Magyar Mullets September 2010 Newsletter

Dear Family and Friends,

Heartfelt greetings to you all! September 23rd in Budapest saw the close of an era: our dear friend Géza Csányi (known by all as „Géza bácsi”) passed away in his sleep at the age of 82. He was the man who came with the ministry center when it was purchased in 2000. He was my everyday language and culture mentor and the hardest working Hungarian I’ve ever met. He was a dear friend to us and to many others. His picture was featured many times in our prayer letters over the years. His funeral will be October 18th.

I spent a good amount of time constructing and customizing spaces at the ministry center this month. I was fueled by the number of regularly scheduled events of all the ministry organizations along with some new ones. The set- up, participate, tear-down, clean-up cycle can be quite demanding at times, but God is kind to send help and give strength. It is a joy to see more being done better by doing it together. Opening our coffee house for the week of sacred arts in Budapest was one such endeavor. While it was a challenge for the Montazs Art Cafe team to pull off, their efforts to involve many was applauded. The opening night of the exhibition was followed by a great concert and subsequent evenings were led by various ministry associates in the center. I think this was a foretaste of the good things God has prepared for us in the future to engage Hungarians.

One of the greatest joys in serving in the church is facilitating a baptism. I get emotional just hearing the professions of faith and the expressed desires to follow Christ. There were ten people baptized in the international church last Sunday and at the end of October there will be a baptismal service in KEGY as well. One of the young men, who got baptised, first heard the gospel four years ago in our coffee house. It was wonderful to see and hear. You can see from the picture, that we’re still using our portable tank until we have the funds and manpower to finish the built in one under the screen.

Kari and I continue to be involved in English clubs and church ministries, bible study, and building management. God continues to bring people into our lives who have yet to hear the message of hope, so we both continue to work at Hungarian. My latest language helper came to my aid in the nursery one Sunday while I was reading a story to the children. She was quick to correct my mispronunciation of the first vowel in the word „Africa”. I asked her how old she is. She held up three fingers. I thanked her, repeated the word correctly to her satisfaction, and continued reading while in my heart rejoicing in my measureable language progress. At least the two-year-old hadn’t corrected me—it turns out, because he’s not talking yet.

Please pray for Géza bácsi’s family in their loss. Pray for our churches—the desire to know Christ and to make him known. Pray for us to be faithful, fruitful servant laborers in this harvest field.

We appreciate your partnership with us.

Grace and Peace to you, Brad—for all of us