Dear Friends and Family,
A few reflections on Nehemiah by some PhD students
The discussion began with these questions: “Which sentence particularly speaks to you?``
“Nehemiah allows the bad news on the walls of the Jerusalem temple being in ruins to sink in, this leads to prayer”, responded one.
“We tend always to polish up reality, or to flee into the past”, responded another. “We don't dare to face up to reality.”
“Nehemiah confesses his own faults, but also those of his people. This is unheard of with us. How much this is needed, even today.”
The whole day, the conversation kept connecting the ruins in Nehemiah’s time to the ruins that we see around us in the Churches and in Hungarian society. The cracks are visible everywhere: especially in the widespread tendency to blame others. „It's their fault, not ours”.
On gossiping and mud slinging
Recently our pastor, Rev. András Lovas, gave a series of sermons about the Ten Commandments, which prophetically addressed the current problems in Hungarian society, but also what is means in everyday life to follow Christ. The sermon, about the ninth commandment, “you shall not give false testimony about your neighbour” raised issues that deal directly with events happening in Hungarian society over the last year and a half. It is nothing new, but a clear shadow of the past.
In 1984 Vaclav Havel (at that time still a Czech dissident) links this commandment with a striking analysis of the society of his time (in Living in Truth). It is very true in Hungary today: „...this commandment refers to all types of lies. Truthful, honest and trustworthy speech is part of the foundation of the common life of a society. Where words do not mean what they really mean, in today's terms, where communication and manipulation are the order of the day, instead of open and honest speech, there the foundations of the social community shake. The well-being and health of every community depends on honest speech, on fitting words for the reality. In Hungarian society today, we are experiencing the serious reality of this lack of honesty. In this way, we realise that bearing false testimony, that every form of lie, is not only an individual but also a collective sin.”
Gossip completely accepted
God not only warns His people not to bear false testimony because it is bad in itself, but also because it is damaging for others: 'You shall not give false testimony AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOUR.'
Lying destroys, devastates others... self-interest is set above the truth. The good name of another, his possessions, his usefulness, his health are damaged, because we want to maintain our own interests.
... Often we do this subconsciously ... we do not realise what we are doing. Gossiping, backbiting, is completely accepted in everyday life... It has become part of us to join in. In the words of John Calvin, it is a 'sweet poison, in which we take delight'. How is it that we take such delight in this deadly and destructive poison?
'You did not come to know Christ that way' ... Jesus calls us to stop this. This is possible if we turn to Him in confession and consciously turn away from the lies: 'If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' He is the only One Who can set us free from putting self-interest first. He liberates you from the compulsion to prove yourself by besmirching others. He calls you to Himself, when you have the feeling that society no longer accepts you because you no longer join in with slinging mud and blackening the name of others... He gives us His Spirit, the Spirit of truth, Who again makes us sensitive to the truth... It is to this that God calls us, also as a Church. To be supporters of speaking the truth, of love and of blessing in this world. To begin with sincerely praising others. Instead of cursing, to speak well of others. If we hear something bad, to close our ears, or if the accusation is unfounded, that we defend the other person. Let us in daily life stop putting others down and cursing others, and let us instead send messages into the world that are uplifting, showing respect for others and bringing blessing. Let us do this in very real ways in our circles, at our work, at school, with our families, in our church. Let us encourage and praise one another, build one another up, and in this way go against the stream of gossip and cynical and bitter remarks. Let us in this way be salt and yeast in our world, and so prepare ourselves for the future to which the Lord calls us. It is only a renewed and continually renewing fellowship which will reveal the mighty deeds of God in a barren land. Amen.
Being a peacemaker
At a conference of leaders of theological schools in Prague, we dealt with the topic of how to manage conflict. I was quite disconcerted to learn through their accounts of situations of deep conflicts and accusations leading to fighting, loneliness and struggles. This is all too familiar in contemporary Central and Eastern Europe. In my talk I noted elements from the post-Communist culture that easily lead to these types of conflicts and on ways to avoid conflict. The core element in avoiding conflict is being a messenger of shalom, by proclaiming peace with God in Christ and with one another. But often there is a great gap between life based on reconciliation with God in Christ and everyday life. While Paul calls us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, we either shy away from conflicts („Peacefaking”) or fan the fire of conflicts („Peace breaking”) rather than seeking peace and being peacemakers (cf. Ken Sande, The Peacemaker: A Biblical guide to resolving personal conflict, pub. Baker Books).
(Group photo from Prague)
Twinning links in East and West
Earlier this year a conference was held in Houten on twinning links with church fellowships in Central and Eastern Europe. Over fifty people met to discuss being a missional church in East and West in this Post Christian era and how we as churches can stand along side one another in a position of equality. There are no standard solutions for the tremendous challenges being faced by all churches in Europe; to find forms in which the questions can become common questions, where there is a case of mutuality instead of a kind of paternalism.
(Photo of Conference for Twinning link churches)
'Do the next thing'
In a Church and society with this 'heritage', the Károli University is in a unique situation as one of the few Protestant universities in Central Europe, called to be the salt of the earth. The challenges are many, as are the open doors, but there are also many problems! Please pray for wisdom for the leadership of the university and of the churches. A friend once gave me this advice: “Do the next thing. Every day, do the thing which is clearly the next step.”
In the past months, many miracles have taken place.
* In the first semester, I gave two courses with a total of ten students. This semester, the new Missions Institute is providing six courses, in which ninety students have enrolled.
*Give thanks for all the donations that make it possible to provide these programs. Pray for more stable partners for the Missions Institute and the University.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Monday, March 3, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Kool News of the Károli -- 5
Budapest, 17 December 2007
(send out 28 February, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
There's much to be learned from guests! Guests help you to see your situation through new eyes. I regularly have guests, especially from the Netherlands. In this Kool News, I have asked some of them to give their impressions.
Impressions of Budapest (1)
'For years, Kool News (and the previous Signs of Life from Hungary) has been a resource for many about mission and evangelism developments in Central and Eastern Europe. These reports reveal Anne-Marie Kool’s unique contributions to these developments. I can confidently attest to this. She has asked me to share my impressions in her newsletter with you in my own way. Since I became involved in the work of the Mission Institute as a volunteer two years ago, I have grown to know her and her work. Since 1990, I have increasingly become familiar with this region through participating in various activities, particularly dealing with people who have disabilities.
As a professor of missiology in a post-Communist region, Anne-Marie has dealt with everything imaginable: teaching those with a Communist upbringing that engenders faith in nothing and no one. Because of this, you never know if people will do what they promise and say what they think. And yet ...Anne-Marie is one of those people who take up the challenge. She believes in possibilities, because she trusts that God will help despite all the gloom. (Gloomy - that's what it looked like here last week: drab and grey.)
Then this morning, suddenly the sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a refreshing breeze. Symbolic of all the brightness which can be seen in the eyes of the students with whom Anne-Marie is dealing and who are learning how to understand the commission of the Biblical message within the context of their culture. It was an impressive moment the first Sunday of Advent, there were more than twenty-five people who expressed a desire for the first time to become actively involved in the Church. There were also many children born into the church this year. The church is experiencing true growth thanks to the relentless dedication of the pastors and the many active volunteers..
There is much to learn - you do that if you have the opportunity to work with Anne-Marie. She is a teacher in heart and soul. She seems continually to radiate, not as a goal in itself, but out of commitment to the Good Cause of Jesus Christ. Inspiration is what you gain from being under her teaching. Somewhere in a building on Calvin Square, step-by-step work is being done to help students discover their true humanity in Christ.”
Mineke Hardeman, Budapest, 13th December, 2007)
From Saturday, December 1st to Tuesday, December 4th, Henk Massink, an elder from the Reformed Sion Church in Houten was a guest in Budapest. He, too, has been visiting Hungary since the beginning of the 1990's. Here are some of his impressions. (My, ”home churches” of Sion and the Gazdagrét both have connections here.)
Impressions of Budapest (2)
Miklos and Toncy Nagy warmly welcomed me in their flat in the Gazdagrét area. They, too, visited our Church in the Netherlands in 2005. It was good to renew our connections. Their home is about two hundred meters from the Gazdagrét church. With them, I again had discussions until deep in the night about the social and political situation in Hungary. It again became clear to me how strong the Communists aftermath still is and how harmful these influences are for society. The socialist government (under the leadership of a former Communist) is squashing any form of social creativity and responsibility.
Gazdagrét Church
On Sunday morning, the Gazdagrét church quickly filled. It is remarkable how many people have joined the Church through the Alpha course. It must have something to do with the fact that the church members are very hospitable to people from the neighborhood. In his sermon, Pastor Andras Lovas skillfully linked the situation in which people find themselves to the lament found in Psalm 13. Rev. Lovas showed that complaining is part of a Biblical life of faith that should transform from complaint into prayer and through faith into trust.
