Remember the early 1990s? We still wrote things called letters and even used stamps from the post office to mail them? As far as history is concerned, that was not so long ago.
In late August of 1991 I had completed an exciting tour singing with a Christian musical group called The Celebrant Singers. I sang all over the United States and Eastern Europe mostly in churches, but sometimes at different venues, witnessing through song. Prior to that I sang with the Oral Roberts University Concert Choir and Orchestra in Western Europe, which was also exciting. On both occasions I enjoyed ministering in Europe, but felt that I just was not there long enough.
About the time I returned home from touring, I happily noticed a brochure in the vestibule at my church stating that the Pentecostal Holiness Church needed English teachers in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) and Budapest, Hungary.
I was still in my twenties and eager to minister more in Europe, so I filled out the form and mailed it in. To my surprise I was accepted to go to Budapest as a tentmaker (now bi-vocational) missionary for one year. (However, I liked my experience so much that I stayed for two years. After all, my Hungarian students would stand to attention when I walked in the room and took learning seriously. So how could I only stay for just one year?!)
I was thrilled! The missionary Rhonda Pruitt placed me in a vocational high school where I taught English. I also helped with music and street witnessing in different parts of the city.
I taught there from 1992-1994, but I have not been back since. However, I’m finally able to return after all of these years. What a joy!
I will visit old colleagues and friends of mine. I look forward to seeing missionary friends who are still there too.
Please keep me in your prayers as I travel to Hungary at the end of this week for my spring break and hope that I can somehow still be an effective witness for Christ while I’m there.
Blessings,
Greg
[Editor's Comment: Melvine and I are happy that Greg feels a calling from God to return to Budapest, Hungary for a visit during his spring break. He is a teacher at Moore Middle School in Special Education. His school is in Gwinnett County. He is currently the pianist at our home church, Christian Life Worship Center, in Athens, GA. He serves as the World Missions Director as well and coordinates with our pastor, Brad Cooper, about a monthly world missions emphasis, and he introduces guest missionaries that visit our church often.
Greg went with Melvine and me to Hong Kong and Beijing, China for the 5th IPHC Global Summit last May. He was a great blessing as he helped both Melvine and me with luggage, and assisting me along with Stephen Cheng, my personal escort assigned by Donavan Ng, the leader of the Hong Kong ministry and the great Wing Wong Church. Donavan provided a brand new wheel chair for me for our time in Hong Kong and Beijing.
Pray that God will watch over Greg as he travels from Atlanta to Amsterdam and to Budapest (and back again as he will fly to Manchester, UK, from Amsterdam, and a flight on Virgin Atlantic Airlines to Atlanta). Pray that the Delta Pilots will not strike. Pray that God will protect Greg and others who travel with him from terrorist attacks. Greg understands the importance of blessing others by ministering to their needs. He has maintained contact with some of the teachers in the school as well as missionaries. Pray that God will anoint Greg to minister to Hungarian teachers and others. I am confident that Greg will pick right up on his knowledge and ability to speak Hungarian. God has given him a linguistic ability along with the gift music to minister to others.]
In late August of 1991 I had completed an exciting tour singing with a Christian musical group called The Celebrant Singers. I sang all over the United States and Eastern Europe mostly in churches, but sometimes at different venues, witnessing through song. Prior to that I sang with the Oral Roberts University Concert Choir and Orchestra in Western Europe, which was also exciting. On both occasions I enjoyed ministering in Europe, but felt that I just was not there long enough.
About the time I returned home from touring, I happily noticed a brochure in the vestibule at my church stating that the Pentecostal Holiness Church needed English teachers in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) and Budapest, Hungary.
I was still in my twenties and eager to minister more in Europe, so I filled out the form and mailed it in. To my surprise I was accepted to go to Budapest as a tentmaker (now bi-vocational) missionary for one year. (However, I liked my experience so much that I stayed for two years. After all, my Hungarian students would stand to attention when I walked in the room and took learning seriously. So how could I only stay for just one year?!)
I was thrilled! The missionary Rhonda Pruitt placed me in a vocational high school where I taught English. I also helped with music and street witnessing in different parts of the city.
I taught there from 1992-1994, but I have not been back since. However, I’m finally able to return after all of these years. What a joy!
I will visit old colleagues and friends of mine. I look forward to seeing missionary friends who are still there too.
Please keep me in your prayers as I travel to Hungary at the end of this week for my spring break and hope that I can somehow still be an effective witness for Christ while I’m there.
Blessings,
Greg
[Editor's Comment: Melvine and I are happy that Greg feels a calling from God to return to Budapest, Hungary for a visit during his spring break. He is a teacher at Moore Middle School in Special Education. His school is in Gwinnett County. He is currently the pianist at our home church, Christian Life Worship Center, in Athens, GA. He serves as the World Missions Director as well and coordinates with our pastor, Brad Cooper, about a monthly world missions emphasis, and he introduces guest missionaries that visit our church often.
Greg went with Melvine and me to Hong Kong and Beijing, China for the 5th IPHC Global Summit last May. He was a great blessing as he helped both Melvine and me with luggage, and assisting me along with Stephen Cheng, my personal escort assigned by Donavan Ng, the leader of the Hong Kong ministry and the great Wing Wong Church. Donavan provided a brand new wheel chair for me for our time in Hong Kong and Beijing.
Pray that God will watch over Greg as he travels from Atlanta to Amsterdam and to Budapest (and back again as he will fly to Manchester, UK, from Amsterdam, and a flight on Virgin Atlantic Airlines to Atlanta). Pray that the Delta Pilots will not strike. Pray that God will protect Greg and others who travel with him from terrorist attacks. Greg understands the importance of blessing others by ministering to their needs. He has maintained contact with some of the teachers in the school as well as missionaries. Pray that God will anoint Greg to minister to Hungarian teachers and others. I am confident that Greg will pick right up on his knowledge and ability to speak Hungarian. God has given him a linguistic ability along with the gift music to minister to others.]