Magyar Egyház, 2002 (81. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2002 / 3. szám
2. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ “THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL...” For the first time in history, Kazaks can read the entire New Testament in their own language. The Bible League’s offices in Kazakstan recently welcomed the arrival of the second edition of the Kazak Holy Book, which now contains the entire New Testament and 16 Old Testament books, including Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah. It took 10 years for translation of the New Testament into the Kazak Language to be completed. “Demand for this Kazak Holy Book is huge,” notes Rev. Waldemar Kurz, The Bible League’s Director of Ministries for the former Soviet Union. About half of the 44,000 first-run, new edition, Kazak Holy Books were placed with churches and mission agencies within three weeks of their arrival. “The Bible League is the only organization to date that has printed the Kazak Holy Book,” explains Rev. Kurz, “including the first edition (published in 1996), which did not contain the entire New Testament. We are humbled and thankful to God for allowing us to take part in this privilege of providing His Word.” A missionary in Kazakstan using the new Kazak Holy Book reports, “You cannot imagine the thrill of seeing Kazak believers - church leaders who have been believers for two, three, and four years - with the entire New Testament in their hands for the first time! If I could describe the joy on their faces, it would bring tears to you eyes.” Kazakstan, a multi-ethnic nation with a long tradition of tolerance, struggles today with which political ideologies it should pursue. Although Kazakstan has not yet declared itself an Islamic state, 80% of Kazakstan’s ethnic Kazak people (estimated at 7 million of the country’s 18 million people) describe themselves as Muslim, but most of these are nominal. Sources inside Kazakstan report that the country is at a critical juncture in its history, and that the availability of the Kazak Holy book at this time is “indeed a sovereign, miraculous work of God.” Earlier this year, Igor Voronenko, the League’s National Director in Astana, noted that now is a good time to preach the Gospel in Kazakstan. “People lost purpose in their lives, lost communist ideals, but have nothing to fill the void,” he says of his countrymen in the aftermath of the collapse of the former Soviet Empire. “This is an important time to spread the Gospel because people are looking for something to fill that void. They are searching.” The openness of people to the Gospel is reflected in the increase of Kazak Christians during the past 10 years. Ten years ago, there were six known Kazak Christians. Today there are more than 6,000! God is doing a new work among these people. Bible League-trained church planters have established more than 80 new churches in Kazakstan during the past two years. Many of these are multi-ethnic and Kazak congregations. The new Kazak Holy Book will become an integral part of The League’s “Choose Life” evangelism and discipleship program in Kazakstan, serving to bring seekers to Christ and to strengthen the faith of new Kazak Christians. “The new Holy Book promises that the growing Kazak Church will become a more mature Church, “concludes, Rev. Kurz. FROM THE OLD WORLD TO THE NEW WORLD Many Hungarian immigrants have been major contributors to the American art scene. The exhibition, From the Old World to the New World - Recent Additions to the Museum Collection at the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation located at 300 Somerset Street in New Brunswick is paying tribute tot nine of those artists. Featured are two sisters Bertha and Elena de Hellebranth who borrowed from the rich colors and themes of Hungarian folk art to create work that was exhibited at such venues as the 1939 World’s Fair and the National Gallery in Washington, DC. MAGYAR EGYHÁZ AUTUMN 2002 VOL. 81, NO. 3 ISSN 0360-5760 Published quarterly EDITOR IN CHIEF The Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, Bishop 13 Grove St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 EDITOR Stephen I. Szabó, Chief Elder 464 Forest Ave., Paramus, New Jersey 07652 BUSINESS MANAGER Priscilla Hunyady 50 N. Washington Ave., Colonia, NJ 07067 OFFICE OF PRINTING I.H. Printing, 6 North Dr. E. Brunswick, NJ 08816 OFFICE OF PUBLICATION Magyar Egyház — Magyar Church 464 Forest Ave., Paramus, New Jersey 07652 Subscription: $6.00 yearly; Group $5.00 SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODBRIDGE NEW JERSEY Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Business Manager ADDRESS CORRECTION: Priscilla Hunyady, 50 N. Washington Ave. Colonia, NJ 07067
