Budd Hebert, Photo Report, Hungary 2007

Danube River, Parliament Building

Budapest from the Palace

Liget Hotel – Our Residence

Typical Hungarian Restaurant

City Hall, Szolnok

Side Street in Szolnok

Tisza Levee Stroll

Afternoon on Tisza

Seminar Participants

University Campus

Szolnok, Hungary: Opportunity for a Business Ministry

This past November, Dr. Budd Hebert, professor of business at Harding University, held a two-day business ethics seminar at the college in Szolnok. This was a cooperative effort between Harding, Szolnok University College, and the LÉT Christian Foundation. Below is Dr. Hebert’s report:

The Invitation
The trip was a success! A two day seminar on the importance of personal character was completed at Szolnok University College in Hungary. Over a two day period of time, five seminars were conducted at the College with approximately 180 students and faculty in attendance. Upon completion of the visit, Harding Character Initiative was invited to develop a long term program involving Christian academicians and professionals from the United States holding special business seminars on the College campus in Szolnok.

This effort was made possible by Mr. Tim Westbrook, Associate Director of ICF at Harding University. In a conversation with Dr. Budd H. Hebert in September, 2007, Tim suggested that the business seminars already being conducted by the Harding Character Initiative in Donetsk, Ukraine could provide an opportunity to begin a work for the Lord on the campus of the Szolnok University College.

Local arrangements for the visit were made through the LET Christian Foundation, located in Szolnok. Budd departed on October 30 for Budapest, Hungary. The two seminars were
conducted on November 5 & 6.

The Visit & The Seminars
I was met at the airport Wednesday, about noon, in Budapest by Gyula Suto, a member of the Church in Szolnok. The ride to Szolnok is about 100+ km and took a little over an hour. We stopped in the town of Abony to have lunch at a locally owned restaurant named Meszaros Vendeglo. The atmosphere was all traditional and the food was great—especially the Hungarian gulash. We then drove into Szolnok. I was taken to my hotel, the Hotel Liget, which is owned and operated by Szolnok University College for the benefit of their students majoring in Tourism & Catering.

I was invited to a reception of a Chinese delegation that evening that had arrived to sign a contract to place Chinese students in the College. During the dinner it was revealed that the Chinese want to place 100 or more students in the school and they have agreed to construct a dormitory for the Chinese students. Kind of interesting, I travel to Hungary to meet Chinese!

Based on discussions with officers from the College the Chinese want to use this a vehicle for entering Europe for commercial purposes. A local Chinese, living in Budapest, interpreted for the evening.

Since November 1 (Thursday) is a national holiday, I took the opportunity to walk around the city of Szolnok. It is an interesting admixture of new and traditional architecture. Hypermarkets have found their way to the city, located in shopping centers on the periphery of the city. The downtown area is peppered mostly with small locally owned shops. People live in the heart of the city. This is a serious holiday in which everyone ostensibly visits cemeteries! The net effect was a ghost town in Szolnok! That night I had dinner with Michael and Lisa Shuttlesworth, missionaries in the town, Gyula and Judit and her daughter.

On Friday Gyula, Michael and Caleb (son of Michael and Lisa) and I took off for Budapest. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine and a breeze. We drove to a “park” on the edge of Budapest then took the Metro into the city. Budapest is a relatively easy city in which to get around, with the public transportation. And, as indicated above, it is an extraordinarily beautiful city. Even with the public transportation, we did a lot of walking. By the time darkness came, we were all ready for bed!

On Saturday, I begin preparing for the seminars.

I worshipped with the church in Szolnok on Sunday. Although small—about 30 members—they have a healthy diversity of members. They have had some recent success bringing in new members though summer camps conducted in the Park area on the other side of the Tisza River from Szolnok. After worship services we met at the home of Judit, where she had prepared a meal for everyone! The food and the fellowship were great!

That evening I met with Laszlo Kacsirek, PhD the Vice Rector for International Affairs and Laszlo Szacsuri, Head of English Business Studies. This is a College that has positioned itself in the market place by focusing upon international business and teaching business in English! They were very interested in building a relationship with Harding and developing a framework in which American businessmen could conduct short seminars at the College.

