Magyar Egyház, 2001 (80. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2001 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ “OUR PURPOSE IS TO BRING AT CHRISTMAS REMEMBER PEOPLE TO CHRIST...” ^0^ l/lz-uv^Y 0^6^ n. oldal Christmas is angelic music in the form of carol and oratorio with a celestial descant. Christmas is “glory to God,” “good will to man,” and “joy to the world.” Christmas is “peace on earth” for those who accept it and live in unity with God’s will. Christmas is a man on duty tending sheep or machine who senses the upward call and stops to worship. Christmas is a tall green tree, which serves as festive altar for any household, which discovers the true meaning behind it all. Christmas is a shining star of hope in the sky of all mankind. Christmas is more than words can tell, for it is a matter for the heart to receive, believe, and understand. Christmas is the sparkle of anticipation and the steady light of faith in the eyes of a little child as he hears the old, old story. Working in cooperation with church leaders in about 20 regions in Ukraine, The Bible League placed 516,259 Scriptures in 2000 through their Choose Life Scripture placement program. In the past 8 years, they placed a total of 8,132,552 Ukrainian Scriptures. The Choose Life program allows people to earn Scriptures by completing Bible study courses. Those that finish the course earn a New Testament. They can continue being discipled through more Bible study and will then earn a whole Bible. Nikolai, a church planter, explains how his life was changed through the Bible. “My life was empty,” he says. “When I was invited to join a group of believers who studied the Word of God, I realized I was a sinner. Now I know my reason for living and I thank the Lord for His love and mercy.” The Bible League is reaching people with God’s Word by also establishing new churches throughout the country. In 2000, church planters started 173 new churches throughout Ukraine. “Our purpose is to bring people to Christ, and Scriptures help keep believers strong in their faith,” says Mikhail Prorokov, the National Director in Ukraine. “Our goal is to get more people into the Church and we pray that we will be able to accomplish this task.” Christian calendars, published for the first time for military personnel in Ukraine, are currently in the homes and offices of Ukrainian servicemen, according to Lieutenant Colonel Vassili Khimich, President of the Association of Christian Servicemen in Ukraine. The calendars, supplied by The Bible League, were distributed through two Ukrainian military newspapers to all military bases. Generals and officers also received the calendars in a meeting of the General’s Staff of the Armed Forces. In a letter to Mikhail Igorevich, the Bible League’s Director in Kiev, Lieutenant Colonel Khimich expresses, “My heartfelt gratitude for the Christian literature (Bibles and New Testaments) and calendars which you graciously have provided for our ministry among people who are in the military service in Ukraine.” Lieutenant Colonel Khimich also stressed the importance of the Bible verse that was included on the calendars: “Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.” (2 Samuel 10:12) Joseph Csatáry: Home for Christmas, from a current exhibition in the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation in New Brunswick, NJ
