Budapest, Hungary Mission Trip
I am heading to Budapest, Hungary to explore a partnership with Josiah Venture.
Check back here for regular updates through the trip on June 16-26, 2025.
Day 9 (pictures will be added later.)
Forging a new partnership.
As is true of every trip, it is often difficult to fully understand or even grasp what a trip like this will accomplish. From the very beginning, I came on this trip with the clear focus of forging a new partnership with Josiah Venture. This was actually quite simple. Their mission is to raise up young leaders of the church in Central and Eastern Europe.
King Josiah was a very young king of Judah and is largely seen as responsible for turning God’s people back to Him. Despite opposition and starting his reign at just 8 years old, King Josiah tore down altars to foreign gods, restored worship of God in Jerusalem, and, most importantly, pointed his nation to God. The fruit of his focus and passion was clear. He was a man after God’s own heart, and in the same way, Josiah Venture desires to point the youth of Europe to Jesus.
This is a very slow, day-by-day, week-by-week journey. It helps, though, when you have a team of young people who have caught that vision and are excited to learn, grow, and lead. I was so blown away by the youth leadership team of Vekker Church. All of them were in their early 20s and were using the gifts God gave them for His purpose and glory.
The team worked together, combined their strengths, and did a phenomenal job leading the camp. They were not alone—the team at Josiah Venture came alongside them, helping to raise them up and prepare them for the week. Brian helped lead games, set a foundation of expectations, and found people to share the message, but outside of that, the team led. They addressed issues as they came up, encouraged when needed, and participated in everything. What a testament to the impact of raising up young and passionate leaders!
A few years back Pastor Greg did a series that still sticks with me to this day. It was a series on being single and the freedom that comes with being able to give of your time, talents, and resources to the mission of God. This last week was such a beautiful picture of the being lived out. I cannot say enough about how incredibly amazed I was by the leadership and influence of the Vekker student leadership team.
Today, I was able to spend some time with Panna, who is the volunteer youth leader at Vekker. She has taken it upon herself to plan, run, and lead this week’s Summer Camp. I have some great video of an interview I did with her today and will be editing it down and sharing it when I get back.
A few key takeaways from my conversation with her are that she is genuinely passionate about reaching the youth of Veszprém, Hungary. She sees the youth as the key to helping grow their church and impact their community. The church currently meets in a small building and is outgrowing their space, so they have begun the process of looking for a new location. This new space will provide room to grow, greater visibility, and a dedicated youth area, which they currently lack.
Vekker is a growing church, and it is my heart to forge an ongoing partnership with them that will lead to years of fruitful ministry. In my first conversation with Panna earlier this week, I was immediately drawn to her heart for the youth and her desire to see more young people experience Summer Camp. This excited me and reaffirmed every aspect of why I came here.
From that moment on, I saw a similar partnership to what we had with Iglesia El Buen Pastor in Orange Cove, CA. We partnered with them for 12 consecutive years as a church and were key supporters in their growth and impact—allowing them to reach their community in ways that would not have been able too without our support. In the same way, I can envision a partnership with the Vekker youth ministry.
A bonus is that my brother Brian and his family are also exploring a long-term partnership with Vekker and may be moving to Veszprém sometime in the next year. The great part is that it is just an $8, one-and-a-half-hour ride from Veszprém to Budapest. Trains run every hour, so Brian and Aubrey will have easy access to continue being present at the Hungary headquarters in Budapest.
So what might this partnership look like? That is a great question and still has some hurdles to cross. However, this trip was a huge step in the direction of coming alongside and supporting Panna, Vekker, and their youth ministry. With that caveat aside, here is what I believe God put on my heart during my trip and what I will be exploring in the next few months.
As I talked with Panna, it became abundantly clear that one of the key limiting factors in their summer camp’s growth is financial. Only half of their youth attended because the other half could not afford the $125 summer camp fee (most day camps are only $50–$75 per week per student, so this camp is expensive comparatively).
In addition, the hotel that hosts the summer camp is actually owned by a Hungarian Christian couple who strongly desire to see church groups come and use the beautiful space. However, the “affordable” space was filled up this year. To grow and invite more non-Christian youth from Veszprém, there are a few options.
The first is to put up a bunch of tents, which is affordable but not exactly comfortable. The other is to pay for additional space for campers to stay, either in the hotel itself or in other areas on the property. These options, however, come with significant costs.
The first way I really want to partner with them is by helping to support the Summer Camp financially so that they can afford to grow the camp. I believe there are some simple ways we can come alongside them and provide opportunities for our congregation to support students from Veszprém and scholarship students from Vekker, making it more affordable.
