Pastor Janos Dabasy reflects

Pastor Janos Dabasy, pastor to the Melbourne Hungarian Congregation, retires on Friday 10th September, also his 85th birthday. Pastor Janos shares the story of his life and the journey into ministry as a Specific Ministry Pastor.

I was born before the war. The first few years comprised many beautiful memories.

Then came the war. Memories include: my father who was in the army corps of engineers was sent to the Russian front; the nightly air-raid sirens; spending nights downstairs in the strongest part of the house; a large part of the city flattened by carpet bombing; moving out to the country to avoid bombardment; in 1945 running away from the advancing Soviet army, first on train then on foot; overrun by the Soviets in Austria near the German border; going back on foot to Hungary; spending nearly 12 years under the communist puppet government; participating as university student in the ill-fated uprising in 1956; fleeing from Hungary to Austria empty handed on foot to escape persecution.

I arrived in Australia empty handed at end of October 1957 on a Thursday not knowing the language, and with a half-finished qualification. Next Monday, I went to work as draughtsman. My first boss was a Dutch engineer with whom I conversed in German, another engineer was Ukrainian with whom I communicated in Russian (it was compulsory in school). I worked for one day, the next was a holiday and I got paid. What was the holiday for? “A horse race”! What a great country?!! Now, 64 years later, I still think it is a great country!

After finishing engineering I worked as an engineer for 32 years. My experience included leading the mechanical design for several new chemical plants around Australia as principal design engineer.

The motto of my life is Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, persevere in prayer.” It became my motto after a harrowing experience I had waiting for my father to be released from detention by the secret police. Throughout my life I often needed this advice! It is most appropriate also now during the pandemic.

The Hungarian Lutheran Congregation was served by pastors Béla Bernhardt from Sydney, Peter Kemeny from Perth, and Arpad Breglec from Sydney usually bi-monthly. I served as one of the founding ‘presbyters’ (council members), and after the death of the chairperson in the seventies, I was elected the new chairman. When pastors were not in Melbourne we had reader services. I was one of the readers.  My duty as chairman was to hold the congregation together. I visited members, called them on phone; made sure that they were not forgotten. During Pr. Arpad’s time I became authorised to conduct communion services.

In 1994 Pr. Arpad realised that I should be able to be ordained as PWAT (pastor with alternative training – now SMP). The Congregation extended a call to me. Pr. Arpad recommended me for ordination to the College of Presidents.  The COP accepted the recommendation and I was ordained on 23 April 1995.

My ordination was the culmination of my entire life. My confirmation in 1948 had a lasting effect on me. It firmly bound me to the Church. Shortly, maybe a year after my confirmation, I received a very personal call to service from the Lord. I did not act on it for many years. I was channeled in to engineering. I fulfilled my role as engineer successfully, but the call was still bothering me deep down. In the mid 1980’s I enrolled at the Seminary via correspondence, but I was dispirited by the length of the time it would have taken to finish the study.  But the Lord did not let me go. In 1995 He called me to serve Him as PWAT/SMP. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve for 26 years, I am grateful to the Lord for not punishing me for not listening to Him but dragging me, into His service.

In addition to serving the Melbourne Congregation, I also served the Hungarian Congregation in Adelaide for 10 years, until their closure. I still serve the Rosebud congregation and have been helping out in several congregations around Melbourne when the pastor was not available.

I have to mention that after God, my best support is my dear wife, Eva. She is my sounding board, and checks my English. She is active in the Glen Waverley congregation and has given spirituality days for Lutheran Women of Victoria.

I am transferring to become a Pastor Emeritus (SMP), but it does not mean that I will rest on my laurels. I will still look after the Hungarian Lutherans in Melbourne, serve Rosebud and I would be still happy to help out occasionally if needed.

I close with the words Lutherans in Hungary greet each other:

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God!

by Pastor Janos Dabasy