Hungarian Presbyterian Church of Wharton, New Jersey
The Hungarian Presbyterian Church of Wharton, New Jersey was founded in 1904 to minister to recent immigrants in the Wharton area. This congregation is overseen by the Presbytery of Newton.[1]
Many Hungarians were drawn to work at the region's center of iron mining, steel, railroad, and canal industries. Worship services were conducted in their native language.
Joseph Wharton, the owner of the local steel mill, benefactor of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and namesake of the community, donated the land where the Church is now located.
In 1950, English language worship services were added to accommodate the original immigrants' children and grandchildren.
After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the Church was active in settling 61 refugee families into the Wharton area. Many became pillars of the Church and community.
In 1964, the Church merged with the other Presbyterian Church in Wharton, the Luxemberg Presbyterian Church, to become the United Presbyterian Church of Wharton. This combination lasted until 1978, when both congregations decided to again spread the Word of our Lord separately.
The Church today is composed of a combination of Hungarian immigrants, their American children and grandchildren, and the general population including recent Spanish speaking immigrants who adhere to Reformed theology.
The Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) through the Newton Presbytery and is committed to the Confessing Church Movement within the Presbyterian Church (USA)[2].
Belief and Mission
The Church is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ, as written in the Holy Bible.
While many in the congregation are proud of their Hungarian heritage, many others are equally proud of other ancestry.
The Church is firmly anchored in the Reformed Faith or what is commonly called Calvinism (Református).
Worship services include separate English and Hungarian language services, with occasional combined language services.
The Church's primary mission effort for the past several years has been as the major sponsor of the SonBeam Bible Camp in Košice, Slovakia.
The largest minority group in Slovakia is people of Hungarian descent. Slovakia was long run by a Communist government, and as a result Christianity was not openly disseminated.
This evangelical camp has brought many young people to know the love of our Lord. About 500 young people between the ages of 6 to 14 attend this summer Bible Camp every year at no charge; all camp staff are volunteers including 22 teachers, 4 Pastors, and a full-time doctor, only the food preparation staff is paid.
In addition to hearing about the grace of God, the campers are also taught religious music by professional musicians, leaving time still for play and creative activities such as ceramics, paper art, painting, and making corn husk dolls.
Session and Staff
The Session of the Hungarian Presbyterian Church of Wharton, New Jersey consists of:
Gabriella Ilkei, Stephen Lance, Jolan Szmetena, Ilonka Zajos.
Rev Csilla Toth, Pastor
Rev Csilla Toth, Moderator, Stephen Lance, Clerk of Session, Jolan Szmetena, Treasurer.
The Board of Deacons of the Hungarian Presbyterian Church of Wharton, New Jersey consists of:
Gabriella Ilkei, Judith Szabo, Karen Lance.
References
- Presbytery of Newton. "The Presbytery of Newton Encompasses Churches in Four Counties of New Jersey". Retrieved 30 April 2013.