Dear Prospective Student,
Thank you for checking out Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe. We are so excited about what the Lord is doing here in and through our students’ lives. God has blessed us with a wonderful facility in the heart of Europe where discipleship is happening in-class and in the real world.
The vision of CCBCE is to make disciples who will go into the world and make more disciples! Whether you are interested in missions or just want to get away and seek the Lord this may be the right place for you. Students from more than 15 different nations gather every semester to enjoy the Word, the fellowship, the close proximity to great European cities like Vienna and Budapest, and to share their faith. We hope that you will consider being one of those students!
Phil Metzger
Director, Calvary Chapel Bible College and Conference Center
General Information
Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe (CCBCE) was started in the early 1990's in Millstatt, Austria at a facility known as Schloss Heroldeck that was purchased by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. It was the first full extension campus in Europe. The vision was to see Europeans given the same opportunity to study the Word of God on their own continent as those in the USA, and to give American students a chance to study in Europe and learn about missions. CCBCE relocated to Vajta, Hungary in the year 2002.
Property History
The Kastely was built in 1922 by the Aristocratic Zichy family. In the early 1900's, they were one of the five richest families in all of Hungary. They owned thirty private residences. This particular mansion that we are restoring, under the watchful eyes of the Historical society, was only occupied two months out of every year. During this time, they would stay here in order to oversee their property holdings of 1,483 acres in the surrounding area.
After World War II, the Zichy's fled to Sweden as the communists took over the facility. For seven years the communist leaders and families used it for a vacation home. After the Revolution of 1957, the Manor was converted into a camp for handicapped children. After the fall of the iron curtain in 1989, the new government did not have the funds to maintain the property and as a result it was abandoned in 1994. It fell into a sad state of disrepair.
In 2000, it was purchased by Calvary Chapel and underwent major renovations for the purpose of reaching out to Eastern & Western Europe with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Where CCBCE Is Located
The campus is located in the small village of Vajta which has a population of about eight-hundred people. There are a number of cities within a half hour to an hours bus ride. Sz'kesf'rv'r, the largest of these cities, offers a mall, theaters, sidewalk cafes, parks, historical landmarks and buildings, and other shopping. Vajta is Southwest of Budapest, approximately an hour and a half drive or two hours by train. It is also located about forty-five minutes Southeast from the Eastern edge of the largest lake in Hungary, Lake Balaton, which is known for its fishing, sailing, and swimming beaches.
The Kastely (which means 'castle' or 'manor' in Hungarian) is situated on forty-two acres of rolling forested land and is landscaped with English style gardens. It is a three story, U-shaped structure that is approximately 50,000 square feet. The campus will be able to accommodate over two hundred single students and thirty-three couples, as well as staff, when it is completely finished. During conference season in the summer, we will also offer camping sites for one hundred people. The sanctuary and dining room are able to seat three hundred and fifty people, while the amphitheater will seat over six hundred for special events and concerts.
Discipleship
Jesus said, 'make disciples of all nations,' our vision is discipleship. Calvary Chapel Bible College of Europe (CCBCE) is a unique Bible training ministry that God has raised up to disciple and equip believers of all nations. We offer a curriculum in both English and Hungarian. Our desire is that each student will grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord Jesus through the teaching of the whole Word of God. We want to see a strong spiritual foundation established that will prepare the student for his or her future. As students grow in their relationship with Christ we know that He will direct their lives in worship, service, ministry and godly living in this world. With the college being located in the peaceful Hungarian countryside and surrounding forests, the student is given an atmosphere to focus upon the Word without the typical demands and distractions of daily living.
Missions & Ministry Reaching Europe
Jesus said, 'go into all the world', our vision is to reach the nations of Europe and the world for Christ. From our unique location in the center of Europe, we have the advantage of offering our students first hand exposure to the 'front line' European mission field. The spiritual needs of Europe are great. State run churches and liberal theology have considerably weakened the European church. There is a real need to see strong equipped Christians helping to establish healthy Christ-centered churches.
