Tapolca, built on a fascinating cave system, is definitely worth a visit. The small town welcomes every visitor. And our Lord certainly rejoices over those of his disciples who bring the gospel to Tapolca.
A view of Tapolca, in Hungary.
Tapolca is an old town on the northern shore of Lake Balaton in Hungary. Surrounded by the picturesque volcanic hills of the region, it has been a trading center since the early Middle Ages, attracting many Jews, among others, to settle there. In 1903, a 5 km long, branched cave system filled with water was discovered beneath the town center, which can now be visited and navigated in small boats.
After the war, bauxite was mined here and the city was developed into a model settlement in Soviet Hungary. Both the Roman Catholic and Reformed churches largely lost their influence on the population. And with the closure of the bauxite plant, more and more people left the city. Even the Pentecostal church community that has been based in Tapolca for several years has hardly gained access to the population.
But like the cave system under the city, people in Tapolca are also searching for meaning in their lives. Although previous missionary efforts have repeatedly failed due to the atheism of the local people, more and more young people are looking for something more in their lives.
In 2012, the Soviet model Technical College in the town was facing closure. The government in Budapest was only willing to invest money in education if the school could find a church sponsor. As a result, the Baptist aid organization in Budapest, Hungarian Baptist Aid, took over sponsorship, even though there are no Baptists in the immediate vicinity of the city and most of the teachers and approximately 450 students tend to be atheistic. Barnabas Ivan, a theologian and evangelist trained in Germany, accepted a position in Tapolca and was hired by the technical college as a religion teacher and school pastor.
In August of this year, my wife and I visited Barnabas and his wife Andrea in Tapolca. They showed us around the city and introduced us to their first true Tapolca convert, Dorian, who had recently encountered Jesus in a dream and found faith in Him. Shortly thereafter, his grandfather, who had cancer, was healed through prayer and fasting, and this moved the entire family closer to God. Finally, on the day of Dorian's baptism, Dorian's mother also came to faith, and Dorian enrolled to study at the Baptist Union's theological seminary.
Like Dorian, other young people are also attending the Alpha courses that Barnabas offers at the local cultural center, a converted synagogue. “Slowly, the initial skepticism of these young people is turning into a growing interest in faith,” Barnabas tells us. The self-sacrificing ministry of the father of four, who spends several hours a day in his car on his trips to Tapolca, is bearing its first fruits.
And these signs of hope are encouraging. Barnabas and Andrea dream of a missionary church in the city that will give people hope again. Of course, there is hardly any support from local Christians, and the Baptist relief organization can only contribute the bare minimum for the ministry. The couple urgently needs spiritual and financial support. But they trust in God, who can give more than we can imagine.
“God will move the hearts of Christians in Europe so that here in the heart of Hungary a church and mission center for evangelizing secularized people will be established,” says the 44-year-old man. “Our opportunities are growing day by day. We need co-workers and our own premises, preferably in the center of the city. You can pray for this.”
Tapolca, built on a fascinating cave system, is definitely worth a visit. The small town welcomes every visitor. And our Lord certainly rejoices over those of his disciples who bring the gospel to Tapolca. Barnabas and Andrea need our support. Christians all over the world are called to help.
Those who are interested are welcome to write to the two church founders.
Their address is: [email protected]
And if your heart has been moved by this report and you would be willing to support the couple financially, please transfer your contribution to:
Account holder: Forum Wiedenest e.V.
BIC: GENODED1WIL
IBAN: DE 71 3846 2135 2202 7000 15
Purpose: 72480 Fam. Ivan + name of donor
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