Magyar Egyház, 1994 (73. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1994 / 2. szám
MAGYAREGYHÁZ 13. oldal "REMEMBER YOUR LEADERS" At the Dedication of the "Bishop Zoltán Beky Center" Sunday, June 12, 1994 At this special occasion, I will be guided by a verse of the Bible taken from the Letter to the Hebrews (13:7): “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” First of all, I wish to commend you, the members of the Trenton congregation, for what you are doing on this day, and what you have been doing throughout the 100th anniversary year. What you are doing here today is more than just adding one more banquet to the countless occasions that took place in this auditorium since its dedication in 1930. What you are doing today is in direct obedience to the word of God, when it says: “Remember your leaders,” for you are remembering your leader, Zoltán Beky. To be forgetful is one of the most common sins committed in our daily lives. We forget persons who are dear to us; we forget members of our families and friends who are close to us. We forget holy vows made on occasions such as baptism, communion table, and marriage altar. We forget our promises and people's kindness. Cemeteries of Hungarian communities throughout America are marked by graves of godly pastors, teachers and parents whose blessed memories are buried in the depths of oblivion. What you, members of this congregation, are doing here today is pleasing not only to the Beky family, but also to God, namely you are all remembering and honoring your church leader and pastor. I was very pleased when Pastor, Tamas Karla, and Julius Borcsik, Chairman of the Anniversary Committee, asked me to be the principle speaker at this solemn occasion. I accepted this honor with one humble request, namely that the title of principle speaker be changed to principle witness. Because whatever I will say is based not on hearsay, but on personal experience. My first meeting with Beky Zoltán took place in the fall of 1938, the third year of preparation for the Christian ministry in Sárospatak, Hungary. On the Lord's day in September of that year, news spread that the guest minister on that day would be a native from Hernadszentandras, a former student, an eminent scholar, a summa cum laude graduate of Sárospatak, who was the present pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Trenton, USA. People came in droves from the surrounding counties of Abauj, Borsod, and Zemplen. Many of them were anxious to meet the young pastor of whom they had heard from relatives belonging to the Trenton congregation. The guest speaker impressed the congregation not only with his voice and appearance, but also the content of his message. I still remember the topic of his sermon, “I shall build the church.” These words of Jesus were illustrated by the lives and deeds of the founders of this congregation who were your ancestors. Following that church service, a reception was held at the Radacsy Home in which Mrs. Beky was raised. There I met the rest of the family: two little girls, Mackó and Bebi, both dressed in Hungarian costumes. Mackó recited a poem in Hungarian, that brought tears to the eyes of the audience. Bebi, little as she was, performed a Hungarian dance with much grace. Both little girls received great ovations. And what did Mrs. Beky do? As always, she smiled with permissible pride. As I said farewell to Zoltán Beky, he handed me a magazine entitled: “Magyar Egyház”. Before the day was over, I had read it from cover to cover. I was fascinated by the reports of the American congregations, how they were built one by one without any outside financial help. I never parted with that copy of the "Magyar Egyház”. It was in my suitcase when I left Hungary to assume graduate studies in Germany and Switzerland. It helped me when I could not return to Hungary for in it I found names and addresses of church leaders in the United States to whom I could turn to for assistance in finding church work in this country. My second meeting with Zoltán Beky took place eight years later at his parsonage in Trenton. His home was famous for its warmth and hospitality extended to all young student ministers from Princeton and other nearby seminaries. In Princeton, we were taught theology and Zoltán Beky taught us how to implement the word of Christ: “I shall build my church.” His thoughts and visions helped us greatly as we, young ministers, embarked on our early ministry in America. “Remember your leader.” How does this command apply to the Trenton congregation today? The Trenton congregation today remembers his pastor who in 1928 was selected from among 22 candidates to serve as its spiritual leader. You will recall how the congregation was to revitalize to become one of the largest Reformed community. You will remember how under the rigorous leadership of pastor and lay leaders the congregation realized the need for modern facilities for Christian education and social programs of the church. Today you are remembering your leader in a very special way by carving the name of Bishop Zoltán Beky on the portals of this magnificent building. As you rededicate this edifice, you should also remember that this building has not been erected merely as an ornament, but as an instrument in nurturing young and old in the ways of the Lord.
