Magyar Mullets October 2008 Newsletter

Dear Family and Friends,
October is rapidly coming to a close and most of the fall colors have already come and gone. One of the most exciting things around here for missionaries on a USD budget is the pace at which the dollar is climbing against the forint. July 22nd it hit a low of 144HUF/USD. Since then we’ve seen it increase by more than 30%. Praise God—the earth is His and the fullness thereof; we still live by faith.

Kari and I attended a City Team Leader forum together this month in Sopron, Hungary. I stayed on for three days of the Church Planting Institute. It was an amazing collection of church planters from all over Europe and places beyond. My roommate for that time was a Swede. He’s the director of church planting in Sweden with the Mission Covenant Church. He was really a nice guy, and now I know what it’s like to share a room with a really nice, bald, snoring man—I feel sorry for my wife. (sorry Göran) We were blessed by a host of knowledgeable speakers and a worship leading team from Valley EFC, Iowa. One of the most significant occasions for us this past month was hosting a small group leaders meeting in our home. We were the only foreigners. We heard the vision of the church articulated and testimonies from each group leader. God is moving in the hearts of His people to share the gospel, disciple others, and plant churches across this city of 2 million people. The church has a vision to become a grandma by 2010: we’re praying and laboring to plant churches that will plant churches. Some of the leaders desire to multiply witnessing communities so there will be one within 20 minutes of every believer in the city. Perhaps the Lord will grow churches from them. One guy in the group is a relatively new believer and is eagerly bringing the gospel to everyone he can. I felt the praise of God just welling up inside me as I sat there and listened. We are humbled to be alongside these faithful laborers in God’s harvest field.
We’re also thankful for the presence of another coworker: Rachel R.—sent to us as a youth intern from Faith EFC, Manhattan,KS. Blaine and Carol Lemmons hosted a birthday celebration for her this last week, her 21st! Pictured are Rachel, Robyn, and Kari. She’s been playing bass on our worship team and meeting with Hungarian students. Prayer requests:

• That God would continue to grow our small groups.
• That God would open our eyes to the harvest, draw Hungarians to himself, and make us productive laborers.
• Pray for us in discerning the next steps for greater use of the ministry center in advancing the gospel and seeing churches planted.

With Grateful Hearts,

Brad, for all of us