library of the Protestant Institute for Mission Institute and its infrastructure will be made available to the university and the new institute. Please pray that a solution will soon be found.
During the past period - in many respects often stormy - I have experienced great support from many of you: in conversations, in prayer, and countless emails, there were repeatedly signs of your concern. But above all, I have experienced God's guidance in recent months. This is guidance I can rely on for the future. And so, singing with you, the beautiful song of George Neumark (Bach Cantate 93) I can face the future, in the knowledge that Christ is the Lord of all the storms of life, whether great or small.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was sent out by the Reformed Missionary Union (GZB) in 1993 and for years was attached to the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest (Hungary). Since 1998, she has also been working as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and since 1st September, 2006, at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the residential area of high-rise apartments where she lives (Budapest/Gazdagret).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 9,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1-455 90 60.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
[1] http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh142.sht
Budapest, 30th September, 2006
If thou but suffer God to guide thee,and hope in God through all thy ways,God will give strength, whate'er betide thee,and bear thee through the evil days.Who trusts in God's unchanging lovebuilds on the rock that naught can move. George Neumark[1]
Dear Family and Friends,
In recent weeks, Hungary has been in the news a lot. On August 20th a hurricane suddenly sprung up causing chaos and death in downtown Budapest, where a large crowd had just assembled to watch a huge fireworks. Many were injured.
Two weeks ago, a recording of Minister President Ferenc Gyúrcsány, in which he admitted that he and his party had lied to the Hungarian people in the past years, again caused chaos. Because he refused to resign, thousands went onto the streets, and especially in the first days, serious rioting and disturbances broke out. These demonstrations are still continuing. For months the tension in Hungarian society had been tangible. The process of change does not always run smoothly.
One of the eyewitnesses to these demonstrations has been Theo Pieter de Jong, a theology student from Utrecht, who has just arrived to prepare a MTh thesis on the topic of mutual assistance in the twinning links between some local Churches in the Netherlands and Hungary. The following is a 'Sign of Life after week 1', addressed to his supervisor, Utrecht missiologist Dr Martha T. Frederiks:
'It is great to be here. Budapest is wonderful (but you know that). I have already done and seen a lot. In the mornings, jogging along the Danube, up Gellert hill, and during the day, sitting there in the sun and reading for hours. What a good book by Renée Postma (Behind the scenes in Central Europe. From Habsburg to Brussels. AMK), but also quite depressing. How will things ever turn out right in Europe...?
'Yesterday evening, for the third time in a row I participated in the demonstrations. There were considerably fewer people than last week... It is difficult to identify with what it really means to be Hungarian. I have a lot of sympathy and admiration for it, and yet also some hesitations, even slight objections... When does sincere patriotism border on dubious nationalism? A sense of superiority? And when is justified indignation transformed into lethargic, passive self-pity? The melancholy which I had heard and read about is even stronger than I thought. Besides this, with regard to the political situation, I notice much dissatisfaction around me, and it simply keeps going on. I hope that the elections next Sunday (for the local authorities, AMK) will point things a bit in the right direction.'
'I don't know if my feelings of disquiet are justified. Of course I am simply a reasonably level-headed Dutchman (with a healthy patriotism, I believe, greater than the average Dutchman, and appropriate pride), but still I am surprised at the intense, passionate Hungarian consciousness, even among the well-educated Hungarians around me. People are not very self-critical. They are hardly able to see themselves in perspective, and everything is related to Trianon and the concept of the Greater Hungary (in the Versailles peace treaty, after World War I, Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory and one third of its inhabitants, AMK). There is much simplistic thinking in terms of 'them and us'. And when pride is not accompanied by modesty, it is so easily transformed into arrogance, and that is scary, certainly if all sorts of religion is mixed up with it. Then I am afraid of fanaticism...
'It is extremely fascinating to discuss this a bit with the people around me. Fortunately, I also notice that my questions cause them to think. This is already a good principle of mutual assistance, we might say. Good, I am going to do a chapter of my Hungarian course book. Yesterday I was in Kiskunhalas. Very good!!! I just wanted to let you know that it is going well. Theo Pieter.'
A personal note
As you will have understood from previous information, the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) has decided to establish a new institute: the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). From the 1st September, I have been appointed as professor of Missiology.
In the past months, I have continued my work as professor in Papa and my lectures at KRE, while at the request of the Rector of the KRE, I prepared a feasibility study into the possibilities within the KRE of establishing an interdenominational, international institute for missiology. For this, I have worked on a strategic plan with a financial analysis and an implementation plan. In drawing up these plans, I have made grateful use of the input of many from the academic world and from missionary practice, who expressed their ideas about the possibilities of such an institute.
At the end of June, the KRE senate accepted this plan. For the time being, I am working alone, without staff at the institute. A number of members of staff of the university will provide administrative support where possible.
