The Hungarian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (MEKDSZ) exists officially since 1989, but it holds itself to be the legal successor of MEKDSZ, which operated from 1910 till 1949.

In 1907, 10 students decided to establish MEKDSZ, at a conference in Visegrád. There had been many student bible groups operating at Hungarian Universities (in Budapest, Debrecen, Sopron, Pápa, Eperjes, Nagykorös) by that time.

The connection which was formed with the International Association of Christian Students had a powerful effect on the expanding Hungarian student movement, in particular the visit of some of the delegates of the Association, from whom János Mott, its secretary-general, and his personality, enthusiasm, and vision has to be mentioned.

The second conference took place in Balatonalmádi, in 1908 with 60 participants. In 1909 the first travelling secretary of MEKDSZ, János Victor was elected, who visited each of the student centres during the autumn.

"Everywhere he announces: We are a Christian student organisation, which fights with all its might in the service of Jesus Christ and His cause and not in that of different congregations. Although we have a universal mission we address each student personally. We are not makers of phrases; we are talking about facts, which have a life-changing effect. In a short time, in the capital and in other country towns many new bible groups will be formed, in which 6 to 10 like-minded students search together into the meaning of the Word of God and into the consequences it has in their personal lives. In Budapest there are four groups with thirty members, in Pápa five groups with twenty members, and in Debrecen theologians and lawyers form four groups altogether. There are new groups in Sopron and in Sárospatak, where the Gospel of Mark is being studied in unexpected numbers." (Quotation: from the manuscript of László Deme in the Retrospect On the Road of MEKDSZ)

In September 1909 the first issue of the newspaper of MEKDSZ, "Diákvilág" (Student Life) appeared. In 1910 the constitution of the Association was accepted and officially approved by the Ministry of the Interior in October.

Forty years passed till 1949, when MEKDSZ, considering the political situation of the time announced its own dissolution. Throughout these forty years thousands of people were members of the student association whose lives were affected by what they received here through the service they actively participated in - for a lifetime. Not one of the members became an active professional, theologian or leader who played a decisive role in the lives of the Hungarian protestant churches or even in the life of the whole society itself. Two senior members made the following statements:

"What have I received from MEKDSZ? I can answer with one word: Love. Love to accompany me in the until then neglected duties, love in Rome 8:28, which I took with me when I went to war, love among the members of the Chinese student association. I received my wife and many friends in MEKDSZ from the Lord. I received the loving faithfulness to my evangelical faith and the feeling of unity in Christ among my fellows belonging to other denominations."

"During the bible studies and conferences of the student association I realised the richness of the Word of God, which gave direction to my life and answers to the big questions in life. Through the work of the student association I received stable, honest and faithful friends."

These forty years were full of fights, trials, joy and anxiety as the age itself was with its two World Wars, revolution, the fall of the Monarchy, the great depression... All these meant a great challenge for the Christian students: to proclaim the Gospel about Jesus Christ in that age. Many many pages could be written about these forty years. Thanks to God, we have documents, memoirs, the issues of "Diákvilág" (Student Life) and Pro Christo (the later name of the newspaper of MEKDSZ). All of these are recommended for reading.

Nonetheless the next 25-30 years were challenging. The earthly chronicle of this period however is much less complete than that of the previous forty years...

In the meantime, after the war, in 1949 the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) was founded. In 1970 someone was sent to Hungary to see whether Christian students could be found in our country... Thus the history of the "new MEKDSZ" began.

At first, bible studies, meetings were organised under the cover-name of "birthday parties", summer camps were held in hidden places. Typed materials were once confiscated at the border after an international conference.

As the times changed, growing participation characterised the summer camps, less precaution was needed before the monthly meetings, and later these occasions were organised in "official" rooms belonging to congregations, in ecclesiastical conference centres and morning prayer meetings in University seminar rooms.

In 1989 MEKDSZ was allowed to be re-established, with the same goals as 80 years ago:

1. To bring students to Jesus Christ, to the only Redeemer, so that they could become his disciples.
2. To deepen the spiritual life of students.
3. To gather students for work, so that the Kingdom of Christ could spread throughout the world.

However there are changed circumstances in a secularised society that experiences great changes at the end of the twentieth century and where people were brought up in atheism. This is the challenge that we face today. But it is good to know that there were generations before us witnessing about Jesus Christ among students.