Another way to support them is by bringing a team to help lead the Summer Camp. I knew from the beginning that this would be a need, but I did not realize how difficult it is for most students to afford the $125 camp fee.
The final way I would love to support them is by creating a partnership between our youth group and their youth group so that they don’t feel they are alone and on their own.
As I head home tomorrow, I am excited to continue processing creative ways to help forge the partnership with Vekker. They are so passionate about Jesus but could really benefit from the support that Christ Community can bring them. From talking with Panna, she is VERY excited about this possibility. However, as a culture, Hungarians struggle to dream big. Given their communist history as a nation, they don’t often do anything risky, they don’t often dream, and they don’t like to ask for help. They work hard and simply accept the reality of where they are.
Getting Panna to dream a bit and share what it would take to grow the Summer Camp was quite difficult. But her answers were amazing, and I can’t wait to share them with our church in the coming weeks.
My final day at camp.
The food was quite interesting today, as the hotel serves very authentic and simple Hungarian dishes. Breakfast consisted of open-faced sandwiches with salami, butter, and cheese. Lunch was a delicious pork lentil soup and a combined pasta and potato dish with paprika (which literally means pepper in Hungarian, so we all know at least one word in Hungarian). Dinner was fried cheese and mashed potatoes, which was also quite interesting but not widely loved by the locals.
Now that the food is out of the way, it was another day filled with fun activities: reading the Bible together, worship at the fire circle, crafts, snacks, and games. The sport of the day was soccer, which was so much fun. I have to say, I fell in love with a basic cappuccino with one packet of raw sugar. The hotel had a big machine that made them on demand, and it was incredible—especially after adding an extra shot! I typically brew my own coffee, but that is not really common in Hungary. No place brews coffee, but every place had an espresso machine and could make a cappuccino, so that was a plentiful offering.
Later in the day, I said my goodbyes to everyone, which was hard because I had formed some amazing connections with the interns, the Vekker leadership team, the short-term team, and the students. My brother gave me a ride to the train station, and I took the one-and-a-half-hour trip up to Budapest. For my final evening, I ventured downtown to take in the sights and sounds one more time. It was a beautiful night with so many people enjoying time together, eating pizza on the bridge, and relaxing while watching the sunset.
Here are a few of my final pictures! While I head home tomorrow, the camp will continue for a few more days, so please continue to pray for the leaders, the youth, and especially for the students who do not know Jesus. The gospel invitation will be given tomorrow night, and Panna’s prayer is that students from this camp will come to know Jesus and immediately connect with the youth group. Please pray for this.
Tomorrow morning, I head to the airport and have three flights to get home, flying through Amsterdam and Minnesota. I’ll touch down in Sacramento around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. Thanks for your continued prayers and support. I look forward to sharing stories, vision, pictures, and interviews from my time in Hungary.
Day 8
I’ve been changed.
Each summer, Josiah Venture puts together a curriculum for all of their camps. As I mentioned yesterday, this year’s theme is New Life. The curriculum is used across all 14 countries that JV serves throughout Central and Eastern Europe and serves as a way of unifying the message of the gospel to everyone who hears it.
Along with the messages, there is a theme song. This year, that song is Changed by Jordan Felix. Take a second to listen to it, as it is not only catchy but also speaks the incredible truth of the gospel: we are so loved by Jesus that He accepts us as we are and also loves us too much to leave us the way He found us. In other words, WE ARE CHANGED! Transformed. Given NEW life.
The concept is certainly a new one for most Hungarians, as they very much live in the present, day-to-day reality of life. Being transformed and renewed is not always seen as something significant, as they are largely expected to just accept things for what they are and move on with life. That means accepting their circumstances, accepting their pain, accepting their loneliness.
Learning the Camp Dance!
In a conversation with one of the Hungarian leaders, it was quite interesting to hear their perspective on their country. Hungary is beautiful, and the government is very open to Christianity; in fact, some would even say that the government is Christian. However, many of the youth have experienced a different side of reality, and their view of authority is deeply diminished. The youth love their country but do not see much of a future for themselves within it. The cost of living, compared to income, is severely out of balance. Most Hungarian youth will never earn enough to own a house. A large portion of their money is sent to Budapest, and they never get to experience many of the benefits that come from it.
As one leader described the situation, he said, “We pay a lot of taxes, can’t afford a house, and are then abandoned later in life when we need help. Not only that, but we can’t have an opinion—no one will listen. Things remain the same, and no one seems to care. So we go on doing our thing and seeking ways to share our opinions. They just seem to fall on deaf ears.”
