Magyar Egyház, 1968 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1968-06-01 / 6-7. szám
16 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ of these or any other method can lead to the acceptance of God’s own Word. If you have faith in God, you will never need any scientific arguments, or historical convictions or national persuasions. A man may have intellectual knowledge of God, and give an honest assent to the truth about Christ, without really accepting Him as Savior, or ever receiving His teaching as the only way of life. Men may not understand all the teachings of the Bible, for they often seem foolishness to him, hut the man of God accept the Word of our Heavenly Father by faith. The one who is not a Christian cannot see, or understand, while the one who believes in God, has no such problems. We must realize that the Holy Word of our Almighty God is never a matter of argument hut a matter of faith. ☆ The Scripture “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The Church has dealt with many issues of the world throughout the ages which often proved to he “unprofitable.” Some even brought disaster and tragedy to leaders and members alike. Even today the temptation is relevant that instead of the all important work the Church should solve the social, economical, or educational problems of our time. But the warning is clear that we should preach the Gospel of our Lord, and the followers of Christ should try to live according to the commandments of our Master, for this is the only way for Christians. The doctrines of the Church are right if they agree with the Holy Scripture. New teachings, new directions, and new movements try to capture the forefront of the interest of Christianity, hut amid the many misguided conceptions, Christians should always turn to the Holy Scripture where we can find reproof and correction and instruction. This word of God is the basis of union between our denomination and others, this is the tie that hinds us together, and this is the foundation upon which our Church and Christianity stands. May God grant us all wisdom to see the unifying power of Ilis Holy Word that we may live and work together in harmony to the greater glory of His Holy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Hi shop Dezső Ábra liánt A brief biographical sketch Dezső Ábrahám, son of Peter Ábrahám and Julianna Beremeni was born in Old, Baranya County, Hungary. After completing his elementary education in a parochial school in his native village in 1930, he was enrolled in the Szilády Aron Reformed Gimnázium, a church maintained secondary school, in Kiskunhalas. He was graduated in 1938. Following the direction of his heart to serve his people as a servant of God, he entered the Reformed Theological Seminary of Budapest. He received his diploma, equivalent to the Bachelor of Divinity academic degree, in 1942. He first served as assistant pastor in Soltvadkert, a sprawling community on the Great Hungarian Plain, where the Church had several mission stations. One year later he was called to serve as supply minister in Főt, Pest County. The following year he was assigned to the Calvin Square Church of Budapest, where Bishop László Ravasz and the Rev. Gyula Muraközy were the senior pastors and two young ministers were assistants. The congregation numbered twelve thounsand members. Along with many young clergymen, Dezső Ábrahám was active in such Hungarian Christian student movements as Soli Deo Gloria, Boy Scouts, and the Young Men’s Christian Association. He became the secretary of the Budapest YMCA in 1945. In this capacity he travelled extensively all over the country, including those areas which were later detached from Hungary and given to Romania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Russia. Thus he was familiar with the problems and conditions of life and work there. After the World War II., when the communist forces gradually took over the government in Hungary, just before the Soli Deo Gloria, YMCA, Boy Scout movement, and other youth organizations were completely oppressed, and their properties confiscated, Dezső Ábrahám received a scholarship from the Church of Scotland; he did postgraduate work at the University of Glasgow in 1946-47. The same year his Alma Mater nominated him as a candidate for postgraduate work in America. Having received a scholarship from Princeton Theological Seminary, he arrived in the United States of America on September 8, 1947. He received his “Master of Theology” degree in 1948. His thesis was on “A brief history of the Hungarian Reformed Christianity in the United States of America.” Dezső Ábrahám’s first pastoral charge in America was in Roebling, N.J., where he served from 1948-1954. During his service there he married Miss Margaret Szinyéri in 1951. Following the sudden and untimely death of Archdean Dr. Charles Vincze, in January 1954, Dezső Ábrahám was unanimously called to be Pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Perth Amboy, N.J. It was under his leadership that the new Christian Educational and Social Center was erected in 1938 at the cost of a quarter million dollars. He was editor of Magyar Egyház, official magazine of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America from 1954 to 1957. During the Hungarian Freedom Fight in 1956, when 35,000 Hungarians were admitted to the U.5.A., he helped to resettle 127 refugees in the Perth Amboy area. In 1959 he was elected Dean of the Eastern Classis for two consecutive terms of 3 years each. He is active in the work of the Protestant Ministerial Association of Perth Amboy; he helped to create the hospital chaplaincy program in Perth Amboy General Hospital. He also participates in the activities of the Eastern Area Hungarian Ministerial Association in America. Besides his church work, he takes an active part in the civic and social activities of the city. He is honorary chaplain of the Police Benevolent Association, Perth Amboy, N.J. and the Protection Fire Co., No. 1, Keasbey, N.J. He represents his denomination on the Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home in Ligonier, Pa., also at various meetings and conferences of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the National Council of Churches, and Church World Service. If you have guests and visitors during the Summer months, bring them along to our worship services. If you are on vacation, attend services wherever you are!
