Tomor Baptism

 What joy we experienced on Saturday in Tomor as we watched eight people be baptised and almost 40 make decisions to follow Christ!

Zoli Ács, an INSTE graduate preached a salvation message

Zoli Acs, one of our INSTE graduates, has been going frequently to the village of Tomor and surrounding villages speaking to people about Jesus.  Many have made commitments to follow Christ.  Of those, nine make up the INSTE group we are leading in Tomor.  Seeing the results of Zoli's evangelism in this region, Michael Gulyas and the Open Bible leaders decided to conduct a baptismal service in Tomor.  They bought a portable baptismal unit and planned to take it to Tomor and three other Hungarian towns where Open Bible is working, but where there is no convenient place for baptisms.  For Tomor, plans included not only a morning baptismal service, but also a noon meal to be provided and an afternoon evangelistic meeting. 

The plans to go to Tomor met with a lot of resistance the week of the services. Permission to use the community building and grounds was obtained from the police, but the mayor refused to give permission.  Further requests in person, by letter and email were also refused.  Even the advice from a lawyer didn't work.  Of course, many were praying, and Friday noon, permission was finally received.  But on Friday, the weather was very windy, too windy for outside activities and there was no place indoors for the baptism.  Still many were praying and Saturday's weather was perfect.  A youth service was planned for Friday afternoon with about 18 to 20 expected--no one, not a single teenager, came!  But nothing can stop what God wants to do!

About 250 from Tomor and surrounding villages attended

Saturday people arrived from Tomor and the surrounding villages by bus and van and on foot until about 250 were present for the service on the community center lawn.  One teenager and the seven INSTE students who had not been previously baptised, were baptised in front of the crowd.  It took a lot of courage for these eight, since the audience consisted of their friends, neighbors and relatives, only a few of whom were believers.

The 8 candidates for baptism

A lunch of paprika potato soup and bread was served to everyone present.  Then in the afternoon, Zoli Acs preached a simple, yet powerful message from John 3:16.  About 40 people came to the front to pray for salvation!  Included were relatives of those baptised earlier.  Praise God!

About 40 responded to the invitation for salvation

 

Two of our INSTE students, Dezső and Annamaria Budai (on the right), praying for family members who just gave their hearts to the Lord.

Please pray for the people in Tomor and the surrounding villages, that the new believers will grow in Christ and that a new church or churches will be established soon.