Early Monday morning Szacsuri picked me up at the hotel to go to the College. The classrooms are a short distance down the road—in the Park—from the hotel (owned by the College). Based on our e-mail communications, the College had prepared a flyer advertising the seminar and they had set aside both classes and class rooms for the seminar. The audience primarily were students learning business English—they wanted to be able to hear it! This morning the students were freshmen and sophomores majoring in business. In the first session, from 8:00—11:30, we discussed why personal character is important in business. In the afternoon, from 2:00—4:00 we discussed the importance of understanding one’s own talents before making work selections. There were about 40 students attending each session, most of them the same in both session.

Szacsuri again picked me up at the hotel early on Tuesday morning. We were scheduled for two separate seminars, one from 8:00—9:30 that discussed courage with business applications and a second from 10:00—11:30 in which we discussed the character trait, truthfulness, with business applications. Again, there were about 40 present in both sessions.

Upon completion of the seminar Gyula took me to Budapest where I checked into a motel for the evening. I was scheduled to depart on Wednesday morning for Munich thence to Dulles and on to Little Rock. The motel—more a chalet—is owned and operated by a former Hungarian tennis champion by the name of Gubacsine Harangozo Julianna (Julianna). It is called Sarokhaz Panzio and I fully recommend it to anyone traveling to and from Hungary!

By Budd H. Hebert
November 29, 2007

SACRIFICE VS. SACRIFICE

As a parent who saw his son and daughter in law go to a foreign land (a land I did not know--a land which was not 'my own') was scary for me. All I knew was that it was their decision and they were compelled to go. Tearfully, I said good bye and watched their plane fly away.

That was more than a decade ago. At that time, I didn't know what was ahead. I 'trusted in my Heavenly Father' each day they were there. They were in a land that was unknown to me....but not to my Father. I didn't know what they would do when there or how long they would stay. I missed them deeply.

As I look back, I understand that my Father knew what they (my children) would do, being guarded and guided along the way. He knew what work was ahead. He knew the young hearts that would be touched by the 'historical account of HIS son' and how lives would begin changing. He knew children would be born that would begin their lives hearing the truth about the Creator of the universe.... He knew that the true account of a Saviour would be taught time and time again. And, today, God knows where His church is headed.

There are many who have made sacrifices because of their commitment to sharing the love of God. There are so many who live in a wonderful place of God's world--a place called 'home' to many Hungarian people. Actually, when one is a child of the King--the question is--'name the place that is NOT home'.... When our Father owns it all, including our own lives, when are we not home? It is hard to 'wrap our minds around that thought' when we are simply human beings going around this early life one time. It is a deep, deep commitment to let go. It's hard....so hard. I just can't imagine how God 'let go' of His Son. I intellectually understand. My heart hurts when I think about 'letting go'....and that is one big reason that I am not qualified to think I am any more than who and what I am. I am simply one committed to God and a loving father, grandfather and husband.

As I compare my sacrifice vs. God's sacrifice---there is no comparison. If the comparison was the same--I couldn't hold up. I have no idea how God made the sacrifice....I just THANK GOD SO MUCH THAT HE LOVED US SO MUCH. How can we 'ever' thank Him enough?

Wally Westbrook
281-788-4654
832-201-8487 fax

Bill and Ellen's Visit to Hungary

In the early fall of this year, we traveled to Szolnok, Hungary to visit our daughter and son-in-law Billie and Tibor Tamás and granddaughter, Eszter Rózsa. We enjoyed our visit with family and traveled to Egér, a beautiful, old Hungarian city. We were also privileged to meet with the churches in Szolnok and Miskolc. On Sunday, September 30th, Bill taught a class on marriage for the Miskolc church. Later that week, he also conducted a marriage seminar Wednesday through Friday nights for the church in Szolnok. During the seminar, Ellen taught preschool class so that both husband and wife were able to attend the seminar. We had good attendance at both events and enjoyed the fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We were grateful to translators Barbi and Szilvia in Miskolc and Tibor in Szolnok. Judit Biharné in Szolnok helped with coordination and advertising for the seminar. Our visit was worthwhile and we were blessed to visit with our brethren in Hungary.

