History of KÖVET Ministries

             After Lajos Kovács (a Hungarian born in Romania) became a born-again Christian in 1980 in Communist Romania, the Lord put a calling on Lajos’ heart to minister for Him.  The change in Lajos was so drastic and unbelievable that the news of his conversion spread quickly.  He began to receive invitations to churches that hadn’t given in to the pressures of the communist informer system in Transylvania (the Hungarian section in Romania).  He, along with a few other young, zealous men with whom he formed lasting friendships, gave his testimony and spoke from the Word, organized secret youth conventions in the woods, participated in secret baptisms, and other such events.  The pastors of these churches recognized that the Lord’s anointing was very strong on Lajos, even though he was unable to attend seminary, and they gave him opportunity to be used of the Lord.  He traveled (by bus, walking, hitchhiking, horse cart, etc.) in his “free” time after working in his daytime job, sleeping a few hours each night.  He was invited to Bibarcfalva (Biborţeni), a village in Transylvania, in 1982 to speak at a youth conference.  He then saw the great need and hunger for the Gospel in the people of that area. There are over 400 villages, towns, and cities in this area and very few evangelical churches that preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ exist. 

On the next trip Lajos made to Bibarcfalva, he was accompanied by his friend and brother in ministry, Barna Cséki.  For few years, Lajos and Barna traveled back and forth from their homes to Bibarcfalva, as their jobs allowed, but Barna felt God calling him to move to this area.  It was at this point in time that the pressure from the secret police increased, and Lajos escaped to Hungary on July 4, 1988, a country which opened its borders to those persecuted in the neighboring communist countries.

Speaking both Hungarian and Romanian, Lajos began to minister to other refugees who had escaped from Romania (in addition to other ministry involvement and working full-time in a factory).  Since he was not able to return to Romania until after the 1989 revolution, he kept this section of Transylvania in his heart.  Shortly after his escape, Lajos met Attila Horváth, an American Hungarian who had been sent from a U.S. mission organization for a one-year assignment.  While Attila was working with Lajos in his ministry to the refugees, a friendship formed. After returning to the U.S., Attila and his wife, Julie, began supporting Lajos, enabling him to work full-time in ministry.  In 1991, Attila and Hugh Allison put together the first mission trip to Transylvania from their church, with Lajos leading the way to Barna Cséki's.  During this trip, the leaders of the team saw and felt what Lajos had when he began ministering there a few years earlier; the response of the people was incredible!  The Lord richly blessed the mission.  It was at this time that Barna recognized that the Lord was calling him to full-time ministry, as well. 

Lajos began traveling to Bibarcfalva regularly so that he and Barna could follow-up and continue the work began with the mission team.  Attila and Hugh began sharing the ministry with their friends and churches in the States in hopes of gathering interest and support.  They also brought summer mission teams to enhance the growing ministry. The four men realized that people came to them seeking the “bread” they needed to mature in their faith.  The Lord revealed to them how He wanted them to minister to these people: there needed to be a place and a ministry that encouraged people to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and then discipled as Christians – in addition to denominational doctrine – helping them to understand either place in the Body of Christ. 

 In 1995, the official establishment of the ministry took place in Hungary.  The name “KÖVET” is an acronym for Krisztusi Örömhír Vivő Evangéliumi Társulat, loosely translated to mean Bearers of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  However, the word KÖVET means „ambassador,” and “follower,” which is where “Ambassadors Following Christ” is derived.  That same year Attila and his family moved to Debrecen, Hungary, to participate in ministry on a full-time basis.   The registration of the Bibarcfalva work in Romania was official in October 1996.  In 1997, the Lord provided the money to buy some land with an old house and barn to enable KÖVET to fulfill the vision the leaders received from the Lord, and to provide a home for Barna and his family.   

In 1997, Lajos served as pastor with Friendship International Ministries, as well as ministering with KÖVET.  But in 2000, after the Horváths had returned to the States, Lajos and Leslie (they married in September 1993) returned to serving full-time with KÖVET, reorganizing the mission’s goals and operating the ministry that is in operation today.   

Just as we’ve been involved with ministry to the Hungarian minorities in Transylvania, the Lord had been increasing our ministry to the Gypsy minorities in both Hungary and Transylvania.  From February 2003-May 2008, KÖVET ministered among the gypsies in an official capacity when we assumed the responsibility for a ministry to the gypsies.  Lajos supervised the ministry to over 1,000 gypsies in the ministry areas.  Additionally, oversaw a complex under construction in Secueini, RO (Székelyhid), which housed a large sanctuary with baptismal, classrooms for elementary and nursery schools, a doctor’s office, and shower facilities.  These particular gypsies are extremely poor, uneducated, unemployed, have large families living in one-room huts.  The Lord impressed upon us the need to try and meet their physical needs, as well as their spiritual.

In the summer of 2008, after ending the relationship with the gypsy organization, Lajos began serving with the Hungarian Baptist Union in two capacities: 1. serving as an interm pastor for two districts of churches, and 2. taking a place on the Hungarian Baptist Union Roma Mission board.   In May 2010, after combining the two districts into one, Lajos was voted in to remain as the permanent pastor.  The work with the Roma people has continued to develop and grow.   Currently, KÖVET ministers to nine churches/fellowships in Hungary and four in Romania.  

“…to prepare God’s people for works of service,

so that the body of Christ may be built up

until we all reach unity in the faith

and in the knowledge of the Son of God

and become mature, attaining to the whole

measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:12-13