Dear Praying Friends,

:: A difficult news ::

The new year has arrived with some difficult news. One of our key leader full-time staff couple in YTL is facing a cancer-battle. Their name is Dan and Kelly Butts and they live in Hungary for 25 years as missionaries. We know each other and work together since they've moved here. They are very unique and special people who had been a tremendous help for the ministry and became close friends to Edina and I. They are co-leading this ministry with us together with another couple. Now, Kelly is diagnosed with cancer that forced them to go back to the U.S. for the necessary treatment. Please, keep them in your prayers. Pray for fast and total recovery for Kelly. Pray for us that we could somehow step into the many-many things they are leading and substitute them while they are away. This situation brings a lot of new challenges for us personally and to all of the 40 staff serving here. Our prayer is Ps 91:1 - that Dan and Kelly would rest in the shadow of the Almighty!

:: A glorious news ::

Although Dan and Kelly's medical situation brings great challenges, we see that God keeps growing the ministry. The best sign of that is we see new young people deciding that they want to join to full-time ministry. Last year we had 4 new staff joining. This year 3 graduating student is applying on staff. Kiso (23 years old girl, graduating as Physical Therapist), Adam (23 years old guy graduating as Electric Engineer) and Csaba (23 years old guy graduating from the Economics University) are the ones who felt that God has called them to leave their professional field behind and to become missionaries. These are students who became Christians and grew up in YTL. It is a very difficult decision for them because their parents are really not supporting them in this decision. Their situation reminds me what I've read about Athanasius (a 4th century faith-hero who stood up against Arianism): "He risked the wrath of parents and other clergy by consciously training young people to give their all for Christ, including martyrdom." These young people are willing to step out in faith and trust God for their future! This is utterly encouraging! Pray for them as they make this important decision for their lives.

:: An informative video about YTL and the Police partnership ::

We've produced a video that well describes the unprecedented partnership between the Police, the Reformed Church and YTL. It's well-worth 5 minutes of your life to watch it, you'll be greatly encouraged - follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3V8oVuBWS0

:: All Staff Conference in Slovenia ::

Between January 22-28 we've spent a week together with the over 1,000 CCC missionaries serving in Eastern Europe and Russia. We've specially treasured the time we could have spent with some old friends. The main speaker was Dr. John Lennox, professor from Oxford University. He is one of the few, if not the only one, who had been in public debate at universities with Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking, the two most prominent atheist scientist. On Dr. Lennox's website you can watch these debates - johnlennox.org . It amazes me how smart some people are! It saddens me that I'm not one of them!

:: Journey to Emmaus ::

I've heard back from many of you after my last email when I've shared what the Lord is teaching me about being a witness. There had been some other feedbacks as well which encouraged me to start sharing some of my personal journey with the Lord on a regular basis through a blog. So, I've opened a blog, called "My journey to Emmaus", that I will only use to share what I learn from God in my personal walk with Him. This is not to share ministry news and prayer requests. (I use email and my other web for that purpose.)

If you want to follow my "Journey on the Road to Emmaus", you can find an Email sign up at my blog. This way you'll be notified via email when I post something new. Here is my blog address: http://gaborgresz.wordpress.com/

:: What's next? ::

1. Pray for my weekly trips where we speak to hundreds of students and educators in Debrecen and Nyiregyhaza.

2. February 12 - Girl-guy day - a day for our students where we teach about dating, relationship, etc.

3. February 28-March 4 - Campus Outreach week.

4. March 7-11 - High School outreach week.

We are blessed to serve God together with you!!!

Advancing the Kingdom of God together,

Gabor for Edina and the kids

www.advancingthekingdom.hu

online donation: https://give.ccci.org/give/View/2393260