In this period of preparation, besides my work as professor in Budapest and Papa, I will also take time for study in a number of areas (including a paper on the preparation of missionaries for Europe, in Edinburgh on 7th October next), and for the organisational development of the institute. Fundraising is inseparably linked to this. I have determined to round off a number of grant proposals in the foreseeable future.
At the time of writing, it is not yet clear to what extent the library of the Protestant Institute for Mission Institute and its infrastructure will be made available to the university and the new institute. Please pray that a solution will soon be found.
During the past period - in many respects often stormy - I have experienced great support from many of you: in conversations, in prayer, and countless emails, there were repeatedly signs of your concern. But above all, I have experienced God's guidance in recent months. This is guidance I can rely on for the future. And so, singing with you, the beautiful song of George Neumark (Bach Cantate 93) I can face the future, in the knowledge that Christ is the Lord of all the storms of life, whether great or small.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was sent out by the Reformed Missionary Union (GZB) in 1993 and for years was attached to the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest (Hungary). Since 1998, she has also been working as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and since 1st September, 2006, at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the residential area of high-rise apartments where she lives (Budapest/Gazdagret).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 9,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1-455 90 60.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
[1] http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh142.sht
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Signs of Life from Hungary -- 99
Signs of Life from Hungary Volume XIII No. 99
Prayer update on the ministry of the
Dr. Anne-Marie Kool
Budapest, 28th May 2006
'Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.'
Ps. 37:3-7
Dear Friends and Family,
After seven months of a 'lull', the time is ripe to give another Signs of Life from Hungary, and a long one! It has been a time in which Ps. 37 has constantly provided me with something to hold on to. 'Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.' For someone who is used to actively taking steps in sorting out difficulties, this is an important lesson! Waiting, being quiet, expecting, trusting, handing over, letting go. Anyone who has ever experienced the reorganisation of a company or organisation knows that this is usually accompanied by times of vagueness, confusion and misunderstandings. In itself, I wasn't surprised about this.
But after a period of nine months in which hardly any progress had been made in the clarification of my new job, in December the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) took the difficult decision to withdraw me from the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies and asked me to concentrate my activities more in the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa. After a period of eleven years a door was closed. A period of letting go, which actually began already in April of last year, entered a new phase. I had peace about it. It was not possible to work in such an unclear situation. At this time of 'loss' and in a sense a ‘divorce’, I again realised how rich I am: good health, family and friends worldwide who were prayerfully supporting me, and a very supportive local congregation in Hungary and a fellowship group in which I really feel at home.
'Trust in the Lord and do good ...'
In the meantime, my lectures and responsibilities as a supervisor continued as usual. I found great satisfaction and joy in this. The sixth year students from Papa returned with contrasting experiences of their field placements. In a role play, they depicted in which two ways you can pass on the gospel to young people today: either 'preach' at them, or try to build a bridge between their world and the gospel. My visits to some of them took me as far afield as Belfast in Northern Ireland, and a village near Belgrade in Serbia.
In the second term, an experiment was begun with 'e-learning', the use of the internet in teaching, though a collaborative project with Western Theological Seminary in Holland MI (USA). It was a completely new experience to explore the possibilities of the internet for missiological teaching. During a course on “Internet and mission”, the students from Papa discovered that they are not at all living in such great isolation as they thought, in a small town in the west of Hungary, but that they have a huge library 'in their back yard', which also contains a lot of material about mission and evangelism. Literally and figuratively, a new world opened up to them.
For the first time, I was asked to give a required Missiology course at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University, for thirty fourth and fifth year students, a record number for me. They ventured to jump in at the deep end by participating in the 'Angel' experiment, 'Angel' being the name of the e-learning programme. We discovered that it can, of course, not be a replacement for personal contact and discussions with one another, but that it does simplify communication with the lecturer, because teaching material can be made available electronically, and assignments can also be submitted electronically.
Surprises (1)
Over the last few months there were constantly surprises, too. At the end of a visiting lecture at the university of economics at the department of sociology of religion, which was attended by eight students, three students came up to me who indicated that they were seriously considering going into mission! They were all active in the Hungarian Christian student movement, which I had known in its infancy, since the late 1980ies.
Four students from the Masters of Theology programme were visibly relieved when they handed in their theses after a time of extremely hard work. In parenthesis, to be honest, their supervisor then often breathes a sigh of relief as well! It is fascinating to go into all sorts of relevant themes with your students, e.g. the role of the laity in the Church between 1945 and 1956 (from 1945-1949 in a time of revival, and then during the first years of Communism); the functioning of discipleship in the local Church fellowship, often a forgotten concept in the Church.
