Keswick Convention's international dimension

During its long history, the work of Keswick has rippled around the world, and there are now established ministries in some 16 countries, with nearly 90 individual Conventions, large and small.

The Hungarian work, known as BalatonNET, is an example of a nation catching the vision and making it its own, shaping a programme that is attracting young and old, and which is uniting believers across different denominations. Attila Kapocs tells the story…

Jozsef Csaplar, a Hungarian pastor and church planter, walked around the Keswick tent about 20 years ago with a growing conviction that a similar event had to be started in Hungary. Our Lake District is Lake Balaton, so it seemed obvious to team up with a local church in one of the villages by the lake, the leadership of the Evangelical Alliance and like-minded pastors and start BalatonNET.

This year we will celebrate the 19th BalatonNET and it is great to look back to God’s provision over the past nearly two decades. A total of 1,500 people attend over five days. Many pastors, elders, and mission leaders – including Hungarians living in neighbouring countries – choose to finish their summer at Lake Balaton (see main picture) attending the event. We work with an annual theme which shapes the main sessions and workshops. We invest in the next generation through our children and youth programmes. Our art programme is also getting stronger every year – inspired by Keswick Unconventional.

Inspiration, enrichment and the encouragement of believers is our goal: inspiration from the word of God; enrichment of our faith as we come to know the Lord Jesus more; and encouragement to share the gospel, disciple believers and get involved in mission – from the neighbour across the street to the ends of the world.

Our joy is seeing people refreshed, emotionally and spiritually. Of course, we face various challenges. The current venue cannot hold any more people – increasing capacity would increase our budget manifold and is just not realistic. We need to renew the organising group by adding younger people and make BalatonNET more attractive for young adults. Inflation in recent years has also created challenges for our sustainability. However, being part of the Keswick Fellowship gives us inspiration and new ideas to explore and tailor to our situation.

When people walk up to me as coordinator and say that this event is somehow special, that God is present and the atmosphere is great because people from all age groups, denominations and social status are praying, worshipping and interacting with each other, then it is a sign that we are on the right track.

Over the past 19 years, children who attended the children and youth ministry are now serving as volunteers in these programmes. We have seen people meet each other here and then get married. We even had a young man proposing to his girlfriend at one of the romantic locations nearby (she said yes!). BalatonNET has become a place for extended families to meet with Jesus and meet with each other and also a week to look forward to throughout the whole year.

Although we won’t be able to catch up with the impressive 150th anniversary of the Keswick Convention, we are proud that next year we will be able to celebrate our 20th anniversary!