While in Budapest, we saw 117 people give their life to Jesus on the streets and during our evangelistic gatherings! Aside from that, I was gripped by the history of Hungary that the local pastors shared with my team. Hungary and the Czech Republic both were communized countries, for many years and the first thing to be eliminated from the society to obtain peace was the elimination of religious systems, including the Christian church. As you can imagine, the recovery for the country is a long journey for a post communized country, but the most painful & gapping wound is generations without the revelation of Jesus.
The countries are seemingly peaceful, but there is a strange emptiness in the air. The emptiness felt tangible and uncomfortable, no one realizing that this is the reality of being a godless culture. To know purpose, is to know God, and it there is no question that the question of, “what is my purpose?” & “is this really it?” lingered in hearts of these Hungarians.
During one of our last days of evangelism, while walking through a park I spotted a young girl sitting in the grass, who appeared bored so my evangelism partner and I approached her and began conversation with her. Her name is Nicki, and she is 14 years old, and she wanted nothing to do with God. Politely we respected her statement, but continued to ask more about her passions and desires for her country. She explained that her dream was to bring resolve and solution to the problems and pains that her people faced. She hated seeing the cycle continue you on, without change.
At 14 years old, Nicki had decided that her life would be devoted to bringing solution where there is no solution. She desired to see justice exercised, and mercy extended, and ultimately bring restoration to Hungary.
Earlier that day, I was told stories about how in the last 1,000 years there have been multiple occasions that other countries planned to claim the country as their own, and Hungary did not have the defense to protect themselves and would resolve that the simplest and most peaceful decision would be to forfeit. But there was always one or two politicians would catalyze the room to bow their knee and pray that God would protect them and help them keep their nation. To this day, Hungary remains a country against all odds.
So I couldn’t help but think while Nicki shared her dreams of bringing her country resolve and peace, how she could be the one to catalyze her country to bow its head and pray. What if her obedience had the potential to change history like her forefathers obedience did? It only takes a few willing to stand up and remind people to turn back to God to see a nation turn back to God.
It felt that God’s original design for Nicki thundering with every word that she shared. My heart was filled with love, as I heard her share about the dreams she had, and got to share how God made her with those desires and dreams, and wants to partner with her to bring the solution that only God can bring.
Although, Nicki had concluded that she would think more about surrendering her life and following Jesus, I walked away filled with faith. I kept thinking, “how many other young Hungarians has God set apart to bring justice, mercy and ultimately God back to a country that was robbed for years upon years?” I know that God is raising up young Hungarians who are realizing that their dreams are not inspired by man, but by God and I believe it is their obedience that will lead to awakening and restoration of Hungary to God.
And I feel that we met some of young Hungarians who God has set apart to be apart of awakening his people.