Written by Bill and Ellen Brooks

Tim's Summer Reflections

Ken Hobby and I had a wonderful trip in Szolnok, Hungary and Berlin. On our first Sunday, our second day in Europe, we attended the Szolnok church services where we were able to see a rather large gathering of people. Since the summer camp led by Cloverdale church of Christ and Southwest church of Christ (Jonesboro) was just ending, there were 150 people--100 of which were Hungarian. Normally there are only 20, so this was a very good turn out. Altogether the camp had 184 Hungarian kids, and there were three baptisms.

For the first few days I had to reorient myself to life in Hungary, such as the language, 107 degree days with no air conditioning, and trying to get something done in an official's office only to be told that there was another paper that we were supposed to bring that they didn't mention the first time we met. It's great to be home! :)

I had several meetings with those who help keep the LET going: attorney, county court officials, bankers, the LET’s office manager Judit Farkas, and the LET’s board. I was pleased with how well everything is running. Judit has done a masterful job in helping the LET plan and execute events, dream for the future, and stay within budget.

One important development that happened during our time in Hungary was that I had the chance to meet with the director of the English BBA program (part of the Szolnok College of Business). I met with him to discuss the possibility of a cooperative effort involving the LET, the Szolnok College, and Harding University (as well as EEM) in holding business ethics seminars for the business students in Szolnok. Dr. Bud Hebert from Harding University has been teaching such workshops in the Ukraine for a number of years, and he has expressed an interest in expanding his work to include Hungary. After successful discussions, we now have tentatively arranged for Dr. Hebert to be in Szolnok this fall, teaching business ethics (from a Christian perspective), encouraging the local congregation, and establishing more contacts for the Szolnok Church and the LET Christian Foundation.

Ken Hobby and I taught this year’s summer workshop for the LET. About 20 people were consistently in attendance, and we were pleased with the warm reception from our Hungarian friends. Dr. Hobby’s topic was "Why do bad things happen to good people?,” and my topic was "There is nothing new under the sun: The meaning of life in Ecclesiastes."

In a short period of time we were able to meet with a large number of people. One of the most encouraging aspects of this trip was that we were reminded of the many relationships God has blessed us with in Hungary. Although four years have passed since Anessa and I moved away, the friendships and church relationships that we gained in the country continue to thrive.

The church in Szolnok is a strong body of believers. Michael and Lisa Shuttlesworth have done a great job in continuing to lead and encourage them. Most of the men are involved in leading prayers, leading singing, or preaching. Both men and women have taken greater ownership in the congregation. It is rewarding to see more growth and maturation.

Please keep this work in your prayers. God is with the Hungarians. May we continue to join Him in supporting and encouraging His work in Hungary and in Central Europe!

Tim Westbrook, president

Eddie and Carol Hendrix’s presence

The Szolnok church has been blessed this past week by Eddie and Carol Hendrix’s presence. Eddie came to hold a seminar for the people of the churches in this area. The seminar’s name was “The Secret of Christian Community.” The lecture, thoughts presented, the Scriptures and the way they were presented were very thought provoking. It focused on our relationship with each other as Christians in the same congregation, how we are to act towards each other, what to do when conflicts arise and what the root of our conflicts are as brothers and sisters. The topic is always needed among God’s people and the church in Szolnok is no different. I believe we were all brought closer to God, and to each other and now have a better view of the Father through this.

We are also thankful for Carol’s presence, as she spent time with many women, counseling, listening and encouraging them. She was a wonderful addition to and complemented the lecture series well.

Throughout the seminar mainly people from Szolnok came, with a couple from Miskolc attending the whole week. There were 3 visitors, and the daily attendance averaged 15.
We, as a church, are thankful for the encouragement.

