Magyar Egyház, 1974 (53. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-11-01 / 11. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 sword of the Spirit, as Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians. He preached the same word of God in the rolling hills of Gömör for 14 years, as assistant minister, and later as pastor of his beloved people at Hubó. For 20 years he served here as your beloved minister. We are here today, in this congregation, because his messages, his pastoral services entwined your hearts and spirit God made him the preacher of all the Hungarian churches in America He is much in demand from coast to coast. A few weeks ago he preached the word of God on the Pacific coast, next week by the Atlantic. There is an other perspective to see these forty years, and I direct you to his books which he wrote. There is not one Hungarian minister or priest around the globe, anywhere, in Hungary or outside Hungary, who after the Second World War produced more spiriual messages in books than our dear friend, Lajos. It is not only the quantity of his printed works but the warm, delightful, soul satisfying messages he puts across the printed works, which makes it outstanding and significant. Official Hungarian theological papers refer to him as a faithful minister of the Gospel through his writing, who shines here from America to the Hungarian people everywhere. His books will stand as documents and milestones for the life, the struggle, the aspirations, and faith of our generation. Still another perspective to look back at those forty years: friendly conversation with him. His immense love for his suffering Hungarian people led him not once back to Hungary, or helping them when they needed it. He shared his home with anyone who was homeless, helped him or her with substantial financial assistance from his own pocket. He feels a special love for his people in Gömör, whose faith and endurance in the hard years he so much admires. His sacrificial love for his Alma Mater at Sárospatak and all those who came from this venerable institution — all become his warmest friends. His good stories from the student years, events from the years in Gömör or from McKeesport give us unforgettable, delightful hours in his company. His love of people, of his friends, shine through the talk which reveals his loving heart. Yet the true perspective still lies somewhere else. And here I turn to the message I read to you from the 2. Book of Moses: his preaching, his messages through his books, his friendly conversations are the outcome of his prayer life with Almighty God. Like God used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend, his lonely struggle with God, his questions during the war years, when his and his family’s life was at stake, later ousted from his beloved Gömörmegye, waiting in agony for his family who was left behind, the joy of reunion, the demanding years when he was bishop, the loss of Erzsiké five years ago —- all came up in prayers in his loneliness and asked the same question what Moses asked from God: How shall I know that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? I think this is the best perspective in looking back those fruitful 40 years behind. With Bible in his hand, every night he has conversation with God, reading his beloved 121 Psalm: I lift up mine eyes to the hills. My help comes from the Lord. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. Confirmation Class, Trenton, New Jersey
