On October 10, 2021, as part of a ceremonial service, Majors Michael and Christine Staïesse took over the leadership of the Salvation Army Free Church Hungary.
A large congregation gathered in Gyöngyös, in the Dr. Fejes András Sports and Events Hall on 10 October 2021 to celebrate the arrival of the new leaders. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the leaders of the Salvation Army Territory of Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, Commanders Henrik and Lisbeth Andersen and Secretary General Marianne Meyner.
The leaders of the International Salvation Army saw fit to change the guard after six years of service at the head of the Hungarian organisation. It has been a great privilege to have Major Regina and Major Bernhard Wittwer living and leading the work in Hungary for the past six years, they are now returning to their home country and we bid them farewell wishing them blessings for their future life and work.
Welcoming thoughts from Michael and Christine Staïesse
„First of all, we have special thanks for our predecessors, Majors Bernhard and Regina Wittwer. Thanks for their involvement and dedication in their ministry in Hungary. We wish them God's blessing for their lives.
We have been married for over 30 years and have three adult children, living in Switzerland.
We have been serving Jesus and our neighbor in The Salvation Army for 28 years with DIVERSITY: with children, youth, adults, seniors, multiple generations; in different projects, in church and social mission; with people from different cultures and nationalities.
We are from the French speaking part of Switzerland. Our mother tongue is French...and we have served also in English and Spanish. We have praised our Lord in other languages such as German, Lingala, Romanian.
And here we are in Hungary, learning your beautiful language and praising the Lord in Hungarian. It is unbelievable when we say YES to the Lord, how He leads us and makes us discover wonders as you and your country.
Zechariah 4:6 says: "This is the word of the Lord: Not by might nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT". This is the power we want to rely on, the power of the Holy Spirit on us and in us. Without him we can do nothing. We trust in him so that, as at Pentecost, he will put his words in us, understandable for all of you, so that we can serve together the suffering humanity in the best way and be witnesses of his love.
One of The Salvation Army's well known logos is "Saved to serve". 1 Peter 4:10-11 says: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power to ever and ever. Amen."
We look forward to serving with you in Hungary.
We look forward to seeing the miracles that God will do through The Salvation Army in Hungary.
Not for ourselves, not for our own glory but, as it is written:... "That in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen!"
Thanks and goodbye
The beginning of something new is always the end of something else. Our lives are a series of changes, as we learn to rely and trust more and more on God. Thank you to the Wittwer couple who, for the second time in 2015, have agreed to live and lead the Salvation Army in our country. They made the effort to learn the language and culture and to get to know and understand the Hungarian people. Over the years they have become a little bit Hungarians themselves.
Regina Wittwer's farewell message was as follows.
„Now is the time to move back to Switzerland. We loved being here and it was a privilege for me to be able to serve God and people with over 100 employees! Now a new task awaits for me, a different culture and different people. But for me, Hungary is my second home, and always
be. For me, home not only means the place where I was born and grew up, but also the people who I have grown close to. In the last few days, as we said goodbye, I heard so many good and loving things about us that touched me deeply and reflected exactly this feeling of being home. I have grown to love you all and will keep you in my heart always . I have experienced so much with God and you in the last 6 years, and I am deeply grateful for that. These are treasures that I can use and benefit from in my future life. Because this, I go back to Switzerland a little richer.
Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:20-21).
"...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
So we also have to store up treasures in heaven, and for me it is primarily my relationship with the Triune God. The more and better we know Him, the greater our heavenly treasure will be.
I wish such treasures with God and men, for all of you, which are of eternal value, which cannot be stolen or eaten by moths. A joyful goodbye!”
We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to both couples for choosing our small country to live an active part of their lives on Hungarian land, and for helping the work and people of Hungary.
May God bless your life and work!
Source: Michael and Christine Staïesse/ Regina Wittwer/ Communication Department
Date: 12 October 2021.
Image source: Salvation Army | Michael and Christine Staïesse
Source of gallery images: Salvation Army | Gazsó Gábor
{gallery}Staiesse2021okt10{/gallery}
