{"id":964,"date":"2014-11-13T09:07:54","date_gmt":"2014-11-13T09:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/2014\/11\/13\/connect-to-escape-in-hungary\/"},"modified":"2014-11-13T09:07:54","modified_gmt":"2014-11-13T09:07:54","slug":"connect-to-escape-in-hungary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/connect-to-escape-in-hungary\/","title":{"rendered":"“Connect to Escape” in Hungary"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>27 October 2014 |\u00a0Budapest, Hungary [Christa Zarka, ted<\/em>NEWS] <\/span>Almost 13,000 viewers watched the programme \u201cConnect to Escape\u201d on LCTV (www.lctv.today) during the first two weekends in October 2014. The main presenter was Dr Miroslav Puji\u0107 who discussed different social issues and possible solutions found in the ancient book, The Holy Bible.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The programme was enriched with musical items, quizzes, health tips and life stories. All the viewers had the possibility to participate through the chat room available on the website. The topics presented were: trust, life purpose, corruption, forgiveness, love and hope for the future, showing God\u2019s ideal for our lives. Dr Puji\u0107 started by looking at the popular thought of today and then turned the attention to God\u2019s supreme power and goodness, which enable us to make wise choices if we turn to Him. Each time his startling illustrations drove home different lessons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Despite being in an age and part of the world where the word \u201cchurch\u201d might evoke negative sentiments, uneasiness or at least feelings of irrelevance in many people, we experienced that visitors and members were happy to gather in the church hall in downtown Budapest. There was excitement, deep interest, attentive silence and thoughtful discussion, and the almost two-hour long programme went by unbelievably quickly. After the programmes participants stayed longer, not wanting to leave. Each night about 80 people sat around the tables representing all ages from university students to pensioners. They were joined by 12,664 Internet viewers who followed the programmes and contributed with their comments via chat services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an excellent initiative and a highlight of our mission efforts,\u201d said Peter Zarka, Pastor of Central Church. \u201cIt was a historic moment for our local church and also for our Union (Hungarian Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church). We have experienced a new, positive way of evangelism which works. People struggle with many issues; they are lonely and long for a place where they can belong to. Using this method, we are able to connect with the people of today with relevant life issues and timely messages from the Bible.\u201d Pastor Zarka continued to say that, \u201cwhile we discussed important questions, interest and enthusiasm were both evident and we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. Our guests and members were open. I heard words of appreciation over and over again. My conviction is that our Union, Conference, and church followed God\u2019s leading implementing this initiative. There was exceptional co-operation within the team, speakers, local church members and our guests. We have worked very hard, and are thankful for God\u2019s blessings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are a few comments from the viewers:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThis programme is extremely, maybe even surprisingly, professional. It\u2019s a privilege I could take part in it\u201d \u2013 said a church member from another city. Sharing the same enthusiasm, another participant explained: \u201cI will miss the high standard of these meetings, and the spiritual, friendly atmosphere. I am so glad I could be a part of \u2018Connect to Escape\u2019. I will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

One young man commented, \u201cColourful, informative, interesting. I did not know what to expect, but now I see I can find wisdom in the Bible.\u201d<\/p>\n

A man who earlier could not find purpose in life said enthusiastically, \u201cThe approach of Dr Puji\u0107 is fresh and thought provoking. Now I see that in the Bible God gives wisdom for a better life. I needed to hear just these words, I am sure God brought me here. Thank you for this programme!\u201d<\/p>\n

A young lawyer commented on the implications of the used illustrations, \u201cI loved the illustrations, such as the shirt, which showed how corruption can be hidden, or the two plants pointing to the consequences of our own decisions. I will never forget these.\u201d<\/p>\n

A student who attended all the programmes, expressed his sadness that the programmes had ended, saying, \u201cI wish it would continue next week! I\u2019d be glad to come back any time.\u201d Another commented, \u201cThis is a positive church experience. I want to come back. I met new friends here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A very positive approach to life, which was strongly emphasised by Dr Puji\u0107, made a great impression on one young lady, \u201cPeople are terrified of the end of the world, of a disaster, but tonight I heard that God is going to recreate the world, and He will keep his promise. Now I do not fear, rather I feel energised. This positive approach has touched me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Vikt\u00f3ria T\u00f6r\u0151csik M\u00e9sz\u00f6ly, LIFEconnect Community Developer in Hungary, along with the media crew and members of Central Church have worked very hard and with enthusiasm. Our common understanding is that \u201cConnect to Escape\u201d is not a one-time programme, this was just the beginning. We will continue!<\/p>\n

For more information, please visit www.lifeconnect.info<\/a> and www.lctv.today<\/a>. [ted<\/em>NEWS]<\/p>\n

\n

ted<\/em>NEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: tednews@ted-adventist.org
Website: www.ted-adventist.org<\/p>\n

ted<\/em>NEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division.
You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify ted<\/em>NEWS whenever you publish these materials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/a>27 October 2014 |\u00a0Budapest, Hungary [Christa Zarka, ted<\/em>NEWS] <\/span>Almost 13,000 viewers watched the programme \u201cConnect to Escape\u201d on LCTV (www.lctv.today) during the first two weekends in October 2014. The main presenter was Dr Miroslav Puji\u0107 who discussed different social issues and possible solutions found in the ancient book, The Holy Bible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1586,7,1577],"tags":[185],"class_list":["post-964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hungary","category-news","category-organisational-updates","tag-hungary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/964\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}