Three Hungarians Welcomed to Hope

By Jerry Van Marter, UGC correspondent

Three leaders of the Reformed Church in Hungary joined worshipers at Hope Church in Holland, Mich., Sunday as part of visitations to local congregations by delegates to the Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in nearby Grand Rapids.

Kadar Zolt, Balazs Odor and David Balasz Magyar chatted easily with Hope members before and after worship and Zolt brought greetings during the service.

"We have found a spiritual home here with you by the blessing of the Holy Spirit," he said. He also praised the newly-formed WCRC, saying that Reformed Christians "believe together that the most important thing is to read the Bible together and live the Bible together."

The three Hungarian Christians were welcomed to Hope Church by Pastor Gordon Wiersma, who told the congregation "their presence here with us reminds us that the faith we profess is far greater just our congregation."

Pastor Jill Russell sounded the same theme in her sermon, based on the story of the encounter between God and a discouraged, lonely Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Sometimes Christians feel, as Elijah came to feel, that they are all alone in their desire to be faithful and to carry out God's will in the world.

"But God comes, inviting renewal and reminding Elijah and us and reminding us that we are not alone but are just one part of God's web of truth." Though human communities can scapegoat and exclude individuals -- such as the Gerasene demoniac in the morning's gospel lesson from Luke 8 -- "all are human, whole and deeply loved. No category can separate us from God. All belong."