|
In 1990, Christian Reformed World Missions began a program that, over the years, sent about 40 English teachers to Eastern European schools. The teachers served at Hungarian Reformed schools and international Christian schools through the region. Many of them served for an average of two years, while some stayed for much longer. Although the program ended, the teachers' contributions left a lasting imprression on many young people.
Teachers serving at Sárospatak Reformed Theological Academy helped develop curriculum and train a whole generation of young pastors. In the last six years, CRWM missionaries have also helped train adults in other areas of study such as church education, pastoral assistance, and ‘elders’ education. Today, CRWM missionaries continue to teach and offer insight on the seminary's structure and vision.
Christian Reformed World Missions focuses on theological education in Hungary and has one career missionary serving at Sárospatak Reformed Theological Academy:
The following tracks of study are offered:
- Biblical/theological education for training new pastors. (Master's of Theology, six years)
- Biblical/theological continuing education for established pastors. (Post-master's continuing)
- Biblical/theolgoical education for church educators & pastoral assistants. (Bachelor's of Arts in Religion, three years)
- Biblical/theological/social education for training Christian community leaders. (Bachelor's of Arts in Leadership three years)
- Biblical/theological education for elders and other leaders. (Certificate of Leadership Training, two years)
- Biblical/theological education extension program in cooperation with Beregszáz Hungarian College. (Bachelor's of Arts in Religion, three years)
- Frank and Aria Sawyer, Field Leader/Teacher-Sárospatak Reformed Theological Academy
- Jack and Cindy Ippel, Partner Teachers with Teach Overseas
- Andrea Meszaros, Partner Teacher at International School of Budapest
Learn more about CRWM projects in Hungary. Not from Canada or the US? Click on either country.
- Hungarian Reformed Church (denomination)
- Sárospatak Reformed Theological Academy
- New partnership in education with the Hungarian-speaking Reformed Church in Subcarpathia – a new three year education program in Beregszaz.
World Missions responded to the changes in Eastern Europe during the 1990s by sending Christian teachers to various schools in Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine.
Since 1992, Dr. Frank and Mrs. Aria Sawyer have been teaching at the Sárospatak Reformed Theological Academy. Before that, the school had been closed for 40 years.
Christianity was present in Hungary as early as the 900s. The Reformed tradition in Hungary dates back to the 1500s when whole parishes and towns of the Magyar people embraced John Calvin's teachings. Today about three million people claim membership in the Hungarian Reformed Church, which includes congregations in Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, and the former Yugoslavia. The Hungarian Reformed Church is divided into autonomous regional synods in each of these countries.
Persecution of Protestants during the counter-reformation, harassment by the Nazis, and the subsequent Communist rule damaged the prestigious Sárospatak Academy and other Christian schools affiliated with the church. Most Hungarian schools were Roman Catholic or Reformed at the end of the Second World War, but lost much of their Christian identity during 40 years under Communist rule. After 1990, some schools were returned to the direction of the churches. The greatest challenge for them since then, has been finding Christian teachers. CRWM now sees many young Hungarian Christians taking up this challenge.
- Population: 10 million (a million less than when we first came here, due to low birth rate and high rate of emigration)
- Language: Hungarian
- Major religions: Roman Catholic (65%) Reformed (20%)
- Date entered by World Missions: 1990
- Number of World Missions workers: 1
- Ministry emphasis: biblical/theological education
- Location of work: Sárospatak Theological Academy, Beregszáz (Beregovo, Ukraine: extension program begun in early 1990s and now formalized with the Beregszaz Hungarian College)
- Partners: Hungarian Reformed Church (now united in a new federation with Hungarian speaking churches in neighboring countries)
Visit the World Factbook for more information on Hungary.
|
|
