Above L to R: Csaba, Dezső and teenager Zoli. We have added a set apart prayer time to our worship service from 4:00-4:45. Csaba has been leading this prayer time and we are convicted that it is essential to the foundation and future of this church.



Above: On Sunday, The Pioneers Area Resource Team helped us by leading our musical worship time.



Above: Church members Laci and Dezső.



Above: Tonight, we had a directed small group Bible study instead of a message preached from the pulpit. I believe a core value of the church is dedication to the apostles' teaching (Acts 2:42) which in essence is everything that Jesus taught (Matt 28:20). I also believe that learning these foundational commands of our Lord do not only happen in the realm of preaching, but can also be communicated through inductive Bible study and discussion. If done properly, both preaching and small group teaching can accomplish the same goal:  "Go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Jesus, Matthew 28:20) Both are valuable and must be used appropriately for edification and worship of God.

For the past few months, God has been directing us to re-develop the form of our service on Sunday. Of course, the function of the church will never change and must abide by what God has revealed in His word. However, I am convinced that the form or structure can be adjusted to better accomplish the aforementioned goal and best communicate to different cultures. As I observe our church, it is clear that the majority are not experiencing the loving fellowship with each other that God desires. The giftings God has distributed by His Spirit to each member should work for the edification of each member. Unfortunately, the form we have thus far created does not allow much room for others to practice using their giftings in our Sunday meetings. The directed small group Bible study allows for greater interaction between members as we learn a specific truth from God's word and how it applies to our lives.



Above L to R: Mária (new attender to our church), Teenager Zoli's grandmother, Norbi and Lidia (back row), and Zsuzsa who commutes every other week from Budapest to minister to the women in our church.

At one point in tonight's study, one of our members was struck by the command to love. This member has struggled to forgive another family member who is also a Christian. In the group, one of our study verses was 1 John 4:20-21:

“If anyone says ‘I love God’ and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.”

After reading the verse, the person just said, "Oh, what have I been doing." This is my desire for the whole church, that the Scripture would get personal. Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

MONDAY





Above: Ben's sixth birthday was Sunday, and we celebrated it on Monday at one of the malls in Budapest. Ben picked this particular mall because it has children's park built in with slides, toys and more slides. It was fun!



Above: Kira enjoying an ice cream cone (without the ice cream) that was given to her for free. As you can see she is getting more and more confident of her stride as she wobbles her way through the mall.



Above: They're here! While in town, I also picked up our team shirts for this year's VBS which begins next week. The logo on the front is from our church: "First Love Baptist Church". Please pray for our team as we continue to put together the final details and preparation for the 90 kids who will attend this year.



Above: I thought I would leave you with a picture of six year old Ben with his fresh escargot...YUCK!