In many parts of America, growing up in a Christian home is
not an unusual thing.
In fact, in certain parts of the Southern U.S., you can throw a biscuit and hit a Christian. Or maybe a church-goer. Y’all know what I mean.
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When I asked Gabi how he became a Christian, he told us that he was raised in a Christian home and came to Christ as a child. Then he shared this story.
God was faithful, though. All seven children thrived and all seven became believers. Later, forty-six grandchildren were added to the family, and all forty-six became believers as well. Gabi and his work with CCC are just some of the fruits that have come from the devotion and courage of that brave Hungarian pastor. Only heaven knows exactly how many lives were rescued and redeemed in spite of the restraints of Communism.
In fact, in certain parts of the Southern U.S., you can throw a biscuit and hit a Christian. Or maybe a church-goer. Y’all know what I mean.
Not many people can claim to have grown up in a Christian
home in Hungary, so to meet a Hungarian who came to know Jesus as a child while
being raised by Christian parents, well now, that’s a rare thing. And for that Hungarian to be not a second generation Christian but rather a
third
generation Christian, well, that’s downright amazing. And fascinating. Let me introduce you to Gabi.
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We had the privilege of eating lunch with Gabi last week,
and we asked all the usual questions.
“Where are you from?” and “What work do you do?” and “Have you visited
the U.S.?”
This is his story: Gabi
lives in Budapest and works for Campus Crusade for Christ. He and a team of Hungarian Christians spend
their lives evangelizing and discipling students on a university campus. They hold Bible studies, sponsor activities,
and have prayer with people. They also conduct
surveys among students, and if students have spiritual needs or questions, the
team gets their contact information and schedules meetings to speak with the students
individually. The group Phil worked with
during the fall gathered the names of more than 500 students who provided their
contact information and indicated that they would like to speak with someone
about spiritual concerns. Gabi says they
have the “good” problem of having more students to contact than they have staff
who can make follow-up calls.
When students accept Christ as their Savior, Gabi and his
teammates begin the work of discipling them:
teaching them about the Bible, showing them how to share their new faith
with others, etc. Some of our staff here
at Speak Out are actually students that Gabi has led to the Lord. Other believers financially support Gabi and
the team so that this work can continue.
Just a few weeks ago, Gabi and his wife were in the U.S. to meet some of
their supporters and to share about the work God is doing among Hungarian
students. When I asked Gabi how he became a Christian, he told us that he was raised in a Christian home and came to Christ as a child. Then he shared this story.
Some of you may know that Hungary was a Communist nation
until 1990. Madarasz
Lajos, Gabi's grandfather, was a preacher in Hungary during this time when Christianity was
illegal. He held “underground” or secret
church meetings during the 1960’s for people who wanted to know about having a
relationship with God through His Son Jesus.
Not all churches had to meet in secret, though. The ones that were approved by the government
were mainly places to gather and talk about political issues. Some of the priests
in the state-approved churches actually served as spies for the government by
reporting any person or activity that seemed to be “Christian.”
Besides leading an underground congregation of believers, Lajos
was also a teacher of math and Physics.
Somehow, his employer discovered his secret Christian work and forced
him to make a choice. Lajos was given
three days to decide to keep his job or to continue pastoring the Hungarian
believers. Gabi said, “He told them, ‘I
don’t need three days to decide. I will
tell you now.’” Lajos had a wife and
seven children to support, but he chose to faithfully proclaim God’s word, even
though it ruined his career. God was faithful, though. All seven children thrived and all seven became believers. Later, forty-six grandchildren were added to the family, and all forty-six became believers as well. Gabi and his work with CCC are just some of the fruits that have come from the devotion and courage of that brave Hungarian pastor. Only heaven knows exactly how many lives were rescued and redeemed in spite of the restraints of Communism.
I, like Gabi, am the product of a Christian home, and I am
also a third generation Christian. I
thank God for my Christian heritage, and the work of Christ in our family is just
as amazing. But the courage of that one
man to willingly face persecution in a Communist country…. his story both
challenges and convicts me. I’ve never
been forced to choose between my relationship with God and my employment, or
between feeding my family and sharing my faith.
How easy it is to serve God in America, yet how many faith-sharing
opportunities have I ignored?
God, make us mindful
and grateful for every opportunity to make Your glory known. Thank you for heroes of the faith who
motivate us and challenge us.
Thanks for meeting our new friend. Will you pray for him, his wife, and their
ministry team as they faithfully spread the Good News of Jesus Christ?
By the way, if you haven't seen it, I'm trying post pictures of Speak Out on our family blog. Check it out: www.davisfamilyinhungary.blogspot.com
By the way, if you haven't seen it, I'm trying post pictures of Speak Out on our family blog. Check it out: www.davisfamilyinhungary.blogspot.com