The fact that this is not just theoretical is illustrated by the story of Janet, an American missionary, who told me a few months after handing in her thesis how she was trying to put into practice what had been taught about discipleship at a recently established weekly Bible study group for Mongolian migrants. What a surprise! Janet did not know that the first Mongolian Christians had come to faith in Hungary even before the 'changes', or that I had been in contact with a few Mongolian girls in 1994/95, of whom one had also come to faith.
Three students, busy with their doctoral research, have also made considerable progress, and presented the first version of their dissertation. However, they quickly realised (after I, as one of their supervisors, had been through it with a red pen) that this is only the 'beginning of the end', and that “a lot of water still has to flow down the Danube” before they really finish off their work. To some of them that may have been a surprise too!
New doors opened
A request from the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University came as a complete surprise. Last year I had heard rumours every now and then that the founders, the board and the chairman of the PMTI are considering that PMTI and the Karoli University, one of the founders, would work together more closely. But you hear all sorts of things... In March I had completely reached a point of letting go entirely: Lord, what new ways do you have in store for me? I realised that I had enough work on my plate until the summer of 2007: teaching courses in Papa and at the Karoli, supervising students, preparing my second thesis for publication, giving lectures etc. There was a deep peace in me, that the Lord would show me the way in His time.
A few weeks ago the financial director of the Karoli University asked me to come and see him. He handed me a letter of appointment as a professor, with the request to work out a plan by the end of May for an institute of missiology to be newly established, with an interdenominational and international perspective.
Only in the following days did I really realise what very special doors had opened: not only the possibility to give lectures at the department of theology, but now also to the about 2,000 students studying at other departments (including those who are studying Dutch). Also to be able to provide shorter courses for pastors and other graduates and to be able to continue the postgraduate program in mission studies, as well as to have the possibility to establish a PhD programme in missiology, possibly as the only university in Central and Eastern Europe. And all of this within a clear and stable university structure, providing for the necessary administrative support and infrastructure. I hope that in a later Signs I can report on the outcome of the negotiations of the KRE about transferring the library and some offices of PMTI to the university. 'Lord, my hands were empty; now they are overflowing. Is this not a bit much, all at once?'
There were immediately a few things which came to mind: begin slowly, step by step! Furthermore, how wonderful it is that there are already many more qualified people who can teach missiology than there were ten years ago. Also, that again a great miracle is needed, just as with many similar institutes and departments, to find the necessary financial means, because the university is not able to financially support the new institute other than by providing housing and administrative support. Again the words of Ps. 37 sprang to mind, 'Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this'.
Even more surprises ...
Within ten days after I had received this request, a number of remarkable surprises came across my path. On the same day, as when Janet shared her story about the Mongolian bible study group, the annual Dutch Queen's Day celebrations were held at the residence of the Dutch ambassador. It was raining cats and dogs (that's what you say, isn't it?), which meant that the garden party was partly a washout. Most of the guests, including many ambassadors, had taken refuge in the marquee. Towards the end of the party, I got into conversation with an African guest, who it turned out came from Nigeria. Already after a few minutes it became clear that he was the pastor of an African Church in Budapest; and that his wife has a high position at the Nigerian embassy. The very day before, I had been giving a lecture about the fact that Europe has become a mission field and that increasing numbers of missionary workers are coming to Europe from, for example, Asia (South Korea) and Africa. I had recently discovered that in Kiev a Church has been started by an African, which now has 25,000 members! And now, at the embassy of all places, I had met such a person in the flesh. I did not even know that there was an African Church in Budapest! Spontaneously I enquired if he would be willing to accept an invitation for a guest lecture at the university, which took place two weeks later. Most students listened attentively. Some students were visibly touched by his testimony of how he was called to come to Europe as a missionary worker.
A few days later, I attended a lecture about the Church situation in China, which was referred to as historical. There appeared to be such a vast interest in China, that for more than an hour, one question after another was posed. Rev. Aiming Wang, vice president of Nanjing Theological Seminary, emphasised that the contacts between the Chinese Church and the Hungarian Church date from a time long before the 'changes', and he made a plea for these to be renewed and strengthened. At the end, in a personal conversation, it turned out that we had many mutual acquaintances.
At the reception, following the lecture, I met the pastor of one of the five Chinese Churches in Budapest, and an elder, also Chinese, who turned out to speaks fluent Hungarian, and Flemish, because he had been born in Belgium! When I told this story later on to the head of the department of Dutch language and culture, she immediately responded, 'But then I'll invite him to give a visiting lecture!'
Finally
In my last Signs of life, I referred to the hymn from which the title of my thesis is derived. In recent times, I have often sung, 'God moves in a mysterious way'. What particularly appealed to me were the words, 'His purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.'
In the past year, I have learned a lot about letting go, to rely on Christ in a new way as well as a sort of holy 'independence' from what others think about you, and a new sort of freedom from the time pressure under which we are so often living (of the chronos) and learned to wait more for God's time (the kairos) and to allow my life to be determined by the latter. Of course this does not mean that I do not sometimes really feel the pressure of time, particularly now in with the end of May deadline approaching!
Please pray in the coming days and weeks for wisdom to finishing the plan for the new Institute for Missiology, especially in the light of something a good friend recently asked me, 'What would you like to do with the next fifteen years of your life?' This set me thinking, 'What does the Lord want me to do?' Pray also for the rounding off of the academic year, for the conducting of oral exams, the assessment of theses etc. Pray also for someone to help me for about ten days with filing and organising my administration, preferably in the first half of June.
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 June 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University. 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 new Institute for Missiology of the Gaspar Karoli 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/MKI, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / MKI, Kalvin ter 9, P.O. Box 64, 1461 Budapest, Hungary. Tel. +36 1-455 90 60. E-mail: anne-marie.kool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Prayer update on the ministry of the
Dr. Anne-Marie Kool
Budapest, 28th May 2006
'Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.'
Ps. 37:3-7
Dear Friends and Family,
After seven months of a 'lull', the time is ripe to give another Signs of Life from Hungary, and a long one! It has been a time in which Ps. 37 has constantly provided me with something to hold on to. 'Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.' For someone who is used to actively taking steps in sorting out difficulties, this is an important lesson! Waiting, being quiet, expecting, trusting, handing over, letting go. Anyone who has ever experienced the reorganisation of a company or organisation knows that this is usually accompanied by times of vagueness, confusion and misunderstandings. In itself, I wasn't surprised about this.
But after a period of nine months in which hardly any progress had been made in the clarification of my new job, in December the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) took the difficult decision to withdraw me from the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies and asked me to concentrate my activities more in the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa. After a period of eleven years a door was closed. A period of letting go, which actually began already in April of last year, entered a new phase. I had peace about it. It was not possible to work in such an unclear situation. At this time of 'loss' and in a sense a ‘divorce’, I again realised how rich I am: good health, family and friends worldwide who were prayerfully supporting me, and a very supportive local congregation in Hungary and a fellowship group in which I really feel at home.
'Trust in the Lord and do good ...'
In the meantime, my lectures and responsibilities as a supervisor continued as usual. I found great satisfaction and joy in this. The sixth year students from Papa returned with contrasting experiences of their field placements. In a role play, they depicted in which two ways you can pass on the gospel to young people today: either 'preach' at them, or try to build a bridge between their world and the gospel. My visits to some of them took me as far afield as Belfast in Northern Ireland, and a village near Belgrade in Serbia.
In the second term, an experiment was begun with 'e-learning', the use of the internet in teaching, though a collaborative project with Western Theological Seminary in Holland MI (USA). It was a completely new experience to explore the possibilities of the internet for missiological teaching. During a course on “Internet and mission”, the students from Papa discovered that they are not at all living in such great isolation as they thought, in a small town in the west of Hungary, but that they have a huge library 'in their back yard', which also contains a lot of material about mission and evangelism. Literally and figuratively, a new world opened up to them.
For the first time, I was asked to give a required Missiology course at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University, for thirty fourth and fifth year students, a record number for me. They ventured to jump in at the deep end by participating in the 'Angel' experiment, 'Angel' being the name of the e-learning programme. We discovered that it can, of course, not be a replacement for personal contact and discussions with one another, but that it does simplify communication with the lecturer, because teaching material can be made available electronically, and assignments can also be submitted electronically.
Surprises (1)
Over the last few months there were constantly surprises, too. At the end of a visiting lecture at the university of economics at the department of sociology of religion, which was attended by eight students, three students came up to me who indicated that they were seriously considering going into mission! They were all active in the Hungarian Christian student movement, which I had known in its infancy, since the late 1980ies.
Four students from the Masters of Theology programme were visibly relieved when they handed in their theses after a time of extremely hard work. In parenthesis, to be honest, their supervisor then often breathes a sigh of relief as well! It is fascinating to go into all sorts of relevant themes with your students, e.g. the role of the laity in the Church between 1945 and 1956 (from 1945-1949 in a time of revival, and then during the first years of Communism); the functioning of discipleship in the local Church fellowship, often a forgotten concept in the Church.
The fact that this is not just theoretical is illustrated by the story of Janet, an American missionary, who told me a few months after handing in her thesis how she was trying to put into practice what had been taught about discipleship at a recently established weekly Bible study group for Mongolian migrants. What a surprise! Janet did not know that the first Mongolian Christians had come to faith in Hungary even before the 'changes', or that I had been in contact with a few Mongolian girls in 1994/95, of whom one had also come to faith.
Three students, busy with their doctoral research, have also made considerable progress, and presented the first version of their dissertation. However, they quickly realised (after I, as one of their supervisors, had been through it with a red pen) that this is only the 'beginning of the end', and that “a lot of water still has to flow down the Danube” before they really finish off their work. To some of them that may have been a surprise too!
New doors opened
A request from the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University came as a complete surprise. Last year I had heard rumours every now and then that the founders, the board and the chairman of the PMTI are considering that PMTI and the Karoli University, one of the founders, would work together more closely. But you hear all sorts of things... In March I had completely reached a point of letting go entirely: Lord, what new ways do you have in store for me? I realised that I had enough work on my plate until the summer of 2007: teaching courses in Papa and at the Karoli, supervising students, preparing my second thesis for publication, giving lectures etc. There was a deep peace in me, that the Lord would show me the way in His time.
A few weeks ago the financial director of the Karoli University asked me to come and see him. He handed me a letter of appointment as a professor, with the request to work out a plan by the end of May for an institute of missiology to be newly established, with an interdenominational and international perspective.
Only in the following days did I really realise what very special doors had opened: not only the possibility to give lectures at the department of theology, but now also to the about 2,000 students studying at other departments (including those who are studying Dutch). Also to be able to provide shorter courses for pastors and other graduates and to be able to continue the postgraduate program in mission studies, as well as to have the possibility to establish a PhD programme in missiology, possibly as the only university in Central and Eastern Europe. And all of this within a clear and stable university structure, providing for the necessary administrative support and infrastructure. I hope that in a later Signs I can report on the outcome of the negotiations of the KRE about transferring the library and some offices of PMTI to the university. 'Lord, my hands were empty; now they are overflowing. Is this not a bit much, all at once?'
There were immediately a few things which came to mind: begin slowly, step by step! Furthermore, how wonderful it is that there are already many more qualified people who can teach missiology than there were ten years ago. Also, that again a great miracle is needed, just as with many similar institutes and departments, to find the necessary financial means, because the university is not able to financially support the new institute other than by providing housing and administrative support. Again the words of Ps. 37 sprang to mind, 'Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this'.
Even more surprises ...
Within ten days after I had received this request, a number of remarkable surprises came across my path. On the same day, as when Janet shared her story about the Mongolian bible study group, the annual Dutch Queen's Day celebrations were held at the residence of the Dutch ambassador. It was raining cats and dogs (that's what you say, isn't it?), which meant that the garden party was partly a washout. Most of the guests, including many ambassadors, had taken refuge in the marquee. Towards the end of the party, I got into conversation with an African guest, who it turned out came from Nigeria. Already after a few minutes it became clear that he was the pastor of an African Church in Budapest; and that his wife has a high position at the Nigerian embassy. The very day before, I had been giving a lecture about the fact that Europe has become a mission field and that increasing numbers of missionary workers are coming to Europe from, for example, Asia (South Korea) and Africa. I had recently discovered that in Kiev a Church has been started by an African, which now has 25,000 members! And now, at the embassy of all places, I had met such a person in the flesh. I did not even know that there was an African Church in Budapest! Spontaneously I enquired if he would be willing to accept an invitation for a guest lecture at the university, which took place two weeks later. Most students listened attentively. Some students were visibly touched by his testimony of how he was called to come to Europe as a missionary worker.
A few days later, I attended a lecture about the Church situation in China, which was referred to as historical. There appeared to be such a vast interest in China, that for more than an hour, one question after another was posed. Rev. Aiming Wang, vice president of Nanjing Theological Seminary, emphasised that the contacts between the Chinese Church and the Hungarian Church date from a time long before the 'changes', and he made a plea for these to be renewed and strengthened. At the end, in a personal conversation, it turned out that we had many mutual acquaintances.
At the reception, following the lecture, I met the pastor of one of the five Chinese Churches in Budapest, and an elder, also Chinese, who turned out to speaks fluent Hungarian, and Flemish, because he had been born in Belgium! When I told this story later on to the head of the department of Dutch language and culture, she immediately responded, 'But then I'll invite him to give a visiting lecture!'
Finally
In my last Signs of life, I referred to the hymn from which the title of my thesis is derived. In recent times, I have often sung, 'God moves in a mysterious way'. What particularly appealed to me were the words, 'His purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.'
In the past year, I have learned a lot about letting go, to rely on Christ in a new way as well as a sort of holy 'independence' from what others think about you, and a new sort of freedom from the time pressure under which we are so often living (of the chronos) and learned to wait more for God's time (the kairos) and to allow my life to be determined by the latter. Of course this does not mean that I do not sometimes really feel the pressure of time, particularly now in with the end of May deadline approaching!
Please pray in the coming days and weeks for wisdom to finishing the plan for the new Institute for Missiology, especially in the light of something a good friend recently asked me, 'What would you like to do with the next fifteen years of your life?' This set me thinking, 'What does the Lord want me to do?' Pray also for the rounding off of the academic year, for the conducting of oral exams, the assessment of theses etc. Pray also for someone to help me for about ten days with filing and organising my administration, preferably in the first half of June.
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 June 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University. 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 new Institute for Missiology of the Gaspar Karoli 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/MKI, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / MKI, Kalvin ter 9, P.O. Box 64, 1461 Budapest, Hungary. Tel. +36 1-455 90 60. E-mail: anne-marie.kool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Signs of Life from Hungary -- 98
Signs of Life from Hungary Year XIII No. 98
Budapest, 29th October, 2005
'You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.'
Ps. 18: 28 and 29
Dear Family and Friends,
It was extremely encouraging to meet many of you during a brief visit to the Netherlands in the middle of October. I had been invited by a group of retired pastors of the Reformed Church to give a presentation about my work in Hungary. I met many clergymen there who have meant a great deal to me in the course of the years. Probing questions were asked, even with regard to the Dutch situation. How important it is that the windows of our Church life in Hungary and the Netherlands are open in order to be able to learn from each other and encourage one another. But how inclined we all are to withdraw into the security of our own walls.
Speaking of walls ...
Years ago, someone pointed out to me this text from Ps. 18 in a conversation about conquering difficulties in our lives.
'What do you need to scale a wall with God?' I was asked.
'Faith?' I proffered.
'Yes, that too. But most importantly: a wall!'
In recent weeks again I have often known that I am supported in a miraculous way by your prayers. Many responded to my Signs of Life 97. Sometimes I saw and I see only walls around me. How should I go on? And then suddenly you see a door ajar. Suddenly there seems to be some clarity. But at another moment, it is suddenly dark again and the situation looks hopeless.
What is certain is that the Lord is teaching me very many new things about Himself. Is it not the case that a palm tree grows only grows under a stone? 'He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect... He trains my hands for battle' (vs. 30b, 31, 32, 34a).
I am learning to call on God's promises in a new way: Lord, do not abandon the works of Your hands!
Will you join in praying that in and through this transition phase, His Name will be glorified and His plans will continue? And especially also that obstacles will be removed from my life in order for His streams of living water to be able to freely flow to others? (Ps 84: 6 and 7).
Opened windows ...
One of the highlights of the past month was undoubtedly the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, by the theological faculty of the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University in Budapest, which was celebrating its 150th anniversary. As one of the most important reasons for this honorary doctorate, the rector of the university, Prof. Ferenc Szucs, emphasised,
'It is very important for us that there is a prime minister who combines his Christian faith with politics. Balkenende is a truly reformed man.'
With the doctorate, the theological institute wanted to thank the Christian Democratic member of government for his contribution to 'Christian values in national and international politics'. Szűcs also praised the academic work of Balkenende in the time (until 2002) when he was a professor of Christian-social thinking at the Free University of Amsterdam. With this honorary doctorate, the university also wanted to express thanks for all the help which the Netherlands and the Dutch Churches have given to the Hungarian sister Churches and to the university in the course of the years.
Personally it was also very special to be involved in the background with the preparations for this joyful occasion, and unforgettable to be actively involved in the intercession during the Church service in which Prime Minister Balkenende participated. The topicality of this jubilee was emphasised by the fact that this faculty was established in the past as a Protestant theological institution in order to help Hungarian Churches to open the windows of Church life and to break with its provinciality: at that time Budapest was still a German-speaking city!
Is it not of great importance for the Hungarian, and also for the Dutch Churches, even at the beginning of the twenty-first century, to learn from one another and to promote cooperation, even with regard to the education at university level of future leaders of the Church and society?
Open doors ...
For years I have also been teaching at the theological academy in Papa, 175 km to the west of Budapest. As my responsibilities at the Missions Institute have been reduced, it is now possible to be there two days a week. Actually you should come one Monday evening and have a look around the corner of my two-room apartment, which has really become a 'home'. At seven o'clock, the students trickle in with all sorts of 'contributions' to the evening meal. One has tried out a favourite recipe, another brings something tasty from home, a third puts a pot of tea on the table. It is not unusual for there to be fifteen of us, like sardines in a tin, almost a third of all the students! After twenty minutes, all the plates are put aside and the Sing-in or a Bible study starts. At half past eight, everyone goes on his or her way, back to the studies.
I am very thankful for these fellowship evenings, for the closer contact with the students, and also that I can concentrate more on the quality of my teaching. This is not simple, because the library of the missiology faculty is still very small (perhaps a hundred books) and Budapest is not on the doorstep!
We are in the process of planning a web site to make accessible Hungarian, English and German digital sources. If you have any suggestions, I will be pleased to hear from you! Of course this is a project from which later the five other Hungarian language theological courses, which are not in Budapest, will be able to benefit. I also dream of being able to offer missiological courses through E-learning and in this way being able to make better use of the extensive internet access which there is even in Central and Eastern Europe.
Give thanks that through the introduction of the new legislation regarding higher education, the theological academy is now fully recognised at Masters' level.
In recent weeks, I have also been deeply involved in the supervision of Masters' and PhD students. There is constantly another facet of the missionary life of the Churches which is raised: one time it is about being Church in an area of high-rise flats and what should be the characteristics of pastors who lead such Churches; then it is about the way in which a Hungarian missions theologian has 'Hungarianized' input for Church renewal and evangelism from the Netherlands and Scotland. Increasingly frequently, students are occupied by the question about how to conduct missions among the Romany, the gypsies. In all cases, it is about training people who (are going to) play an active roll in the work of mission, evangelism and Church renewal.
Finally: a personal note
Recently still not much has changed in the situation of the Missions Institute. There is still much uncertainty about the future structure and my role in it. It is also not yet clear whether the postgraduate programme will be continued. To be honest, it is not always clear where the problems lie, and neither where the responsibilities and decision-making begins and ends. In some versions, I am the academic director, in others simply one of the lecturers, responsible exclusively for the postgraduate teaching. Whatever it may be, I am trying to continue my work of teaching and supervision, even though the structures are still very fluid and unclear.
Will you continue to pray for the points which I sent in Sign of Life 97? Please pray that the Matter of the extension of God's Kingdom will make progress...
I would like to thank you for your concern. In this time of uncertainty, it means a great deal to know to be supported in prayer. I feel I am very blessed with friends, in the true sense of the word, in Hungary, in Central and Eastern Europe, in the Netherlands and actually all over the world. It is a period of waiting, of learning to take on less myself, and of counting more on the Lord God, a time to look forward actively to what the Lord is going to do, a time of waiting for His surprises. Give thanks that even now the words of the wonderful hymn by William Cowper, God moves in a mysterious way are true.
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and he will make it plain.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
(look for pictures at: http://members.chello.nl/dvdweerd/english.htm )
Anne-Marie Kool was sent out by the Reformed Missionary League (GZB) in 1993 and seconded to the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest (Hungary), a centre for missionary training and missiological reflection, established by the Hungarian Protestant Churches and the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University. Since 1998, she has also been working as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa. To an increasing degree, the PMTI is fulfilling a regional role in Central and Eastern Europe. Anne-Marie is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the residential area of high-rise apartments where she lives (Budapest/Gazdagret).
If you want to unsubscribe from this list, or would like one of your friends to receive the Signs of Life from Hungary, please send an e-mail to dick@vdweerd.org with the text: (un)subscribe PMTI -news.
Budapest, 29th October, 2005
'You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.'
Ps. 18: 28 and 29
Dear Family and Friends,
It was extremely encouraging to meet many of you during a brief visit to the Netherlands in the middle of October. I had been invited by a group of retired pastors of the Reformed Church to give a presentation about my work in Hungary. I met many clergymen there who have meant a great deal to me in the course of the years. Probing questions were asked, even with regard to the Dutch situation. How important it is that the windows of our Church life in Hungary and the Netherlands are open in order to be able to learn from each other and encourage one another. But how inclined we all are to withdraw into the security of our own walls.
Speaking of walls ...
Years ago, someone pointed out to me this text from Ps. 18 in a conversation about conquering difficulties in our lives.
'What do you need to scale a wall with God?' I was asked.
'Faith?' I proffered.
'Yes, that too. But most importantly: a wall!'
In recent weeks again I have often known that I am supported in a miraculous way by your prayers. Many responded to my Signs of Life 97. Sometimes I saw and I see only walls around me. How should I go on? And then suddenly you see a door ajar. Suddenly there seems to be some clarity. But at another moment, it is suddenly dark again and the situation looks hopeless.
What is certain is that the Lord is teaching me very many new things about Himself. Is it not the case that a palm tree grows only grows under a stone? 'He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect... He trains my hands for battle' (vs. 30b, 31, 32, 34a).
I am learning to call on God's promises in a new way: Lord, do not abandon the works of Your hands!
Will you join in praying that in and through this transition phase, His Name will be glorified and His plans will continue? And especially also that obstacles will be removed from my life in order for His streams of living water to be able to freely flow to others? (Ps 84: 6 and 7).
Opened windows ...
One of the highlights of the past month was undoubtedly the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, by the theological faculty of the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University in Budapest, which was celebrating its 150th anniversary. As one of the most important reasons for this honorary doctorate, the rector of the university, Prof. Ferenc Szucs, emphasised,
'It is very important for us that there is a prime minister who combines his Christian faith with politics. Balkenende is a truly reformed man.'
