“Reserves are dwindling both spiritually and physically; women left at home are facing more and more tasks, families are torn apart, and peace is still a long way off,” - this is how the Reformed people of Transcarpathia sum up their current situation.
The Diaconia of the Reformed Church in Hungary has become the country's largest afterschool operator after the Directorate-General for Social Inclusion deemed the operation of fourteen Reformed afterschools worthy of support for the next three-year period. The afterschools, which serve local children from typically difficult circumstances, include some that have been in operation for nearly a decade, but two newcomers will start operating in 2024.
Bishop Dániel Pásztor took the role of the acting president of the Synod of RCH and will represent the church together with Lay President János Molnár until the upcoming synod meeting.
Bishop Zoltán Balog resigned as Ministerial President of the Reformed Church in Hungary at an informal meeting of the Synod on 16 February. Until the next Synod meeting, Dániel Pásztor, Bishop of the Cistibiscan Reformed Church District, Ministerial Vice-President of the Synod, will assume the role of acting President.
The Refugee Ministry held a workshop in Budapest on the experience of its international humanitarian programmes and the opportunities for applications now being announced for the third time.
Deans and Lay Presidents of the Presbyteries of the Reformed Church in Hungary Affirm Confidence in the Bishop. Presidential Council Presents Requests to the Bishop.
Almost a thousand people attended the meeting of Reformed pastors from Hungary and Slovakia at the Groupama Arena in Budapest, which was both the closing event of the Year of the Pastoral Profession 2023 and the opening event of the Year of the Living Word 2024.
Thirty-five years ago this year, eight to ten people of faith decided to gather on Monday evenings in a panel apartment on Galopp Street in Kaposztásmegyer (Budapest) for a Bible study. The leader and founder of the small community was Gábor Csere, whose church-building ministry was and is still carried on by the Zámbó couple, András and Hajnalka, with the support of many co-workers. The former home group has now grown into a congregation of several hundred people with a church.
“The participants unanimously admit that the volunteer year made them braver and more creative. The experiences were life-changing and enriching for them,” summarizes Krisztina Csordás, project manager of the Voluntary Diaconal Year Programme Office. This is also a place to visit for people who want to do voluntary work, those who are looking for short-term assignments.
“The most important thing is that all people know the Good News and we pass on the love we have received” emphasized Márton Juhász, Executive Director of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA). In addition to talking about the HRCA’s services in the past year, he encouraged that anyone can help in their own environment. This interview was conducted before Christmas.
Church leaders in Hungary prayed for persecuted Christians in a joint service at the opening of the Ecumenical Week of Prayer in St Stephen's Basilica. At the event, Reformed Bishop József Steinbach stressed that Christ himself became the Good Samaritan, and on the cross, he "went to the very end for us" to show his boundless love.
Lieutenant Colonel Szilárd Sajtos, a Reformed military chaplain, has visited the Middle East several times as a member of various military missions. In a recently published study on Eastern Christianity, he explained that the survival of the church in the region has been in serious danger due to massive emigration.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) provides comprehensive and personalized help to those in urgent need during the winter. In order to finance the program called “Neighbours,” HRCA launched a countrywide fundraising campaign.
The staff of the National Reformed Roma Ministry will continue to organise a variety of events, meetings, and trainings in 2024 to promote the Gospel values and the importance of reconciliation between peoples.
The search and rescue team of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) closed an eventful year. The unit, which is five years old this year, was instrumental last year in providing assistance after the earthquake in Turkey, rescuing several survivors from the rubble.
The Reformed Church in Hungary has declared 2024 the Year of the Living Word, which is closely linked to the Year of the Pastoral Profession, proclaimed in 2023. Interview with the Head of the Mission Service of RCH, Rev. Levente Zoltán Hajdú.
The Refugee Ministry of HRCA recently hosted two community events to bring its clients together for Christmas. The events were open to clients of the Refugee Ministry and featured various activities, from building gingerbread houses to crafting decorations.
He chose to send light where there is darkness. For God loves sinful man, but hates sin and darkness, and in his love he wants to save us from what separates us from him, causing our death, so that we may have life and march in his light. Christmas reflection from Zoltán Vas, published in the Reformed Weekly of RCH.
The programme to support twenty-four soup kitchens in Transcarpathia has begun. The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia (RCT) celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. On this occasion, the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) has prepared a special gift.
The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) hosted its General Assembly in Rome this year. RCH was represented by László Zságer, head of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid’s (HRCA) Refugee Ministry, and Angela Canadey, project coordinator of the Refugee Ministry.