This authoritarian leadership style tends to stomp out hope and also alienates people from authority. So when the gospel arrives, offering hope under a loving and just God, it often takes people a long time to understand what that truly means. They don’t experience authority in a loving and gracious way; instead, they see it as a division between high class and low class. Authority is not viewed positively but rather as something that takes hope away instead of giving it.
Camp Fire Circle.
The conversation ended with the Hungarian leader asking for my thoughts. I quickly shifted the focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities. I encouraged them, affirmed their struggle, and they simply said, “Every earthly government or rule will fail. If that is where our hope lies as believers in Jesus, then we will be disappointed and frustrated. The Kingdom of heaven is quite the opposite. God created it to be perfect—every orphan and widow cared for, no weeping, no pain, no frustration. A good, just, perfect Father.”
In the kingdom of heaven, we are promised a new life, which starts here and now and transforms how we live in the world. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:11-12:
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Let us not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Summer Camp: Day 2.
Here is a quick overview of the day starting with breakfast, since I love talking about food!
We all sat down and had bread, butter, and jelly on the table. All of us, and I mean ALL OF US, looked around and wondered what else might be coming for breakfast. Well, soon enough we realized it was just going to be bread, butter, and jelly. Nothing else needed… apparently! So much for man not living on bread alone… ok. Bad joke.
The Leadership Team
The rest of the morning, we did our camp dance to Changed, had one-on-one time with students reading the Bible and talking with them, saw the short-term team lead their first English classes, and played a few fun group games. Then came lunch—a layered potato, sausage, and hard-boiled egg dish. It doesn’t sound good, but it actually is… once salt and pepper are added. After lunch, we had field activities. Students could choose to play American football or tie-dye shirts. The group pretty much split in half, and I most certainly went with the American football side of things. That was a ton of fun!
Most of the Hungarian youth have never played American football and don’t really have anything similar, so we started by showing them how to throw and catch a ball. Some got it, some never did, but we had a great time playing! It really served as a way to get some of the more quiet and shy students engaged with the group and having fun. There are three boys in particular who have never been to church. They know each other and somehow all signed up together to come this week (I say somehow as if it is an accident… but it is no accident they are here, God is moving). They had been quiet and off to themselves until football started. They really came out of their shells and started connecting and playing with the whole group—that is the reason for games at camp, to help break down relational walls of division.
From there, we played a very strategic and slow version of capture the flag. From what I have learned, Hungarians in general really enjoy strategy games. The goal of the game was the same as a normal capture the flag: to capture the flag. However, each person had four letters on a card on their forehead, and the way you tagged someone was by saying the four numbers on their card. This meant that you sneaked around, tried to keep yourself hidden, and hoped no one got a good enough look at your card to say your numbers and get you out! It was quite slow for capture the flag, but it was quite fun to watch everyone figure out the best way to win.
We then headed to dinner, which was followed by another group activity (one thing we never lack here at camp) and chapel. My brother Brian and Panna, the Vekker youth leader, are always finding fun and creative ways to engage the youth, encourage them to open up, and simply have a ton of fun! This helps ensure that when we get to chapel and small groups, there is a willingness to talk, share, and open up about life. This is not a normal part of youth culture in Hungary, so it can be quite challenging for most! To end the night, we gained access to the bowling alley located beneath the area where we meet for chapel. I have never been to a camp with a bowling alley before, but it was a ton of fun! Here is a picture.
Bowling!
At the end of the day, everyone headed to bed full of joy and excited for breakfast the next day.
As I have the opportunity to both observe and participate in the camp, it is amazing to see what a group of young volunteer youth leaders can accomplish. Vekker has about eight volunteers here. Most of them serve throughout the life of the church, and all of them are passionate about seeing the youth of Hungary come to know Jesus and live for Him. It is incredible to witness their passion and how God has brought together such a diverse set of gifts and abilities.
Sunset at The Szépalma Hotel
They are all in their early 20s, and it is clear that there are gifts of leadership, encouragement, hospitality, worship leading, and administration among them. As I reflected on this, I have been deeply impressed by the level of intentionality that Josiah Venture invests in the youth leaders. All of them are volunteers, but their passion for Jesus and love for the students is both beautiful and authentic. The fruit of leadership development, an emphasis of JV, is so amazing to see.
Tomorrow, I will spend the day at camp, and then in the evening, I will take a train from Veszprém to Budapest. I will stay at my brother’s house and then head to the airport on Thursday morning for my flight. Please continue to keep the students at Summer Camp in your prayers. There is a strong emphasis on connecting with them, encouraging them with truth, and showing them Jesus.
