As I was getting my gear together this morning to catch the 0745 from Szeged to Budapest my friend Gabor congratulated me on my work anniversary. Seems he noted it on LinkedIn.
Once on the train I began to reflect on the idea that it’s appropriate that Gabor made that early congratulation since he was the first Hungarian I ever met when I first arrived in 1997. Back then I had come to Hungary to check on a student exchange program between Deak Ferenc Gimnazium in Szeged and The Covenant School in Charlottesville (which I served as Chaplain and ‘everything else that neither Copeland nor Collmus wanted to do’).
That visit to Szeged and Budapest in March of 1997 would be the seed God would use to behind the vision for the founding of CEO 3 years later in April of 2000.
Then, in late 2008, the idea to leave the security and safety of the paycheck from the school began to grow. Months later, and 6 years ago today, I walked out of Covenant after leading a prayer in a closing ceremony for the last time as an employee. Later that day I got on a plane to Hungary with a team for a short term trip.
Teams are now part of CEO’s history but my travels continue. I’m writing this post from a train, just finished a coffee and am getting picked up by a couple of pastors who I will ask some questions on a quick retreat.
I’m thankful to God. For I know that the development of our network of partners has been His hand at work.
So, yes, it is very appropriate that this anniversary fall on my first full day in Hungary after 4 weeks of travel to D. R. Congo, South Africa, Croatia, Palestine, Israel, Serbia and Bosnia i Hertzigovina.
It’s also timely that during an impromptu meeting ‘as I’m going’ with a ‘fellow disciple’ that he encouraged me that ministry progress (that I didn’t even know about) was fruit of our disciple making conversations. God is great! Thanks be to God!
See, it’s God’s deal, it’s God’s fruit. Our job, according to Jesus, is to make disciples as we go.
As you travel behind Jesus, point people to Him and learn from Him together.
kingdom travelin' 