Take Courage

"Our heavenly Father is with us in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit even amidst of the worst tribulations." Message of the Presidium of the General Convent of the Hungarian Reformed Church to the congregations signed by all Bishops and Lay Presidents of the Hungarian speaking reformed churches in the Carpathian Basin.

"Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid."

Our Lord Jesus Christ encouraged his disciples with these words as they struggled hopelessly with the forces of nature (Matthew 14:27). Today, as we are facing the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic throughout the Carpathian Basin, and more and more people around us, including the members of our congregations, are getting sick and struggle with the serious consequences of the infection, we can only take courage if we are strengthened in our faith that our heavenly Father is with us in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit even amidst of the worst tribulations.

In this faith, we, the bishops and chief administrators of the Hungarian Reformed Church, encourage our congregations not to cease to pray to God for the passing of the pandemic throughout the world. Let us pray for the healing of all who struggle with the disease and comfort our brothers and sisters grieving the loss of their loved ones. Let us keep those who are serving in the ministry of healing and nursing, and the decision makers in our prayer. May we persevere in completing the acts of love wherever our fellow human beings are in need. May the Almighty God grant us that we do not lose our faith and hope even in the midst of severe trials, and that we may soon give thanks to Him in the living community of our congregations, of the Hungarian Reformed Church, and in the fellowship of the universal Church.