Though many face struggles in their current situations, the joy and hope found in the gospel of Jesus are clearly evident and offer a New Life. To this end, let us rejoice!
Day 7
Let camp begin.
Organizing a camp in Hungary involves complexities that become clear only when you witness the entire process firsthand. For the past 6 to 9 months, a Josiah Venture team has collaborated closely with Vekker aka Veszprém Christian Church to schedule the camp and secure a suitable venue. In Hungary, summer camps are deeply woven into youth culture, often spanning the entire summer. Since many parents work throughout the summer, youth typically participate in multiple day camps, sometimes attending up to six weeks of camps before taking a two-week vacation.
This cultural rhythm makes finding an ideal camp location particularly challenging. Additionally, Hungarian tendencies to delay finalizing plans until the last minute and the scarcity of venues equipped to host camp experiences add layers of difficulty. Despite these obstacles, a beautiful site was secured—the Szépalma Hotel, about a 30-minute drive from Veszprém and 90 minutes south of Budapest. From there, the youth leadership team began crafting a camp experience designed to engage and inspire young people, ensuring it would be a place they genuinely want to attend.
This is where the English element of the camp comes into play. The Hungarian youth are very focused and driven to succeed in school, as it is difficult to get into university. This means that a camp focused on teaching English, with native English speakers, is highly valued culturally. When we talk about being the very presence of Jesus, this is how Vekker is living that out—by creating a camp that draws high school–age youth, teaches them English, and centers it all around the gospel!
About three months ago, Vekker began getting students excited and signing them up for camp. They have a youth group of roughly 20 kids, half of whom came to camp, while the rest are unchurched youth from Veszprém. Then, about three weeks ago, the Summer Intern Team—two college students from the States and one young woman from Latvia—arrived in Hungary to begin preparing various elements of the camp. They worked on messages, testimonies, games, activities, crafts, dances, and much more! About six days ago, the short-term team arrived from Sonora, CA, prepared to teach English, love students, serve Vekker, and share the hope of Jesus. Now, here we are—day one of camp!
In total, there are about 38 of us here at camp. We spent the morning driving down, getting settled in, going over the schedule, and spending time praying for God to work and move this week in the lives of the students who were coming. The hotel that is hosting us is absolutely beautiful! It truly feels more like a resort than a camp, which it is. It also happens to have several nice meeting rooms, lots of open grassy areas to play, a bowling alley, and a wonderful fire circle area by the pond.
The primary leader, and the one who got the camp all set up and organized, is a youth leader named Panna. She is a volunteer, just like all of the other youth workers at Vekker, and she is passionate about seeing students experience the love of Jesus in Veszprém. Panna spent the last few summers at Camp Del Oro in Nevada City, which was so awesome to learn, as we do our Presbytery retreat at the same place. What a small world!
In talking with Panna, she shared how her experience at that camp during the summer sparked in her a passion to lead youth to Jesus. So, while she works part-time and goes to school full-time, she is also the main leader of the Vekker youth group and is in her early 20s. She also has an amazing team who help share the responsibility, and all do it because they love Jesus and want to see Him made known in Veszprém.
The students arrived in the afternoon and settled into their cabins. Once camp started, we introduced the leaders, played a fun mingle game, learned some of the camp theme dance, and then headed to dinner! One of the fascinating things about Hungary is that the eating habits are very different. Breakfast is very light, often toast or pastries. Lunch is the big meal of the day, usually including bread, soup, and a side dish. Yesterday, that was Fisirt (flat fried pork), fries, and rice. Dinner is more of a simple meal, like an open-faced sandwich or a soup. The place where we are staying is catering all the food, and it is delicious! Often, I find it needs a bit of salt, but that is just true of most food in Hungary—they don’t use much salt or added sugar in anything.
Following dinner, we headed to the chapel where my brother Brian gave the first message. This year, all of the Josiah Venture camps have the theme of “New Life.” It follows the conversion of Saul to Paul in the book of Acts and is geared toward non-Christian youth. We followed that up with worship through music, a testimony, and small groups. Then we finished off the night with a campfire and s’mores.
Day 1 of camp was incredible! The group of students is really awesome—willing to participate in all of the games, excited (and also a bit nervous) to spend the night at camp, and full of energy. Most of them have excellent English, especially those who are a bit older and getting ready for university. This makes talking about life, faith, food, and all the random conversations a bit easier.
Most of them know Americans from YouTube, Snapchat, and other social media platforms. It is fun for them to ask questions and to see their genuine curiosity about America. It is also incredible to hear them share about their country, their faith, their favorite foods and hobbies, and what they want to do with their lives beyond high school.
