Hungary: 15 years of rebuilding
On Sunday 16 October The Salvation Army in Hungary looked back on 15 years of rebuilding. Pioneers from Switzerland and Canada met a young, growing Salvation Army in Budapest.On 3 November 1990, Salvationists in Hungary 'opened fire', not even a year after the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Before that, The Salvation Army – 'Az Üdvhadsereg' in Hungarian – had been obliged to stay silent for over 50 years. During that time Salvation Army officers had to cope with the circumstances imposed by the communist regime. They had to look for a job and find a way to maintain their witness in the face of discrimination.
Fifteen years of persistence
With the reopening of the Army's work in Hungary in 1990 the dream of the old Hungarian Salvationists came true, and many of them could still experience some years of the new era.
Meanwhile, officers and comrades from abroad went to work, coming from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Persistently and tirelessly they worked, supported by a growing number of Hungarian friends and comrades – and soon, also, by the first Hungarian officers.
A Hungarian celebration
Many of these pioneers celebrated a happy reunion on Sunday 16 October in Budapest. The Zürich Nord Band from Switzerland opened the celebration day with an open-air concert in front of the Keleti train station. The day before they had already been on the road with Hungarian Salvationists, serving in the town of Kecskemét. In the afternoon people gathered at Lemberg utca, where the Rákoscsaba Corps and the Hostel for Women are located.
Hungarian Salvationists led the programme, which included brass musicians from Debrecen and Budapest, reinforced by their comrades from Zürich, a timbrel group, and Roma-music by the Jószefváros Corps – all in all, a real Hungarian Celebration!
Not tram conductors!
Captain Adam Macher (Debrecen) remembered the beginnings: 'When we got on the tram, many stamped their ticket quickly. They didn’t recognize the Salvationists' uniforms and thought we were conductors.'
Also Magdi Oros (Men’s Hostel Dobozi utca) had to get used to the idea of wearing the uniform: 'But when I wore it the first time, my husband fell in love with me anew.' Her husband had been even more sceptical than her. Today he wears the uniform, too, and he keeps telling his wife: 'The Salvation Army was founded just for you!'
The Salvation Army in Hungary
o Hungary is part of the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory
o 4 corps (3 in Budapest, 1 in Debrecen)
o 3 homes
o 14 officers
o www.udvhadsereg.org
