More Pics
Preaching
Photo with a few students
Tony Twist, the Director
Some Emperor’s Summer Palace…… Just one of them..
Budapest
Even though I’m tired, sick and misspoke a couple of times, I still hope you will watch this video post from Budapest and listen to my heart.
Budapest2009 from Call On Jesus on Vimeo.
On my way to Vienna
The Great Synagogue
Seats over 3000
Cemetery.. See Arches
Same arches in the background
I will write more later… But I am on my way to Vienna, and I stopped by Budapest, Hungary for a couple of days on the way. I wanted to share a couple of things. Please think and pray about these thoughts. First, Hungary is a small example of all of Europe. Ten million people live in Hungary, and 2 million people live in Budapest. As you walk up and down the streets of this city, you realize there are NO Christian churches, and literally, millions of people live in this country withOUT knowing that Jesus Christ is Lord. It’s difficult for me to imagine how so many folks can live day to day without any real hope. Yes, they have some formal churches, but as far as a church that is patterned after the ACTS 2 church, you are NOT going to find one here. When and how will God raise up a leader to come to this country to help evangelize to the lost? I want YOU, yes YOU, whoever you are, to seriously consider coming to this part of the world and building a great New Testament church. I know you probably have a million excuses, but why not visit and see for yourself, and begin asking God if it’s possible. Ask HIM if he would provide for you a way to come to this country and give your life to a great cause.
Secondly, I want to post some pictures. I never know the order of pictures posted so I will write here and you can try to locate which picture I am talking about.
First, there is a Jewish Synagogue that I visited today. It is the largest Jewish Synagogue in all of Europe. It was built between 1854-59 and seats over 3,000 people. Outside the church, you will see a Jewish cemetery. Notice the arches on the side of the cemetery. That is a wall outside the Synagogue. The wall was a walkway between the cemetery and the Synagogue. You will see a picture taken during the time period where Hitler was trying to rid the world of Jews. Look for the arches. They are the same arches outside the Synagogue/Cemetery.
Some 600,000 Jews from Hungary were killed by the Nazi Regime. (Before I return to the U.S.A., I plan on visiting some of the Death Camps, where millions were killed. Remember how violated we felt during 9-11, when 3,000 Americans were killed in New York City? We are talking 600,000 Jews from this country alone that were brutally destroyed by Adolf Hitler. It is a SHAME that the world did NOT move faster to help divert this tragedy. One picture is a MAP… and down in the LOWER right hand corner is where this FAMOUS synagogue stands. This map is an area that was turned into a GHETTO, where literally tens of thousands of Jews were sent to the Death Camps. Some 70,000 Jews were enslaved inside this Ghetto.
ONE MORE PICTURE is of group of Hungarian Mafia members standing among hundreds of slain Jews. There is a plain wall behind them. It is the outside wall of a hospital. These Mafia men who are standing in front of this wall went into the hospital and murdered everyone INSIDE the hospital. They went inside and killed all of the Jewish doctors, nurses, and patients. Anyone who was Jewish was killed. Then, the men proudly stood in front of the dead for a trophy picture. After the war was over, this VERY picture was used to track down and hold accountable the ones who had executed these murders.
My heart stirs for the Jewish people who died at the hands of EVIL MEN. I wish someone had saved them… I wish this tragedy had NEVER happened… But the world stood in denial and watched as millions were killed. Yes, the United States of America stepped in to help end the war, but many wish and wonder why we didn’t involve ourselves sooner. THESE TRAGEDIES took place as recently as the 1940’s. THAT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO.
And here we are in the year 2009, and there are now 10 million people living in this country and they are all dying without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. And here we are, the church of Jesus Christ, standing on the sidelines and just thinking that someone else will get around to it. Brothers and Sisters……. May God burden YOUR HEART to do something about this. Millions are dying…. We have the solution…. Who will go? Who will commit? Who will be burdened to help save those who are dying….
Part 2
Map. Jewish Ghetto. Synagogue in lower right hand corner.
Hungarian Mafia outside hospital
A Bit of News and Info
There is so much going on right now, and I really don’t know where to begin. Of course, there’s the Lakers, who I believe are going to beat the Magic and bring another Championship to Los Angeles. I am going to miss watching the rest of the games because I’m about to leave for a trip overseas. But before I leave, I wanted to write and let you know a little bit about what’s going on in my small world.
First, all three of my children are out of school for the summer and are thankful to be away from studying for a while. Kayla is thinking about going on to medical school. Dallas continues to work and find a place to attend school next year. Kerri is excited about being in the 8th grade next year. I pray all of my children find their place in ministry and will use their gifts and talents to honor God.
Shepherd continues to grow, and we are constantly trying to help those who are struggling. The economy is affecting so many folks and it’s almost impossible to deal with the sheer number of people who are truly hurting. Please pray that God will continue to provide in every way.
I know this will seem vague, but I was in a meeting today that will greatly effect the future of our church, and it was so exciting to see how God was opening doors that many thought were impossible to open. I hope in a few weeks that I will be able to share this good news with you.
One of my burdens is for all of our satellite campuses. We are so strong in the number of people who attend our Porter Ranch campus and I want to see the Lancaster, Agua Dulce, Fremont, Woodland Hills, and, of course, the West L.A. campuses thrive. We need to be a little more intentional about outreach in these areas.
We continue to be on CITY-WIDE TELEVISION. We have close to 15 million possible viewers and are in need of sponsors of our KDOC channel. We have the potential to share the Gospel through T.V. if we are able to find these sponsors. Please pray about YOUR involvement.
Some of you may or may not care that I have started to TWITTER. I am wrestling with all the technology and how much time to put into it, but I want to do EVERYTHING possible to help spead the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.
So, I am going to use Twitter, Facebook, Blogspot and the web via www.callonjesus.com and www.pastordudley.com to reach the world. Don’t you think that Paul would be using ALL MEANS to spread the Gospel if He were alive today? I think so!!!
Speaking of which, Tom Ellsworth, a dear friend of mine, is helping me with a HUGE project in which we are going to have an IPHONE application for www.callonjesus.com. You will be able to download this application and watch our services ONLINE via your cell phone. I am AMAZED at God opening this door for our church.
Don’t forget we are still attempting to build a 3500-seat auditorium. We need the Lord to provide the resources, and we are going to do something where GOD WILL GET ALL THE CREDIT FOR IT. More to come…
Lastly, I am headed to Austria after church this weekend. I am excited about going to Europe and being involved in the training of pastors and ministers in that part of the world. Please pray for me, for safe travels, that God would be with me and give me favor with these leaders and that I would be able to encourage them in THEIR work in THEIR ministries.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh, one really last thing… I am planning a Footsteps of Paul Tour in March of 2010. Contact Carla Keefrider in my office if you are interested… This tour includes a three-day cruise through the Greek Islands. We will visit Ephesus, Athens, Corinth, Philippi and Thessalonika. I would love to have you travel with us.
Please know that I will be praying for EACH OF YOU. That God would bless you, provide for you and lead you into all righteousness.