Mongolian Service
On Sunday afternoon, with Anne-Marie, I attended a small Mongolian Church. Janet, Janet, one of Anne-Marie’s former students invited us to join her at the Mongolian church that meets in Budapest. She was closely involved in the formation of this church in a poorer part of the city. The service was to start at 5:00 p.m., but at that time, we were standing in the cold outside a closed door. Just after five, a number of people came up with an unmistakably Asian appearance, one with the key to open the door. Talking was not easy but the reception was extremely warm.It was a special service, lasting about two and a half hours. It was a farewell service to two Korean evangelist-pastors who live in Germany, who had led an evangelistic campaign for the past ten days. The elder evangelist sang a song in which you could hear the wind whistling across the Mongolian steppes. Then the other Korean pastor took over in Mongolian. It happens that since the 1980's, there have been quite a lot of Mongolian women working as seamstresses in Budapest. (In 1994, I had contact with Munhijn, who came to faith in the Pasaret Church, AMK). Now there were finally about forty people present at the service, the vast majority women.
The word was like a sharp two-edged sword. The sermon focused mainly on Revelation 22:8. Eight forms of sin are mentioned. Anyone who commits any one of these sins ends up in the 'fiery lake of burning sulphur'. During the service, the pastor asked the Church members - while everyone had their eyes closed - to raise their hands if they knew they had committed any of these sins. It was a serious word through which the conscience was touched. But it was not left at this. The preacher commended the blood of Christ as the way to salvation and victory. In this, he gave the example of the powerful work of God's Spirit in the hearts of heathen (Mongolian) priests. The Church clearly expressed its joy about this great grace.
This service also seemed to be a type of commissioning service where various church members were assigned tasks. sing. After that, with a firm hug, everyone said good-bye to the two Korean guest pastors, and they sang to us as special guests. It was all particularly impressive and moving.
H.F. Massink
Finally
When you read this belated Kool News, teaching is well underway into the second semester with about 80 students in five courses! I’m greatly enjoying it. Next week a guest professor from Ghana, Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo will teach a class on Renewal in African Christianity: the case of Ghana. Pray that the course will be a great blessing to the 25+ students who have registered. Thank you for your faithful support and prayers!
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from September 1, 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595
Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand
Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website www.ideaministries.org, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box “KRE/CIMS”. If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 216 20 54/106.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
(send out 28 February, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
There's much to be learned from guests! Guests help you to see your situation through new eyes. I regularly have guests, especially from the Netherlands. In this Kool News, I have asked some of them to give their impressions.
Impressions of Budapest (1)
'For years, Kool News (and the previous Signs of Life from Hungary) has been a resource for many about mission and evangelism developments in Central and Eastern Europe. These reports reveal Anne-Marie Kool’s unique contributions to these developments. I can confidently attest to this. She has asked me to share my impressions in her newsletter with you in my own way. Since I became involved in the work of the Mission Institute as a volunteer two years ago, I have grown to know her and her work. Since 1990, I have increasingly become familiar with this region through participating in various activities, particularly dealing with people who have disabilities.
As a professor of missiology in a post-Communist region, Anne-Marie has dealt with everything imaginable: teaching those with a Communist upbringing that engenders faith in nothing and no one. Because of this, you never know if people will do what they promise and say what they think. And yet ...Anne-Marie is one of those people who take up the challenge. She believes in possibilities, because she trusts that God will help despite all the gloom. (Gloomy - that's what it looked like here last week: drab and grey.)
Then this morning, suddenly the sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a refreshing breeze. Symbolic of all the brightness which can be seen in the eyes of the students with whom Anne-Marie is dealing and who are learning how to understand the commission of the Biblical message within the context of their culture. It was an impressive moment the first Sunday of Advent, there were more than twenty-five people who expressed a desire for the first time to become actively involved in the Church. There were also many children born into the church this year. The church is experiencing true growth thanks to the relentless dedication of the pastors and the many active volunteers..
There is much to learn - you do that if you have the opportunity to work with Anne-Marie. She is a teacher in heart and soul. She seems continually to radiate, not as a goal in itself, but out of commitment to the Good Cause of Jesus Christ. Inspiration is what you gain from being under her teaching. Somewhere in a building on Calvin Square, step-by-step work is being done to help students discover their true humanity in Christ.”
Mineke Hardeman, Budapest, 13th December, 2007)
From Saturday, December 1st to Tuesday, December 4th, Henk Massink, an elder from the Reformed Sion Church in Houten was a guest in Budapest. He, too, has been visiting Hungary since the beginning of the 1990's. Here are some of his impressions. (My, ”home churches” of Sion and the Gazdagrét both have connections here.)
Impressions of Budapest (2)
Miklos and Toncy Nagy warmly welcomed me in their flat in the Gazdagrét area. They, too, visited our Church in the Netherlands in 2005. It was good to renew our connections. Their home is about two hundred meters from the Gazdagrét church. With them, I again had discussions until deep in the night about the social and political situation in Hungary. It again became clear to me how strong the Communists aftermath still is and how harmful these influences are for society. The socialist government (under the leadership of a former Communist) is squashing any form of social creativity and responsibility.
Gazdagrét Church
On Sunday morning, the Gazdagrét church quickly filled. It is remarkable how many people have joined the Church through the Alpha course. It must have something to do with the fact that the church members are very hospitable to people from the neighborhood. In his sermon, Pastor Andras Lovas skillfully linked the situation in which people find themselves to the lament found in Psalm 13. Rev. Lovas showed that complaining is part of a Biblical life of faith that should transform from complaint into prayer and through faith into trust.
Mongolian Service
On Sunday afternoon, with Anne-Marie, I attended a small Mongolian Church. Janet, Janet, one of Anne-Marie’s former students invited us to join her at the Mongolian church that meets in Budapest. She was closely involved in the formation of this church in a poorer part of the city. The service was to start at 5:00 p.m., but at that time, we were standing in the cold outside a closed door. Just after five, a number of people came up with an unmistakably Asian appearance, one with the key to open the door. Talking was not easy but the reception was extremely warm.It was a special service, lasting about two and a half hours. It was a farewell service to two Korean evangelist-pastors who live in Germany, who had led an evangelistic campaign for the past ten days. The elder evangelist sang a song in which you could hear the wind whistling across the Mongolian steppes. Then the other Korean pastor took over in Mongolian. It happens that since the 1980's, there have been quite a lot of Mongolian women working as seamstresses in Budapest. (In 1994, I had contact with Munhijn, who came to faith in the Pasaret Church, AMK). Now there were finally about forty people present at the service, the vast majority women.
The word was like a sharp two-edged sword. The sermon focused mainly on Revelation 22:8. Eight forms of sin are mentioned. Anyone who commits any one of these sins ends up in the 'fiery lake of burning sulphur'. During the service, the pastor asked the Church members - while everyone had their eyes closed - to raise their hands if they knew they had committed any of these sins. It was a serious word through which the conscience was touched. But it was not left at this. The preacher commended the blood of Christ as the way to salvation and victory. In this, he gave the example of the powerful work of God's Spirit in the hearts of heathen (Mongolian) priests. The Church clearly expressed its joy about this great grace.
This service also seemed to be a type of commissioning service where various church members were assigned tasks. sing. After that, with a firm hug, everyone said good-bye to the two Korean guest pastors, and they sang to us as special guests. It was all particularly impressive and moving.
H.F. Massink
Finally
When you read this belated Kool News, teaching is well underway into the second semester with about 80 students in five courses! I’m greatly enjoying it. Next week a guest professor from Ghana, Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo will teach a class on Renewal in African Christianity: the case of Ghana. Pray that the course will be a great blessing to the 25+ students who have registered. Thank you for your faithful support and prayers!
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from September 1, 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595
Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand
Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website www.ideaministries.org, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box “KRE/CIMS”. If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 216 20 54/106.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Course on Renewal in African Christianity: the case of Ghana
Central and Eastern European
Institute for Mission Studies
Renewal of African Christianity: Challenge for Central and Eastern Europe
March 6-8, 2008
Introduction
The Central and Eastern European Institute of Mission Studies as part of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest offers an open forum for study and discussion and deepening knowledge on missiology. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students, laity and pastors, aware of the immense challenges of God’s church in post-modern times are invited to contribute to the discussions and to invest time in learning from first-hand experiences of the non-Western world.
Never before were the experiences in Africa seen as an example for Europe. Nowadays the ecclesiastical centre of gravity has shifted, and Europe can learn from one of the most vital parts of Christianity: from Africa.
Renewal of African Christianity: the case of Ghana
Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo, is professor at the University of Ghana in Legon. He brings unique perspectives and experiences on the renewal of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to Budapest, in a three days conference.
The kind of Christianity that was introduced by Western Christian missionaries in the Sub Saharan African region in the early 19th century for a long time remained an “alien” religion that was unable to grapple with typical African issues. Consequently it did not experience much growth, despite the fact that resources were put in place to facilitate growth. There is a new trend whereby African Christianity is undergoing a tremendous growth and renewal. There is growth in all dimensions of African Christianity, both within the historical, mainline, churches and the contemporary Pentecostal/Charismatic churches and movements. The course shall be devoted to a study of the phenomenon of growth by examining the following themes:
The history of African Christianity
Renewal in African Christianity
Various emphasis of the renewal movements
Challenges that the renewal is posing to the historic/mainline Christianity
What world Christianity can learn from African Christianity
The course is planned as a three day course. During the three days the input from Dr. Omenyo will form the red thread. Nevertheless participants will have many opportunities to discuss the lectures and the implications for the situation in Central and Eastern Europe.
