A Christian café in the former school building, a renewed bell tower and a renovated manse - thanks to the cooperation of the Reformed community of the village of Mád, and the support of the Presbytery and Church District and the government, the congregation could celebrate a festive inauguration on August 22.
"The former school building of the Reformed congregation of Mád was nationalized in 1952, and even after the political changes in 1989 our congregation had no legal possibility to claim compensation, as the property was sold by the Hungarian State in 1965. Last year, the owner of the building decided to sell the former school building," – said Péter László Tar, pastor of the congregation, at the service. The purchase of the building, worth 26.5 million Forints, was supported by the government. Since many people are leaving the village, the reformed people of Mád are not thinking of opening a new school, but will open a Christian café and bakery in the building and in the churchyard with the professional help of the Reformed Public and Cultural Foundation.
"For many people, church management seems difficult to reconcile with gospel centered way thinking. Whereas there is nothing more important for a church community and its pastor than spirituality rooted in the Gospel. When I came to the congregation fifteen years ago, I met a community that had been trading grapes and wine for centuries, working in so called kaláka – (traditional Hungarian expression for voluntary work offered in a joint effort for one of the members of the community ed.), where there is a tradition of working together and thus build community. Not to mention the fact that the café in the churchyard is open to people who would otherwise never visit the church, so we are taking the plunge and planning the café with courage," said the pastor.
The former teacher's and bell-ringer's house in Mád has also been renovated, and in the future it will host a film club, youth, community and charity events. The house, which had been out of use for decades, was rebuilt – besides the support of the Presbytery and Church District, financial aid came from the Rural Development Program, a state run project, funded by the European Union. The manse in Mád was also renewed, with the funding provided by the Cistibiscan Church District. The district considers it important to help renovate the manses of smaller congregations in order to enable more communities to have their own pastor. The support amounted to 45 000 EUR.
The buildings of the congregation were not renewed without a purpose, but to provide a space for encounters with God, thanksgiving and community building, stressed Rev. Sándor Barna, the vice-Bishop of the Cistibiscan Church District in his sermon. "For the believer, God's presence is a source of joy, and that is why he is present in the church and in the community of the congregation," he said, stressing that Christians have good reason to rejoice not only at thanksgiving events, but every day.
At the service, Zoltán Fürjes, Deputy State Secretary for Church and Nationalities, offered greetings on behalf of the government. "Remain in the wine ", he quoted the parable of Jesus, referring to the importance he attaches to reliable values represented and promoted by the Church, which can be the basis of stable and strong communities. "Two are better than one," says the Bible again, "and that is why it is important that new spaces for community life are created in Mád”.
Translated by Réka Komáromi