Bethlen Almanac 2000 (Ligonier)

Tóparti Egyházmegye - Lakeside Classis

DAYTON, OH

Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church Dayton, Ohio

Pastor: Rev. Gábor G. Nitsch

Chief Elder: Robert Kovács

The millennia year had a busy start here in Dayton, Ohio. Our organizations welcomed the New Year with many projects. The ladies had a very successful cabbage roll sale in January to benefit the Bishop’s Fund. They also purchased a new freezer. The Magyar Club made its home in our new church’s addition - the Community Room. Also, the Magyar Club’s meeting attendance almost doubled, since the new President, Ms. Irene Heckman, introduced luncheons and games after the meetings.

We participated in the Lakeside Classis meeting in Columbus, OH. The Day of Caring Breakfast, supporting the Lion’s Club was very well attended. We also collected around 500 old glasses for their mission. The Congregational meeting held in February discussed the “Americanization” of our church, by changing the name as well, leaving the Hungarian out of it. The congregation did not approve it, but the vote was extremely close. As every year, the Gideons came again to share their mission projects with us.

Spring was as busy as always, with our annual March 15 Banquet, toned down to 300 people, claiming that we don’t have the workers anymore. Prof. Ludányi was our guest speaker.

The Easter holiday services were well attended; we had a dramatic Good Friday service, where each church member was asked to hammer a nail into a wooden cross, the nails representing their sins. We also had a Volunteer’s Appreciation Luncheon, thanking all our church workers. The Magyar Club Spring Dance had a record attendance. The Hungarian Reformed Federation Branch meeting was held in our church as well. Rev. Nitsch became our local Branch representative. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home, in Ligonier, PA.

The World A’Fair in Dayton is one of the largest ethnic gatherings every May, and we were well represented through our Festival Committee. Our Pastor and Velma Olesh represented our church at the annual Calvin Synod Conference.

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