Spring Sprint
Monday, April 6, 2009
Dear Praying Friends,
Spring arrived with wonderful sunshine to Hungary and with some awesome ministry activites. I could talk about the more than 100 YTL classroom lecture that our staff team presented in the past 2 months in high schools in Budapest, or the two different projects where American students came to Hungary to serve with us in dorms, universities and classrroms, or the hundreds of personal evangelistic appointments the staff and students had as they are still following up the SSK efforts from the fall. Instead, let me update you on two events we recently had:
-
1.Sprint Student Retreat - April 3-5
On the first weekend of April we had the usual Student Retreat at Csilleberc (this is the place where during communist only the good young communists could come for a retreat - it’s ironic that now we can have a Christian Retreat there where God’s name couldn’t be mentioned). This weekend is much-waited by the students and brings renewel in their walk with God. The teachings, the worship, the fellowship, the opportunity for deep, personal conversations and the fun gives a great deal of encouragement for these young beleivers. About 80 students came for this weekend (and 6 of them were non-Christians). Ronnie Stevens was speaking on Friday night on the Charactaristics of a Radical Christian. Saturday Gabor continued the subject in his talk by giving practical examples from the Bible and from history of Radical Christians. We’ve had 3 special guest for this weekend, the Board of YTL. (The members of the Board serve YTL with their leadership experties.) It was very helpful for the students to hear stories from these 3 brothers who has been prooving themselves in leadership in the professional world on how to represent Christ in a secular environment and be a leader according to God’s desire.
This is what one of the Board member (Andy wrote about this weekend) in his email to us: “I watched their faces, saw some tears, many eyes closed praying to Jesus, and such enthusiasm and attentiveness with the messages. And, I watched how the Crusade staff interacted with the students -- you could see "love" written on the faces of the Crusade team -- that was really cool!”
-
2.Battle of the Bands outreach - March 20
On March 20th, 2009 4th time we’ve organized a special outreach for High School and University students, called “Battle of the Bands” (BoB). At this competition there is a relevant and clear gospel presentation. Over 500 students came, and most of them would have never ever go to a church or would have any opportunity to hear about Christ! We’ve asked these students to fill out a survey and we’ve received back over 300 of survey filled out with contact informations! It gives us a great opportunity to meet with these students and share Christ with them personally. Pray for us as we call them up and meet with them to share Christ with them.
3. Prayer-requests:
-
a.Follow-up of these events.
-
b.A couple is applying for staff - we would follow God’s leading in the decision.
-
c.Two families are joining to our ministry from the U.S. for long-term. One arrived, the other is still raising support. Pray for quick adjustment for them.
-
d.April 21-27 - Gabor will be at the National Director’s conference - God would use this time to benefit the ministry.
-
e.April 28 - All Staff Prayer day
-
f.May 4-5 - All Staff Days - we want to celebrate what God accomplished
-
g.May 15-22 - Edina and I’ll be in Memphis - pray for an effective time there.
-
h.I could finish the YTL curriculum and videos we are producing for the 15th anniversary celebration in October.
Family update:
-
a.Please, pray for Renato. He had several epileptic seizures last night.
-
b.I still struggle with some dizziness.
-
c.Rahel’s skin condition is still gives us reason for urgent prayers.
God is doing the impossible. There are so many weaknesses in us and around us: many sickness among the staff, economical challenges, leadership issues, but God multiplies the little we can give to Him. Your prayers help multiply our efforts. Thank you!
Advancing the Kingdom of God together,
Gabor for the family