Participants
The course is open for pastors, laity and students who are waiting for renewal in their churches and new inspiration in their ministry. People who in their daily practice are confronted with many questions about the missionary calling of the Church in today’s world.and society, who are wondering about the future of the church and are looking for new ideas.
Registration for the course preferably using the registration form on the CIMS website: www.kre.hu
Tuition fee
Due to subsidies the tuition fee for this special event is kept low.
Pastors, Christian workers, Post-graduate students will pay 7500 Ft; for undergraduate students special arrangements have been made. Full or partial scholarships are available. Send your requests to cims@kre.hu with a brief motivation letter why this course is important to you, and how much you can contribute yourself.
Registration is required before 4st March, 2008.
Travel and subsistence
Participants will pay own costs for travel; if overnight stay and meals are needed CIMS staff can offer some reasonable suggestions (Mrs. Margit Szirmai, cims@kre.hu).
CIMS general information
The Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University was established in 2006. It is centrally located in downtown Budapest. CIMS mission library and resource centre contains a unique collection of more then 7000 books and major mission journals. More information will be provided by librarian Gabriella Maros (maros.gabriella@kre.hu)
Prof. Dr Cephas Omenyo
Cephas Narh Omenyo is currently the John A. Mackay Professor of World Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned his M.Phil. from the University of Ghana, Legon, and his Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, he is a member of that church’s General Assembly committees on church and society, constitutional review, and worship. A member of the Joint Consultative Group between the World Council of Churches and Pentecostals, and a member of the Reformed Commission of the Ongoing International Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue, he is currently researching church-planting activities by churches in the Southern Hemisphere (focusing on Africa, and particularly on Ghana) in the Northern Hemisphere. He is co-editor of the revived Ghana Bulletin of Theology. He teaches courses in African Pentecostalism, the history of African Christianity, and the African experience of gospel and culture.
Major publications:
Pentecost outside Pentecostalism: A Study of the Development of Charismatic Renewal in the Mainline Church in Ghana (Zoetermeer, 2002)The Ongoing Encounter between Christianity and African Culture: A Case Study of Girls’ Nubility Rite of the Krobos (Adwensa Publishers, 2001)
CIMS address
Károli Gáspár Reformed University -- Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies
Kálvin tér 7.II
1091 Budapest
1461 Pf. 73
Email: cims@kre.hu
Tel. +36 1 216 2054/101
Course schedule
The course will take place on Thursday 6th March 4pm-8 pm, Friday 7th March 2-8 pm and Saturday 8th March 9am-2 pm.
CIMS is using the picture of one of the main bridges in Budapest as symbol for its aims and goals. Bridge building between:
· East and West
· South and North
· Bible and Society
· Present and past
· Practice and theory
· Church and Society
Not as goal in itself but as servants.
Institute for Mission Studies
Renewal of African Christianity: Challenge for Central and Eastern Europe
March 6-8, 2008
Introduction
The Central and Eastern European Institute of Mission Studies as part of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest offers an open forum for study and discussion and deepening knowledge on missiology. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students, laity and pastors, aware of the immense challenges of God’s church in post-modern times are invited to contribute to the discussions and to invest time in learning from first-hand experiences of the non-Western world.
Never before were the experiences in Africa seen as an example for Europe. Nowadays the ecclesiastical centre of gravity has shifted, and Europe can learn from one of the most vital parts of Christianity: from Africa.
Renewal of African Christianity: the case of Ghana
Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo, is professor at the University of Ghana in Legon. He brings unique perspectives and experiences on the renewal of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to Budapest, in a three days conference.
The kind of Christianity that was introduced by Western Christian missionaries in the Sub Saharan African region in the early 19th century for a long time remained an “alien” religion that was unable to grapple with typical African issues. Consequently it did not experience much growth, despite the fact that resources were put in place to facilitate growth. There is a new trend whereby African Christianity is undergoing a tremendous growth and renewal. There is growth in all dimensions of African Christianity, both within the historical, mainline, churches and the contemporary Pentecostal/Charismatic churches and movements. The course shall be devoted to a study of the phenomenon of growth by examining the following themes:
The history of African Christianity
Renewal in African Christianity
Various emphasis of the renewal movements
Challenges that the renewal is posing to the historic/mainline Christianity
What world Christianity can learn from African Christianity
The course is planned as a three day course. During the three days the input from Dr. Omenyo will form the red thread. Nevertheless participants will have many opportunities to discuss the lectures and the implications for the situation in Central and Eastern Europe.
Participants
The course is open for pastors, laity and students who are waiting for renewal in their churches and new inspiration in their ministry. People who in their daily practice are confronted with many questions about the missionary calling of the Church in today’s world.and society, who are wondering about the future of the church and are looking for new ideas.
Registration for the course preferably using the registration form on the CIMS website: www.kre.hu
Tuition fee
Due to subsidies the tuition fee for this special event is kept low.
Pastors, Christian workers, Post-graduate students will pay 7500 Ft; for undergraduate students special arrangements have been made. Full or partial scholarships are available. Send your requests to cims@kre.hu with a brief motivation letter why this course is important to you, and how much you can contribute yourself.
Registration is required before 4st March, 2008.
Travel and subsistence
Participants will pay own costs for travel; if overnight stay and meals are needed CIMS staff can offer some reasonable suggestions (Mrs. Margit Szirmai, cims@kre.hu).
CIMS general information
The Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University was established in 2006. It is centrally located in downtown Budapest. CIMS mission library and resource centre contains a unique collection of more then 7000 books and major mission journals. More information will be provided by librarian Gabriella Maros (maros.gabriella@kre.hu)
Prof. Dr Cephas Omenyo
Cephas Narh Omenyo is currently the John A. Mackay Professor of World Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned his M.Phil. from the University of Ghana, Legon, and his Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, he is a member of that church’s General Assembly committees on church and society, constitutional review, and worship. A member of the Joint Consultative Group between the World Council of Churches and Pentecostals, and a member of the Reformed Commission of the Ongoing International Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue, he is currently researching church-planting activities by churches in the Southern Hemisphere (focusing on Africa, and particularly on Ghana) in the Northern Hemisphere. He is co-editor of the revived Ghana Bulletin of Theology. He teaches courses in African Pentecostalism, the history of African Christianity, and the African experience of gospel and culture.
Major publications:
Pentecost outside Pentecostalism: A Study of the Development of Charismatic Renewal in the Mainline Church in Ghana (Zoetermeer, 2002)The Ongoing Encounter between Christianity and African Culture: A Case Study of Girls’ Nubility Rite of the Krobos (Adwensa Publishers, 2001)
CIMS address
Károli Gáspár Reformed University -- Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies
Kálvin tér 7.II
1091 Budapest
1461 Pf. 73
Email: cims@kre.hu
Tel. +36 1 216 2054/101
Course schedule
The course will take place on Thursday 6th March 4pm-8 pm, Friday 7th March 2-8 pm and Saturday 8th March 9am-2 pm.
CIMS is using the picture of one of the main bridges in Budapest as symbol for its aims and goals. Bridge building between:
· East and West
· South and North
· Bible and Society
· Present and past
· Practice and theory
· Church and Society
Not as goal in itself but as servants.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Kool News of the Károli -- 4
Budapest, 17th November 2007
Dear Friends,
To conclude my final lecture in Princeton, I showed a picture of the painting by Rembrandt of the prodigal son. A Ghanese pastor, Attah, who had attended all the lectures about missions in Central and Eastern Europe, asked a penetrating question: “I have the impression that there are many lost sons and daughters in this area. To what extent are the Churches able to help them find their way back to the Father?” In my reply, I called on the Churches in Africa to take missionary calling to Europe seriously, and to allow Churches in Europe to share in their spiritual vitality. I have often reflected on this penetrating question.
Increased openness (1)
After last week's Sunday Church service, Orsolya and Zoltán came over for Sunday coffee (for Dutch insiders, this is the best coffee of the week because of the related family time). They were surprised about what they had just experienced. “People welcomed us and were interested in us. We have never experienced anything like this. The sermon was about us. What a beautiful songs! We will certainly come again!' They were there for the first time. Orsolya had spent the last years of her secondary education in America and had come to faith in her host family. Through a mutual friend from Grand Rapids, I came into contact with them. They had both grown up in what they called “typical” Hungarian families: there was drinking to excess and divorce. Zoltán had been reading the Bible with great interest for some time.
In September, a “large meal” in the Gazdagrét church for interested people from the community attracted more than eighty-five people. Almost half of them are now attending the Alpha course. In the weeks prior to this, the themes of hospitality and openness were dealt with in the sermon: “We often reject people who are different, but the Lord accepts them. This means that we are called to do the same.” It strikes me that in recent times, openness to the Gospel has increased considerably.
