Magyar Református Egyház

Archive for the ‘Ministry’ Category

December 13, 2009

Dear Friends of Hungarian Missions!

Several people have recently asked me how I came to answer God’s call to this particular Mission and I would like to share my answer with all of you. I am a Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician and Medical Director of a Clinical Pharmacology Center in the USA. After recently turning 40 years
old, I realized God was calling me to use the talents He gave me in a more expanded way – as a Medical Missionary someplace on our planet where the need is great. For guidance I spoke with my Mother, the Rev. Ilona Molnar Komjathy, who suggested that I speak with the Rev. Dr. Edwin Elliott and Beth Lantiga. These two individuals graciously made arrangements for my missionary work in the Ukraine. After the arrangements were in place and before I left for the city of Beregszasz in the Ukraine, I was officially commissioned to serve as a Medical Missionary by the First Hungarian
Reformed Church of Pittsburgh as well as the Bethlen Communities of Ligonier, Pa.

After my first two days in Beregszasz I knew I could not leave until I did all that I could to correct the health care conditions there – which currently are similar to the way things were in the USA 50 years ago.

Simple medical items that we doctors take for granted when treating patients in the USA are completely lacking in the Ukraine. Many easily treatable medical conditions go untreated in Beregszasz for lack of medicines, equipment and funding. My Reformed faith has taught me that all good things
come from God and that we as human beings are simply stewards of His gifts. God intends for us to use His gifts for His purpose. As a result, I felt moved to use my own funds to purchase basic supplies for the Clinic there – items such as stethoscopes, medications, catheters, IV tubing, X-ray film,
computers, as well as basic equipment such as a portable Ultrasound and portable ECG Machines. Additionally, I felt moved to use my own funds to complete a new Pediatric Clinic, a much-needed facility that is now a wonderful and well-used success.

At this point, my prayers are that God has moved others – individuals such as yourselves – to participate in the work of the Medical Mission in the Ukraine. The Mission desperately needs a CT Scanner. My prayers are that those who read this will hear God’s call to donate what they can, as any
amount large or small makes a big difference. Please support the Medical Mission in the Ukraine! With your help we can purchase a used (to keep the cost down) CT Scanner so that we can be even more effective in treating disease and saving lives in Beregszasz. Donations may be made by PayPal
through my website www.KomjathyNutriceuticals.com. Please go to the Help Us page. (And as a small incentive, if you donate $200 or $2000 US dollars you will receive an
antique golf ball from my collection.)

Or you may also send a check to the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh to the address above. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. May God bless you for your kindness and generosity as you answer His call to help those in need!

Wishing you His peace and blessings – aldas, bekesseg,
Istvan F. Komjathy MD

Here is the 12/28 Update for downloadKomjathy Mission Update 12-28-09

They leave their homelands and come to Hungary fleeing war, famine, poverty and political and religious persecution. Refugees from more than 50 countries choose Hungary because it is easier to get a visa there than in other European countries.

But the situation they encounter upon arrival is not easy.

Learning the new language is difficult. Finding work is nearly impossible — they are the last hired and the first fired. And in the last decade their adopted country has gone from being the strongest Central European economy to the wPSeakest…

Read the article at PCUSA.org

Dear Friends of Hungarian Missions

I have returned to Beregszasz after a week in the USA.

I spent the week in USA in Kansas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and New York city.

My goal was provide information to various groups and people so that they can be informed of the plight of the people of this part of the world and to help us in obtaining funds for a CT Scanner.

I also went back to the states to collect a modern lightweight Digital ECG machine, brand new lightweight Digital portable Ultrasound Machine, stethoscopes, medicines, computers, software and rearrange some finances.

The Ultrasound and ECG will arrive in Beregszasz on Wednesday as a friend of my in Hungary wanted to use it in his clinic in Debrecen.

Dr Komjathy gave presentations on his Medical Mission Work to:
- Hungarian Reformed Church, Calvin Synod, Classes meeting at Bethelen Home in Ligonier, PA
- Group of Haitian Church Members in Brooklyn, NY
-various airport first class lounges at JFK, Budapest, Amsterdam, Brussels
- Group of golfing University of North Carolina Pharmacists in Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Hospitalist(and Medical School best friend, Dr Dennis Garver) in Cary, North Carolina
- Hansitree Country Club staff and members in Wake Forest, NC

Aldas Bekesseg,

Steve K

From: dkomjathy@aol.com kOMJATHY MEDICAL MISSION

Update as of 11 September 2009:

- Construction underway on 11 September on New Pediatrict Clinic
- Dr Komjathy distributed $10 000 USD worth of IV catheters and IV infusion supplies to the following Departments : Cardiology, Surgery, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine
- Statins and diuretics (furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide given to department of Cardiology
- Finalize Purchase of modern state of the art portable Digital 12 lead ECG machine and lite weight (7lbs) portable Ultrasound machine that is able to do Cardiac Echography, Abdominal, Vascular, Carotid, Gynecological, Urological, most modern portable available!
- Dr Komjathy on visit to Budapest, Hungary is asked to Consult on very difficult case of chronic pain, a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is made, likely the First Document case of Fibromyalgia in Western Hungary or possibly Hungary.
- The female Hungarian Reformed woman was deeply greatfull and has already had some improvement in well being and a reduction in pain after following Plan of Action that Dr Komjathy provided to her as agreed upon by her Hungarian Physicians

Dr. Istvan Komjathy is a medical missionary for a clinic/hospital in Beregova, Munkacs, Ungvar, Ukraine. Dr. Komjathy has requested that his sponsoring church raise funds to purchase a General Electric CT Scanner to further equip the medical facility for which he has already purchased a twelve-lead ECG machine and an ultrasound machine.

