Magyar Egyház, 1972 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1972-08-01 / 8-9. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 17 However, they wanted to preserve their religion, their customs and their heritage. But their thinking was strictly along Hungarian lines. They constructed and erected these institutions in the areas where they lived, where they worked and had their Hungarian social contacts. Yet, today the Hungarian Reformed Churches are struggling for survival. The planning which should have taken place three decades ago is lacking. We find, those churches, which should be filled with the faithful diminished, and much of our youth have departed to become members of other Protestant English speaking congregations. The problems are now upon us, and unless something is done soon, we shall lose the legacy left to us by our parents and grandparents. We have known for a long time that the young people in our congregations had to have the word of God filtered into their lives in the language they understand: much the same as our first generation parents had to have their sermons in the Hungarian language. We knew for some time that the areas where our churches were built have undergone a tremendous change in ethnic population. We knew for a long time that in many churches we did not have ministers capable of preaching the gospel with equal ease to take care of the needs not only of our older members, but also the young English speaking members. When we consider the meager planning in these vital areas, is it any wonder that the youth of our families have turned to other congregations? The McKeesport church has done something about these problems and has found a solution. Recognizing that the old building on 7th Avenue has outlived its usefulness, it had planned for the time that the move must be made into a different and better location. Today, you have dedicated the new edifice for the service of God and with His help it will serve much better the congregation as a whole. It has taken courage to make this move and the congregation and its leaders are to be congratulated for their tenacious efforts. But, this step has created certain financial hardships which will live with us for the years to come. May I suggest a solution: if thirty or forty members of this church will only save a penny a day and double this each day for 14 days out of each month 1 can guarantee that this congregation will not have any financial worries! I am reminded of the class instruction where the English teacher introduced to his class what he termed one of the finest, most eloquent lines of poetry in the English language: “Walk with light!” Walk with the biblical light that has been shown to you. Face the future with resolute determination and you will succeed. Don’t be a pessimist for I have never seen pessimist make anything work. The whole history of this church is founded in determination and optimism. Retain these two concepts in the future and the future will then take care of itself. To all of you, I express my congratulations and wish you nothing but unqualified success in your continued efforts to build in the service to God. May God bless you all! —ATTENTION!— We call to the attention of the Churches, Societies, and businessmen to use the services of the Bethlen Freedom Press for their printing needs. — Yearbooks — Cookbooks — Individual Sunday Bulletins . . . one or multi-color. NEW TESTAMENT (in Hungarian) by Dr. László Ravasz ... Cloth binding ................-......................$5.00 Leather binding .................... $8.00 ÉNEKESKÖNYV..._........................................$4.00 CREEDS OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHRISTIANS ........................$1.50 AMERICAN HUNGARIAN TEXTBOOK Series No. I. and No. II......ea. $1.50 These books are designed to provide easy teaching material for Hungarian parents, grandparents, church-groups, or other social organizations in America who wish to teach the children in their midst to speak and be familiar with their language and customs. The listing of the words, together with their different forms used in the text, will also enable those parents who are not fluent in the Hungarian tongue to read the book together with their children, thus enlarging their own knowledge of the language. BETHLEN FREEDOM PRESS, INC. P. O. Box 637 Ligonier, Pa. 15658 Sándor E. Chomos, manager — 412-238-9244
