God Sees Under the Surface

2017. május 17., tags: roma ministry

On April 8, 2017, International Roma Day, many people gathered together in the Reformed Church in Káposztásmegyer for a day of common prayer– a mixture of 360 congregation members, pastors, experts, and volunteers. The participants came from 36 different congregations, as well as from the Reformed Roma Collegium and Debrecen Reformed Theological University.

Closing the Gap

2017. április 18., tags: roma ministry, interview

Schools with a reformed religious tradition can be found throughout the country, where people help especially disadvantaged students close the educational gap with their peers. The pastors and elders of the congregations take part in the work too, and there are also schools where reformed Roma students help. We talked to the leader of the closing the gap program of the RCH, Krisztina Nagy. 

Praying for Love and Acceptance

2017. április 07., tags: international roma prayer day, roma ministry

In celebration of the International Roma Prayer Day on April 8, 2017, the RCH is pleased to share the following prayer, written in partnership with the PCUSA , and with our Roma brothers and sisters in mind. The prayer aims to encourage all people to work for acceptance and love in the world like Jesus did. 

Are You Sure That You Want to Fly?

2017. március 07., tags: roma ministry

Members from five protestant denominations gathered February 4 for the second annual Protestant Roma Mission Conference, which took place at a Baptist congregation in Budafok. More than 300 people were in attendance and spent the day together in faith discussing what it takes to fly, like in Isaiah 40:31.

Sheep of Pátka

2017. február 15., tags: roma ministry

Roma and non-Roma children play together in a village where the adults are full of animosity. While people may lash out at one another outside, the church is a place of peace. The magical cooperation of civilian volunteers and the local congregation seems to almost be God’s answer to the prayers of the community: the “Sheep of Pátka” children’s home.

You Welcomed Us Into Your Kingdom

2016. augusztus 31., tags: roma ministry

The RCH has recently published an English translation of a popular interview series done highlighting the work of Roma youth, mission workers, pastors, and artists within the RCH. The publishing of this work was supported by the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR). 

Culinary Fundraising for Roma Kids

2016. július 07., tags: roma ministry

An After School project managed and overseen by the Reformed Church in Pilisvörösvár relies on the funds raised by selling soup and sweets at the Szimpla market to support their summer camp for disadvantaged children.

A Walking Bible

2016. május 14., tags: interview, roma ministry

As a child, Attila János Lakatos was diagnosed as having a developmental disability, but now he is a college student who can easily cite professional literature and recite Bible verses one after another. János is a third-year Deaconry student passionate about the deep work that deacons provide for communities of faith. He plans to get a degree in social work as well and eventually would like to work among orphans, because János was once an orphan himself. 

The Common Experience of Deliverance

2016. április 27., tags: roma ministry

More than three hundred people gathered in the reformed church of Káposztásmegyer for the Hungarian Roma Mission’s Annual Prayer Meeting on the 9th of April. A sermon was given by István Szabó, Presiding Bishop of the RCH. Those who gathered prayed together in small groups for the Roma people, the Church, and asked for the Lord’s help for their ongoing problems. The worship was led by the members of Budapest’s and the Zemplén region’s various congregations.

HEKS Makes Solidarity Visit to Hungary

2016. április 18., tags: roma ministry

Rev. Matthias Herren, Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS) secretary for Middle and Eastern Europe, along with other representatives from HEKS, recently made a trip to Hungary. He oversaw progress on a Roma initiatives that HEKS funds, and also introduced his successor, Angela Elmiger, who will be the next HEKS secretary for Middle and Eastern Europe.

Everyone Could win with Romology Training

2016. április 14., tags: roma ministry, interview

Starting this September, it will be mandatory for all students to learn about Roma studies at the Debrecen Reformed Theological University. The university has set up a separate department for bringing students closer to Roma history, culture, and traditions. The department will be led by Romologist Mrs. Judit Kármán Szabó Phd., who is convinced that the department could turn the negative view of Roma in society into a better one. 

