Budapest, HungaryBudapest, Hungary

Matt and Cameron HammonMatt and Cameron Hammon

Where Is Hungary?Where Is Hungary?

Who Are Hungarians?Who Are Hungarians?

• Hungarians are “Magyars” – the actual name Hungarians are “Magyars” – the actual name of the nation is “Magyarorszag”, and the of the nation is “Magyarorszag”, and the language is “Magyarol” or “Hungarian”. language is “Magyarol” or “Hungarian”.

• There is some controversy as to the origins of There is some controversy as to the origins of the Magyar tribe but it is widely held that they the Magyar tribe but it is widely held that they came from the Ural Mountain region, deep in came from the Ural Mountain region, deep in what is today central Russia. what is today central Russia.

Ethnic CompositionEthnic Composition

• Population: Just under 10 millionPopulation: Just under 10 million• Less than 5% are non-HungariansLess than 5% are non-Hungarians• Very low immigrationVery low immigration• Large Roma and Jewish populationsLarge Roma and Jewish populations• ““Nominally” Roman Catholic but Nominally” Roman Catholic but

very few people practice any religionvery few people practice any religion• Less than 5000 Muslims in HungaryLess than 5000 Muslims in Hungary

EconomyEconomy

• Currency: the Forint Currency: the Forint • Key exports: Wheat, Pork, light industrial Key exports: Wheat, Pork, light industrial

consumer goods and appliancesconsumer goods and appliances• Key industries: Agribusiness, financial Key industries: Agribusiness, financial

services, constructionservices, construction• Largest trading partners: Germany, Largest trading partners: Germany,

Austria, Italy, The NetherlandsAustria, Italy, The Netherlands• Very high national debt, inflationVery high national debt, inflation• Low unemployment figures (7%) are very Low unemployment figures (7%) are very

misleadingmisleading• Economic targets not yet met for inclusion Economic targets not yet met for inclusion

in the Euro currency zonein the Euro currency zone

Key Historical EventsKey Historical Events

• 896 – First settlement by Magyars in current day Budapest896 – First settlement by Magyars in current day Budapest• 1526 – Ottoman Turks win control of Hungarian lands1526 – Ottoman Turks win control of Hungarian lands• 1718 – European coalition pushes Turks out of Hungary1718 – European coalition pushes Turks out of Hungary• 1848 – First Hungarian Revolution against Austria1848 – First Hungarian Revolution against Austria• 1867 – “The Great Compromise” creating Austro-Hungarian 1867 – “The Great Compromise” creating Austro-Hungarian

EmpireEmpire• 1873 – Buda, Pest and Obuda consolidate into one city: Budapest1873 – Buda, Pest and Obuda consolidate into one city: Budapest• 1914 – WW1 breaks out, Austria-Hungary allied with Germany1914 – WW1 breaks out, Austria-Hungary allied with Germany• 1920 – Treaty of Trianon: Hungary loses 2/3 of its land and people1920 – Treaty of Trianon: Hungary loses 2/3 of its land and people• 1933 – Hitler comes to power in Germany; Hungary sides with 1933 – Hitler comes to power in Germany; Hungary sides with

HitlerHitler• 1944 – 440,000 Hungarian Jews and Roma sent to death camps1944 – 440,000 Hungarian Jews and Roma sent to death camps• 1945 – Soviets expel Nazis from Hungary, usher in Communism1945 – Soviets expel Nazis from Hungary, usher in Communism• 1956 – Hungarian Revolution led by students, ends in disaster1956 – Hungarian Revolution led by students, ends in disaster• 1989 – Hungary opens border with Austria1989 – Hungary opens border with Austria• 1991- First free, multi-party elections1991- First free, multi-party elections• 2004 – Hungary becomes full member of European Union2004 – Hungary becomes full member of European Union

Legacy of CommunismLegacy of Communism• Equal distribution of near-poverty Equal distribution of near-poverty

subsistencesubsistence• Astronomical national debtAstronomical national debt• Widespread distrust and skepticism of Widespread distrust and skepticism of

institutions and ideasinstitutions and ideas• Corruption at all levels of societyCorruption at all levels of society• Massive “shadow” economy – black Massive “shadow” economy – black

market activity including Europe’s largest market activity including Europe’s largest pornography industry pornography industry

• General unfamiliarity with incentive-based General unfamiliarity with incentive-based productivityproductivity

• Very low wages compared with high cost Very low wages compared with high cost of living of living

Societal IssuesSocietal Issues

• Suicide – among the highest per-capita suicide rates Suicide – among the highest per-capita suicide rates on earthon earth

• Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse• Abortion – over half of all pregnancies end in abortionAbortion – over half of all pregnancies end in abortion• Birth defectsBirth defects• Shame-based public school systemShame-based public school system• Low marriage rates / high divorce ratesLow marriage rates / high divorce rates• Intense racism, especially against Jews and Roma Intense racism, especially against Jews and Roma

(Gypsies)(Gypsies)• Nationalism and general political unrestNationalism and general political unrest• A major hub of human trafficking and sex slaveryA major hub of human trafficking and sex slavery• AtheismAtheism• No sense of connection to a better futureNo sense of connection to a better future• Brain drainBrain drain• Sense of isolation due to language and historySense of isolation due to language and history

Prayer NeedsPrayer Needs

• That God would lift the spirit of depression and That God would lift the spirit of depression and hopelessnesshopelessness

• That more Hungarians would remain in Hungary and That more Hungarians would remain in Hungary and contribute to societycontribute to society

• That the missionary community would engage deeper That the missionary community would engage deeper with locals and find new ways of connectionwith locals and find new ways of connection

• That the walls dividing missionaries and church That the walls dividing missionaries and church planters from the population would fall: language, planters from the population would fall: language, culture, ideologiesculture, ideologies

• For honest and upright leaders in government, For honest and upright leaders in government, business and the faith communitiesbusiness and the faith communities

• For justice and healing for victims of trafficking and For justice and healing for victims of trafficking and slaveryslavery

• Reconciliation: Reconciliation: – Between Jews and non-JewsBetween Jews and non-Jews– Between Gypsies and non-GypsiesBetween Gypsies and non-Gypsies– Between Christians of different stripesBetween Christians of different stripes

Specific skills neededSpecific skills needed• ApologeticsApologetics• Worship leadersWorship leaders• Thespians / MusiciansThespians / Musicians• Good communicatorsGood communicators• Graphic designers / web communicatorsGraphic designers / web communicators• People with willingness to learn about Hungary / People with willingness to learn about Hungary /

HungariansHungarians• Construction workers / electricians to partner Construction workers / electricians to partner

with missions agencies and church planterswith missions agencies and church planters• Language instructorsLanguage instructors• Social workersSocial workers• Mental health workers / therapistsMental health workers / therapists• Students to study abroad in BudapestStudents to study abroad in Budapest

Contact Us!Contact Us!

Matt and Cameron HammonMatt and Cameron Hammon

www.olivette.orgwww.olivette.org

matt@olivette.orgmatt@olivette.org

cameron@olivette.orgcameron@olivette.org