Debrecen4U August 19, 2025

The foundation stone of the New Hope Baptist Church center was laid

The first phase of the facility planned on Epreskert Street will include the construction of a house of prayer, which will later be followed by a kindergarten and a nursery.

In his welcoming speech at the ceremony, State Secretary Miklós Soltész emphasized that the government supports such investments so that the country becomes and remains Christian.

This is how Debrecen’s new faith community center on Epreskert Street looks in the visual design, which is being realized through the cooperation of the government, the local government, and the Baptists. A house of prayer will be built in the first phase, along with a community park, playground, and sports field in the area. The foundation stone of the 2,200-square-meter center, which will be realized in the first phase, was laid today, marking the congregation’s twenty-year dream coming true.

“The congregation started with ten people in an upstairs apartment on Derék Street in September 2001 and will now be able to move into its own home as its seventh building in the summer of 2026. We are grateful for the donations collected to make this happen,” Pastor Sándor Tóth said.

According to Mayor László Papp, in addition to economically driven developments, the revitalization of sacred spaces and the construction of new ones play a crucial role in the city. The new Baptist faith center will be of great service to the residents of the southern part of the city. “This part of the city will be the site of significant developments in the coming decades, and let’s not forget that the city’s educational and upbringing system will continue to expand with nursery and kindergarten places that will be implemented in the future,” he said.

The congregation received the 12,000-square-meter area from the Ministry of Defense in 2021, with the specific aim of building a house of prayer, a kindergarten, and a nursery on the site. The government is financially supporting the investment.

“Last year we were able to provide HUF 427 million in support, and the decision has already been made about the next support of HUF 315 million, which will certainly arrive and enable the implementation of this first phase,” State Secretary responsible for Church and Nationality Relations Miklós Soltész stated.

If the full funding is available, the first phase could be completed by May 2026.

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu