Sunday Retreat

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Above: Starting the day with a hike into the hills outside of the city of Gyöngyös.

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Above: Part of the PI team (Cathy and Jenn) coming to help with teaching and watching over the kids for the day.

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Above: Dezső having opportunity to talk about faith in Jesus Christ along the way.

After scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the week, God provided a beautiful day for a one day church retreat in the mountains on the outskirts of the city of Gyöngyös.

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Above: Jonatán, a church planting pastor who oversees a Baptist church in Gyöngyös and in the town of Jaszberény, met with Miki and I a few months ago with a vision to see our churches interact on a deeper level, using our unique giftings to minister to one another. It was our hope, that this day would lead to a greater perspective of God's work in Hungary, as these church plants are full of first generation Christians in areas where there are scarce amounts of evangelical Christians.

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Above: Dezső sharing the amazing story of God's grace to save him from a failed life of trusting in himself, to a new life of peace with God through Jesus Christ. There were also non believers with us today from each of the church plants. Pastor Jonatán shared at the end of the day how the testimonies of those from Petőfibánya in our worship service and also in our small group discussions later in the day were drawing others to consider the claims of Jesus Christ.

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Above: Our drama team from Petőfibánya. Niki (above) playing the role of a sinner running to Jesus for deliverance.

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Above: Church members, Hugi and Gábor from Petőfibánya. Hugi and Gábor helped in a small group for those interested in the Christian faith this afternoon. One of the non believers commented to pastor Jonatán how it was easy for Jonatán to believe since he had a heritage of a father and mother who also believed. This person went on to say that it would be impossible for him to believe without any Christian heritage. At that moment, Hugi and Gábor began to give testimony to their atheist family background and how they had come to believe in Jesus Christ. Hugi and Gábor went even further, expressing their deep love for the local church and how important it is for them. These testimonies that were happening throughout the day in conversations on the hike and in small group studies truly encourage me. God has caused the seeds that were planted six years ago in Petőfibánya to grow. The members of our church are not only growing in their faith, but they are extending ther outreach beyond Petőfibánya. Praise God!

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Above: At the end of the day, Allen was privelaged to be able to preach about the Christian calling with the help of new team member Edina translating.

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Above: Gábi shared his testimony and also was honest about times in his life when he just didn’t feel like going to church. He said, “I came to discover that even if I didn’t feel like going to church, and I still went, God provided mercy to me there, He strengthened me there, He set me back in the right direction through the preaching their. I am so thankful for mentors that live their lives as exampes and help me to grow in my faith.”

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Above: Elianna playing with Eszti, who first came to know us through our VBS. Eszti and her friend Kitti have begun attending our church since last week and we hope that as they see the work of God in our lives and hear the message of salvation through Jesus Christ that they too will believe and be saved.

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Above: Dezső and Kira watching the gliders in the sky above the small airport field.

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Above: What we most desired to see today: Members from various churches unified in prayer for one another.
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