Short History Lesson on Hungary and Szeged.

Hungary, or more accurately: Magyarország, has had a very colorful history—filled more with long periods of occupation and control by others than real freedom. Romans, Ancient Germans, Mongols, Turks, Austrians, and the Russians all controlled Hungary at some point. Being on the wrong side of both World Wars, and then pulled into Communism took a huge toll. Hungary lost 60% of its land area at the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. Many Hungarians and people of Hungarian descent today live outside it’s borders in neighboring countries. During WWII the Russian Army occupied the land, only leaving in 1991. A Russian-engineered coup brought the Communists to power in 1947. The Hungarian uprising of 1956 brought terrible revenge from the Russians. 80,000 were killed, wounded or deported, and 200,000 fled to the West.

Norbi grew up under communism, which finally fell in 1989. He heard nothing of God or of the Bible until he was 17 years old. Evolution was taught as fact. As in most post-communist countries, Hungarians were starving for Spiritual understanding and purpose in their lives when the ‘Iron Curtain’ fell. Statistically, 61% of Hungarians are Catholic, 26% Protestant, 1% Muslim, and the remaining 12% claim no religion. The Communists enforced strict controls on all Christians between 1948 and 1988 through discrimination, intimidation and infiltration. There has been freedom of religion since 1990. The 40 years of bondage are over, but the moral, social and spiritual damage of Marxism still blights the country and, more sadly, the Church. Although some Catholic and Protestant leaders boldly stood for the Lord and suffered, many only retained their positions by compromises. A legacy of suspicion, mistrust, and division is the result. Good national leadership is a big prayer need for the church in Hungary.

Calvary Chapel came into the ripe harvest field of Hungary in 1990, and to Szeged in 1992. Szeged is a College Town, with two major Universities and three colleges—so there are tons of youth. It is a large city, with a population of 180,000. Szeged is built along the Tisza river, which has been the making and unmaking of the city—famous for it’s fish soup, and also famous for the great flood of 1879, after which the whole city had to be rebuilt!

It was a CC missionary who led Norbi to Jesus 8 years ago, it’s truly amazing to be going full circle, and for our family to be going as the missionaries now—may we minister to another “Norbi”!

Check out the web-camera instant photos of Szeged at: www.tiszanet.hu Then scroll down to “Webkamerák”, click on Szeged. Finally click on any of the three photos, enjoy a real time glimpse of life here!