Celebrating!

Our family wishes you a joyous celebration of our Saviour's birth. We are enjoying being together and doing all of our traditional things like baking Christmas bread, looking at Christmas lights, attending the Christmas Eve service, counting down the days with our Advent calendar, and the list goes on. During this time we are always grateful to God for His blessings which include your friendship and support.

This December we have another reason to celebrate. 2009 marks our 15th year with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. It seems like only yesterday we were going through the interviews of the candidate selection process. God has allowed us to minister for Him among the Romany and called so many to walk along side us as prayer supporters, volunteers, and encouragers. We are also blessed by those who give of their finances, often sacrificially, so we can be the presence of Christ in Hungary. Thank you and Let's CELEBRATE!

Fostering the Next Generation

Meet Daniel, a twenty-something young man, who is the newest guitar player and music leader at the Csobanka Roma church. Daniel plays very well but needs confidence to stand before the church members to lead. That’s where Imre comes in. Imre, an older man, also plays and leads music for Roma worship services. He sees potential in Daniel and is encouraging him in his abilities.

On a recent Sunday Imre led while Daniel was in the background for the praise time. Then the moment arrived when Imre nodded and they changed places. With a grin and a strum of the guitar, Daniel began singing and the church members followed along. With Imre’s encouragement, knowing someone believed in him, Daniel had the boldness to step forward to use his gifts to serve Christ. Isn’t this a lesson for all of us? Ministry is also found in helping the next generation discover their gifts and develop their calling to do as God directs.

One Man's Junk, Another's Treasures - Christmas Bags

One of the fun things we do at Christmas is put together bags to be given out to the children in our Roma church in Csobanka. The families associated with the church live in desperate situations where putting food on the table is a constant struggle. There is little left over for Christmas presents. We recently put our heads together with our colleagues, Glen and Clista Adkins, to plan the children's surprise packages. With supplies generously left from volunteer teams (thank you FBCs of Greenville, SC; Huntsville, AL; & Augusta, GA; and Emerywood Baptist), Smiley Face necklaces made by Buddy & Betty Jo Carrier, toothbrushes donated by the children at Northside Baptist, Bernie, MO, and candy purchased by generous gifts to our Roma Family Project we put together 25 gift bags. We even felt like Santa as we met the church leader in the grocery store parking lot to transfer the bags to his car. The bits and pieces left by the teams may have felt like "junk", but on Christmas morning they will certainly be "treasures" to 25 beaming Roma boys and girls. Thank you for supporting CBF's ministry among the Roma of Hungary through your prayers, volunteer efforts, and financial gifts. Gifts to CBF's Global Missions Offering help keep us here, ministering among the Romany.