To hear their story, one would think the words came from a novel read in a Book Club. For over 20 years Mara and Gabor Madarasz have been spreading the Word of Jesus Christ in Budapest, Hungary, having both grown up in communism. The couple ministers to high school and college students. Currently, the couple is visiting the United States for six weeks to update sponsors on the ministry.
From communism to Christianity
Married for 17 years, with two children Gabor and Tamara, the couple works for CRU, which was formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ. They both grew up in communism, which did not fall in Hungary until 1989. Mara’s family was not Christian and she remembers well being shown pictures of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin which depicted the men as heroes. “Lenin was my childhood hero. I used to imagine situations that could happen, and Lenin coming to save everyone,” Mara explained.
As a child, Mara remembers the “big black car” which would come and take people away never to be seen again. “Neighbors spied on neighbors. Families turned family members in. Anyone who spoke against communism and was caught, disappeared,” Mara added.
She remembers the amazing treat of a banana. Her mother would wait in line for hours once a year to get 5 bananas for their family. Every day she and her brother waited for the bananas to turn yellow. It was such a treat. Mara knows now that her father knew that communism wasn’t right, but he protected his family by teaching them that it was.
Christianity was illegal
Gabor’s family lived in a tumultuous environment because they were Christians. His grandfather held an underground church. He was a professor at a University in Budapest teaching math and physics. One day he was called in for questioning by the University. They had learned he was a Christian and gave him three days to choose between his job or Christianity. “My grandfather told them he didn’t need three days,” Gabor said. “He immediately said he chose Christianity.” Gabor described how his grandfather lost his job and was never able to teach anywhere again. There were seven children in his home and his wife but God provided everything they needed and protected them.
The seven children described the moment when he came home and told them he no longer had a job as life-changing. “They knew Jesus Christ was real if their father was willing to sacrifice everything for Him. My grandfather’s decision taught us that Christianity is much more than a religion,” Gabor added. Some of the seven children, as they got older, ended up in prison because of their faith, but they were all able to escape eventually.
Mara came to know Christ in college. “I had questions about religion. I did not understand what it was about. My roommate had a Bible, and one day the Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU) came to visit her.”
Witnessing to others
Mara said her roommate was studying at the library, so Mara invited the college students in, saying she would like to talk to them. Because of their visit that day, Mara became a Christian and developed a lifelong love for Christ and ministry. “That is what motivates me to work every day for CRU. If it weren’t for the visit that day, I would not have accepted Christ as my Savior and the rest is history.”
Mara’s brother was a Neo-Nazi. When Mara became a Christian, his anger toward her was extreme. The two argued often and eventually did not speak to one another. Her parents also did not like her decision and were scared for her because of all they had heard about Christianity.
Her brother believed he belonged to a superior race, and he had a strong hatred for Jews and gypsies. One day, her brother contacted her and told her he believed she may be right. Mara asked him what he was talking about and he said he was talking about sin. Before, he did not think that he had ever sinned but something was changing.
Mara left him books and a Bible which he read and called her. He told her that he understood now but because of all the horrific things he had done, he didn’t believe he could be forgiven. “I explained to him that 1/2 of a drop of blood from Jesus washed all of his sins away,” she said.
Her brother did not know how he could ever love a Jew or gypsy. She prayed with her brother and he accepted Christ as his Savior. Today, he is in full-time ministry and one of the Pastoral Leaders of the Hungarian Gypsies.
There is a documentary on her brother in Hungary about his transformation from a skinhead to a preacher.
Programs in Hungary
Gabor and Mara run a camp called Speak Out for students in Hungary. They hire students from the United States to come as English tutors. Many of the campers come to know Christ as a result of attending camp. “Recently, I met one of our campers from years ago. She was married with children and a leader of ministry in her church. She had learned about Christ through the camp,” Mara said.
The couple relies upon donations and sponsorships through CRU to live and work as missionaries in Budapest. “It is a team effort. So many people say they could never travel abroad and witness for Christ. This way, we are all working together through prayer, donations, sponsorship, and our boots on the ground in Budapest. Together we bring people to Christ,” Gabor added.
After 20 years of working as missionaries, the couple realizes the impact made when partners come together with them. It is humbling for Mara and Gabor to express the lives that have come to know Christ and been changed through CRU.
“Our greatest joy is helping newcomers to Christ grow in their faith,” Mara said with a smile.
