a heart for hungary

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul

Hebrews 6:19

About us

The Hope for Hungary team serves under theumbrella of the IMB. In the past the team has workedunder three separate teams in Eastern and WesternHungary and Budapest but as of 2021, the team isunified.

Our vision for Hungary is to be obedient to Jesus’vision – competent disciples living together in strong churches (Matthew 28:18-20, I Corinthians 12:12-27). We are convinced that this is always and only God’s work and therefore we are participants, not the ones driving things.

We seek to be faithful pieces in God’s unfolding plan for Hungary, actively calling people to obey all that Jesus taught in the context of local churches. We are convinced the only hope for meaning in life, with all its
joys and trials, is found in Jesus Christ alone. He is the hope for Hungary as He is for all people.

About Us

The Hope for Hungary team serves under the umbrella of the IMB. In the past the team has worked under three separate teams in Eastern and Western Hungary and Budapest but as of 2021, the team is unified.

Our vision for Hungary is to be obedient to Jesus’ vision – competent disciples living together in strong churches (Matthew 28:18-20, I 12:12-27). We are convinced that this is always and only God’s work and therefore we are participants, not the ones driving things.

We seek to be faithful pieces in God’s unfolding plan for Hungary, actively calling people to obey all that Jesus taught in the context of local churches. We are convinced the only hope for meaning in life, with all its joys and trials, is found in Jesus Christ alone. He is the hope for Hungary as He is for all people.

Core Values

In pursuit of this vision, we hold to three core values and allow them to inform and guide our work.

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03 Core Values

In pursuit of this vision, we hold to three core values and allow them to inform and guide our work.

Humility (Philippians 2:1-14) in our work is vital because it was foundational for Jesus’ ministry and believe it should be characteristic of all who follow Him. For us specifically, being humble means recognizing that we are guests in Hungary and should live as such. We know we have a lot to offer from
our gifts and skills, but we don’t know everything. So, humility drives us to understand and serve Hungary’s people, language and 1200-year-old culture and to serve it.

Overnight success is exceptionally rare – if it even exists at all. What is more common, and we believe the pattern Jesus calls us to, is persistent commitment (Revelation 2:7,11,17, 26; 3:5,12,21) to Jesus. We express this by being committed to the people of Hungary and the work He gives us. Working for the long-term, rooting our lives deeply, and pursuing work with lasting impact is what we hope marks our work here.

Our third core value is a product of the other two. An aspect being humble is an admission you need other people in your life – people you are committed to and they to you. We believe that the type of humility and commitment we strive for are most fully expressed and experienced in the local church. We are committed to the truth that the local church should be the context for all our work – from evangelism to leadership development. Our core values can be summed up in our focused efforts of building up and strengthening local churches by being humbly committed to them.

Trey and Denise Shaw

Agóra Gellért Church, Budapest

Trey and Denise have been in Budapest since 2005 and raised their three kids, (Bryan, Alexander and Lily) in the city. After working in a church in the far north of Buda, they coplanted Agóra Corvin in 2010. In 2017 they led a team to plant the Agóra Gellért where they currently serve.

Gary and Carolyn Miller

International Baptist Church, Debrecen

Gary and Carolyn have been in Hungary since 2002 working in the eastern half of the country. Their work consisted of working with numerous Hungarian Baptist churches all over the East, that is until God led them to co-plant the International Baptist church in Debrecen to meet the needs of the growing international student population in the city. They have two adult children and 2 grandchildren.

Monte and April Baker

Focus Church / turnerszindroma.hu

Monte, April and their four kids (Joshua, Elizabeth, Olivia and Steven) have been in Budapest since 2009. Along with their work with Nyitott Ház church, the Bakers founded a run a ministry to women with Turner Syndrome and their families. The support group has also expanded to minister to families with special needs children.

Daniel and Rachel Block

Paulus Church, Budapest

The Blocks have been in Hungary since 2019. They arrived with one child, Nehemiah, and now have three children with Charlie and Clara. They began their work with a church in Székesfehérvár but relocated to Budapest in 2022. In addition to keeping up with three little ones, they are immersed in learning Hungarian and serving in their church, Paulus. Daniel is the leader for Budapest.

Bobby and Brittany Spinks

Szegletkő Church, Szeged

The Spinks arrived in Hungary in 2019 with their daughter, Samara. During their first term they were part of a church plant in Nagykanizsa but are now serving in the Szegletkő church in the city of Szeged while also pursuing Hungarian language studies. Bobby is the leader for countryside.

Alli McCarty

Agóra Corvin Churh, Budapest

After a career with a Fortune 500 company, Alli arrived to Budapest in early 2022 with her dog, Wrigley (go Cubs!). Currently in full-time language study, she is working on building a ministry by providing business consulting to the thousands of young professionals and business students in Budapest through her church, Agóra Corvin.

Name

Church, Budapest

Text.

Our Team

Trey and Denise Shaw

Agóra Gellért Church, Budapest

Trey and Denise have been in Budapest since 2005 and raised their three kids, (Bryan, Alexander and Lily) in the city. After working in a church in the far north of Buda, they co-planted Agóra Corvin in 2010. In 2017 they led a team to plant the Agóra Gellért where they currently serve.