Bringing Cultures Together

2016. április 06., tags: róma, interview, roma, Roma, roma ministry

“It’s very timely to realize that the question of integrating the Roma society is essential for us,” warns Dániel Szabó. As the former Lay President of Cistibiscan Reformed Church District, who has been committed to the Roma Mission service for years, said, that isn’t the main reason to work among them; it is also the missionary command of the Lord.  Dániel Szabó or as we call him “our beloved Uncle Dani” speaks of his commitment towards to the Roma people and talks about the joy of this service.

Building Bridges in the Eighth District

2016. március 17., tags: roma ministry

We continue the conversation with Rev István Lakó, the Assistant Pastor and Roma Mission Leader of the Reformed Congregation at Salétrom Street, in the eighth District of Budapest, about the unique ministry happening there at YOU+ME. He discusses how this ministry is different from other Roma outreach projects and the tangible ways in which it has impacted the community. 

Roma People Are Precious to God

2016. március 04., tags: róma, roma, Roma, roma ministry

The meeting was organized for the initiative of the members of the Protestant Roma Mission Forum with the participation of the Reformed, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Baptist and Methodist Roma mission communities. The theme of the day was, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,”  which urged the Roma and non-Roma brothers and sisters to serve with. The day-long conference was filled with worship songs and testimonies. The Roma missions of the different churches were also introduced, which according to Ágnes Nyeső, National Roma mission coordinator of RCH, was a great opportunity for taking care of the relationships and for living out our unity. 

Even One Hour Can Help

2016. február 19., tags: roma mission, HEKS, interview, roma ministry, Roma, roma, róma, heks

Rev István Lakó, the Assistant Pastor and Roma Mission Leader of the Reformed Congregation in Salétrom Street, in the eighth District of Budapest, talks to the RCH about the unique ministry happening there. He discusses the set-up of the Roma ministry that takes place there, the special draw that this work has for volunteers, and the importance of making volunteering something that is easy for people to do.

God doesn’t want to stop at aid, He invites us all into His home

2015. november 19., tags: roma ministry

Between the 25th and 27th of September, the Reformed Church in Hungary held a National Roma Mission Conference titled “You blessed us, You redeemed us, You welcomed us into your country.” The conference was supported by the Church of Rhinland, one of our most important partner church in Germany.

Roma Inclusion: Exploring the Gender Dimension

2015. október 26., tags: roma ministry

“Roma men just can’t survive without their wives. The family would not function without the mother,” says one Roma woman. The question is, how do we raise up these women so that they, in turn, can raise up their families and communities?

Cooperation with HEKS Continues in Roma Ministry

2015. július 01., tags: roma ministry

Claude Ruey, President of the Board of Trustees of HEKS paid a short visit in Hungary on June 6 and met colleagues of the Roma Ministry and Pál Huszár, Lay President of the Synod of RCH.

What Does This Jesus Want From Me?

2015. május 21., tags: roma ministry

“Last year it was quite hard to round up nine people, today thirty-six of us have gathered here” - mentioned a pastor as he shared his joy with the participants of the National Roma Mission Meeting and Prayer Day on the 18th of April at Reformed Congregation in Káposztásmegyer, Budapest. More than two hundred people from all over the Carpathian Basin participated in the event whose sermons and testimonies were about faith in God and the question of trust. 

Balogh Addresses Roma Commemoration

2015. május 18., tags: roma ministry, holocaust

Tragedies like the Roma Holocaust will only be unrepeatable if there is a culture of respect and if the mainstream and Roma “learn together, work together, live together and think together,” the minister of human resources said.

Contact us

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Reformed Church in Hungary

Address: H-1146 Budapest, Abonyi utca 21.   

PO Box: 1140 Budapest 70, Pf. 5

Phone/Fax: + 36 1 460 0708 

Email: oikumene@reformatus.hu





Our church through American eyes

We encourage you to read our  former GM intern Kearstin Bailey's blog about her time, spent in Hungary.