Bethlen Naptár, 1952 (Ligonier)

Church digest for our second and third generations

BETHLEN NAPTÁR

199

EAST CHICAGO, IND. is our largest mid-western congregation. The church building is a very impressive structure, its outstanding feature being the fine stained glass windows. The congregation is well, equipped for all church activities and youth work, since it has at its disposal a well-constructed recreation and church school building. The Rev. László Egry is the minister in charge. Their excellent choir has appeared on television programs on numerous occasions.

FLINT, MICH, is the only Hungarian Reformed congregation in this town of automotive industries. Recently, the old church, recreation building and parsonage were sold and a new church and parsonage purchased in a more desirable neighborhood, under the pastorate of the Rev. Andrew Nagy. New church life has started, the congregation is free of debt and faces a bright future.

GARY, IND. is located in the largest steel city in the Middle West. The congregation has a large church and fine parsonage. The Sunday School work is especially commendable, having as leaders second generation Americans. The Rev. Joseph Rasky is pastor of this substantial congregation.

HAMMOND, IND. Up to two years ago, this young congregation was supplied by pastors of the neighboring churches. Loyalty to their faith and love for their church resulted in the congregation’s electing a full time minister, the Rev. John Buttosi, recently of Hungary. New life has begun under the evangelistic leadership of the new pastor.

INDIANA HARBOR, IND. This is a comparatively young congregation, which built its own church and parsonage during the depression years entirely without benefit of outside labor. The minister in charge is the Rev. John Szeghy, who recently was honored by his people on the event of his 35th year in the ministry. The Ladies Aid Society celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

JOLIET, ILL. at one time had its own full-time minister. With the dropping out of the first generation, the mebership has been considerably reduced and supply pastors have been serving the congregation. At the present, the Rev. Sigismund Balia is in charge. He is the Chicago District Manager of the Hungarian Reformed Federation.

KALAMAZOO, MICH, was once a strong congregation, having a church, parsonage and a reacreation hall, but now, through dissension, is a struggling group with a few members. The group