With the doctorate, the theological institute wanted to thank the Christian Democratic member of government for his contribution to 'Christian values in national and international politics'. Szűcs also praised the academic work of Balkenende in the time (until 2002) when he was a professor of Christian-social thinking at the Free University of Amsterdam. With this honorary doctorate, the university also wanted to express thanks for all the help which the Netherlands and the Dutch Churches have given to the Hungarian sister Churches and to the university in the course of the years.
Personally it was also very special to be involved in the background with the preparations for this joyful occasion, and unforgettable to be actively involved in the intercession during the Church service in which Prime Minister Balkenende participated. The topicality of this jubilee was emphasised by the fact that this faculty was established in the past as a Protestant theological institution in order to help Hungarian Churches to open the windows of Church life and to break with its provinciality: at that time Budapest was still a German-speaking city!
Is it not of great importance for the Hungarian, and also for the Dutch Churches, even at the beginning of the twenty-first century, to learn from one another and to promote cooperation, even with regard to the education at university level of future leaders of the Church and society?
Open doors ...
For years I have also been teaching at the theological academy in Papa, 175 km to the west of Budapest. As my responsibilities at the Missions Institute have been reduced, it is now possible to be there two days a week. Actually you should come one Monday evening and have a look around the corner of my two-room apartment, which has really become a 'home'. At seven o'clock, the students trickle in with all sorts of 'contributions' to the evening meal. One has tried out a favourite recipe, another brings something tasty from home, a third puts a pot of tea on the table. It is not unusual for there to be fifteen of us, like sardines in a tin, almost a third of all the students! After twenty minutes, all the plates are put aside and the Sing-in or a Bible study starts. At half past eight, everyone goes on his or her way, back to the studies.
I am very thankful for these fellowship evenings, for the closer contact with the students, and also that I can concentrate more on the quality of my teaching. This is not simple, because the library of the missiology faculty is still very small (perhaps a hundred books) and Budapest is not on the doorstep!
We are in the process of planning a web site to make accessible Hungarian, English and German digital sources. If you have any suggestions, I will be pleased to hear from you! Of course this is a project from which later the five other Hungarian language theological courses, which are not in Budapest, will be able to benefit. I also dream of being able to offer missiological courses through E-learning and in this way being able to make better use of the extensive internet access which there is even in Central and Eastern Europe.
Give thanks that through the introduction of the new legislation regarding higher education, the theological academy is now fully recognised at Masters' level.
In recent weeks, I have also been deeply involved in the supervision of Masters' and PhD students. There is constantly another facet of the missionary life of the Churches which is raised: one time it is about being Church in an area of high-rise flats and what should be the characteristics of pastors who lead such Churches; then it is about the way in which a Hungarian missions theologian has 'Hungarianized' input for Church renewal and evangelism from the Netherlands and Scotland. Increasingly frequently, students are occupied by the question about how to conduct missions among the Romany, the gypsies. In all cases, it is about training people who (are going to) play an active roll in the work of mission, evangelism and Church renewal.
Finally: a personal note
Recently still not much has changed in the situation of the Missions Institute. There is still much uncertainty about the future structure and my role in it. It is also not yet clear whether the postgraduate programme will be continued. To be honest, it is not always clear where the problems lie, and neither where the responsibilities and decision-making begins and ends. In some versions, I am the academic director, in others simply one of the lecturers, responsible exclusively for the postgraduate teaching. Whatever it may be, I am trying to continue my work of teaching and supervision, even though the structures are still very fluid and unclear.
Will you continue to pray for the points which I sent in Sign of Life 97? Please pray that the Matter of the extension of God's Kingdom will make progress...
I would like to thank you for your concern. In this time of uncertainty, it means a great deal to know to be supported in prayer. I feel I am very blessed with friends, in the true sense of the word, in Hungary, in Central and Eastern Europe, in the Netherlands and actually all over the world. It is a period of waiting, of learning to take on less myself, and of counting more on the Lord God, a time to look forward actively to what the Lord is going to do, a time of waiting for His surprises. Give thanks that even now the words of the wonderful hymn by William Cowper, God moves in a mysterious way are true.
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and he will make it plain.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
(look for pictures at: http://members.chello.nl/dvdweerd/english.htm )
Anne-Marie Kool was sent out by the Reformed Missionary League (GZB) in 1993 and seconded to the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest (Hungary), a centre for missionary training and missiological reflection, established by the Hungarian Protestant Churches and the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University. Since 1998, she has also been working as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa. To an increasing degree, the PMTI is fulfilling a regional role in Central and Eastern Europe. Anne-Marie is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the residential area of high-rise apartments where she lives (Budapest/Gazdagret).
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