Kató Fellegi serves as the HBAid coordinator for the partnership with Baptists on Mission. She is with the pastors each session of the Roma Bible Institutes and translates. Read below her testimony of how God moved that week in an unexpected way.
By: Kató Fellegi
Everyone went back to the accommodations already. I do not even remember why Ken and I stayed at the restaurant. We listened, and well fed we watched with pleasure as a few of the Roma brothers who stayed behind worshiped, gathering around the keyboard. I loved this part of the evening, when the praises ring out in the restaurant. The owner allowed us to sing and we did not bother any of the guests. I was sitting there, listening to the songs when I noticed an older rock singer passing by the restaurant for the third time. He looked in, stopped for a while but then he moved on. After a while he came in and sat down at a nearby table. I saw him from the side only. He wore a black leather jacket, had long black hair and earrings. He ordered a drink. I was wondering when he would start a quarrel with our Romas saying that they should stop singing because their songs were too godly. That night it was only him and us in the restaurant. No other guests. I was waiting for him to say something because I already had my answers to disarm him. But he did not say a word. He was listening and drinking quietly, while the worship songs resounded in the background: His precious blood flowed for me, I am thankful for the cross, our God is greater, our God is stronger….
Suddenly I noticed that our rock singer wiped away a tear. I looked at him doubtfully but he repeated his movement. Ken looked at me questioning if I had seen what happened. I said: I saw it too, but I did not even think about going over there and sharing the gospel with him because I do not know how to evangelize. I am not good at it at all. Ken said he is really good at evangelizing but he does not speak Hungarian. He reminded me that it is not us who proselytize but the Holy Spirit; we only allow him a way to do so. And Ken was looking at me with that kind of look, which I am pretty sure he learned from Jesus, because it made me feel like going over to talk to the guy. We sat next to Tibor; that was his name. He said that he had a day off and while passing by the restaurant he noticed the worshipping. He came back twice to be sure that the songs were about Jesus. He felt touched by the songs; he wanted to listen to them so he sat down even though he had another plan for the evening. He had a very confusing day but listening to these songs had made him calm. It was such a good feeling for him to sit there. Something deep inside him was moved by these songs. From that point it was Ken’s turn, and he began very direct. “Tibor, if you were to die today what would you tell God to let you go into heaven?” “Maybe, because I am good, I did some good things and sometimes I loved people who were not worthy of it.” Ken responded: “This is all good. But did you know that we cannot go to heaven by our good actions? The only way we can get there is through believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God who saved us on the cross. We receive him as our personal redeemer.” “I think I received him already.” “You think? So you are not sure? If Jesus is in your heart, you know it for sure. Is there anything tonight that would hold you back from receiving him as your redeemer?” “No but before that, I need to go to the bathroom.” And he left. I told Ken that he will escape through the bathroom window, and will not come back. But he did. “I washed my hands,” he said to show us that he was prepared. We prayed. He repeated the prayer quietly and spiritually. We humbly asked Jesus to forgive his sins and move into his heart, and be the Lord of his life. Huge tear drops rolled down on his face when he looked up at the end. He said Amen at least four times. Amen, amen dear Tibor, our brother in Christ.
Balatonföldvár, Bible Institute, some worshipping Roma brothers, an American pastor and a lonely soul, hungry for God’s word; it was a major crossroads. And that is what I like most in my mission work, that God is using me on fields where I would never have wandered without him. I can teach although I am not a teacher, I can preach although I am not a pastor, I can evangelize although I cannot even find the right words to explain.
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness.