On February 24 Russia attacked Ukraine and invaded the country. Due to the military operations and actual war in our neighbouring country, human lives are at risk, people lack basic supplies and have been forced to leave their homes. Internally displaced people have reached the Western part of Ukraine, called also Trans- or Subcarpathia and refugees are arriving to Hungary in growing numbers. The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) has been providing emergency response from the first day and will keep international partners informed about its operation by publishing daily updates.
At present, the question is not whether there has been a Christian Europe, a Christian Hungary, but whether it will exist in the future. It is up to us to achieve that through value based education - says Prof. László Trócsányi, new Rector (President) of the Károli Gáspár University of RCH.
Bishop Sándor Zán-Fábián, head of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, admonished pastors and elders to stay, even if they face massive emigration of the young generations. Taking care of the elderly left behind and internally displaced persons seeking refuge in West Ukraine is the most urgent social responsibility of the Hungarian reformed community in Ukraine. Read the circular sent to the nearly Hundred congregations.
“Peace must prevail,” say four global Christian communions who will host online prayer service on Ash Wednesday. RCH is also joining to work together to collectively support the churches and people of Ukraine.
On a personal note: the Rev Aaron C Stevens, minister of St. Columba’s Church of Scotland in Budapest reflects on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, just hours after it happened.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, the Charity organisation of RCH is also helping those suffering from the war in Ukraine with food supplies and fundraising. Meanwhile, spiritual leaders are urging prayer for peace and are in constant contact with our brothers and sisters in Transcarpathia, assuring the local community of their full support.
Sándor Zán-Fábián Bishop of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, Ukraine, calls for prayer for peace in the country and stands for the peacful co-existence of all nationalities and relgious communities of the country. We asked him about the consequences of the critical situation, how much it impacts the life of the community in the Western part of the country. He said that people of Transcarpathia need fervent prayer for peace.
His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II held a reception in honor of Bishop Zoltán Balog, Ministerial President of the Synod of RCH during a visit of the Hungarian delegation in Syria, led by the Bishop.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) launched a donation campaign last year to support the humanitarian program offering help to Afghan refugees in the country. Thanks to the donations, RCH was able to offer 14 000 USD to the Presbyterian community in Pakistan.
Márta Sebestyén is a household name in Hungary, but why was she chosen by the leadership of the Reformed Church in Hungary to be one of the faces introducing the new Reformed Hymnal? An inspiring and thoughtful interview.
Since September, a new team of mentors has been accompanying the institutional development of schools participating in the HEKS-funded inclusion program of RCH. The initiative is part or the strategic cooperation with the Swiss Protestant Church Aid in the Ministry among Roma.
The Immanuel Home and School, an institution of the Great Church reformed congregation in Debrecen for children with multiple disabilities, received the Award founded by the Minister for Family Affairs.
"Either the bloody peace of Augustus (and Herod) is the reality, or the peace of Jesus Christ". Ottó Pecsuk, New Testament scholar and General Secretary of the Hungarian Bible Society reflects on power and peace Jesus brought about at Christmas.
President Najla Kassab and the Collegial General Secretariat - Hanns Lessing, Philip Vinod Peacock, Phil Tanis - shared Christmas blessings with member churches on behalf of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
"We believe that God will fill our Christmas this year with the holy power of the salvation that has been given to us. The day of Jesus' birth reveals that God will not give up on us and will always be faithful to his promises," stress Hungarian reformed church leaders in their Christmas message.
Sometimes an invitation to visit a new place is life-changing. That’s certainly what happened to Jack Ferlino. An inspiring story about minority situation, joint mission and international solidarity by Robyn Davis Sekula and Phil Tanis.
Interview with Józsefné Tóth about the disadvantage-compensating and status-management significance of the so-called “Complex Instruction Program” (CIP).
The Advent and New Year season is the most significant period in the life of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA). We have visited HRCA’s warehouse in Ebes, a city near to Debrecen, where volunteers work around the clock to select and wrap the gifts of the wishlists of needy kids.
„The spiritual depth and experience, is not bound to a place” – says Molnár Ferenc Caramel, a celebrated pop performer in an interview which he gave at the occasion of the special worship introducing of the new Himnary of RCH.