by on

As 2018 winds down, we are already deep into planning 2019. Here is a little of how it looks:

Continuing to develop the local work here in Győr – Bible studies, worship services, anti-trafficking work, counselling etc.

Focusing more on developing partnerships in Hungary with other churches and possible church planting efforts in other cities.

Trips to speak and minister in Ireland (January), Spain (February), America (June and July) and Ireland again in November. As of yet no dates for potential trips to Romania and Ukraine, but to be organised soon.

Conferences in UK (May) and Bulgaria (September)

Wedding of Zsuzsi and Zsolti in April.

Preparing for and welcoming new full-time partners to Győr (the Anderson family) in April.

VBS at a local orphanage in July.

We still have a limited number of free time slots where we can come and visit your church. Feel free to contact us and we can arrange dates and details.

We look forward to seeing many of you in 2019! May you all have a blessed and joyful Christmas and New Year!

Cute-Calendar-2019.png

Advertisements

by on

January 24th through to the 29th (2019) I will be in Ireland and am available to speak at your church or Bible study group. This is an opportunity to hear about the ministry we are involved in here in Hungary and across Europe. Many of you will know that we actively work against human trafficking, in Christian discipleship and developing church leadership. Also it is an opportunity to hear about the persecuted church in the Middle-East.

I have a limited amount of time and availability whilst in Ireland, but hope to see many of you while I am there.

Ireland will likely be my first trip outside Hungary in 2019. I will also be in America, Canada, Romania, Ukraine and likely Belgium and Spain. Please feel free to contact me and we can try to arrange a time when we can meet and talk and pray together!

by on

I had a wonderful weekend in Garstang, Lancanshire in England. I went to visit the Garstang Free Methodist church and talk a little about the wonderful ministry currently going on in Rivne, Ukraine. Garstang sent a team in June of 2017 and together we worked with soldiers and their families. You may remember that these soldiers were/are suffering from PTSD and the Garstang team specifically worked with their children in a type of vacation Bible school format.

Former missionary to Ukraine, Pete Blundell, has done an incredible job of informing the Garstang church of this important ministry and is the driving force behind this wonderful connection between Garstang, UK and Rivne, Ukraine. I did speak about the camp this past summer and I also spent a lot if time speaking about our drug rehabilitation centre in Rivne. I look forward to this partnership growing and many coming to know Christ as their Saviour through this exciting work.

Personally I enjoyed fish and chips, scones, long conversations with friends old and new and some rather beautiful landscape! I hope I get to return again in the not too distant future.

by on

This past week I have been serving in Ukraine, working with Ukrainian soldiers who fought against Russian aggression. Many of these men have/are suffering from Post traumatic stress disorder. I spent the week talking to them about ways to deal with anxiety, depression and panic attacks. I heard so many stories… truly heart breaking. These men gave all for their country and receive little recognition for what they have done. I am delighted to report that the time with the men was incredibly successful. Today they were invited to begin a personal relationship with Christ. Please pray that they and their families will give their lives fully to Christ.

Their wives and children also came to the camp (totally free to these families) and the ladies also were able to speak with a professional female counsellor. The kids had so much fun!!!! A team of people led by my friend Peter Blundell, came from the Garstang Free Methodist church and worked with the kids all week. They were amazing! I now have a new best friend! His name is Yarik (5), and he just might be the funniest kid I have ever met. His father volunteered to go to the front and fight and is an incredibly brave man. Please pray for him.

We also had fun exercise each morning and as you can see from the photos, the Carpathian mountains are just beautiful.

I also got to visit a museum in the city of Ivano Frankovsk. This museum is dedicated to the men and women who died at Maidan in February of 2014. It was a truly unique experience. I was particularly blessed as my friend Valera Pedchenko, an Ukrainian army chaplain, who was part of the uprising at Maidan was able to visit the museum with me.

Please continue to pray for these men, their families and indeed the amazing country of Ukraine.

by on

images1I will soon be travelling to Ukraine again, this time to work with soldiers who are suffering from Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to their involvement with the Russia and Ukraine conflict.

As some of you know I have a background in psychiatry and have also been undergoing further training in mental health studies of late. I hope this background and training along with being an ordained minister will allow me to speak about the healing power of Christ to these men. I will be presenting biblical principles and practical ways to deal with issues such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks. More importantly I hope to be a listening ear and support.

Others attending will be the wives and children of soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict. Please pray the Holy Spirit will be present and comfort the broken hearted.

Please be in prayer for these men, their families, all the support staff involved, my family at home and me.

by on

The last ten days have been so busy! I want to catch you up on some of what we have been doing.