Michael Shuttlesworth

Spring Seminar March 28-31

Lamp and Bag (LÉT) Christian Foundation
5000 Szolnok, Ságvári krt. 31. fsz. 3.
Tax Number: 18829383-1-16
E-mail address: lampandbag@freemail.hu
http://letfoundation.blogspot.com/
Tel./fax: (36) 56/413 - 076

Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters and Supporters

With great joy we announce our Spring Seminar March 28-31
It will take place in Szolnok at the LÉT Christian Foundation's conference room
(5000 Szolnok, Ságvári krt. 31. fsz. 3.).

Eddie Hendrix will be our lecturer, he is come to us from the United States of America.

The title of the Seminar is:

The Secret of Christian Community
(A keresztény közösség titka)

Wednesday, March 28th: 4:00 pm - 7 pm
Thursday, March 29th: 4:00 pm - 7 pm
Friday, March 30th: 4:00 pm - 7 pm
Saturday, March 31st: 10:00 am – 12 pm, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
(Lunch will be provided between the two sessions Saturday)

We welcome everyone to this great event. Come and bring your friends.
If you need a place to stay please let us know as soon as possible.
(The cost per night for paying guests is 5,400 Forints for 2 people)

Judit Farkas
Office Manager
March 6, 2007

OBJECTIVES FOR 2007

LÉT CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
OBJECTIVES FOR 2007

I. To organize lectures, seminars, and other forums for teaching
    to those interested in Christian ideas and values.

A. Spring and fall seminars.

    1. For church members.
    3. For members of the community.
    2. For missionaries.

B.Summer Bible lessons.

    1. For church members and interested persons.

C.Children’s Day Camp.
    Help organize and work at the summer camps:
        - Szolnok
        - In another town

D. Assisting churches in developing effective evangelism programs
    through meetings and focus groups.

E. Library and resource development.

    1. Increase selection of resources in Hungarian.

    2. Record and make CDs of the Spring and Fall seminars. And make
        these available to all churches of Christ in Hungary.

F. Communication resource. Develop media to increase the
    information exchange between Hungarian churches of Christ.

    1. Build an effective website.

    2. Begin a quarterly newsletter.

II. To produce activities that demonstrate Christian values.

A. Clothing exchange for benevolence program. This program is
    mainly sustained by Hungarian families bringing clothes for
    other Hungarian families. Those who receive clothes are
    encouraged to return whatthey can no longer use,
    and they have traditionally upheld this request.

    1. Recruit volunteers from the church to help in distribution.

    2. Provide learning experience for American university interns.

B. Building relationships between churches and encouraging national
    meetings. Reorganize the nationwide meetings.

C. Plan a one-day excursion.

III. To provide humanitarian assistance as a means
      to share the love of Christ and promote the work of
      the church nationwide.

A. Find more families to help through the clothing exchange.

B. Clothes exchange and distribution are every Monday from
    1-3 pm and Tuesday from 9-12 am in the LÉT’s office.

C. Continue to find ways to provide assistance to the families who
     regularly turn to the LÉT for help.

D. Provide Christmas care packages for needy families.

E. Encourage Hungarian citizens to contribute 1% of their taxes
    to support LÉT’s humanitarian aid program.

F. Form a budget for the 1% “nonprofit tax” from 2006 in order
    to pay for preparation of the fall seminar, Christmas
    care-packages, and other benevolent activities.

G. Develop a “needlework club” to show how to repair clothes
    for longer usage.

IV. Miscellaneous

A. Continue to help foreign missionaries’ settlement in Hungary
     by providing a means for them to obtain work permits.

B. Development.

    1. Develop new means for the LÉT’s support to increase from
        within the country.

    2. Find an eldership in America that will oversee the distribution
        of funds from American donors and provide spiritual oversight
        and guidance to the LÉT’s leadership.

