There is an air of uncertainty these days in Ukraine, which is also being experienced by the 150,000 Hungarians living in Sub-Carpathia. No war has officially been declared, but the partial military mobilization affects Hungarian families, as well.
The Biztos Kezdet Kid’s Center was opened in the village known as the fresco-village, Bódvalenke on 29 May. The program is a lifesaver for the inhabitants where more than half of the population are children and 28 of their mothers are younger than 18.
Where do reformed Roma live?
Gypsies don’t have a unified religion. They generally adopt the dominant religion of their location, hence all the types of Roma living in Hungary, for example in Bulgaria both Christians and Muslims can be found.
So far, thousands have visited the Contrast exhibit, organized together by the Reformed Church in Hungary and the police. The multimedia art exhibition is part of the family and youth protection project and can be seen again in Budapest.
At the Konfi+ conference on 24-27 August, youth workers of the Carpathian Basin will discuss the possibilities of calling young adults. Why is it so hard for the Church to address these ages nowadays? We asked Szabolcs Szontágh, the head of the youth office of Reformed Church in Hungary.
The sanctuary of the Őrmező reformed congregation was once a pub but it has now become the home of a community center. The members of the congregation have been praying for over 10 years to have their own room in this housing district of Budapest.
"I do not believe in the Church, but I do believe that God's Spirit works among us. And I love the Church" - We talked to pastor András Harmathy, convener of the Church Revision Committee.
“Hungarian people become angry quickly, but there are patient and kind ones too,” said Sally, the 10-year-old who came from Syria with her parents. She learns a lot at the Refugee Community Center in Budapest with other foreign young people.
University pastors from across the Carpathian Basin declare that gathering reformed young people can be the only goal of a university congregation. These congregations, in connection with higher education institutions, offer a spiritual community for those who know nothing about the Church or for those who are disappointed in it.
Is there democracy in the Church? Are politicians allowed to talk about God? Why are we lamenting when a “bearded lady” becomes the example to be followed in Europe? István Bogárdi Szabó, the bishop of the Danubian Reformed Church District shared his thoughts before Zsuzsa Fekete’s microphone.
If we cannot make any sacrifices for each other, our Christianity is worth nothing – emphasized Mrs. János Pásztor, who was the president of the Hungarian Reformed Women’s Association for nearly 20 years. Recently, she has resigned and is thinking back over the past years with gratitude.
The 7th Hungarian Reformed World Summit was held on 10 July in Sepsiszentgyörgy, Romania. During this occasion, the General Convent of the Hungarian Reformed Church also held its assembly unveiled a statue of John Calvin for the 450th commemoration of his death.
The Fact-finding Historian Committee (TTB) is about to finish its assignment. István Szabadi, secretary of the committee and director of the Transtibiscan Reformed Church District’s archive gave an account of its results during the April Synod session.
For those refugees and migrants settling in a new country, studying the language is the first step to integrating into society. But what do you do if there are no resources with which to learn? For Somalis coming to Hungary, this is the exact situation they encounter upon arrival.
Today, members of the Hungarian Reformed community extend well beyond the boundaries of Hungary. However, the distance does nothing to lessen the historic and ethnic ties that bind these reformed people to their homeland.
Teachers have to gain experience at schools, medical residents at hospitals and theologians in congregations before they start their life-long professional careers. Hunor Attila Koncz - spending his fourth year at university, studying theology - decided to spend his internship in Geneva, the cradle of Calvinism.
The HEKS Regional Partner Meeting of Eastern Europe and Western Balkans was organised in Kosovo and Serbia on inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, where the Reformed Church in Hungary was represented by the Roma Mission Office.
The following tribute was first published in a volume dedicated to Bishop Károly Tóth in recognition of his 75th birthday in 2006. Rev. Dwain C. Epps gave permission for the re-publication of his work in order to not only commemorate Bishop Tóth’s life but in the hopes of communicating his faithful witness in the difficult times of the Cold War.
Following the death of former bishop Dr. Károly Tóth, the Reformed Church in Hungary has received an outpouring of letters expressing condolence and appreciation for his life. Among them were messages from international ecumenical organizations, service to which was such an important aspect of Dr.Tóth’s work, and individuals that he had made connections with during his life.