Hungarian Church Press, 1951 (3. évfolyam, 10. szám)

1951-06-01 / 10. szám

Hungarian ^hurch Press-12-MISSIONARY WORK OP THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN 1950

In the May 18 session of the General Conventus, Dr.Alexander Makkal, Referendary of Missionary Work, ma.de his annual report on the missionary activity since the time of the last; annual meeting of the Conventus, /In the usage peculiar to church people in the Hxmgarian Reformed Church, "mission" may wean every kind o.f church activity that the Germans call Innere Mission and Aeussere Mission/.

In his introduction, Prof, Makkai pointed out that the "Brotherly Message" which was addressed last year by the off-icial leaders of the Reformed Church to the parishes and the pastors»has greatly enhanced the efficiency of missionary work. He particularly stressed that part of the message which gave the right conception of missionary work. In terms of thi3 explanation, koinonia is the function of the congregation as a whole; it is the fellowsTTip of service, an integrated and organic unity of services« Faith issues in service, service brings about communion, and communion as mission, edifies the congregation. In terms of the "Brotherly Message", the purport of the communion includes all members;. it cannot be regarded a3 a work of the members of an exclusive brother*hood, , •

Then he gave a detailed account of the work in the four Synods. Speaking of the Danubian Synod, Dr. Makkai stated that here has. been a growing interest In evangelisation in this Synod, Reports show - he said - that the stream of spiritual renewal has reached its culmination 4 this year, There has been system an] planning in the organisation of the evangelistic effort. There has been a progress in the work of the Pastors* Groups, Most of these were visited by the Referendary of the Synod. The leaders of the Synod, arranged three conferences, each lasting several days, for pastors, and one conference for assistant ministers.

Jt was this Synod that sponsored the national conference of pastors in Alcsut, Western Hungary, and also a two-week post-graduate conference for pastors, which was attended by 70 people. The number of pastoral calls is on the increase, also the number of family devotions, Work among children has been satisfactory im some presbyteries, as, o.g., .

in the Pest presbytery, this is the m-^st flourishing church work.

In the Transdanubian Synod, a mission home was purchased,equipped and opened in DalatonfürecT. Fron May to October, about 1000 persons, attended the conferences arrenged in the mission h^me. The work among women made a very good progress in this Synod, under the leadership of Mrs, Elemér Győry, wife of the Bishop, Eminently useful and faithful service was rendered by the professors of the Theological Academy of ■Pápa, They gave lectures in post-graduate courses, at regional and parish conferences and they also conducted evangelistic services.They took part in the percentorsf training course in Pápa which showed, on ending the school term, very gratifying results, Owing to the peculiar geographical position of the Synod, most church members live in the "dispersion", So it became necessary, in the last year, to intensify the mission effort among people living in the diaspora.

In the Cistibiscan Synod, evangelistic services were conducted in 78 parishes” In addition to these, 62 conferences or so-called "Quiet Days" tqok place. Evangelisation among children was successfully combined with the joint Quiet Days of parents and children. There was an evangelistic work among the pastors, and the pastors groups kept up their activity in the presbyteries. More than 60 pastors belonged to the Synodal Fellowship of Pastors, Missionary work was launched in Miskolc to save alcoholics.