Entrust in Hungary
An Overview
The work of Entrust (then known as BEEI, Biblical Education by Extension International) in Hungary began in the fall of 1984 when a staff member traveled to Budapest from Vienna, Austria to start a new group of pastors on the Galatians and Romans course. That year, eight groups of pastors and two groups of lay leaders were started.
For the past 25 years, the heart of the ministry has been the equipping of pastors and lay leaders through groups that have met in the places where they serve. After the significant changes due to the fall of communism in 1989, Entrust was in a position to greatly expand its work in Hungary. Several staff members and couples moved into the country, and groups for both men and women were launched.
In the early 1990's, the first official pastors conference was held for the entire Baptist denomination on the subject of small groups. Nearly all the Baptist pastors, seminary students and denominational leaders took part. In 1992, Entrust hosted R. C. Sproul for another conference, primarily for Reformed pastors. For the past 10 years, Entrust has organized summer family conferences for pastors.
Gabor and Anikó Köves were heavily involved with Entrust, translating and teaching, from the early 1980s. Anikó has continued to be active, both in Hungary and in Romania, after Gabor's death in October 2005.
In the mid 90s, the Baptist Church of Hungary opened a new missions school. All four of the Entrust staff at the time began teaching there—in Hungarian.
After smuggling in a handful of books in the 80s, a publishing ministry was developed in Hungary starting in 1990 under the name KIA. In addition to the curriculum textbooks, resources for pastors and for the general Christian public were published. Now, KIA is one of the largest non-denominational publishing houses in Hungary, with five to ten new titles produced each year. In addition, an annual book fair for more than 40 displayers is organized each December.