Brethren Be Ye Not Affrighted
The following true account was related to Nathan Steffen of the Apostolic Christian Church of Elgin, Illinois, in the summer of 1990. During a trip to Sweden to search out ancestry, Nathan had the privilege of meeting and visiting with a Nazarene brother (Andras Pasztor of Oerkelljunga, Sweden) who had been imprisoned for his faith in Yugoslavia. Following is the story of his experiences.
Andras Pasztor was born in 1926 in Feketic in the Hungarian section of Yugoslavia. He was raised in the Nazarene faith and through the calling of the Lord, he repented and became converted at age 17. As was the lot of many of his acquaintances who were members of the Nazarene faith, Andras was put on trial for his conviction not to bear arms when he reached the age for the military draft.
During Andras’ trial, he was asked many questions about his faith and he gave an answer to every question though GOD’s grace. Finally, after several hours of interrogation, an official asked him, “Young man, you think you know everything. Can you tell me how far it is to paradise?”
Andras answered, “One day.”
Official: “How do you know? Who measured that?”
Andras: “Jesus on the cross said to the man beside him, ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’”
Official: “I have no more questions for this young man.”
For punishment, he was sent to prison and confined for a period of five years.
Day after day in prison, Andras was required to produce stone blocks with a hammer and chisel. He was given the measurements for various sizes of blocks and forced to work at this burdensome job. He was not allowed to converse or talk with other prisoners at any time.
Each day imprisoned men were given two half-hour breaks from their work, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. During these breaks, they were allowed to walk in the open courtyard, but their hands had to be clasped behind their backs as they walked to and fro, and they were forbidden to speak to the other prisoners who were walking.
The cold, dark prison held few comforts for the prisoners. Mistreated, hungry, and weary, the Nazarene brother fought against discouragement and despair. There was one Comforter who would often come to him during his severe trials: the wonderful Holy Spirit Who sustained and encouraged him. The young brother could pray to fight off despair, and he could remember Scripture verses to give him the spiritual strength he needed for each day. He could also recall the beautiful Zion's Harp songs he had learned in church as a child and sing them to himself until he was forbidden by the guards to do so. Then he would whistle the melodies, but most often, he was heard humming the Zion's Harp tunes.
Andras often wondered if there were other brethren or friends of the truth who were confined in the prison. He knew that any Nazarene would recognize the beloved Zion's Harp melodies that were sung in the church services every Sunday and often through the week, and the thought came to him to use these melodies to find other brethren. Perhaps they would be encouraged by the music.
One day while walking in the courtyard during his break, he began humming #38 in the Zion's Harp, "Comfort in Distress". He hummed the melody as he walked back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back. Passing another prisoner, he heard another voice softly humming something. What was it? Yes! It was a continuation of the melody of #38. The eyes of both men connected as they walked past each other, strangers, and yet, not strangers because they were one in Christ, companions of His suffering. They did not know each other's names nor where they were from, but they recognized each other as Nazarene brothers-in-faith because they were both familiar with the precious Zion's Harp melodies that were sung by their separate congregations.
From that day forward, Andras and his newly found brother-in-faith would look forward to seeing each other on their daily exercise breaks. As a result of no conversation being allowed, they would hum other tunes from the Zion's Harp encouraging each other in this way. They began to pray for each other's welfare, rejoicing that they had found another believer of like-faith to be there with them in prison. GOD used the precious Zion's Harp songs to identify other believers in that prison for many years, some even being friends of the truth.
The unique melodies of the Zion’s Harp are sung in many countries where the Nazarenes are found. The words in the stanzas have been translated into several different languages so that the songs are recognized by Nazarenes and Apostolic Christians all over the world. The Zion’s Harp can draw believers together in a unique form of fellowship where lyrics are in different languages, but the music is universally understood.
“Comfort in Distress”
Brethren be ye not affrighted;
God is yet among you here;
You are still with Him united,
And His grace is ever near.
His corrections prove His love,
Showered on us from above,
Let this be your consolation!
Why despair in tribulation?
If with anguish thou art shaken,
If men bind and torture thee,
Thou wilt never be forsaken
Think upon eternity!
Stand in faith and do not fear,
For thy LORD is ever near.
Zion, let His hand direct thee;
He will strengthen and protect thee!
