Medical Doctors of the Bethesda Children’s Hospital of RCH are waiting for Refugees arriving from Ukraine at the Nyugati railway station in Budapest, and soon volunteer doctors will also travel to Záhony, a city near the border.
Záhony, a city near the Ukrainian border, has become the hub for the intervention of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, with thousands of people crossing the border from Ukraine each day. In Budapest, Aid organisations, NGO’s and civilians work together in receiving refugees from the morning hours until midnight at the railway stations. The shortage of shelters represents the biggest challenge at the moment.
As a sign of global solidarity with the people and churches of Ukraine, the Conference of European Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the World Methodist Council, issue an invitation to an online prayer service for Ukraine on Ash Wednesday – March 2 at 17:00 CET.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid has mobilised all of its capacities for the Emergency Response in Ukraine in the first two days of the Ukrainian-Russian armed conflict. HRCA transported more than 10 tons of food across the border, provided shelter for more than a hundred refugees directly, organized and maintained its presence at border crossings, and coordinated more than a thousand volunteers across the country.
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.