International (EFCA/MNN) — 60% of Hungarians claim to be Roman Catholic, while the largest two Protestant denominations–the Reformed and Lutheran churches–claim around 20%.
This is an interesting downshift, considering the history of the country. Christianity was first introduced to the Hungarian people through a pact made by King Steven with the Vatican in 1000 AD. It soon became the state religion and gradually became a vehicle of the state.
Today, some of that plays out in how Hungarians view Christianity. It's seen as an institution, and because of the long history, many believe that to be Hungarian is to be Christian.
Over the years, the concept of a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ has become unfamiliar to many. Rough statistics indicate fewer than 5 out of 100 Hungarians are true believers in Jesus Christ.
"But seek the welfare of the city … and pray to the Lord on its behalf…" ~Jer 29:7
These words from the prophet Jeremiah reflect the passion of the ReachGlobal Budapest City Team and doubles as the focus for the 2013 Hungary Summit. The conference is slated to be held February 22-23 in the U.S. at the Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake, IL.
The main target audience is really anyone who is considering cross-cultural ministry, anyone with an interest in Hungary, anyone who senses God's calling and a burden for the Hungarian people.
Topics will include:
• Specific opportunities to serve and partner in Budapest
• The gospel in a Central European context
• The development of a city-reaching strategy for Budapest
• Understanding the church today in Hungary
• How the gospel can transform communities
• Better cooperation for the sake of the Kingdom
• Characteristics of healthy mission partnerships
• Prayer for the city of Budapest and the people of Hungary
It's a strategic opportunity. Nearly a third of the citizens live in Budapest. Many moved to the city for some type of academic or vocational training and will one day return to their hometowns scattered throughout the country.
Their movement from country to city and back to country makes Budapest a central hub for reaching all Hungarians. Click here to learn more.
