The following meditation was written by the Rev. Bertalan Tamás, ecumenical officer of the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH).

At the RCH we cannot say there are only two or three of us who gather together. According to official statistics we number 1.6 million. Of this number at least 300,000 participate every Sunday in services at 1,300 congregations. That is not just two or three; nor is it how I understand Jesus’ teaching. The question is who Jesus was talking about. Perhaps one group is those outside the power structure. For fifty years in Hungary, there was an official Communist and anti-Christian stratum administered by officials that excluded some people from power. Jesus certainly associated with those who are excluded. The Bible gives us a variety of examples as to what his courage and love meant to them. He went to them and called out to God on their behalf. These people went to church every Sunday. At home they read the Bible and prayed. Jesus found these people. Their number only rose, despite their persecution.

I think that another group that Jesus is addressing is those who have fallen into sin, which means turning away from God. How many have fallen victim to this temptation? How many left their congregations for their career, office, position, or money, following the direction of those in the power structure? When changes began in 1990, those in power suddenly found themselves amid their own ruins. Jesus teaches us that congregations have to win them back, an effort that requires a great deal of understanding, tolerance, and love.

PC(USA) People in Mission
Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH): Joseph Angi, team ministry, Rev. Kathleen Angi, facilitator for psycho-social and children’s work, Rev. Ruth Cho, pastor, Korean Cultural and Mission Center, Rev. Stephen Cho, ministry assistant, Korean Cultural and Mission Center

Partners/Ministries
RCH: Rev. Gustáv Bölcskei, presiding bishop, Rev. Zoltan Tarr, general secretary, Rev. Bertalan Tamás, ecumenical officer, Ms. Zita P. Toth, head of department of missions and evangelism, Rev. Iren Buzas, Roma mission, District of Debrecen, Rev. Emese Zavodi, diaconal year program • Balatonszarszo Conference Center • Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies • Church of Scottish Mission in Budapest, Rev. Aaron Stevens • Hungarian Interchurch Aid: Lazlo Lehel, director • Bethesda Children’s Hospital • Immanuel Home • Iranian Evangelical Fellowship of Budapest • Presbytery Partnerships: Missouri Union Presbytery and Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area with the RCH

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Rev. Stephany D. Jackson, GAC
William Jackson, BOP