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Dear Partners in the Ministry in Central Europe and the Balkans,
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6). Then He frames these unstable times in the terms of worldwide missions! “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (24:14).
We are so privileged to be in the work of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in Central Europe and the Balkans in these days!
UKRAINIAN REFUGEE RELIEF WORK
First a word about our part as the CHE Hungary team in ministering to Ukrainian refugees. Some 300,000 of them are seeking safety in Hungary as the terrible conflict rages in their home country. Since our primary mission here is doing Christ-centered community development in impoverished communities, we decided not to set up our own relief program for refugees. Instead, we have selected and formed partnerships with four worthy church relief projects:
- Debrecen Baptist Church in Debrecen, where 10 to 40 refugees are sheltered, fed, and ministered to spiritually and psychologically for several days to several weeks before they are transitioned to their desired locations around Europe.
- Petofybanya Baptist Church near Hatvan, where a similar program is in progress.
- Zsambok Church, also near Hatvan, that is being prepared to house two families.
- Leonard Hanykovics, who daily brings supplies of food and necessities from countries surrounding Ukraine to the Ukraine border. There he is met by valiant workers from the Munkacsevo Church in Munkacsevo, Ukraine, where 150 displaced Ukrainians are being sheltered.
In addition, the CHE Hungary team is responding to emergency needs for assistance. For example, two weeks ago, we took a vanload of food and toiletries and did a pre-Easter program in a government-provided camp in Zamardi.
We witness that this is a very trying and confusing time for these people of Hungarian, Ukrainian, Roma, and Russian descent who are caught up in a crisis that makes little sense to them against a background of centuries of ongoing ethnic conflicts.
Let me encourage you to take a long view of this crisis. We are truly amazed at the outpouring of financial support and prayers. Please be prepared to continue to do so as this war continues.
KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT IN MACEDONIA, BULGARIA, AND SERBIA
Jeannie and I spent much of the months of March and April engaged in mostly encouraging Kingdom-expansion endeavors in the Balkans.
We started off with planning meetings with our Community Health Evangelism (CHE) teams and leaders in North Macedonia. We spent a day in Prilep surveying the progress on the water projects in the villages of Meksiko and Three-Three. Several NAB churches have invested in this venture that is very close to being completed in spite of COVID and a snowy, bitter winter. We were most excited to see the openness to the Good News of Jesus Christ among the villagers. A big celebration and dedication is being planned for the grand opening this spring, with evangelist Jimmy Polikarp speaking on the Water of Life. We cannot wait for that day!
Ron & Jeannie Seck
3023 N 17th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85015, USA