    3. Secure at least $1200/mo. of support for operational expenses.

    4. Look for a more suitable location for the LÉT’s office.

    5. Purchase a voice recorder.

    6. Encourage English acquisition for Imre, Gyula, and Judit.

C. Assessment.

    1. Annual evaluation at the end of each year.

    2. Revise and complete a new annual plan at the beginning
        of each year.

Plans for 2007

Plans for 2007

The board, which now consists of Tim Westbrook (president), Nándor Cséti, Gyula Sütő, and Imre Kovács, has been able to meet and plan for the next year. The normal services are scheduled such as three seminars, assistance in the childrens camp in Szolnok , enhancing the library with more Hungarian language reference materials, benevolence programs, excursions, and encouraging nationwide fellowship and study.

In addition to these, the LÉT also plans to launch two sources of communication. First, with the help of Jeff McGlawn, the LÉT’s blog is now in operation. The blog will serve as the LÉT’s primary means of communicating to sponsors on a regular basis. Instead of a stagnant website, we hope that a blog will allow for an interactive dimension to our worldwide communication. The blog is in English and Hungarian. Second, the LÉT plans to develop a bilingual quarterly for the Hungarian churches. As a printed resource, the paper will provide news, communicate events, and provide study and devotional materials. It is our prayer that this paper will improve the churches’ possibilities to follow each others’ happenings. This paper has been a dream for quite some time, and we are thrilled to be making progress toward this goal.

Michael Shuttlesworth has agreed to help coordinate the LÉT’s seminars. With his assistance, we should be able to provide lectures that are effective and relevant to the work’s current needs. This spring, Eddie and Carol Hendrix will hold a workshop on group and team dynamics in the church. In the summer, Dr. Ken Hobby will present apologetic materials that he has developed through his background in statistics and research design. He will also hold evening discussions on church planting methods. The fall seminar has not yet been scheduled, but a topic and presenter should be in place soon.

The year 2007 should be a thriving year for the Lord’s church in Hungary . Please continue to keep these churches in your prayers as we all work together to glorify Him and to add more members to His kingdom.

Tim Westbrook, president

2006 Final Report

2006 Final Report

Our year of transition ended in a positive way. The LÉT’s current team has demonstrated solidarity in its commitment to planning ahead and developing the organization that will be a service and support to the churches of Christ in Hungary. I commend Judit Farkas (office manager), Nándor Cséti, Gyula Sütő, and Imre Kovács (the current board members) for their dedication.

This fall, the LÉT was involved in several activities. In September, there was an excursion to the Jászbérényi Zoo. Sixteen people attended, and it was a time of wonderful Christian fellowship.

During the fall, the LÉT continued distributing clothes to those in need in the Szolnok community. Through this community outreach families are encouraged to exchange old clothes for new ones. This is a great way to help those who benefit from benevolence also to share in the joy of giving to others. Judit and others have provided a listening ear and other kinds of assistance to scores of people throughout the years. Another notable aspect of this ministry is that participants in the program learn how to care for their own clothes by repairing their garments.

In October, the Miskolc church organized a hike for the churches in Hungary . It has been a while since the last nationwide gathering, and this particular trip had members from the Debrecen , Miskolc , and Szolnok congregations. Although this was not a LÉT activity, all of us are encouraged by all efforts of unity and fellowship across the country. The LÉT hopes to facilitate more events like this in the future.

The big event each November and December is the Christmas packaging for needy families in Szolnok . The church in Szolnok and the LÉT have historically shared this effort, with emphasis given to the church’s role.

Because of its nonprofit status, the LÉT can be used as a vehicle for collecting and distributing goods. Members of the church and other Hungarian supporters of the LÉT have designated their 1% nonprofit tax to the LÉT, and most of these funds are used to help needy families at Christmas. This year’s donations were smaller than previous years, but the LÉT still received about $470. This is a substantial amount of money to receive within the country!

In December, the Szolnok church met to wrap the gifts and to package them for delivery. It is our continual prayer that as families in the community receive a small token of love that their hearts will turn to the true source of eternal love and sustenance. With each benevolence activity, the LÉT promotes the name of Christ and encourages recipients to attend the church in Szolnok .

-from the LÉT President's desk