A few weeks ago, I had a very open conversation with a retired Jewish professor, Gyöngyi, who had lived her whole life as an avowed atheist. Through my friends Gabor and Kati, I met her for the first time last Christmas. She had been told that she was very seriously ill and, afraid to die, had asked Kati whether I could visit her. She is really seeking. There was an openness to read Scriptures and to pray together.
Openness at the university (2)
A similar openness can be noticed among students and colleagues at the Károli University. About 25% are more or less active church members. In this sense, the University mirrors the statistics of Church and society in Hungary. Students are admitted to the university through a central national admissions procedure, no additional requirement can be made on their Christian identity or Church background. As the class rooms of the Missions Institute are frequently used by students from other departments, there are many spontaneous meetings and conversations. Recently I met János Wimmer, a history student. “Do you know that you share your name with a pastor who was extremely active in missionary work in the nineteenth century?” He expressed a keen interest in attending a course in the history of missions. Just as in 1987, when I first came to Hungary, I am more and more involved in evangelism among students.
Open doors
In recent months, it has been a real voyage of discovery to find out what the specific possibilities are to give lectures within the various departments. Where do the interests of the students lie? With whom is it possible to cooperate? One thing is clear: there are more open doors than I thought, not only for lecturing at the School of Theology, but also at the School of Humanities, in the departments of Dutch and English, and in the department of Religious Studies.
Meeting place
The library in particular has a great potential not only as a location to find unique resources, but also as an informal meeting place. To this end, we plan to transform the kitchen area into a pleasant coffee corner. Would you be willing to help to realise this through your support of the work of the CIMS?
Vision for the future?!
At the moment, Calvin Square in many respects seems to reflect the Church and political situations. The construction work on the fourth metro line is blocking the smooth flow of traffic through the city centre. There are deep, noisy excavations, which make good communications difficult. It is not easy to find your way. According to reports, it will certainly take another two years to finish the surface work... There is great faith and much vision for the future needed to be able to imagine that in 2011, a fourth metro line really will be running and will solve all the transport problems of our city.
(http://www.metro4.hu/milyenlesz.php).
The lack of vision for the future seems to be crippling the whole of society. There is an atmosphere of apathy, despondency and hopelessness. Prices are going up, inflation is increasing, the level of public health is dropping alarmingly. Sometimes it seems as if the channels of mutual communication have completely silted up through a profound feeling of mutual mistrust. Very recently, we were shocked in the Church by two harrowing incidents of suicide of young pastors. Another young pastor abandoned his wife and four children.
You also hear in increasing measure that the only way for Hungary to get out of this crisis is the strengthening of Hungary's own culture. Last week, a student expressed this as follows:
“From childhood, we learn that we must look down on the surrounding nations, that they are second rate, and that our Hungarian culture is inviolable. Now I am discovering through this course that God loves all peoples, and that it is not right to be so exclusively focussed on our own culture and our own nation. We can and must be open to others as well.”
Last week at a conference for emerging mission movements in Central and Eastern Europe, it was striking that, compared with the surrounding countries, the Hungarian Churches have much less vision for cross cultural missions and are developing far fewer activities. There is a deep resistance, even in the Churches, to be open to the gypsies, the Roma. In our local committee organising the Quadrennial International Conference of the International Association for Mission Studies we realized that there are not too many adequate exposure visit options for Gypsy ministry to take the participants to. (see http://www.missionstudies.org/)
At a recent weekly devotion meeting, the Rector of the University, Dr Ferenc Szűcs, pointed out that the only way out of this chaotic and confusing time, with many problems and conflicts, is: “Don't panic. Jesus is alive!” Pray for him and his staff for wisdom in giving leadership.
It seems that this difficult situation forces people to seriously think about questions of faith. But the question raised by Attah, regarding the extent to which the Church is able to help them find their way back to the Father, often arises in me. More and more it seems that issues with which Hungary is struggling, are also on the table in other countries, especially the question of how you can combine appreciation of and respect for your own culture with an openness and appreciation of other cultures.
(Former) Students recount...
Regularly, I bump into former students. Last week, I met Angelika. In 1995 and the following years, she attended missiology courses. For several years, she and her husband worked as missionaries in India. Now they coordinate the work of an international mission organisation in Hungary. There was also Janet, who completed her Master’s in Missiology training last year. As part of her study assignment, she came into contact with some girls from Mongolia, who are living in Hungary. By now, a Mongolian Church has come into being, and a desire has grown among several young people to be sent out themselves as missionaries. It is wonderful to see how Janet is mentoring them and involving other Hungarians to come along. There is a huge need for training and education. Janet is also involved in co-teaching a course at the Károli in cross-cultural communications. I met Emőke in Princeton. From Serbia, she studied in Pápa and did her field work in downtown Rotterdam. There she was challenged to step out of her 'Hungarian' world, and she realised what enrichment this brings. Now she is involved in the office for international affairs of Princeton Theological Seminary, and is responsible for nurturing the contacts with American and foreign students. Another student from Pápa, Krisztián, comes one day a week to do voluntary work at the missions institute. Nóra, also from Pápa, is actively involved in a network for pastors working in urban mission settings. László invited Gábor to become involved in a Vacation Bible Club in his Church, with children from a deprived area. Both of them completed their postgraduate programmes in June. There will be a follow-up at Christmas. In September, I visited the Church of Szerena, which is taking part in the PhD programme, for the opening of the restored parsonage. For three weeks, everyone rolled up their sleeves, and neither trouble nor expense were spared. “They appreciate what we are doing. This is why we enjoying working with them so much.” Last year, the Church grew considerably. “There is much surprise in the village that so many different people belong to the Church.” 1 Cor. 12 in practice! Another Nóra, who graduated last year with distinction, is recently accepted as a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators preparing to become a missionary. I could go on… SDG!
Laying foundations ...
In recent months, besides conducting and supervising the course, the emphasis of my work has been mainly on providing the proper facilities. After fourteen years of faithful service, the photocopier has given up (5,000 USD is needed for a new one). Besides this, the computer network needs to be updated and expanded, because of more intensive use of the library (3,500 USD). The setting up of the coffee corner also requires investment (total 2,500 USD). This is what is needed this year.
As you know, the contribution of the University to the Institute is limited, and we depend largely on external sources of funding. We are in the process of setting up sustainable programmes, such as the Master of Theology programme in cooperation with the University of South Africa. There are also shorter courses and programmes in the pipeline, directed towards equipping the Churches for missions and training missionary workers. The training of trainers is particularly needed! A fund has been set up, from which students can apply for grants (20,000 USD needed). Also pastors from Central and Eastern Europe (and from the non-western world) who want to come for a study furlough of a few weeks could apply for support from this fund. May we call on your support for this fund?
You will understand that it is not easy to make long-term plans if you do not know how the finances will develop. May we ask you to make a pledge for the amount of support you will give to the Institute in the coming year?
We are thankfully anticipating your Christmas gift.
Plans for the coming months
Besides rounding off courses this semester and preparing for the coming semester, I am actively involved with three PhD students, who will complete their theses in the coming months: László Gonda, Dorottya Nagy and Randy Robertson.
· 23rd-25th November, 2007: Urban missions consultation (60 participants from 9 congregations!)
· 25th-29th November, 2007: Visit of Prof. Dr Klippies Kritzinger (South Africa) to the KRE-CIMS (lectures, negotiations about cooperation in Master of Theology programme). (for picture report see: ….)
· 14th December, 2007 – 4th January, 2008: Home assignment/vacation in the Netherlands.
· 19th – 30th January, 2008: Brief study leave and ExCom Meeting of the International Association for Mission Studies in Los Angeles, USA.
· 9th February, 2008: Training day for twinning link Churches (for info cims@kre.hu)
· 4th March, 2008: Inaugural Lecture at the Károli Reformed University (info: cims@kre.hu)
Thank you for your support and prayerful concern. As we enter the Advent and Christmas season may I wish you moments of quiet reflection and prayer in preparation, and many blessings with your family and friends.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. On 1 September 2006 she was appointed at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
Great news!
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA. We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website http://www.ideaministries.org/, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box “KRE/CIMS”.
If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 2162054, ext. 101.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Dear Friends,
To conclude my final lecture in Princeton, I showed a picture of the painting by Rembrandt of the prodigal son. A Ghanese pastor, Attah, who had attended all the lectures about missions in Central and Eastern Europe, asked a penetrating question: “I have the impression that there are many lost sons and daughters in this area. To what extent are the Churches able to help them find their way back to the Father?” In my reply, I called on the Churches in Africa to take missionary calling to Europe seriously, and to allow Churches in Europe to share in their spiritual vitality. I have often reflected on this penetrating question.
Increased openness (1)
After last week's Sunday Church service, Orsolya and Zoltán came over for Sunday coffee (for Dutch insiders, this is the best coffee of the week because of the related family time). They were surprised about what they had just experienced. “People welcomed us and were interested in us. We have never experienced anything like this. The sermon was about us. What a beautiful songs! We will certainly come again!' They were there for the first time. Orsolya had spent the last years of her secondary education in America and had come to faith in her host family. Through a mutual friend from Grand Rapids, I came into contact with them. They had both grown up in what they called “typical” Hungarian families: there was drinking to excess and divorce. Zoltán had been reading the Bible with great interest for some time.
In September, a “large meal” in the Gazdagrét church for interested people from the community attracted more than eighty-five people. Almost half of them are now attending the Alpha course. In the weeks prior to this, the themes of hospitality and openness were dealt with in the sermon: “We often reject people who are different, but the Lord accepts them. This means that we are called to do the same.” It strikes me that in recent times, openness to the Gospel has increased considerably.
A few weeks ago, I had a very open conversation with a retired Jewish professor, Gyöngyi, who had lived her whole life as an avowed atheist. Through my friends Gabor and Kati, I met her for the first time last Christmas. She had been told that she was very seriously ill and, afraid to die, had asked Kati whether I could visit her. She is really seeking. There was an openness to read Scriptures and to pray together.
Openness at the university (2)
A similar openness can be noticed among students and colleagues at the Károli University. About 25% are more or less active church members. In this sense, the University mirrors the statistics of Church and society in Hungary. Students are admitted to the university through a central national admissions procedure, no additional requirement can be made on their Christian identity or Church background. As the class rooms of the Missions Institute are frequently used by students from other departments, there are many spontaneous meetings and conversations. Recently I met János Wimmer, a history student. “Do you know that you share your name with a pastor who was extremely active in missionary work in the nineteenth century?” He expressed a keen interest in attending a course in the history of missions. Just as in 1987, when I first came to Hungary, I am more and more involved in evangelism among students.
Open doors
In recent months, it has been a real voyage of discovery to find out what the specific possibilities are to give lectures within the various departments. Where do the interests of the students lie? With whom is it possible to cooperate? One thing is clear: there are more open doors than I thought, not only for lecturing at the School of Theology, but also at the School of Humanities, in the departments of Dutch and English, and in the department of Religious Studies.
Meeting place
The library in particular has a great potential not only as a location to find unique resources, but also as an informal meeting place. To this end, we plan to transform the kitchen area into a pleasant coffee corner. Would you be willing to help to realise this through your support of the work of the CIMS?
Vision for the future?!
At the moment, Calvin Square in many respects seems to reflect the Church and political situations. The construction work on the fourth metro line is blocking the smooth flow of traffic through the city centre. There are deep, noisy excavations, which make good communications difficult. It is not easy to find your way. According to reports, it will certainly take another two years to finish the surface work... There is great faith and much vision for the future needed to be able to imagine that in 2011, a fourth metro line really will be running and will solve all the transport problems of our city.
(http://www.metro4.hu/milyenlesz.php).
The lack of vision for the future seems to be crippling the whole of society. There is an atmosphere of apathy, despondency and hopelessness. Prices are going up, inflation is increasing, the level of public health is dropping alarmingly. Sometimes it seems as if the channels of mutual communication have completely silted up through a profound feeling of mutual mistrust. Very recently, we were shocked in the Church by two harrowing incidents of suicide of young pastors. Another young pastor abandoned his wife and four children.
You also hear in increasing measure that the only way for Hungary to get out of this crisis is the strengthening of Hungary's own culture. Last week, a student expressed this as follows:
“From childhood, we learn that we must look down on the surrounding nations, that they are second rate, and that our Hungarian culture is inviolable. Now I am discovering through this course that God loves all peoples, and that it is not right to be so exclusively focussed on our own culture and our own nation. We can and must be open to others as well.”
Last week at a conference for emerging mission movements in Central and Eastern Europe, it was striking that, compared with the surrounding countries, the Hungarian Churches have much less vision for cross cultural missions and are developing far fewer activities. There is a deep resistance, even in the Churches, to be open to the gypsies, the Roma. In our local committee organising the Quadrennial International Conference of the International Association for Mission Studies we realized that there are not too many adequate exposure visit options for Gypsy ministry to take the participants to. (see http://www.missionstudies.org/)
At a recent weekly devotion meeting, the Rector of the University, Dr Ferenc Szűcs, pointed out that the only way out of this chaotic and confusing time, with many problems and conflicts, is: “Don't panic. Jesus is alive!” Pray for him and his staff for wisdom in giving leadership.
It seems that this difficult situation forces people to seriously think about questions of faith. But the question raised by Attah, regarding the extent to which the Church is able to help them find their way back to the Father, often arises in me. More and more it seems that issues with which Hungary is struggling, are also on the table in other countries, especially the question of how you can combine appreciation of and respect for your own culture with an openness and appreciation of other cultures.
(Former) Students recount...
Regularly, I bump into former students. Last week, I met Angelika. In 1995 and the following years, she attended missiology courses. For several years, she and her husband worked as missionaries in India. Now they coordinate the work of an international mission organisation in Hungary. There was also Janet, who completed her Master’s in Missiology training last year. As part of her study assignment, she came into contact with some girls from Mongolia, who are living in Hungary. By now, a Mongolian Church has come into being, and a desire has grown among several young people to be sent out themselves as missionaries. It is wonderful to see how Janet is mentoring them and involving other Hungarians to come along. There is a huge need for training and education. Janet is also involved in co-teaching a course at the Károli in cross-cultural communications. I met Emőke in Princeton. From Serbia, she studied in Pápa and did her field work in downtown Rotterdam. There she was challenged to step out of her 'Hungarian' world, and she realised what enrichment this brings. Now she is involved in the office for international affairs of Princeton Theological Seminary, and is responsible for nurturing the contacts with American and foreign students. Another student from Pápa, Krisztián, comes one day a week to do voluntary work at the missions institute. Nóra, also from Pápa, is actively involved in a network for pastors working in urban mission settings. László invited Gábor to become involved in a Vacation Bible Club in his Church, with children from a deprived area. Both of them completed their postgraduate programmes in June. There will be a follow-up at Christmas. In September, I visited the Church of Szerena, which is taking part in the PhD programme, for the opening of the restored parsonage. For three weeks, everyone rolled up their sleeves, and neither trouble nor expense were spared. “They appreciate what we are doing. This is why we enjoying working with them so much.” Last year, the Church grew considerably. “There is much surprise in the village that so many different people belong to the Church.” 1 Cor. 12 in practice! Another Nóra, who graduated last year with distinction, is recently accepted as a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators preparing to become a missionary. I could go on… SDG!
Laying foundations ...
In recent months, besides conducting and supervising the course, the emphasis of my work has been mainly on providing the proper facilities. After fourteen years of faithful service, the photocopier has given up (5,000 USD is needed for a new one). Besides this, the computer network needs to be updated and expanded, because of more intensive use of the library (3,500 USD). The setting up of the coffee corner also requires investment (total 2,500 USD). This is what is needed this year.
As you know, the contribution of the University to the Institute is limited, and we depend largely on external sources of funding. We are in the process of setting up sustainable programmes, such as the Master of Theology programme in cooperation with the University of South Africa. There are also shorter courses and programmes in the pipeline, directed towards equipping the Churches for missions and training missionary workers. The training of trainers is particularly needed! A fund has been set up, from which students can apply for grants (20,000 USD needed). Also pastors from Central and Eastern Europe (and from the non-western world) who want to come for a study furlough of a few weeks could apply for support from this fund. May we call on your support for this fund?
You will understand that it is not easy to make long-term plans if you do not know how the finances will develop. May we ask you to make a pledge for the amount of support you will give to the Institute in the coming year?
We are thankfully anticipating your Christmas gift.
Plans for the coming months
Besides rounding off courses this semester and preparing for the coming semester, I am actively involved with three PhD students, who will complete their theses in the coming months: László Gonda, Dorottya Nagy and Randy Robertson.
· 23rd-25th November, 2007: Urban missions consultation (60 participants from 9 congregations!)
· 25th-29th November, 2007: Visit of Prof. Dr Klippies Kritzinger (South Africa) to the KRE-CIMS (lectures, negotiations about cooperation in Master of Theology programme). (for picture report see: ….)
· 14th December, 2007 – 4th January, 2008: Home assignment/vacation in the Netherlands.
· 19th – 30th January, 2008: Brief study leave and ExCom Meeting of the International Association for Mission Studies in Los Angeles, USA.
· 9th February, 2008: Training day for twinning link Churches (for info cims@kre.hu)
· 4th March, 2008: Inaugural Lecture at the Károli Reformed University (info: cims@kre.hu)
Thank you for your support and prayerful concern. As we enter the Advent and Christmas season may I wish you moments of quiet reflection and prayer in preparation, and many blessings with your family and friends.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. On 1 September 2006 she was appointed at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
Great news!
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA. We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website http://www.ideaministries.org/, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box “KRE/CIMS”.