Contributions can be sent to:

1st Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh, 221 Johnston Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15207;

Donors are requested to write “CT scanner for Beregszasz” on the memo line of the check.

- Dr. Istvan Komjathy, 38-09-34-38-40-70

– Calvin Synod, C/O Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop, 7319 Tapper Avenue, Hammond, Indiana 46324, 219-931-4321, kkludwig@aol.com

Before images of the Pediatric Clinic Dr. Steven (Istvan) Komjathy is working to rehabilitate as part of his medical mission through the Hungarian Reformed Church.

From Dr. Istvan Komjathy, Medical Missionary to the Ukraine from the Calvin Synod:

Dear All

I have decided to continue my medical Missionary work in the Ukraine.

We have made some progress in the last two weeks:

- I have been able to purchase a 12 lead ECG machine and Ultrasound for the clinic/hospital and I will be returning to the USA to collect them in September

- We have given away lots of medications and glucose meters that were paid for by the 1st Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh and by raffling off my Pra International golf bag.

- we have developed good relationships with local physicians and academic physicians in Beregova, Munkacs, Ungvar.

- we plan on starting some clinical studies here to help assist people with Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes(all very prevalent diseases and under treated)

So I am asking you to donate what you can to the 1st Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh to help us in securing a single slice GE CT scanner for the Beregova(Beregszasz).

Please send all checks to:

1st Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh
221 Johnston Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15207

Please put in the Memo of the check for “CT scanner for Beregszasz”

Thanks for all your help

DISTRICT CONFERENCE of PRESBYTERS and CHURCH WORKERS Hungarian Reformed Church
1691 E. 31st Street, Lorain, OH.

NOON – 5 PM. The Conference is FREE! It begins w/lunch (nominal cost of $7.00) followed by worship – then the Conference. Speaker Rev. Imre Bertalan will focus on: membership, retention, visitation, church growth, the role of consistory and congregation members and church youth. Don’t miss it!

CALL John Evanko with questions: 440-364-3410.

Everyone is welcome!

Reformed Ordination Vows have been uploaded to their own page under the heading of “Liturgy”

All,
This came via a trusted source and has an affect on the Hungarian reformed churches in the Ukraine and Bishop Horkay so sending it along… Rev. Dr. Chuck Baynard

Begin message:

I am writing to you because in the past you have given your time, your prayers, and your financial support to help rebuild a community of faith in Hungarian areas once dominated by the former Soviet Union.

After the change in 1989, Reformed church leaders in western Ukraine, sub-Carpathia, looked into the faces of their children, and in those fresh, young faces they saw hope for the future. They envisioned a rebirth of Christian education.

The dramatic political changes caught the attention of the world, and offers of help poured into Reformed communities into sub-Carpathia. Well aware that it would be decades before the region could fully sustain its own school system, the church decided to invest the gifts in their children, in Christian education, a truly long-term vision.

With deep faith and generous support from the West, the first Reformed high school opened its doors in 1993. This boarding school in the village of Nagybereg modeled a life shaped by faith and nurtured
academic excellence.

Since then, three more schools have opened based on the Nagybereg model, and more than 1200 students have graduated. Nearly all of the graduates have attended universities and are taking their place as Christian professionals and parents.

With financial support and encouragement from the West, the four schools have been able to keep operating, but always on a shoestring. Last year, Ukraine’s fragile economy went into a tailspin and massive increases in utility costs, inflated the cost of education by half.

_ _

The global economic crisis has delivered a crushing blow. The fragile shoestring is holding together but only by a thread.

When the Wall Street tidal wave hit the world, it swept away more than half of the support needed to sustain the schools. Late in 2008, almost overnight, the school leadership learned that support from Hungarian churches and foundations was about to end.

On the heels of that bad news, the Ukrainian government announced that it would end its financial support for the schools. Support from the Netherlands is now in jeopardy, and the only pledge left standing is from a church in Michigan. This gift, along with “bread fees” from the parents, is the only sure thing at this time.

To create a breathing space for the school administrators, the schools need immediate help to cover operating expenses. They are facing a shortfall of more than 50% for this school year. Searching for ways to
cut their expenses, the teachers have taken a 30% salary reduction beginning January 1 of this year. Though they face empty pay envelopes by the end of February, these dedicated servants have pledged to work through the end of the school year.

Will you help?

Though the need is daunting, the purpose is truly worthy. The rebirth of hope in East Central Europe depends on a fresh cadre of young Christian leaders. Help us keep this powerful vision alive!

Here are some ways you can help:

* $150 will cover one month’s electricity bill for one school.

* $665 will pay one school’s heating bill a cold month.

* $1500 covers the cost of one student’s fees for one year.

* $6,250 will cover one school’s teacher salaries for one month..

Any gift you give will be appreciated and will be forwarded in its entirety to the schools.

If you have any questions please contact me by telephone: 616.456.9719 or by email: rblant@iserv.net. I would be happy to provide more detailed information.

Checks can be made out to Ars Longa North America noting that it is the schools in the Ukraine, and donations can be sent to:

Ars Longa North America

c/o Beth Lantinga, Director

416 Paris Avenue SE

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Please keep the students, the teachers, and the administrators in your prayers.

Sincerely,

Beth Lantinga, Director

Ars Longa North America