Last week, Zsuzsi and I were in Kiev and Rivne, Ukraine. I spoke on the subject of the persecuted Church in Kiev at the Ukrainian education center and then in Rivne I was blessed to visit a Christian rehab center for men recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. This centre is lead by a former drug addict who gave his life to Christ 12 years ago. Currently, seven men are in the center, there stories are very sad but they are learning to love and trust Christ! I was able to share my testimony with them and enjoyed meeting them. If you feel led to support this ministry, these men and the center need financial aid to help pay for food, bills, rent and medical care. Feel free to contact me if you want to help.

Then upon returning to Hungary we prepared for Easter. We organised for a European champion bodybuilder to visit with the kids at the orphanage to speak about the importance of sport and that no matter what the circumstances, that the kids could be successful in life. Then today we celebrated Easter with our monthly English language service. A total of 24 people joined together to worship the Risen Lord. It was particularly nice to welcome 5 new people today! Thank you for your continued prayers and support of our ministry.

by on

The last few days I served in Rivne, Ukraine. I spent time with our Ukrainian leaders, Misha and Lena Petrochenko and their two beautiful kids. The Petrochenko family are involved in several ministries and I was delighted to be able to spend time with them.

I visited and preached in a large home church group, with about 40 people in attendance. Several are refugees from the Donetsk region and have been displaced by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. I am currently planning a medical and humanitarian aid trip to the war zone next year. I am in need of a dentist and a doctor to serve and medicine. Please contact me if you are interested in helping. Whilst there I will assist by providing Bibles, counseling and praying with those caught in the conflict. I will also serve as a psychiatric nurse and work with those suffering stress related illnesses. 

Do you know/recognise this worship song? Check the video to hear a small part of the song.

Ukrainian food is just great! Misha and Lena never stopped feeding me 😀 One of my favourites was this traditional salad!

Please continue to pray for the Petrochenko family, their ministry and that the conflict would come to a peaceful end.

by on

My travels take me far from home at the moment! The next four weeks see me very busy indeed!

I am just back from a quick two day visit to Romania. I spent time talking with missionaries and local leaders and I hope I was able to encourage them. The work amongst some of the poorest in Europe is never ending… Yesterday I was in the poorest area in Arad, Romania. So many socio-economic problems and so few people trying to make a difference. Malnourished children, unclean water, lack of medication to name just a few of he problems. I am grateful for my friends the Ball family, Viz de Copil, local councillor and believer Laura Andres and the Oaza group which all provide help for these kids. If you want to help, contact me please!!!

Soon I travel to Rivne in  Ukraine, to spend time with church leaders, teach and encourage them in the ministry they are leading, including reaching out to families who have lost loved ones because of the war with Russia.

Soon after that I travel to Cergy, France, which is very near to Paris. There I will encourage leaders, help them with training for ministry and learn more about their service to the Lord.

I am very open to speak in your church or Bible study group on the subject of the persecuted church, as I mentioned in my previous post. Feel free to contact me and we can discuss doing this either in person or by Skype.

Sadly I will not be in Ireland in the foreseeable future. I miss my mother’s cooking!

  • Please pray that believers in these countries would be blessed!
  • Pray for clear communication across languages.
  • Safety for my family while I am away.
  • Good health and travel mercies for me.

by on

The past few days I have been in Kiev, making contacts with individuals, churches and mission organisations. Overall it has been very successful and eye-opening. Originally I was going to meet with ministry workers in Rivne but due to their current health problems they asked me to come another time. Therefore I used the time to develop new relationships in Kiev.

Kiev is a city rich in history, much of it very recent history.

image

I don’t wish to comment on politics but I do ask that you pray for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They have suffered terribly and they need Christ.

image

Ukraine is a country rich in religious tradition but statistics put the number of true believers at less than 2% of the population.

I did met several wonderful believers though!

image

Vitaly is the director of the Ukrainian Education Centre. This library/Christian resource centre is used for Bible studies, English classes, discipleship etc. Please pray for Vitaly as he leads this ministry!

image

Vika (Viktoria) is a young believer. She is currently studying in seminary and has a passion to work with children. Please pray for her as she seeks God’s leading in her life and as she faces some tough challenges.

I made several other good connections and am grateful to all those who took time out of their busy schedule to meet with me!

by on

image

I, (Gerry) am currently in Kiev on a trip exploring possibilities of developing partnerships here to see Kingdom expansion.

Originally I was going to Rivne to visit Free Methodists there, encourage and teach them. Sadly they family are unwell and therefore I am using my time in Kiev to visit churches, pastors and look at what Christian materials they have available (in Russian and Ukrainian) for our leaders.

So far I have four meetings set up and appreciate your prayers that these would go well and be a blessing to all involved.