If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 2162054, ext. 101.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Kool News of the Károli -- 3
Budapest - 7th July, 2007
Dear Friends and Family,
Surprises
During a study furlough, you of course spend many hours in a library, particularly if it is one like the Speer library of Princeton Theological Seminary (www.ptsem.edu). It is a gold mine for the study projects I was working on. But my time in Princeton went differently from what I had planned. There were surprises in the form of unforgettable meetings with students (especially the mission committee!) and colleagues. Even more special was that the Lord 'put a new song in my mouth', after a journey through the desert during which I had almost completely lost the desire and capacity to sing.
Figure 1 Singing in the Nassau Presbyterian Church choir
It was an unforgettable experience for two months to (learn to) sing (again) in the choir of the local Nassau Presbyterian Church.
Figure 2Attah, Stephen, William, Daniel and Samuel
I also learned a lot of new songs in the prayer meetings with brothers from Ghana and a sister from Korea. And how great it was at Easter to sing Handel's Hallelujah chorus!
The new song is the 'song' of the rediscovery of God's unconditional love and grace in Christ, of redemption from the power of sin and true freedom. 'It is finished.' It is the song of a new trust that God is willing and able to provide for all our needs; the rediscovery that mission ultimately is God's mission. He is the Rock on which we can build entirely. It is the song that Christ has given us His Spirit to support us, to lead us, and to comfort and teach us everything we have received in Christ. These are old songs, which suddenly light up and become like new. 'God moves in a mysterious way!' Many came to an impromptu farewell party. 'Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord.'
Friends of CIMS
Through the years I got to know many people in the Chicago area (Wheaton) and in Michigan. They continued to faithfully pray through the times of ups and downs and expressed a clear willingness to continue support the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). It is good to see that new churches are joining the group of Friends of CIMS in Glen Ellyn and Winnetka. As always I was welcomed warmly and felt very much at home. It is such a great privilege to be part of the colourful, worldwide family of Christ and to be upheld by that family.
Back in Hungary
And then after three and a half months in America, to come back home.
Figure 3 Veronika, my mom and "Uncle" Karoly
It was a particularly warm reunion, at the university, and in the Gazdagret Reformed Church: 'they put the flags out'. A few days after my return, an international conference was planned in Papa for those teaching missions and those interested in reflect on the missionary practice from Central and Eastern Europe. For some reason or other, the logistical organisation fell in my lap, study furlough or no. Fortunately we could count completely on a second-year student from Papa, Krisztián. I was so proud of him! The twenty-two participants came from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, America and Australia. The discussions issues related to mission and evangelism in Eastern Europe were very honest and open, and key questions were raised.
Doctorate
It was a special occasion on 12th June, for the first time to act as (second) supervisor at the defence of the PhD dissertation of Rev. Ete Álmos Sipos on the Hungarian mission theologian Gyula Forgács (1879-1941) at the University of Utrecht, the fruit of ten years' diligent work (for the supervisor too!).
Figure 4 Prof. Dr. Jan Jongeneel, Dr. Ete Álmos Sipos and myself
His conclusions are of significant importance for the Reformed Church in Hungary as a missionary church in a post-Communist era and for the teaching and the research of missiology in Central and Eastern Europe. In the previous month Rev. Sipos turned seventy; he has eleven children and twenty-eight grandchildren!
Graduation
Three students of the professional Masters program in missiology graduated in Papa.
Figure 5 Rev. Pluhár, Rev. Szalkay and Rev. Draskóczy
Rev. Gábor Draskóczy defended his thesis about the work of evangelism among Romany children, Rev. Gábor Pluhár wrote about how church structures should be changed in order to be able better to meet the needs of today's youth, and Rev. László Szalkay focussed his study on what it means to be a missionary church. It is no small achievement for them to have completed this program in four years' time along side their full-time work in churches or mission organisations.
Nine students finished their seminary training.
Figure 6 Graduation ceremony in Papa
During their church examinations, the exam board listened with great interest to how they explained missiological questions such as the relationship between mission, witness and dialogue, as well as explaining the need for contextualisation, applying it to their work as pastors in the western part of Hungary.
Farewell to Papa Theological Seminary
At the beginning of this year, it had become very clear that my work in Papa as professor of missiology could not be combined with my new appointment at the Károli University.
Figure 7Farewell from students in Papa
After nine years, I decided to resign from my position at Papa as of 1st August next, in order to be able to concentrate completely on the unique challenges of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS) at the Károli. Let me share a few! And so to prayer...
Praise and prayer
1. Give thanks for the study furlough and the time of personal renewal at Princeton. Give thanks for the many valuable meetings and new friendships, especially with students and colleagues from non-Western backgrounds!
2. Give thanks for open doors to contribute to strengthening the Christian identity of the Karoli Reformed university with four thousand students. Please pray for the plans to develop formal and non-formal programs like lunchtime lectures, and for the numerous opportunities of (in)formal meetings with staff and students.
3. Give thanks for the possibilities to teach courses in missiology to students from all departments, and so to help train them to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in church and society.
4. Pray for wisdom in setting priorities (very necessary!), in order to enable the CIMS to be salt, light and yeast in the KRE university. “Lord, what do you want us to do?” The central location and the library are extremely suitable for making it into a meeting place, and an international learning community including for those from other Central and Eastern European countries come for a study leave.
5. Pray for the upcoming courses and the students of the new PhD programme and thank God for the unique opportunity of the formation for mission of future leaders of the church Pray for the supervision of PhD students and the development of a new Master's programme.
6. Pray for the necessary financial means to have the library up and running again, for scholarships and for the development of new programs. The university is able to contribute financially in very limited ways to the new Institute. Pray for a spirit of sacrificial giving among the Friends of CIMS!
7. Give thanks for the sacrifical voluntary help of Mrs. Mineke Hardeman in setting up the organisational side of the CIMS. Pray for volunteers in establishing a circle of Friends of the CIMS, in developing a web site, in formatting and editing English texts (like this newsletter) and for a couple to serve as a host family (host and hostess) for a period of half a year to a year.
Thank you all for your love and support. It was good to meet many of you in May and together to worship our Lord! I pray that you will all have a restful holiday season, in which you too can learn a 'new song'.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
Great news!
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA. We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website www.ideaministries.org, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box KRE/CIMS.
If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 2162054.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Dear Friends and Family,
Surprises
During a study furlough, you of course spend many hours in a library, particularly if it is one like the Speer library of Princeton Theological Seminary (www.ptsem.edu). It is a gold mine for the study projects I was working on. But my time in Princeton went differently from what I had planned. There were surprises in the form of unforgettable meetings with students (especially the mission committee!) and colleagues. Even more special was that the Lord 'put a new song in my mouth', after a journey through the desert during which I had almost completely lost the desire and capacity to sing.
Figure 1 Singing in the Nassau Presbyterian Church choir
It was an unforgettable experience for two months to (learn to) sing (again) in the choir of the local Nassau Presbyterian Church.
Figure 2Attah, Stephen, William, Daniel and Samuel
I also learned a lot of new songs in the prayer meetings with brothers from Ghana and a sister from Korea. And how great it was at Easter to sing Handel's Hallelujah chorus!
The new song is the 'song' of the rediscovery of God's unconditional love and grace in Christ, of redemption from the power of sin and true freedom. 'It is finished.' It is the song of a new trust that God is willing and able to provide for all our needs; the rediscovery that mission ultimately is God's mission. He is the Rock on which we can build entirely. It is the song that Christ has given us His Spirit to support us, to lead us, and to comfort and teach us everything we have received in Christ. These are old songs, which suddenly light up and become like new. 'God moves in a mysterious way!' Many came to an impromptu farewell party. 'Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord.'
Friends of CIMS
Through the years I got to know many people in the Chicago area (Wheaton) and in Michigan. They continued to faithfully pray through the times of ups and downs and expressed a clear willingness to continue support the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS). It is good to see that new churches are joining the group of Friends of CIMS in Glen Ellyn and Winnetka. As always I was welcomed warmly and felt very much at home. It is such a great privilege to be part of the colourful, worldwide family of Christ and to be upheld by that family.
Back in Hungary
And then after three and a half months in America, to come back home.
Figure 3 Veronika, my mom and "Uncle" Karoly
It was a particularly warm reunion, at the university, and in the Gazdagret Reformed Church: 'they put the flags out'. A few days after my return, an international conference was planned in Papa for those teaching missions and those interested in reflect on the missionary practice from Central and Eastern Europe. For some reason or other, the logistical organisation fell in my lap, study furlough or no. Fortunately we could count completely on a second-year student from Papa, Krisztián. I was so proud of him! The twenty-two participants came from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, America and Australia. The discussions issues related to mission and evangelism in Eastern Europe were very honest and open, and key questions were raised.
Doctorate
It was a special occasion on 12th June, for the first time to act as (second) supervisor at the defence of the PhD dissertation of Rev. Ete Álmos Sipos on the Hungarian mission theologian Gyula Forgács (1879-1941) at the University of Utrecht, the fruit of ten years' diligent work (for the supervisor too!).
