Rev. Matthias Herren, Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS) secretary for Middle and Eastern Europe, along with other representatives from HEKS, recently made a trip to Hungary. He oversaw progress on a Roma initiatives that HEKS funds, and also introduced his successor, Angela Elmiger, who will be the next HEKS secretary for Middle and Eastern Europe.
Rev. Matthias Herren, Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS) secretary for Middle and Eastern Europe, along with other representatives from HEKS, recently made a trip to Hungary. From April 5 to 9, Rev. Herren held discussions at the General Synod meeting and also visited the congregations of Bódvaszilas, Kiskunhalas, and the congregation in the center of Csepel, which is currently involved in a national program to aid Roma children in catching up to their non-Roma peers.
According to his observations, he assessed that the implementation of the projects are making good progress. He thanked the colleagues that today he can see what the creators of the program imagined for these communities three years ago when this all began. Under the HEKS project, eleven reformed congregations are now working among Roma children and their families.
Matthias Herren and Angela Elmiger at the National Roma Missionary Meeting
During his trip, Rev. Matthias Herren took part in the National Roma Day of Prayer on April 9th and also introduced his successor, Angela Elmiger, who will be the next HEKS secretary for Middle and Eastern Europe.
Translation by Krisztina Fürjész
Photo: Vargosz