Bethlen Naptár, 1958 (Ligonier)
Highlights in Hungarian Life…
250 BETHLEN NAPTÁR gram. If it is true that YOUTH IS THE PLEDGE OF THE FUTURE, then we must not only be attentive to them, respect and value them, but we must utilize them in the all-out work of building for the future! Our Federation can accomplish its aims for this, our YOUTH Year, only with God’s help, the parents’ consent, and the cooperation of the churches, pastors, and the young people alike. We should like to work through our staff of enthusiastic field workers toward the realization of our aims in a way which will benefit the churches, parents, and youth and at the same time serve in the advancement and progress of our Federation. What are the plans of the Federation? What rewarding benefits will it have to offer? Let me tell you! We would like to help THE PAREN IS in the religious up-bringing of their children and at the same time give them an insight into their Hungarian background by enrolling their children in the summer church programs and youth activities AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FEDERATION. We would like to help OUR CHILDREN between the ages of 6 and 12 by giving them an opportunity to attend the summer sessions at the Bethlen Home in Ligonier where a fine academic as well as recreation program is set up for them each year. We would like to help OUR YOUTH . . . the teen-agers and young adults . . . by giving them the opportunity to attend the Youth Jamboree of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America to be held in Ligonier, Pennsylvania . . . the expense for which would be assumed by the Federation. During YOUTH YEAR, we would like to help OUR CHURCHES and OUR PASTORS by assisting them in their summer youth programs. We would like to relieve them of the financial burdens which rise in connection with summer youth camps. We would like to assume these expenses so that more of their youth might take part in the summer church sessions and to send as many young people as possible to the summer youth camps which the Federation wishes to establish and sponsor in Ligonier. The Federation would also assume the expenses of the pastors who would be the camp supervisors and the expenses of the cousellors. These are the plans which the Federation would like to realize during the YOUTH YEAR, and the services which our fraternal can offer! Now, how can we accomplish our plans? We plan to launch a YOUNG PEOPLES MEMBERSHIP DRIVE between January 15 and June 15, 1958. Those young people who will participate in this drive will be eligible for summer sessions at the Bethlen Home and the Youth Camp . . . without cost. But we shall ask for two things in return! We want your good-will and your cooperation in this youth membership drive. We also ask the parents, the churches and our pastors to encourage their young people to participate in large numbers in this drive so that we can gain many new members. We ask that they help our field-men, who will be at their service whenever necessary. We will need a sizeable increase in our membership! Here is where our YOUTH can serve. They can help sell the Federations excellent insurance, sick-benefit and hospitalization programs to their friends and relatives ... to give leads to our field-men so they can write up the applications. In this way, we can realize a monetary gain in such proportion that the Hungarian Youth Camp at Ligonier might become not only a dream but a reality.