Figure 4 Prof. Dr. Jan Jongeneel, Dr. Ete Álmos Sipos and myself
His conclusions are of significant importance for the Reformed Church in Hungary as a missionary church in a post-Communist era and for the teaching and the research of missiology in Central and Eastern Europe. In the previous month Rev. Sipos turned seventy; he has eleven children and twenty-eight grandchildren!
Graduation
Three students of the professional Masters program in missiology graduated in Papa.
Figure 5 Rev. Pluhár, Rev. Szalkay and Rev. Draskóczy
Rev. Gábor Draskóczy defended his thesis about the work of evangelism among Romany children, Rev. Gábor Pluhár wrote about how church structures should be changed in order to be able better to meet the needs of today's youth, and Rev. László Szalkay focussed his study on what it means to be a missionary church. It is no small achievement for them to have completed this program in four years' time along side their full-time work in churches or mission organisations.
Nine students finished their seminary training.
Figure 6 Graduation ceremony in Papa
During their church examinations, the exam board listened with great interest to how they explained missiological questions such as the relationship between mission, witness and dialogue, as well as explaining the need for contextualisation, applying it to their work as pastors in the western part of Hungary.
Farewell to Papa Theological Seminary
At the beginning of this year, it had become very clear that my work in Papa as professor of missiology could not be combined with my new appointment at the Károli University.
Figure 7Farewell from students in Papa
After nine years, I decided to resign from my position at Papa as of 1st August next, in order to be able to concentrate completely on the unique challenges of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS) at the Károli. Let me share a few! And so to prayer...
Praise and prayer
1. Give thanks for the study furlough and the time of personal renewal at Princeton. Give thanks for the many valuable meetings and new friendships, especially with students and colleagues from non-Western backgrounds!
2. Give thanks for open doors to contribute to strengthening the Christian identity of the Karoli Reformed university with four thousand students. Please pray for the plans to develop formal and non-formal programs like lunchtime lectures, and for the numerous opportunities of (in)formal meetings with staff and students.
3. Give thanks for the possibilities to teach courses in missiology to students from all departments, and so to help train them to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in church and society.
4. Pray for wisdom in setting priorities (very necessary!), in order to enable the CIMS to be salt, light and yeast in the KRE university. “Lord, what do you want us to do?” The central location and the library are extremely suitable for making it into a meeting place, and an international learning community including for those from other Central and Eastern European countries come for a study leave.
5. Pray for the upcoming courses and the students of the new PhD programme and thank God for the unique opportunity of the formation for mission of future leaders of the church Pray for the supervision of PhD students and the development of a new Master's programme.
6. Pray for the necessary financial means to have the library up and running again, for scholarships and for the development of new programs. The university is able to contribute financially in very limited ways to the new Institute. Pray for a spirit of sacrificial giving among the Friends of CIMS!
7. Give thanks for the sacrifical voluntary help of Mrs. Mineke Hardeman in setting up the organisational side of the CIMS. Pray for volunteers in establishing a circle of Friends of the CIMS, in developing a web site, in formatting and editing English texts (like this newsletter) and for a couple to serve as a host family (host and hostess) for a period of half a year to a year.
Thank you all for your love and support. It was good to meet many of you in May and together to worship our Lord! I pray that you will all have a restful holiday season, in which you too can learn a 'new song'.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
Great news!
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA. We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit our website www.ideaministries.org, and click on the “donate to IDEA’ link for your supporters they would go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box KRE/CIMS.
If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393).
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 7.II,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 2162054.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Kool News of the Károli -- 1
Budapest 15 January, 2007
Dear Friends,
A new year has begun. Another year has passed. New perspectives are opening up in my work at the Károli University. After thirteen years, it is time to give the Signs of Life from Hungary a new look. The Moravians' text for the year from Isaiah poignantly expresses my feelings, „Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing...”
Old and New
What is old, what has not changed, is my physical place of work. You will find me in the same office. But still I considered it important to make a new start by literally turning my desk around 180 degrees, and hanging new pictures on the walls. I assumed I could manage with my old chair, but my chair thought differently, it collapsed a week later...
What is new is being part of a larger entity, a university with four thousand students. Now it is possible to build on the support of skilled, competent and dedicated members of staff from the Rector's office, under which the new Institute for Mission Studies is located organisationally. It is literally at a stone's throw from the 'old PMTI', which continues to function as a legal entity only. The activities have been taken over by the synod office and by the university (CIMS) respectively.
It is also new to be actively involved in considering the Christian identity and mission of the Károli university, as I was asked to give the keynote lecture on the mission of the Károli at a retraite with 120 lecturers early December.
What is old and new with regard to the content of my work? In fact not much has changed! My vision for the renewal of the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe, and a strengthening of their vision in cross-cultural mission has not changed! A glimpse into the first working week of this new year!
Saturday
After giving my apartment a thorough sort out (how much better that makes you feel...), I decide to go shopping at IKEA. As a reward for the hard work, I allow myself a cappuccino, and get into conversation with an Arab doctor from Libya, who, because of her husband's studies, has been living several years with her three children in Hungary. We exchange experiences as foreigners, and discuss at length her experiences about living as a Muslim in a 'Christian' country. I am reminded of Christmas Eve with Gábor and Kati: fifteen of us (of five nationalities) squashed like sardines in a tin into their living room around the Christmas tree. The party included their daughter, who recently married a Palestinian, and a Jewish neighbour, a professor emeritus at the University of Budapest. She realised that she actually knew nothing about her own roots, but was very interested in talking more about it.
Monday
After the Christmas holiday, I try to pick up the thread again. At about eleven, I go to the Rector's office to attend the weekly devotions and to collect my mail. The meeting has been cancelled today because the Rector is absent. In the afternoon András comes by. He is going to lead a working group which is going to prepare my lectures of the last ten years for publication on the Internet. We discuss whom we will ask to join this group.
In the evening, we have our usual 'prayer triangle' with Éva and Vera. We pray especially for the preparations for my sabbatical.
Tuesday
Early in the morning, I leave for Soponya, a village with 2,400 inhabitants near Lake Balaton, to meet Serena. We discuss possibilities for her to take over my lectures in Papa for the next three months. I have not seen her for five years.
'During my studies, I learned a lot from the missiology lectures. I am thankful for the theoretical foundations which I gained.'
She tells about her experiences in three small rural villages, which used to be strongly Communist.
'There were fourteen of us in one of the Churches, six in the other and very few in the third too. We started with a prayer meeting, and I took up home visitation. For seven years, the Church was without a minister. Now, five years later, there are over sixty people. Many of them have grown from being completely unchurched into faithful co-workers. Every week, there are at least eight different meetings, for children, youth, catechism, 30+ and 60+ groups, etc. Through the children, the mothers come to the Church, and because of their changed lives, their husbands come to faith as well. We really have seen great miracles, for example in a family in which there was domestic violence, where the mother was getting increasingly into debt and in desperation wanted to take her own life. Through pastoral care, the children came to the children's club. Then first the mother came to the Church and later the father. Now they are leading the 30+ group. The family is again living in harmony. It is a matter of much prayer and pastoral care. The key is that whole families come to faith, and that it is then evident that they are living as true Christian families. Credibility in their way of life - that is what counts.
“Paradoxically, what strikes me”, Serena continues, "is that those who have attended the Church for many years are now opposed to seeing the former atheists coming to faith and joining the Church.” It is difficult for them to overcome the past.
Despite this disappointing attitude of the Church people, I go home immensely enriched. It seems that it is not impossible that the rural Churches come to life, as so many claim. The Word of God continues to transform and change people. Even today, miracles are still happening. And in seemingly hopeless situations, suddenly a ray of light can break through.
We speak about the possibilities for her to do her PhD at the Károli on the subject of rural mission so that her experience can be made fruitful to other people.
When I get home, I set to sending out invitations for the graduation ceremony where the Master’s thesis of the postgraduate students will be presented, followed by the handing out of the diplomas. I realise how urgent it is to get more administrative help when I come back after my sabbatical in June.
Initiatives have been taken by some friends of CIMS to create a CIMS friends network as one of its activities. Preliminary information is attached. Please let Mrs. Mineke Hardeman (kre.kmti@gmail.com) know when you would like to join or have ideas for its development. Would you join us in prayer for the Lord to provide in our needs?
Wednesday
László calls from the synod’s office diaconal department. “Thank you so much for the invitation to graduation ceremony. It greatly interests me”. One of the thesis is about social aid.
'How many people may I bring along? How good that you are organising a day like this!' What an encouragement.
Thursday
Good news. The contract with the university and the Károli to take over the rent of the 'old PMTI' facilities has finally been signed.
In the afternoon, a meeting with Rev. Wellmer, the pastor of the German-speaking Church in Budapest, offering his help with the correction of the dissertation by Rev. Sipos, who hopes to graduate in Utrecht on 12th June.
We have an open discussion about the Church situation in Hungary as 'initiated outsiders'. How can we cooperate more in order to strengthen the missionary awareness in the Churches?
In the evening, the weekly Bible study group. We sing a lot. I learn Ps. 121 from them. What a good start to the new year.
