The Marc Patton Family
Missionaries to Hungary
Testimony:
I grew up in a Christian home and was saved at
a young age. I felt called to preach during my teen years and after high school
I enrolled in Bible college. During my college years I felt the Lord leading me
into foreign missions. My wife Charin also grew up in a Christian home and was
saved at age 13. We met in college and were married in 1990.
With the fall of communism in 1989-1990, we
felt led toward the former communist countries of Eastern Europe. God laid Hungary on our hearts, and we
visited the field in 1991. We began
deputation in 1992 and arrived on the field of Hungary in 1993. We have been serving in Hungary since that
time.
Missionary Service: (1993-present)
The Lord has given us a very fruitful 25+ years
here in Hungary. Both my wife and I are fluent in the Hungarian language. Our
children were all born in Hungary and speak perfect Hungarian without any
accent. We have also learned the culture and strived to “become Hungarians to
reach the Hungarians.” In 2011 we actually received Hungarian citizenship, so
we are now dual citizens of Hungary and the USA. These steps have allowed us to
find acceptance among the Hungarian people, and also become more effective in
our outreach.
Our ministry focus has always been church
planting. The Lord has allowed us to have a part in the establishment of three churches here in Hungary.
Esztergom Baptist
Church:
We began the work in Esztergom in 1995. Esztergom is not a large city (30,000), but
it is quite important historically and culturally. It was the first capitol of Hungary. Hungary’s first king, King Stephen, was born
and crowned at the castle of Esztergom.
It was he who “converted” the pagan Hungarian tribes to the Roman
Catholic faith in 1000 AD. Thus
Esztergom became the seat of the Catholic Church all the way until the
present. The Basilica of Esztergom is
the largest church building in all of Hungary, and Esztergom is known as the
Hungarian Vatican.
Over the past twenty years the Lord has
blessed our church immensely. Although
the growth has never been explosive, we have seen solid and steady growth
throughout these years. We now have more
than 80 baptized members and our average Sunday attendance exceeds 100. The Lord has given us some fine young men who
have become leaders of our church.
Besides myself, I have four men who are very capable preachers. 
My wife Charin has trained a number
of ladies in children’s work, and we have an excellent Sunday School
program.
The Lord has also blessed us with a fine church
building. We have a 150 seat auditorium,
a fellowship hall (our old auditorium), an office and two Sunday School
rooms.
Tata Baptist Church:
In May of 2007 we were asked to help
oversee a young church in the city of Tata (about 30 miles
from Esztergom). The
church responded well to our ministry and called me as their pastor in
February, 2008. I had the privilege of pastoring the church in Tata for almost 10 years. In 2008 sixteen members called me as their pastor. The church now has more than 40 members and runs about 60-70 on Sundays. The church owns a house, which we had converted into a small, but functional church building. In 2015 we expanded by building a new 100 seat auditorium on the back of the property. This has allowed us to spread out and also provides room for future growth.
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| Patton and Szimon families |
In 2017 the church in Tata reached a new milestone as they called their first full-time pastor. Gergő Szimon grew up at our church in Esztergom. As a teenager he felt called into the ministry. After completing his Bible training he became my assistant at the Esztergom church. In December, 2016 he was called to be the new pastor in Tata. On February 26th, 2017 he took over the pastoral duties. The church has responded well to Gergo's leadership and is effectively reaching the community with the Gospel.
Focus Church Budapest:
In 2019 we turned our focus to planting a new church in Budapest. We spent the first part of the year
Ministry Goals:
1. To see the church in Esztergom continue to
grow and become a center for missions and evangelism in Hungary.
2. To see Focus Budapest become a strong and dynamic church in the heart of Budapest that is capable of reaching the younger generation and develop them into the leaders of the future.
3. To assist Hungarian church planters with
support, encouragement and guidance, so that they can carry the Gospel to some
of the 3,000 towns and villages that still have no Baptist church.
4. To influence the existing churches
in Hungary to reach their own people and become strong, evangelistic churches.
Family:
The Lord has blessed us with four wonderful children. Our oldest daughter Nancy is married and lives with her husband in Los Angeles, California. Our son Ben and his wife serve as missionaries in Zanzibar, Africa. Our daughter Esther is a student at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. Our youngest, Hannah, is a senior in high school here in Hungary and is active in the church youth group. Charin is very active in our ministry working with our children, ladies and music program. She also teaches English part time at two local elementary schools.
Frequently Requested Information:
Frequently Requested Information:
Here are our birthdates and anniversary date:
Marc 9/10/67, Charin 10/6/70, Anniversary
12/21/1990
Nancy 9/7/94, Benjamin 4/29/96, Esther 4/1/99,
Hannah 1/18/2001
Field Address: Mission
Board:
Marc Patton Global
Faith Mission Agency.
Gorkij fasor 39 P.O.
Box 3326
Tat 2534 Chattanooga,
TN 37404
Hungary (423)
702.5811
Cell: 36-20-886-3261 www.globalfaithmission.org
Sending church: Trinity Baptist Church,
Jacksonville, Florida, www.tbc.org.