In 1944 the Baptists helped to form the Council of Free Churches.

The communists suppressed and persecuted all forms of religion during their domination of Hungary (1949-1989).  Since they concentrated on the three major groups (Catholics, Reformed and Lutheran), the Baptists suffered less than others.  The communists used the Council of Free Churches to control the Baptists and other smaller groups.  Unfortunately, the Baptist leadership for the most yielded to the communists demands.  During this era, the number of Baptist churches shrunk by 200 and total membership fell by 4,000.

When Billy Graham came to Hungary for an evangelistic campaign, he said that he saw no evidence of religious persecution under communism.  That piece of information was news to many of the Baptist I have talked to who lived through that era.

The Hungarian Baptist Union today is a member of the ecumenical World Council of Churches and the Baptist World Alliance.  Many of their leaders have been trained in American Southern Baptist seminaries and they receive substantial funding from the Southern Baptists.