Zion’s Harp #38, verse 1, 4
This story was handed down verbally and therefore, the minor details cannot be completely verified, but the events and conditions surrounding the account were confirmed by Juliana (Pasztor) Christ, a daughter of Andras Pasztor. Andras passed from this life in 2005. Submitted by Kurt and Jane Ehnle—July 2008
Stories of Faith and Courage Volume 4, page 56
The following true account was related to Nathan Steffen of the Apostolic Christian Church of Elgin, Illinois, in the summer of 1990. During a trip to Sweden to search out ancestry, Nathan had the privilege of meeting and visiting with a Nazarene brother (Andras Pasztor of Oerkelljunga, Sweden) who had been imprisoned for his faith in Yugoslavia. Following is the story of his experiences.
Andras Pasztor was born in 1926 in Feketic in the Hungarian section of Yugoslavia. He was raised in the Nazarene faith and through the calling of the Lord, he repented and became converted at age 17. As was the lot of many of his acquaintances who were members of the Nazarene faith, Andras was put on trial for his conviction not to bear arms when he reached the age for the military draft.
During Andras’ trial, he was asked many questions about his faith and he gave an answer to every question though GOD’s grace. Finally, after several hours of interrogation, an official asked him, “Young man, you think you know everything. Can you tell me how far it is to paradise?”
Andras answered, “One day.”
Official: “How do you know? Who measured that?”
Andras: “Jesus on the cross said to the man beside him, ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’”
Official: “I have no more questions for this young man.”
For punishment, he was sent to prison and confined for a period of five years.
Day after day in prison, Andras was required to produce stone blocks with a hammer and chisel. He was given the measurements for various sizes of blocks and forced to work at this burdensome job. He was not allowed to converse or talk with other prisoners at any time.
Each day imprisoned men were given two half-hour breaks from their work, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. During these breaks, they were allowed to walk in the open courtyard, but their hands had to be clasped behind their backs as they walked to and fro, and they were forbidden to speak to the other prisoners who were walking.
The cold, dark prison held few comforts for the prisoners. Mistreated, hungry, and weary, the Nazarene brother fought against discouragement and despair. There was one Comforter who would often come to him during his severe trials: the wonderful Holy Spirit Who sustained and encouraged him. The young brother could pray to fight off despair, and he could remember Scripture verses to give him the spiritual strength he needed for each day. He could also recall the beautiful Zion's Harp songs he had learned in church as a child and sing them to himself until he was forbidden by the guards to do so. Then he would whistle the melodies, but most often, he was heard humming the Zion's Harp tunes.
Andras often wondered if there were other brethren or friends of the truth who were confined in the prison. He knew that any Nazarene would recognize the beloved Zion's Harp melodies that were sung in the church services every Sunday and often through the week, and the thought came to him to use these melodies to find other brethren. Perhaps they would be encouraged by the music.
One day while walking in the courtyard during his break, he began humming #38 in the Zion's Harp, "Comfort in Distress". He hummed the melody as he walked back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back. Passing another prisoner, he heard another voice softly humming something. What was it? Yes! It was a continuation of the melody of #38. The eyes of both men connected as they walked past each other, strangers, and yet, not strangers because they were one in Christ, companions of His suffering. They did not know each other's names nor where they were from, but they recognized each other as Nazarene brothers-in-faith because they were both familiar with the precious Zion's Harp melodies that were sung by their separate congregations.
From that day forward, Andras and his newly found brother-in-faith would look forward to seeing each other on their daily exercise breaks. As a result of no conversation being allowed, they would hum other tunes from the Zion's Harp encouraging each other in this way. They began to pray for each other's welfare, rejoicing that they had found another believer of like-faith to be there with them in prison. GOD used the precious Zion's Harp songs to identify other believers in that prison for many years, some even being friends of the truth.
The unique melodies of the Zion’s Harp are sung in many countries where the Nazarenes are found. The words in the stanzas have been translated into several different languages so that the songs are recognized by Nazarenes and Apostolic Christians all over the world. The Zion’s Harp can draw believers together in a unique form of fellowship where lyrics are in different languages, but the music is universally understood.
“Comfort in Distress”
Brethren be ye not affrighted;
God is yet among you here;
You are still with Him united,
And His grace is ever near.
His corrections prove His love,
Showered on us from above,
Let this be your consolation!
Why despair in tribulation?
If with anguish thou art shaken,
If men bind and torture thee,
Thou wilt never be forsaken
Think upon eternity!
Stand in faith and do not fear,
For thy LORD is ever near.
Zion, let His hand direct thee;
He will strengthen and protect thee!
Zion’s Harp #38, verse 1, 4
This story was handed down verbally and therefore, the minor details cannot be completely verified, but the events and conditions surrounding the account were confirmed by Juliana (Pasztor) Christ, a daughter of Andras Pasztor. Andras passed from this life in 2005. Submitted by Kurt and Jane Ehnle—July 2008
Stories of Faith and Courage Volume 4, page 56