Bethlen Almanac 1999 (Ligonier)
Nyugati Egyházmegye - Western Classis
Unfortunately, in addition to new members, we also suffered some losses this past year, and this brings sadness to our congregation. While we know that this is just our sadness, and that God is in control and holds close to him those we lost, yet their loss makes our congregation a little smaller, especially since they were near to us. We look forward to the new year with hope and the knowledge that as we continue to serve our Master, he will be with us on this new journey also. Mihály Csiszár, Chief Elder LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Los Angeles Hawthorne, California Administrative Pastor: William D. Bonis, M.Th., Ph.D. Chief Elder: Géza Csánky The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Los Angeles was organized in 1926. Its “golden age” lasted several long decades during the pastorates of Rev. Albert Hady & Rev. Anthony Szabó. Due to demographic changes in the neighborhood and the checkered ministry of its last full-time pastor, the church experienced serious difficulties to the point that it had to sell its temple. The greater part of the remnant membership lived in Pasadena, where they rented for Sunday worships the chapel of the big congregational church of the city. However, the burning desire was to own their own place of worship. In 1991, the good Lord surprised them with a nice little church building in Hawthorne - at a good price. Recently, they added a nice fellowship hall and a kitchen to it. At the same time they secured the interim ministry of the Rev. Dr. William D. Bonis, an honorably retired Presbyterian minister and also a professor emeritus of the Department of Philosophy at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Bonis still serves the congregation as an administrative pastor, with standing in the Calvin Synod. We are a visionary church since the small congregation of 30 members can not but dream to have the day when they can call a full-time 118