After getting home, I put the finishing touches to a report about the study trip with Dutch and Hungarian students to Ukraine. The meetings and conversations made deep and lasting impressions on them. Let me know when you are interested in receiving a copy.
Friday
At ten o'clock, an appointment with Niké, a member of staff for international affairs at the Károli. We discuss logistics matters regarding the graduation ceremony the coming week, and the meeting of the IAMS (International Association for Mission Studies) ExCom in two weeks time.
Next I have a conversation with Dr Ferenc Szűcs, the Rector of the university, about some matters concerning the new Institute for Mission Studies. As always, it is good to exchange ideas with him.
Later than expected, I telephone my friend Dóra! We have agreed to spend a few days out of the city, working on our research projects. For weeks I have been planning to work on the preparation of my Princeton lectures (March 5, 6). Twenty years ago, we worked together in student work. Now we are again colleagues at the Károli, where she lectures in English.
Personal note
It was very good to be in the Netherlands for a week at the end of November on the occasion for my parents' golden wedding anniversary. An unforgettable party, with unforgettable meetings.
'See, I am doing a new thing...' When I look back on this first week of the year, I see what this heralds. It is good first to recharge my batteries a bit for the coming months. I am thankful for this opportunity.
Please pray for my sabbatical (14th February - 30th May, Princeton, NJ, USA). Two weeks are available in May to visit friends and Churches! I’m looking forward meeting many of you. Just let me know what time fits you best!
Pray that the many openings for the new Institute for Mission Studies and for the necessary support. This effects the degree to which the plans can be realised.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 9,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 455 90 60.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
Dear Friends,
A new year has begun. Another year has passed. New perspectives are opening up in my work at the Károli University. After thirteen years, it is time to give the Signs of Life from Hungary a new look. The Moravians' text for the year from Isaiah poignantly expresses my feelings, „Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing...”
Old and New
What is old, what has not changed, is my physical place of work. You will find me in the same office. But still I considered it important to make a new start by literally turning my desk around 180 degrees, and hanging new pictures on the walls. I assumed I could manage with my old chair, but my chair thought differently, it collapsed a week later...
What is new is being part of a larger entity, a university with four thousand students. Now it is possible to build on the support of skilled, competent and dedicated members of staff from the Rector's office, under which the new Institute for Mission Studies is located organisationally. It is literally at a stone's throw from the 'old PMTI', which continues to function as a legal entity only. The activities have been taken over by the synod office and by the university (CIMS) respectively.
It is also new to be actively involved in considering the Christian identity and mission of the Károli university, as I was asked to give the keynote lecture on the mission of the Károli at a retraite with 120 lecturers early December.
What is old and new with regard to the content of my work? In fact not much has changed! My vision for the renewal of the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe, and a strengthening of their vision in cross-cultural mission has not changed! A glimpse into the first working week of this new year!
Saturday
After giving my apartment a thorough sort out (how much better that makes you feel...), I decide to go shopping at IKEA. As a reward for the hard work, I allow myself a cappuccino, and get into conversation with an Arab doctor from Libya, who, because of her husband's studies, has been living several years with her three children in Hungary. We exchange experiences as foreigners, and discuss at length her experiences about living as a Muslim in a 'Christian' country. I am reminded of Christmas Eve with Gábor and Kati: fifteen of us (of five nationalities) squashed like sardines in a tin into their living room around the Christmas tree. The party included their daughter, who recently married a Palestinian, and a Jewish neighbour, a professor emeritus at the University of Budapest. She realised that she actually knew nothing about her own roots, but was very interested in talking more about it.
Monday
After the Christmas holiday, I try to pick up the thread again. At about eleven, I go to the Rector's office to attend the weekly devotions and to collect my mail. The meeting has been cancelled today because the Rector is absent. In the afternoon András comes by. He is going to lead a working group which is going to prepare my lectures of the last ten years for publication on the Internet. We discuss whom we will ask to join this group.
In the evening, we have our usual 'prayer triangle' with Éva and Vera. We pray especially for the preparations for my sabbatical.
Tuesday
Early in the morning, I leave for Soponya, a village with 2,400 inhabitants near Lake Balaton, to meet Serena. We discuss possibilities for her to take over my lectures in Papa for the next three months. I have not seen her for five years.
'During my studies, I learned a lot from the missiology lectures. I am thankful for the theoretical foundations which I gained.'
She tells about her experiences in three small rural villages, which used to be strongly Communist.
'There were fourteen of us in one of the Churches, six in the other and very few in the third too. We started with a prayer meeting, and I took up home visitation. For seven years, the Church was without a minister. Now, five years later, there are over sixty people. Many of them have grown from being completely unchurched into faithful co-workers. Every week, there are at least eight different meetings, for children, youth, catechism, 30+ and 60+ groups, etc. Through the children, the mothers come to the Church, and because of their changed lives, their husbands come to faith as well. We really have seen great miracles, for example in a family in which there was domestic violence, where the mother was getting increasingly into debt and in desperation wanted to take her own life. Through pastoral care, the children came to the children's club. Then first the mother came to the Church and later the father. Now they are leading the 30+ group. The family is again living in harmony. It is a matter of much prayer and pastoral care. The key is that whole families come to faith, and that it is then evident that they are living as true Christian families. Credibility in their way of life - that is what counts.
“Paradoxically, what strikes me”, Serena continues, "is that those who have attended the Church for many years are now opposed to seeing the former atheists coming to faith and joining the Church.” It is difficult for them to overcome the past.
Despite this disappointing attitude of the Church people, I go home immensely enriched. It seems that it is not impossible that the rural Churches come to life, as so many claim. The Word of God continues to transform and change people. Even today, miracles are still happening. And in seemingly hopeless situations, suddenly a ray of light can break through.
We speak about the possibilities for her to do her PhD at the Károli on the subject of rural mission so that her experience can be made fruitful to other people.
When I get home, I set to sending out invitations for the graduation ceremony where the Master’s thesis of the postgraduate students will be presented, followed by the handing out of the diplomas. I realise how urgent it is to get more administrative help when I come back after my sabbatical in June.
Initiatives have been taken by some friends of CIMS to create a CIMS friends network as one of its activities. Preliminary information is attached. Please let Mrs. Mineke Hardeman (kre.kmti@gmail.com) know when you would like to join or have ideas for its development. Would you join us in prayer for the Lord to provide in our needs?
Wednesday
László calls from the synod’s office diaconal department. “Thank you so much for the invitation to graduation ceremony. It greatly interests me”. One of the thesis is about social aid.
'How many people may I bring along? How good that you are organising a day like this!' What an encouragement.
Thursday
Good news. The contract with the university and the Károli to take over the rent of the 'old PMTI' facilities has finally been signed.
In the afternoon, a meeting with Rev. Wellmer, the pastor of the German-speaking Church in Budapest, offering his help with the correction of the dissertation by Rev. Sipos, who hopes to graduate in Utrecht on 12th June.
We have an open discussion about the Church situation in Hungary as 'initiated outsiders'. How can we cooperate more in order to strengthen the missionary awareness in the Churches?
In the evening, the weekly Bible study group. We sing a lot. I learn Ps. 121 from them. What a good start to the new year.
After getting home, I put the finishing touches to a report about the study trip with Dutch and Hungarian students to Ukraine. The meetings and conversations made deep and lasting impressions on them. Let me know when you are interested in receiving a copy.
Friday
At ten o'clock, an appointment with Niké, a member of staff for international affairs at the Károli. We discuss logistics matters regarding the graduation ceremony the coming week, and the meeting of the IAMS (International Association for Mission Studies) ExCom in two weeks time.
Next I have a conversation with Dr Ferenc Szűcs, the Rector of the university, about some matters concerning the new Institute for Mission Studies. As always, it is good to exchange ideas with him.
Later than expected, I telephone my friend Dóra! We have agreed to spend a few days out of the city, working on our research projects. For weeks I have been planning to work on the preparation of my Princeton lectures (March 5, 6). Twenty years ago, we worked together in student work. Now we are again colleagues at the Károli, where she lectures in English.
Personal note
It was very good to be in the Netherlands for a week at the end of November on the occasion for my parents' golden wedding anniversary. An unforgettable party, with unforgettable meetings.
'See, I am doing a new thing...' When I look back on this first week of the year, I see what this heralds. It is good first to recharge my batteries a bit for the coming months. I am thankful for this opportunity.
Please pray for my sabbatical (14th February - 30th May, Princeton, NJ, USA). Two weeks are available in May to visit friends and Churches! I’m looking forward meeting many of you. Just let me know what time fits you best!
Pray that the many openings for the new Institute for Mission Studies and for the necessary support. This effects the degree to which the plans can be realised.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. In 1998, she was appointed as a professor of missiology at the Reformed Theological Academy in Papa, and from 1 September 2006 at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University as Professor of Missiology and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).
If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to:
I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA.
Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation.
The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS,
Kalvin ter 9,
P.O. Box 73,
1461 Budapest, Hungary.
Tel. +36 1 455 90 60.
E-mail: amkool@kre.hu or amkool@t-online.hu.
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