Pastor Jozsef Gere was born and grew up during the oppressive Communist rule in Hungary. As a little boy, he knew deep in his heart there was a God, but no one shared with him how to be born again.

One evening when Jozsef was 18 years old, he listed the causes of his happiness: he had a girlfriend and was planning to be married; he was on the youth National Junior Volleyball Team of Hungary; he had the opportunity to apply to the veterinary university. Suddenly, in his inner being he heard, “This is not real joy!” He had the impression it was God’s voice but tried to ignore it. Within three months of this encounter, Jozsef had lost everything, including his sports career, fiancée, and finances. Also, he was not accepted into the veterinary university. He fell into a deep depression for three years. He purposely started to seek God, and in November 1975, was radically saved in a church in Budapest.

Four years later, Jozsef married Lilla, the daughter of one of the preachers in the church. He was also appointed as a youth leader in the church. In 1984, he helped his father-in-law establish a new church in Budapest and served as a co-pastor in this church for seven years. Later he started a church in his hometown, a suburb of Budapest, where he and Lilla served as senior pastors for 28 years. During this period, they built a large church facility without any bank loans.

His beautiful wife Lilla was the first female pastor in the charismatic church circle in Hungary. For seventeen years Lilla served as the national AGLOW leader for Hungary and as a member of the European AGLOW board.

Besides their church activities, Jozsef and Lilla and their ministry recently purchased the Christian television network, PAX TV, which presently has an audience of 3.2 million households (9 million viewers).  Hands of Hope was excited to be a major contributor toward the purchase of this television station.

For over ten years, Jozsef has been the Hungarian voice of Andrew Wommack, and Lilla has been the Hungarian voice of Joyce Meyer. Jozsef also translates Joyce Meyer’s books and other Christian materials into Hungarian. Jozsef hosts a program with several guest pastors each week to answer viewer questions regarding Christian topics while Lilla is the host of a weekly program with several Christian women to discuss women’s issues.

Lilla, as station director, has converted all broadcast time to Christian content. Also, she launched a number of new programs: musical programs with Hungarian Christian musicians; preaching/teaching programs with Hungarian pastors; special programs with the Hungarian gipsy churches; talk shows with Christian artists; talk shows with Christian psychologists; talk shows with former criminals and prostitutes who became Christians. Jozsef has asked an expert Christian teacher to be the host for a program about creation versus evolution theory. Moreover, several pastors and pastor couples from all protestant churches are recording a morning daily devotional program. Joyce Meyer and Andrew Wommack are still daily on the PAX TV as well.

We continue to pray with them about this amazing ministry to reach Hungary for Jesus. Please join in supporting them in prayer and through contributions designated for their ministry. For donations, please send checks to Hands of Hope International, Inc., 5015 Fort Ave, Waco, TX 76710.