God is on the move in Hungary, using little churches like Vekker to invite people to experience the blessing of being in relationship with Him.
Please continue to pray for the camp. About half of the campers do not have a relationship with Jesus, so this is all brand new to them. Pray that they would have open hearts to the gospel, especially as they prepare to share the gospel on Thursday night! I have a few more days here, and then I will catch a train back to Budapest, where I will fly out on Thursday. Happy Monday!
Day 5/6
Sabbath.
This weekend was a great time to relax, enjoy the sights and sounds of Budapest, do some writing and reading, enjoy a beautiful worship service at Golgota (Calvary) Church, and spend quality time with my family. Here is a short summary of my weekend and a look ahead at the last few days of my trip.
On Saturday morning I started by visiting St Stephen’s Basilica. This beautiful old church offers a stark contrast to the even older Baroque style church I visited in Vienna. This church is stunning, bright gold overlays, and built in the early 1900’s. It is also the highest dome in the city, tied with the Hungarian Parliament, just a few blocks away. The amazing part of the Basilica is that you can take a small spiral staircase up 364 steps from the ground floor to a full 360° outlook. It is a stunningly beautiful view! There is also an elevator that goes up there, but that didn’t seem nearly as fulfilling of an experience.
Just a few minutes into my visit at the Basilica, the beautiful old pipe organ began to ring out with the “Hallelujah” Chorus by George Frideric Handel. The majestic sounds resonated through every square meter of the church and pointed so perfectly to the truth that He indeed is…
King of kings
For ever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah!
And Lord of lords
For ever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah!
King of kings
For ever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah!
A few more majestic songs followed as I made my way up the small spiral staircase, no doubt stopping a few times to catch my breath and move sideways so those coming down could pass. The staircase was more like a one-lane road; when you see someone else coming, you find a little spot to step aside so they can get by. It was quite an amazing experience, especially as it opened at the top to the large dome and an immaculate 360° view of the city. For the rest of the day, I spent time enjoying the sights and sounds, relaxing by the river, savoring local food, and walking the streets.
Next up was church on Sunday. We got up early and found a delicious flaky cinnamon roll-like bread creation for breakfast before jumping on the Metro to head to church. It really is odd using only public transportation to get everywhere and even more odd to take it to church. Golgota Church has a beautiful old theater that it meets in, which is right off one of the main streets, so the public trains take you right next to it.
Personally, the best part about this church is that they have a large English-speaking group, so they translate everything and even occasionally sing in English, though the vast majority of the lyrics are still in Hungarian. Golgota is one of the larger Christian churches in all of Hungary and it was such a joy to worship and learn under the leadership of the church. They have a fantastic full band worship team and the message was on grace, with the main idea that grace is free—it is not cheap. This quote is so good!
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Bonhoeffer
This goes with Paul’s words from Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
I often reflect on the nature of grace, recognizing that grace is truly grace—unchanging and unmerited. Yet, it can be all too easy to diminish grace by seeking forgiveness without genuine repentance or desiring Jesus without embracing His discipline. We tend to want grace to be cheap and effortless. However, the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross was neither cheap nor easy. This serves as a profound reminder that cheap grace, which bypasses true transformation, falls short of the full and life-changing power of the gospel. Embracing grace means embracing the call to repentance, transformation, and a wholehearted commitment to Christ’s way.
Following church, I roamed around the city, saw more sights, spent time with my family, and started preparing for camp! Tomorrow morning we will get up early, pack up, and head south of the city to Szepalma Hotel, where this week’s camp will be hosted. It is located out in the woods and is said to be an “above average” camp. They are renting part of the camp for Youth English Camp, which will have around 50 students and leaders attending. I am excited to share more as I experience the camp this week.
I have just a few days left as I will be flying out Thursday afternoon. This week I plan to really invest into the camp experience and get some good video content so that I can share all about it when I get back. Thanks for your continued prayers and pray for the salvation of the students coming to camp. Most of them are coming to have fun and learn English, but many of them do not know Jesus. Pray that Jesus would be made known in their hearts and live this week!
Day 4
Training Day.
Budapest Summer Camp Team
One of the many strengths of Josiah Venture is their strong focus on preparing short-term teams thoroughly. They ensure team members understand what to expect, how to share their personal testimonies, how to effectively communicate the gospel, and gain insight into Hungarian culture. Summer Camp serves as a vital platform for sharing the gospel of Jesus with the youth of Hungary, and every individual involved plays a crucial role in these evangelism efforts.
This year, eight camps will be held throughout the summer, hosting approximately 400 youth. These camps are sponsored by local youth groups and take place at various venues. While this number might seem modest, it is actually quite significant given the relatively small presence of the Hungarian Christian church.
