Sunday, May 6, 2012

I love Szeged

today I started teaching the book of Nehemiah. A lot of the book is really Nehemiah's journal (blog) as he recounts how God moves him to do the work of rebuilding the walls of the city of Jerusalem. 


what led me to teach the book of Nehemiah is seeing that God has a heart for cities as the story of the Bible moves from a garden (Eden) to a city (New Jerusalem). As I read the book of Acts, it's clear that Paul "targeted" cities as culture, commerce, information and education flow from them.  Szeged is such a city. Known for it's University, culture (open-air theater, many festivals) and it's the regional center for commerce and health care.


what is staggering about Szeged is that even though it's a city of 170,000 people (Hungary's 3rd largest city & this doesn't include the 25-30,000 students) that my research has led me to the fact that less than 2.5% of the population of the city are evangelical, Bible believing, Jesus loving, born-again Christians.


so I've challenged the church to join with me by praying that God would, by the Holy Spirit, give us the heart of Jesus for Szeged because as Charles Spurgeon said, "winners of souls must first be weepers of souls". For those that might read this, would you please join us as we pray for our city? Whatever God is going to do here needs a foundation of prayer.


I LOVE SZEGED & I want to see many come to know Jesus here.