The family requested James to speak at the funeral service. Though not a pastor, James agreed. \u201cI confess that I was a little nervous because I had never ever spoken at a funeral gathering. Besides, what could I possibly say at a good friend\u2019s funeral who said he did not believe in anything. I accepted the invitation, but I had no idea what I was going to say.\u201d<\/p>\n James depended on prayer and the Holy spirit. Following the service, many of Imre\u2019s distant relatives, as well as colleagues at the large Estate Agents where he worked, asked who was this \u2018Reverend Father\u2019 who spoke so nicely.<\/p>\n That was some time ago and a witness in itself. However, James was very surprised to get a phone call this last week from someone who was at the funeral. The stranger invited him to dinner and then to go and see a film.<\/p>\n \u201cLet’s go see that movie which is promoted in the small booklet you left at the bank and with Aron\u2019s real estate office,\u201d he said. Stunned, but grateful, James accepted the invitation. He discovered that 25 people would be at the dinner; people from the bank and from the Estate Agent\u2019s organisation where Imre had been president. All of them had been present at the funeral and wanted to meet James as, they said, \u201cyou were a great influence on each one of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The surprise was not finished. Although there were only 25 in the group, they told him they had bought 75 tickets to go and see Hacksaw Ridge, the remarkable and courageous life story of WWII Conscientious Objector, Desmond Doss.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy 75 tickets?\u201d he asked. \u201cOh, because it is written in the booklet, that you gave me, that the Adventist soldier rescued 75 people. In his honour we have bought 75 tickets. The estate agent paid for all of them. Unprecedented Adventist witness on National TV<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a great experience,\u201d Csizmadia said afterwards. \u201cThe reporter said \u2018Adventist\u2019 at least 4 times in a media that is very cautious to promote faith, especially that of a \u2018minor church\u2019.\u201d He added, \u201cI got to even mention the Sabbath in a positive and non-intrusive way. I believe God was there!\u201d<\/p>\n Two other Hungarian pastors will have opinion pieces published in two different national newspapers this weekend. The editors were so impressed by the movie that they were very open to the Adventist pastors writing specifically about their faith and the faith of Desmond Doss.<\/p>\n FOCUS on the UK<\/strong><\/p>\n Newbold college and church members have committed to sharing their faith outside both of their local cinemas for the opening weekend. They will be joined by youth from other local churches, keen to talk with people about their experience watching the film and how it may have impacted their faith.<\/p>\n Adam Ramdin, Youth director of the North England Conference has called it \u201cThe biggest witnessing Opportunity\u201d and has even set-up a Facebook page giving tips and examples of how people can witness in relation to the film.<\/p>\n Following the example of youth in Poland, their counterparts in the UK will be encouraged to change their cover picture on Facebook to one highlighting the Faith of Desmond Doss. Cover pictures will be released on Facebook and promoted to coincide with the release of the film. Two covers are already available via the National website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Desmond Doss may have died a decade ago, but his story and his faith are still making a difference across Europe and across the world today.<\/p>\n SEE ALSO: Hacksaw Ridge opens unprecedented witnessing opportunities in Central Europe.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/images_news-2017_CentralCshurch-Budapest.jpg\")
<\/a>James Bondar, an elder in the Budapest Seventh-day Adventist church recently had an encounter with a close family friend. Imre was not in the least religious, but a deep conversation at a garden party concluded with him stating, \u201cI do not believe in any religion, but if somehow, for any reason, I would ever belong to any church, it definitely would be the Adventists.\u201d He then asked for prayer. James did not know it, but that first prayer with Imre was also his last. One week later Imre collapsed in his bathroom and died.<\/p>\n
Combining James\u2019 Total Member Involvement with a high profile film that highlights positive Adventist values, has made a difference for those 25 friends of Imre and the 50 other individuals who will learn something of faith, even in the midst of the blood and horror that makes up war.<\/p>\n<\/a>James\u2019 witness is not alone. Hungarian Union Executive Secretary, R\u00f3bert Csaba Csizmadia, swapped the pulpit for a TV studio on Sabbath, 7 January. Just one week after Hacksaw Ridge was released in Hungary he was invited to appear, live, on National Television to an estimated audience of 300,000 people. During the interview he was able to share the faith of Doss, including talking about the Adventist Church and the Sabbath.<\/p>\n<\/a>Now the spotlight is turning towards the UK as one of the last European countries to release the film. The Adventist Publishing House, Stanborough Press, has already had to reprint their special edition of FOCUS magazine<\/a> three times with the current print run standing at 50,000. They are standing by to print more, if needed, as the film hits the cinemas on 26 January and members recognise the potential witness. Networking across the TED and beyond also means various language editions of FOCUS have appeared from Norway in the north-east of Europe to Portugal in the south-west.<\/p>\n<\/a>The British Union Youth Magazine, Encounter<\/a>, being published the same weekend as the film release, has a two-page spread not only focused on Hacksaw Ridge, but on brave WWI British Adventists who ended up in prison rather than go against their moral and spiritual principles. [See \u2018A Matter of Conscience\u2019<\/a> on the UK Adventist website.] Richard Daly, BUC Communication director has also had a string of interviews on BBC local radio and has published a dedicated page for the public to visit on the National Church website<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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