In Hungary, the Reformed Church, which originated during the Reformation, is the country's official organized and government-funded church. Additionally, a significant portion of the population identifies as Catholic, often due to tradition or birthright. This leaves a smaller segment of the population affiliated with the Hungarian Christian Church, a group of relatively small, mostly denominational churches.
Josiah Venture partners with these smaller churches. In Central Europe, there is no hostility among different church denominations, but because these churches are not government-funded or controlled, they remain relatively small, though steadily growing.
What stands out is that many youth groups attending Summer Camp often bring more students than are part of their own group. This is primarily because they provide Hungarian youth with the unique chance to learn English from native American speakers, a significant appeal especially for those from villages on Hungary’s outskirts. Other camps tailor their focus to sports, music, or other interests that resonate with the youth of the local villages where the church is located.
The short-term team visiting this week comes from Sonora, CA, and they will be teaching English classes at the Summer Camp. English continues to serve as the global trade language, and this holds true in Hungary as well. For those seeking good jobs, university education, or a successful career, proficiency in English is essential. Although English is part of the school curriculum, it is typically not taught by native speakers. This creates a unique opportunity for students at camp to learn directly from Americans, which excites the youth and motivates them to attend. The chance to practice English with native speakers is a major attraction and enriches their learning experience.
English is not the only draw, as there will be a ton of other fun and exciting Summer Camp activities happening. The place we are staying has a pool, which is not common here, and it has a bowling alley, also rare for this area. In addition to these unique amenities, there will be worship music, engaging messages, games, and various activities. To top it all off, there will be a fun camp-themed dance, which I “attempted” to learn during training day.
The training was mostly foundational, but also incredibly practical. The camp team this year consists of five full-time JV staff, three interns, five short-term missionaries from CA, and myself. A big part of the day was bringing the whole team together to learn, but also to connect as a team. Everyone was incredibly friendly and amazing to spend time with. The heart for Jesus and desire to see the gospel flourish in Hungary and beyond is so apparent in everything that we learned.
The training included:
Playing crazy games in the local park and “learning” the theme dance for the week… took me back to youth days!
Understanding the Hungarian culture, history, and values.
Learning to share the whole gospel story.
Sharing our own testimony.
Studying scripture that taught how Jesus interacted with people. This primary reminded me of our own Christ Community values: that Jesus accepts us for who we are, but does not approve of our sin. This approachable truth is foundational to sharing the gospel and interacting as Jesus did.
Prayer, reflection, connection, and food.
All in all, we spent about 10 hours doing training, preparing our hearts and minds for the week on mission in Hungary, and of course enjoying the local cuisine. This included duck leg, blood sausage, an incredible smoked sausage, and fresh potato chips unlike anything I have ever had! We also enjoy a very Italian dessert as Gelato is everywhere in Budapest!
The day was filled with blessing and also quite stretching at times, which will no doubt be a theme for the rest of the week in Hungary. Saturday and Sunday will be reserved for family time, attending church, observing the Sabbath, exploring Budapest, and preparing to depart for camp on Monday morning. I plan to write one overview blog covering the weekend, followed by daily updates throughout the week sharing how camp is progressing. Thank you for your ongoing prayers. Please continue to lift up the team as we all prepare to head to camp, trusting that God will work powerfully in the hearts and minds of the youth in Hungary.
DAY 3
A day in Vienna.
When I first planned my trip, my brother said it would be fun to go to Vienna, but he just couldn’t go with me! So I booked my tickets to go. They live just a few metro stops from the train station, making it a quick trip there, and then about a two and a half hour ride to the heart of Vienna. It took me some time to orient myself, study the metro map, and learn the rhythms of the city, but once I did, getting around on Vienna’s public transportation was really quite easy.
Schönbrunn Palace
First stop was Schönbrunn Palace, chosen because it was a bit out of the way but showcased stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. The main reason for visiting Vienna was to experience its rich history, immerse in the local culture, and understand what makes Austria unique. Europe offers a remarkable opportunity to travel just a few hours and encounter vastly different histories, cultures, and experiences.
Until roughly 1914, Austria-Hungary was a single empire, with Austria ruling over Hungary for several centuries. They share many cultural similarities, such as cuisine, certain architectural styles, and a common religious heritage rooted in the Catholic Church. However, there are also significant differences. Austria did not undergo communist rule under the Soviet Union like Hungary did. While Hungary is still in the process of rebuilding from that era, Austria has largely preserved its historical integrity—an impressive testament to its resilience and continuity.
After Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, I headed to the city center! One thing I did not plan for was that June 19th is a national holiday in Austria called Corpus Cristi. A quick search turned up this info:
What is Corpus Christi and why is it celebrated?
The celebration is associated with the commemoration of Jesus's Last Supper with his Apostles before His crucifixion. Still, the focus of Corpus Christi isn't the passion and death of Jesus Christ, but rather that he is here among us for all time. And Catholic mass is the central element of the feast.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
This made it even more significant that the second place I visited was St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This beautiful and enormous Cathedral in central Vienna, also associated with Mozart, points to the magnificence of God. Though created by human hands, it reminds me of the verses urging us to lift our eyes to the heavens (Isaiah), to the mountains (Psalm), or on high (Daniel). There is no way to enter such a place without lifting our gaze beyond ourselves.
Since it was a religious holiday, the church was filled with people engaging in various rituals—confessions, prayers, and candle lightings. While some may view these acts simply as religious duties, it is important to remember that “church” is not about passive observation. Instead, it calls us to actively participate in the goodness of God, embracing a living faith that moves beyond ritual into meaningful relationship and service.
The remainder of the day was spent strolling through beautiful gardens, savoring cheese-filled bratwurst, marveling at stunning architecture, and hearing a variety of languages around me. I enjoyed local music playing in the park and celebrated each time I could understand someone's conversation. Walking approximately 12 miles, the experience was truly enriching. I look forward to compiling a video of all these amazing sights soon. Meanwhile, I hope you find joy in some of the photos I captured.
Tomorrow will be a full day of training with the short-term mission team from Grace Bible in Sonora, CA, as we prepare for a week of ministry to students in Southern Hungary. I look forward to sharing highlights with you tomorrow!
DAY 2
My first full day in Budapest and it was BEAUTIFUL!
Bread. A new food group.
Today was set aside to explore Budapest and its rich history. While walking the streets, I noticed how important bread is in Hungary’s food culture. This stands out even more here than in other European countries I’ve visited.
I started with a semi-sweet, chocolate-flavored pastry that was comforting. For lunch, I enjoyed a tasty schnitzel at a small local restaurant, with a Hungarian pancake filled with cinnamon sugar and tangy cottage cheese—an excellent mix of flavors.
Dinner included sandwiches with fresh bread, followed by a traditional chimney cake, known as kürtőskalács. The picture shows this famous treat, which was a perfect end to the day’s food adventure.
We began the day by taking my nephew, Maverick, and niece, Laurel, to their preschool. They have adapted well to being full-time missionaries and have learned the language quickly. They have one English-speaking teacher, which helps, but everyone else speaks only Hungarian, making it quite an experience for them.
I went with my brother and sister-in-law to explore the Buda side of the river. We took a short train ride and climbed many stairs to reach the city center. The buildings, history, and renovation work are very impressive. Hungary has been free from Soviet rule since December 1991. In the past 34 years, they’ve been rebuilding after 45 years of hardship under communism. This history has deeply affected the Hungarian people, who have repeatedly faced powerful enemies. Budapest’s story shows both their strength and the pain of Soviet rule.
I talked with my brother today and learned more about how Josiah Venture and other missions in Hungary depend heavily on the strong work ethic of Hungarian people by developing and equipping ministry leaders directly from their own communities. Hungary isn’t a very wealthy country, but it isn’t extremely poor either, placing it somewhere in between. Because most families need two incomes just to make ends meet, churches are often unable to support full-time pastors financially. For example, my brother’s church in Budapest has a part-time youth pastor who balances that role with a full-time job and also cares for a young family. This situation is quite common and clearly highlights why the support and leadership training provided by Josiah Venture is so vital. Some youth pastors are now actively raising financial support so they can work full-time with Josiah Venture and serve their churches more effectively and sustainably. It is definitely hard work, but the rewards are deeply meaningful. Josiah Venture remains firmly rooted in the local church, and God is raising up Hungarians to serve faithfully and expand His Kingdom right there in their homeland. How truly amazing is this!
For a country that is only 36 years out of communist rule, God is certainly on the move in Central Europe, and the local church is helping to raise up a generation of Jesus followers who were made on purpose and are living for a purpose. On Sunday, I am excited to visit a Hungarian church and meet many of the people Brian has been sharing about.
As I have been traveling, I have also been reading through Acts in the yearly Bible plan. Seeing the apostles devote themselves to living on purpose for the mission of God reminds me a lot of what it must be like to be a follower of Jesus in Europe. The church may be small, but it is mighty. The harvest field is ripe, and the hope of the gospel is more relevant than ever.
