Thursday, May 30, 2013

2013 spring/summer update

Dear Friends,

 we'd like to share with you some of the happenings in our life & ministry here in Szeged.

Family news
better late than never! 

  this month I (Kyle) finished my studies at Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe and received a BA in Theology. I was honored to be part of the first class to graduate from the accredited degree program.  I wrote my thesis on Biblical leadership focusing on lots of practical things from the book of Nehemiah. I'm been encouraged to expound on some things (I was limited on space in my thesis) and consider self-publishing this as a short book. It's something I might do over the summer but my real desire would be to have it translated into Hungarian so I can help provide a resource for Hungarian church leaders (good resources are hard to come by in Hungarian).

 we were hoping to make a trip to California this summer but it's just not going to work out for us this year so we're going to being to focus and save for a trip next summer. we're kind of disappointed that we can't go this summer but on the other hand we're excited to be going to Austria in August for the missions conference at the Castle. 

recently we found out about a change in the immigration laws here in Hungary and now because we've been married for over 10 years (coming up on 14 years this summer) I (Kyle) am eligible for the expedited citizenship process meaning I don't have to take a test in Hungarian history and politics that most Hungarians couldn't pass and even better I don't have to pay for the test (about $240 or the entire process). So a couple weeks ago I applied and I should get Hungarian citizenship in 4-6 months. People might think I have to give up my US citizenship but that's not the case. I will be a dual citizen. 

now that the kids are a little older Odi has picked up the guitar once again and has been practicing a lot. Recently she began participating in the worship ministry at church and now regularly leads the music at church at least twice a month. God really as blessed her with an ability to lead in worship & I know the church is blessed when she leads. 

at the end of June we're looking forward to going to a leadership conference with some of the leaders of Golgota Szeged.

We know that finances are tight for many people right now and there are many requests for funding, but we'd like to once again ask if you'd prayerfully consider committing to a monthly donation of $20 to us for 2013. This will allow us to minister to others in a way in which we feel will be beneficial for the Kingdom in Szeged & our region

church news

summer is traditionally a down time for us as a church because many students are gone and people go on vacation. but so far this summer is shaping up to be busier than normal. 

in June the Szeged Baptist church as asked us to partner with them in 2 one week outreach events. the first will be here in Szeged. They will have family programs throughout the day and teaching in the evening. Every afternoon from June 17-21 we'll be teaching kids how to play American Football. On Thursday night I'll be giving a talk called "meeting with friends". I'll be focusing on what Biblical friendship is and how God calls us into friendship with Him through the Gospel. 

the second week of outreach will be in Hódmezővásárhely. The Baptists have a church there and they want to help us plant a Golgota there & to do so they've invited us to be involved in the week long outreach event there. They will have a "Golgota night" there as well where one of our elders, Norbi (who is leading the core group in Vásárhely) will be preaching. The Baptists are doing some advertising there with the local radio station. The organizer of the event there called me and asked if I'd be willing to come over for an hour-long interview on the radio to talk about this outreach. He said that the radio was very interested in having an American on their show, so next Wednesday morning I'll be going to Hódmezővásárhely for a radio interview.
Fekete Sas Cultural Building in Hódmezővásárhely

one thing we're really excited about is launching small groups (we're calling them "cell groups") in September. our desire is to see authentic Christian friendships form in a group that is focused on the Word of God. Our cell groups will be based on the sermon from the previous Sunday. So this fall we're going to be studying through the Sermon on the Mount on Sunday mornings and then we'll be looking at how those principles work out practically in the context of our cell groups. there seems to be great intrest and buzz for the cell groups so we're excited! We're going to spend the months of July & August training cell group leaders and hosts so we can launch in September. 

we continue to be blessed by the reports of God using our online live-streaming of our services & our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWIyjV_CHWqh75BoM3xLu_g) to reach believers all over the world. In the past couple of months we've heard from Hungarian Christians from Canada & Sweden who are regularly listening to our services along with many others from within Hungary.

we're hoping that our church website can be redesigned and updated soon with more and new content. 

prayer requests

 - for wisdom with possibly writing a book on leadership
 - for Odi to grow in her worship leading skills & for a new guitar
 - for God's continued provision for our family
 - for fruitful outreaches as we partner with the Baptist church here in Szeged & 
   in Hódmezővásárhely.
 - for wisdom & favor as I do a radio interview in Hódmezővásárhely on 
   Wednesday June 5th.
 - that God would bless the cell groups that are launching in September
 - for God's continued blessing upon our social media as the Word is going out 
   online & on YouTube.
 - that we'd be able to get our church website redesigned soon 

thankful for you all!

in Jesus,

 kyle, odi, zara, kiera

stay in touch


If you'd like to have more frequent updates about our lives and ministry here in Szeged here are how you can do so...

 Kyle's facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/kyleodi

 Kyle's twitter - @kyleeckhart -  https://twitter.com/kyleeckhart

 Golgota Szeged's facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Golgota-Szeged/136419214162

 Golgota Szeged's webpage - www.golgotaszeged.hu



giving


If you'd like to support our ministry monthly or a one time gift you can do so through the following websites...

 Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (in the pull down menu please select us)

 https://www.easytithe.com/f/?k=6SSHN0DEHB4KG6DH

 Calvary Chapel Vista 

 https://webview.shelbyinc.com/app/04423/Default.aspx?tabindex=1&tabid=17

 here you need to designate your offering to "missions" and in then in the note please say that it's for us.


Friday, May 10, 2013

is it worth it? | megéri?

(magyar lent van)

is it worth it?

I know it's been a couple of weeks since I've written. Honestly, I didn't feel like I had anything to write. but that's ok. I was recently thinking about results. the truth is in today's world if results aren't see immediately then you're considered a failure. if results don't increase year on year, then your a failure. but the question for me, as a child of God, someone who has given the last 18 years of their life serving God in Hungary, should I measure my success this way? Long ago I came to understand that what God considers success and what the world considers success are two completely different things. I don't just say this as a way to soothe my soul because I don't see results like the world. I say this because it's true.

After Paul the Apostle explained the reality & the result of the resurrection of Jesus, he told the Corinthian church this, "therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding int he work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58). Because Jesus is alive, what we do for Him is NOT in vain even if we don't see the results. 

I must admit that I've gone through many a time where I've questioned if my labor for the Lord in Szeged mattered. I've recently (and graciously) been reminded that it does. Recently a new couple came to church on a Wednesday night.Being newcomers I greeted them and asked how they heard about the church & if they were from Szeged. They told me that they were originally from Szeged but they regularly listen to us online because they live in Canada and attend a Hungarian church there. They heard about Golgota Szeged because on of the pastors there has been listening to our services and been preparing his messages from what he's been hearing. Now I must admit this completely blew me away!!

Also I've been witnessing, again and again, how the Gospel is slowly but surely changing people into the image of Christ. How marriages are being restored, how people are coming to faith.

So let me encourage you, that you might not ever see the result of your labor for the Lord wherever you are but be assured that God sees your faithful labor for His Kingdom and your labor is not in vain. So stop thinking that it is and get back on mission and take the Gospel to where God has you.

your fellow laborer,

kyle 

Megéri?

Tudom, hogy már néhány hete, hogy nem írtam, őszintén szólva, nem igazán volt mit írnom. De jól van ez így. Mostanában az eredményeken gondolkozom. Az az igazság, hogy manapság, ha nem látnak eredményeket azonnal, akkor bénának találnak. Ha az eredmények nem növekednek évről évre, akkor sikertelen vagy. De számomra, Isten gyermekeként és olyan valakiként, aki életének utóbbi 18 évét Isten szolgálatának szentelte Magyarországon, az a kérdés, hogy így kell-e mérnem a sikert? Már régen rájöttem arra, hogy amit Isten tekint sikernek és amit a világ, az két teljesen más dolog. Nem csak azért mondom, hogy megnyugtassam a lelkem, mert nem látok a világ szerinti sikereket, azért mondom, mert ez az igazság.

Miután Pál apostol elmagyarázta Jézus feltámadásának valóságát és annak eredményét, azt mondta a korinthusi gyülekezetnek: "Ezért, szeretett testvéreim, legyetek szilárdak, rendíthetetlenek, buzgólkodjatok mindenkor az Úr munkájában, hiszen tudjátok, hogy fáradozásotok nem hiábavaló az Úrban." (1 Korinthus 15:58). Mivel Jézus él, amit érte teszünk, az NEM hiábavaló, még akkor sem, ha nem látunk eredményeket.

El kell, hogy ismerjem, sokszor átmentem már olyan időszakokon, amikor megkérdőjeleztem, hogy vajon az Úrért való munkám Szegeden számít-e? Isten mostanában (kegyelmesen) emlékeztetett arra, hogy nagyon is számít. Nemrégiben egy új házaspár jött a gyülekezetbe az egyik szerda este. Újak lévén, köszöntöttem őket és megkérdeztem, hogy honnan hallottak a gyülekezetről és hogy szegediek-e. Azt mondták, hogy eredetileg szegediek, de rendszeresen online hallgatnak bennünket, mert Kanadában élnek és ott járnak egy magyar nyelvű gyülekezetbe. Onnan hallottak a Golgota Szegedről, hogy az egyik ottani pásztor a mi alkalmainkat hallgatja és abból készül az Istentiszteletre. El kell, hogy ismerjem ettől teljesen elámultam!!
Annak is újra és újra tanúja voltam, ahogy az Evangélium szépen lassan az embereket Krisztus képére formálja. Hogy álltak helyre házasságok, emberek hogyan jutottak hitre.

Had bátorítsalak azzal tehát, hogy lehet, hogy sosem fogod meglátni az Úrért végzett munkád eredményét akárhol is légy, de tudd, hogy Isten látja, hogy hűségesen munkálkodsz az Ő Királyságáért és a munkád nem hiábavaló. Ne gondold tehát, hogy nem számít, hanem menj vissza a misszióba és vidd el az Evangéliumot oda, ahová Isten helyezett téged. 

munka-társad

kyle