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PASTOR RON'S VISIT TO SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH HIS JOURNEY TEAM 2024

<10/27/2024>

From October 16-28, an HQ delegation (Ron and Dervilla Ward, David and Joy Kim) visited Hungary and some nations of former Yugoslavia: Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Croatia. The visit was hosted by Andrew and Sarah Kim (Hungary). It began with an Autumn Bible Conference in Hungary (Oct. 18-20) and concluded with a weekend stay in Croatia for a special Sunday worship service (Oct. 26-27). During the six days between events, the delegation visited UBF missionaries and leaders in Serbia and Croatia, and stopped by Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, which do not have UBF missionaries. The six journey team members traveled together by van, covering a distance of more than 2,000 kilometers, going through six separate border crossings. In most of the places we visited, it was possible to communicate effectively in English. The U.S. State Department had issued a level two warning to exercise caution in Serbia and Bosnia. This encouraged us to pray more and to go by faith in God. We also deeply appreciated being led by Andrew Kim, a seasoned travel guide. By God’s grace, we did not encounter any threats or dangers; the people were kind and welcoming...<Read the full story>

<10/15/2024>
Pastor Ron and his HQ mission journey team (Ron & Dervilla Ward, David & Joy Kim) are visiting southeastern Europe, including Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia, to meet the precious house church leaders of each nation in person. The team will return on Monday, October 28.

Written by Pastor Ron Ward
Autumn Conference in Hungary

The HQ Mission Vision team participated in the Hungary UBF Autumn Bible Conference, held from October 18-20 in Keckemet, Hungary. The conference title was “By His Wounds.” About 20 people attended. The first message and the last message were about Jesus’ healing of two people: a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years and a man with a shriveled hand. Between them was the message of Jesus’ cross from Isaiah 53, “By His Wounds.” The words of God planted faith in Jesus, who heals, and the hope that healed people can become influential servants of God. It was a fitting program for Hungary UBF, which prays to reach out to wounded and sick souls with the message of Jesus’ grace, and to raise disciples of Jesus.

UBF mission in Hungary began when Sarah Kim heard God’s call through Dr. Samuel Lee’s message at the 1991 World Mission Report. She went to Yugoslavia as a missionary in the midst of a war that eventually separated the nation into several other countries. Later, she married Andrew Kim, who joined her in Yugoslavia. A few years later, they moved to Hungary where they have served for the last 23 years. Their two daughters served the Lord diligently during this conference. Grace was the conference coordinator. Nada delivered the main message from Isaiah 53. This family is a source of blessing to Hungary and to the scattered house churches in Balkan Europe.

God has blessed Hungary UBF with good coworkers: Josephine An and her daughter Hannah, James and Naomi Kim and their sons Daniel and Elijah, Samuel and Rebekah Jo, and Eduardo–a student missionary from Venezuela, and Ming, a long-time Bible student of M. Andrew Kim. Samuel Jo delivered the first message on John 5:1-15, which moved the hearts of attendants.

The Mission Vision team served actively. Ron Ward and Joy Kim led group Bible studies; Dervilla Ward shared her life testimony; David Kim delivered a special lecture on the Spirituality of the Cross. The team also sang “Amazing Grace” as a quartet before the final message, delivered by Ron Ward with the title, “Here Is My Servant (A bruised reed he will not break).

A copy of this message is available. Please pray for Hungary UBF continually. They pray for each leader to teach the Bible to one person, and for the raising of 12 disciples of Jesus among Hungarian students. May God bless Hungary through the prayer and faith and beautiful coworking of his servants.

Pastor Ron Ward
*Pastor Ron Ward's Message: https://ubf.org/files/articles/2024/1730298970.pdf

UBF General Director Pastor Ron and his wife, Dervilla, along with UBF World Mission Chair David and his wife Joy, are currently visiting southeastern European countries, including Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. Their goal is to meet with the precious UBF church leaders, share the gospel messages, and conduct Bible studies to encourage them. Their journey begins with a retreat in Hungary, followed by visits to each house church ministry. Andrew in Hungary will guide and drive the team. Pastor Ron and the journey team pray to get to know and understand them better in their mission fields and to see the work of God in each UBF church and to discover their prayer topics so that they can support them.

<Picture: from left, Pastor Ron, Dervilla, Sarah, and Andrew in Hungary>

May God bless Pastor Ron and the mission team to build mutual relationships with the coworkers in each country, encouraging, comforting, and strengthening God’s precious servants as they continue to preach the gospel and raise disciples of Jesus.