Calvin Synod Herald, 1995 (95. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1995-09-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA- * -1995 YOUTH CAMP (Ifjúsági tábor) 1995 Season Youth Conference The 1995 season Youth Conference of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America and the Calvin Synod Conference, United Church of Christ, was held August 6-12 at the Laurelville Menonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Our Group Director, Rev. István Nyeste, wrote the following fine report: The bus was ready to take off. The driver took his seat behind the wheel, the engine was running, most of the riders were already seated. But still the bus had to wait some more. How could it possibly leave when some of the passengers were still on the ground. They are not ready to leave yet. They are standing around the bus, in small groups, crying and hugging, and holding onto each other with a sense of deep and honest love for each other, and of sorrow for the separation. No, the tears here were not those of the refugees being transported from one of the so-called "safe havens'1 in Bosnia. The people crying were not homeless victims of a cruel war. The tears were not those of hopeless, desperate, wounded folks we see only on CNN and much toooften. The people crying here were young members of our churches, about to start their journey back to their homes, their churches, their families after spending a week at the youth camp at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Pennsylvania. They were crying because the days of togetherness were over, because for another year (or maybe more?) they will not have another week together. Some for sure will see each other at conferences, lock-ins, hayrides. Butthose are only for a weekend. The camp is different. Yes, the camp is different. It provides for more time spent with each other, more time to grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ, to learn about the treasures that our faith holds for us, especially at turbulent times in our life. Camp is different because the youth of our churches from the Calvin Synod and of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America learn, worship, eat and play together, bringing about for one week each year, the unity of our churches. A fact which is one of the reasons why Jesus is always so affirming of the "children". Camp is different because here we have the joined support of the William Penn Association and of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, of the Bethlen Home, of our Presbyter's Association and Minister's Association. Here we have the occasion to meet the bishops of both church bodies. (This year they both got inspired by the unity of the youth group in the camp and promised to work even harder to bring our churches under one roof). Camp is different also because we can still nurture the soul of our youth with Biblical teachings of our faith, providing them with a shield against both the secular evils of our society, and the unbiblical heresies of some modern day churches. I would like to thank everyone for their support. I would like to thank the counselors and the ministers: Rev. Albert Kovács, Rev. Louis Medgyesi, and Rev. Antal Szilágyi for all the work they have done throughout the whole week. We appreciated greatly the visits of Bishop Forró, and Bishop Vitéz, of Rev. Komjáthy, Rev. Karla and Rev. Tóth, the honor to meet with president AI Vargó of the William Penn Association and president Dózsa form the Federation. We always appreciate the hospitality of Rev. Kovács and the Bethlen Home. I would like to thank Erika Fedor from Columbus for the familiar taste of the products of her Hungarian Cooking workshop, Gabe Csapó from Trenton and Kathy Smith from Cleveland for their relentless work, and support of the camp and campers. Those familiar with our camp know that a very important name has not been yet mentioned. The name of Priscilla Hunyady, Camp Director on behalf of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. I mention her lastly, because anything I have said so far in some way is connected to her work. I want to thank her on behalf of the campers, our churches and myself for all that she does for this camp. In closing I would like to encourage all churches to send the young people to the camp which next year will take place between July 21 and July 26. Please send them and help them with their finances if you can, because camp is a good place for them. You know, as that bus finally took off, I cried too. Because I love these young people, I love their zeal for Christ, their love for each other. And because as long as they come, we will have Hungarian Reformed Churches across America. I still remember waving to the bus: I'll miss you guys... Hope to see you all in July '96. Rev. István Nyeste CAMP PICTURE 1995 Row 1: Stevie Nyeste, Rev. István Nyeste, Diana Bacho, Andrea Tajgiszer, John Molnár, Louis Kovin, Joshua Kovin, Kimberly Kovin, Kathy Smith, Gabe Csapó, Sandy Szepesi, Olivia Fedor, Erika Fedor, Annamária Koncz, Dawn Somogyi, Faith King. Row 2: Annabella I. Batiz, Sarah Tobin, Danielle Tobin, Julie Fúrj, Éva Nyeste, Kelly Carpenter, Priscilla Hunyady, Cara Medyesy, Cyndi Dózsa, Jennifer Andrée, Kimbery Lambert, Rebecca Andrée, Kathy Garris, Emily Gerecs, David Archer. Row 3: Lucas Pipher, Michael Takács, Michael Oberg, Atilla Nagy, Kevin Veroneau, Silvia Fedor, Krisztina Payer, Mary Kokoth, Debbie Foil, Jessica Zakhar, Kristen Kurimai, Melissa Ross, Peter Carpenter. Row 4: Tom Sutton, Wesley Rebnicky, Rev. Albert Kovács, John Archer, Lori Waszil, Rich Rebnicky, Shane Smith, Becky Jayne, Jenny Kokoth, Eddie Downing, Matthew Britto, Zsolt Kocsis. Row 5: Rev. Louis Medgyesi, James Harder, Billy Messenger, Eddie Laushin, Steve Medgyesi, Maryann Medgyesi, Tim Lawrence, Kelly Feirstine, Haley Lawrence, Paul Lawrence, Jeremy Ritch, Jamie Ritch, Tim Parsons, Jody Ritch, David Gongwer, Joe Moriartey, Tom Voszatka, Joe Wittenmyer, Tibor Torday. I I
