Kecthin' rays in Kecskemet
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The ministry started as a ministry to promote Christian rock concerts as outreach in the middle of San Francisco at the turn of the millennium. Then through strange turns of events (the hand of God) I moved to Hungary to assist in the design build of a bible college. While at the college I continued with my music assisting with worship at the college and churches in Budapest, recording some of these events and private sessions with various Christian musicians. I was able to create a Christian kava haz during my weekend visits to the capital city of Budapest that brought together Christian musicians from all over the city along with several visiting missionaries. Then the call came to go to the city where we live today, Kecskemet. I picked up where I left off, promoting, performing and preaching at events and kave hazs in the center of this historic city…
…you’ll notice the personal pronoun change about where we live because just before my second outdoor concert I met my wife, a sweet widow and mother of three; some considerations and adjustments were needed in order support and raise a family. Though the dynamics of our ministry may have changed our focus has not; we declare of the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord and savior! I rarely have the opportunity to continue musically but the Lord has opened wide the doors for the gift of teaching. We started having bible studies at our house, taught a small church in a nearby city for a time as the Lord led and taught the youth in a Christian kave haz until it closed. We have taught all over Europe and even in the states on the rare occasion I get back there. Africa awaits. I hope to get there in 2020.
We began our ministry in the jails of Kecskemet in 2011. We started going to both adult and youth jails until sadly, due to the past economic crisis, support, especially church support, began to disappear. My wife took a job as a nurse and has had to drop out of translating for me; but God is faithful and He has opened wider the doors for teaching and provided translators as He sees fit. The jail ministry is now entering its ninth year and is larger than some churches in the city. This year, 2019, it became a multi=church ministry as another pastor has joined the team. Next year we add a bishop (my friend is a bishop in the Pentecostal church and we love to laugh about his 'title') that will allow to start a weekend service and expand back to the youth jail in the city.
The Lord has blessed us with English teaching opportunities that come up right when we need the funds. I use the Gospel of Mark for this. It is so cool to answer the questions that come up!. I continue to teaching international students at the famous Kodaly school as the doors open (the students, for the most part, have put their career first but are now rediscovering their savior; one student's father flew in from Singapore to thank us for the redirection of his son!). Throughout the years the gifting in the arts has taken me many places but now the preaching of the word is the art form...though who knows as I'm constantly encouraged to continue with my music. In April I did publish a book outlining how I got to Hungary and the first two and one half years here. You can find it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1093234997
We still have struggles financially and spiritually but we are sure that God is faithful. He has provided faithful supporters made up of other Christians who give all they can and other missionaries we have come in contact with over the years who know our heart. We are so blessed by this confirmation of our ministry. If you have any questions about our ministry or any prayer requests, please contact us. If you wish to support this ministry financially or in prayer please let us know and we'll add you to our newsletter list.
God bless you…and as I always sign off, stay strong!
izsak, kamilla, edua, gabi, mark