Please pray for the continued move of God in Hungary and beyond.
Tomorrow, I will embark on a brief journey to Vienna, Austria. The trip involves a 2 1/2 hour train ride, and I am looking forward to visiting Starbucks, exploring some of the world’s most stunning castles, and experiencing the local cuisine. I will share more details about this adventure tomorrow. Thank you for your continued prayers throughout the journey.
Day 1
I arrived safely in Budapest, Hungary!
After a long and tiring day of travel involving several flights, including a late-night journey across the ocean, I hurried through the bustling Amsterdam Airport to catch my final flight to Budapest. Now that I’ve arrived, I’m genuinely excited about the adventures ahead on this trip. To better adjust to the significant time change, I made sure to stay awake throughout the entire flight, managing to stay awake for nearly 34 hours straight. Because of that, I was truly grateful to finally get some restful sleep last night.
The City.
My brother picked me up from the Airport, and we headed over to his place on the “Buda” side of the River. Come to find out, Budapest is made up of Buda and Pest. The Pest side is more of the working class side of things and has a whole lot of the “lego” looking housing developments, these were all built during the communist rule of the Soviet Union. It is quite interesting to see all of the big new modern builds right in the midst of the older housing developments! The “Buda” side is more of the education center. It is central to the largest businesses, the Hungary capital, the social city scene, and the vast majority of the universities in Hungary. My brother has a small apartment on the Buda side of town as this is closest to the Josiah Venture head quarters and to language school.
The First Night.
Since my flight didn’t get in until 7:00pm local time in Hungary, we didn’t have a ton of time to get out and about. However, we did walk to get some Hungarian Pizza… basically wood fired Italian Pizza with Hungarian spices and sausages on it. It was quite delicious. Then we walked downtown and it was absolutely beautiful! This is a quick picture I took of the river that separates Buda and Pest. It has been a ton of fun to connect with my brother, learn about the culture, and experience their lives here as missionaries.
Now in my first full day, I will be exploring the City of Budapest, eating the local fair, and doing some videos of Brian and Aubrey sharing about what a partnership with Josiah venture looks like and what our team will do next year when Lord willing, I am able to lead a team back.
Pre-trip Overview
Christ Community Family,
In one week, I'll arrive in Budapest for a 7-day mission trip, part of a 10-day journey from June 16th-26th. The trip aims to explore a partnership with Josiah Ventures, a mission organization impacting Central and Eastern Europe. I hope to experience JV's mission and develop a lasting partnership for sending annual teams to serve during their camp season.
Why Budapest?
It is estimated that less than 2% of Central & Eastern European youth are Christians. This means that the mission field is HUGE and Josiah Venture is partnering with the local church to raise up leaders from within Europe.
My brother and his wife Aubrey and two kids Mavrick (6) & Laurel (3), are currently serving as full-time missionaries in Hungary. He invited me to come and explore what an ongoing partnership would look like and to experience a Summer Camp with him. The plan would be to return next summer with a team to help lead a camp with JV.
Here is a brief look at their story and you can learn more about them here.
Brian and Aubrey have experienced God’s consistent and patient pulling of their hearts to disciple the youth of Hungary since being married in 2017. Brian spent a year in Hungary in 2013 serving through Operation Mobilization’s baseball ministry, and together they have been able to make a couple of short term trips to Hungary where they both fell more in love with the people and their need for Jesus.
The Kroeker family joined the team in Hungary in the Fall of 2023 as Camps Director (Brian) and administrator (Aubrey). They are excited to serve a youth group as a part of a church in Budapest as they work to learn the language and culture.
The Trip.
I will fly out on June 16th at 4 PM, landing on June 17th at 6 PM local time. I’ll spend the first days exploring Budapest with my brother and taking a day trip to Vienna, which I hear is amazing! In Budapest, I’ll connect with the Josiah Venture team to learn about their mission with youth. On June 21st, we’ll pick up a group from a Central California church for the first summer camp. I look forward to hearing about their fundraising and team travel experiences. On Sunday, we’ll visit a local church and prepare for camp. I’ll attend camp on Monday and Tuesday, which is about 90 minutes south of Budapest. They host between 20 to 100 students based on youth group participation. I’ll return home on Wednesday afternoon, arriving in Sacramento on Thursday, June 26th.
Please join me in prayer.
Pray for my wife Angela and our kids, Ella, Pax, & Addi.
Pray that this trip will help give me clarity on what a partnership with Josiah Venture would look like.
Pray for safety for my travels to, from, and within Budapest.
Pray that I can be an encouragement to my brother, family, and the Josiah Venture staff in Budapest.