Dear Visitor!Here you can read our summer Menedék News Letter in English, in pdf format.It contains news from the areas of the Menedék ministry. Enjoy your read!
"The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in Him"
Nahum 1:7
There is a solution, The Refuge For abandoned children, for lonely teenagers, for people who want to be free from drug and alcohol problems and immoral lifestyle
An opportunity to serve for Christians who long for fellowship and eager to learn and to serve
Who are we?
We are born again Christians, disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that all antisocial behaviour, self-devastational lifestyles, and emational problems are not simply diseases but the consequences of sin
Jesus Christ, the Son of God gives freedom and healing to everyone who wants it and accepts it by faith. He came to us to take away our sins.
Most people suffer from the lack of love. God is love and in Him the solution can be found
The Menedék Alapitvány (The Refuge Foundation) is an interdenominational ministry.
Looking back on the beginnings
The ministry began in 1978, when a few members of Budafok Baptist Church decided to reach out to the homless at Kosztolányi Square to have personal contacts with these needy people.
In September 1984 we opened the Tea Club for lonely and addicted people who long to get healed. Private donations cover the running costs.
In 1985 we had to legally organize the work so we joint Lares Humanservice Allience. Since December 1986 we work as a foundation. Our organization received the independent legal status on January 8th 1988.
We trust God to supply our needs through gifts and donations of individuals, churches, public and private grants. We also receive significant financial support from the government for the operation of the foundation, through benifits based on national social welfare policies.
We offer the following services
In Budapest we operate a Men's Shelter, a Women's Shelter a Mother's Home and a Family Helping Office. In Bodrog there is a community of foster-parents, a kindergarten, a primary school and a music school. In Kiskunmajsa we run "The Shelter Town" (Menedékváros). In Beregsurány we serve among the poor and the needy. The ministry there is in charge of ten nearby villages in the area. We train foster-parents and counsellors.
We give help and offer a way of solution for those who want to have a change in their lives.(We are convinced that each person is responsipble for his own life. One shouldn't blame others for his/her circumstances.) We belive that only a new thinking through faith and a reconciled heart in Christ can bring real change in one's life. Our aim is to achieve that change.
Our main contacts individuals, Christian churches, personal relationships, supporters, agencies of public welfare and administration, local governments, other Hungarian and foreign foundations
Our co-workers
- voluntary helpers
- our staff, whose salaries are partly provided by the financial contribution of our supporters
- volunteers for a one-year service
Budapest
The local director is Zoltán Kovács
Tea club Isten Háza 1221 Budapest Péter Pál utca 17.
Our purpose is to reach out and to help among the lonely and the troubled young people. The meetings are open and informal. There are several programs after which we serve a cup of tea and bread. During the conversations we talk about personal, financial, and spiritual needs (eg. home, work, clothing, family relationships). We get to know their real problems and needs, so we can seek the solution together through the guidence of God's word.
„Helping Hand” Office 1221 Budapest, Leányka utca 34. III/.21.
We handle the administrative affaires of the foundation in this office.
Men’s shelter 1221 Budapest, Péter Pál utca. 21
Mother’s home 1221 Budapest, Szent. Gellért utca. 9
In all three institutions our aim is more than just giving a shelter to the homless. We want to motivate them to get relief from their destructive habits. Help giving is based on the truths of the Bible, discipline hard work, patience, and fellowship. We can only deal with those who want to have a change and start a new life. The concept of our theory and method is to give them a constant example of a contented, biblical lifestyle as seen in the lives of our counsellors in all area of life.
Cephas
Christian Information Service and Shop
1081 Budapest, Ferenciek Square, in the subway
Bodrog
The local director is Dezső Madarász
Protected home 7439 Bodrog, Kossuth utca. 155.
We bought the ruined Nádasdy mansion in 1985. At present there are six families ministering to children in foster care who are either from state institutions or from troubled homes. The children are raised up in loving homes, in a pleasant environment and in fellowship with one another. Single co-workers also help in this endeavour. The renovation of the mansion took place between 1985 and 1991. Children living in "The Protected Home" have been involved in the production of three music cassettes/CDs for kids.
Kindergarten – primari school – music school
The first established Christian kindergarten of the country has been operating here since 1989, after the fall of communism. Appr. 25 children (from The Protected Home and from the neighbourhood) attend the kindergarten.
"The Beginning Of Wisdom" primary school (1-4 grades, with 16 kids) was opened in September 1994, it has a Christian world view. Two years later the school expanded till the sixth grade. At present we have 58 students who come from Bodrog and from the neighbourhood.
Since 1995 our music school works. We teach 5 different instruments. We have more than 80 students at present.
Kiskunmajsa
Shelter town (Menedékváros) The local director is Zoltán Kovács
6120 Kiskunmajsa, Marispuszta 253/A
The so called "Shelter Town" is built in Kiskunmajsa, with 60 appartments on the 61 hectar property of the previous Russian army barracks. The shelter accepts and enables homeless people to take responsibility and begin to live independently. Most of the members used to be under the authority of state care, where responsibility and independence are not encouraged.
Our purposes Help and develop these people
- to find proper and meaningful purpose in life
- to get used to continuous work responsibilities
- to manage their own lives
- to use their social skills in a community/fellowship
- to enable them to make wise financial decisions
Since 1997 when we began with 34 members, 4 counsellors and 2 families in a semi-closed community, we have created a community with a continuously growing membership. We have started a two years long resident program where they can learn trades related to building renovation. (This program is supported by grants from Phare). In the first phase we plan to have 200 residents in "The Shelter Town".
For further information contact the Helping Hand Office
Address: 1221 Budapest, Leányka utca 34.
Tel: +36-1-229-3542
e-mail:iroda@menedekalapitvany.hu
