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Anton Huba
This is from pages 4 and 5 of the West Virginia Historical Newsletter published by the WV District of the United Pentecostal Church. Two attachments show a picture of Anton Huba (date unknown) and his obituary which appeared on page 19 of the June 1967 Pentecostal Herald. I remember hearing Bro. Norman Paslay (senior) almost 50 years ago mentioning this man’s name and telling about his interrogation and torture and how he was held by the hair and slung around, ripping his hair out. Then I came across this article a day or two ago. I thought I would pass this on about a man whose name is mostly unknown and forgotten. He is one of God’s heroes who suffered for His Name.
Three Missionary Journeys
The history of one of the early East Central District’s spiritual statesmen, Anton Huba, is a story that could be taken from the Book of Acts. He was born in Liptovska Luzna, Czechoslovakia, migrated to the United States in November, 1919, and married Mary Rekos from Czechoslovakia in August, 1924. He was filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in Jesus name in Akron, Ohio, in December, 1919. Later he moved to New York and began his ministry. He was ordained by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in 1923.
The Slovak people came to hear the word of God in their language, resulting in overflowing attendances. One sister said, “When Brother Huba preached it looked like rays of the sun were coming from him.” Anton Huba’s father, Andrew Huba, traveled to Czechoslovakia in 1927 to take the Apostolic message to his people. He pioneered the work there. His son, John, a brother to Anton, traveled with his father, and remained receiving a missionary appointment.
Anton and Mary Huba also applied for visas to go to Europe to assist his father; however, while in prayer the Lord urged him to go to Pennsylvania and assist an emerging congregation. The Slovak congregation in Pennsylvania had meetings day and night. No one felt like eating, sleeping or going to work, all they wanted to do was to worship God. They returned home on the streetcars, singing and continuing in worship. In spite of severe persecution the Lord blessed their efforts.
During the decade of the 1930s, Brother Huba traveled to Czechoslovakia to minister and assist his brother in the work. He encountered much opposition from the Roman Catholic bishops. Also, there were the strict governmental rules related to church gatherings. While he was engaged in evangelistic work in Czechoslovakia, believers in Yugoslavia heard of his ministry and requested that he come to help them. A fellow Slovak, Brother Paul Mayton, of Akron, Ohio, had traveled to Yugoslavia some two years previous and reaped a harvest of souls. So Brother Anton Huba traveled to Yugoslavia to minister. The work was rather young and unorganized but was bravely struggling to stand for the Oneness truth. The government became very hostile to what was termed a "supernatural" religion because God was working in the church with miraculous experiences. Assembling of people was forbidden. However, Brother Huba held secret meetings every night at a different place to avoid the scrutiny of the police. The meetings resulted in a powerful spiritual revival, with the power of God manifested during the services. As the interest among the people increased the bishops of the Catholic Church became angered and determined to stop the spiritual awakening. Believers were questioned, but God protected Brother Huba from arrest. In an article he wrote for the Pentecostal Herald, he said,
“Sometimes the police were on my trail and it would be necessary to stop preaching, praying and even whispering as we presented the Gospel. At times like that tears were the only expression that I could make… fear would almost overwhelm me.”
After his trip to Europe, he returned to Pennsylvania to assist the Slovak congregation. They had found an empty church and were able to purchase it in 1941, and requested that Anton Huba be their pastor. W. T. Witherspoon, the general superintendent of the
Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, installed him as pastor. Later property was located in nearby Swissvale and the way was cleared to allow the congregation to purchase property upon which to build, and this property became the permanent
and current location of the church. Ground was broken on October 28, 1949, and the men of the church began construction. On New Year's Eve, 1950, the first meeting was held in the new sanctuary. Many were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
According to his reports to the Foreign Missions Board (Brother Huba was a member of that board), Brother Huba made another trip to Yugoslavia, and as he ministered to the people, former enemies learned of his presence and he was arrested, bound with chains, and tried in three courts within a period of 10 days. Serious but false charges of sedition were placed against him by the priests. This charge put his life in dire danger. During the process of the trial he was denied a defense counsel. At the hands of his captors they plucked his hair out. The Lord spoke to him and told him to retrieve his hair from the ground, and he did so, putting it in his cap. He did not know that it would be helpful at a later date. In his report he related,
“I was tried in a District Court for the offense of holding meetings of more than 50 people. I was found guilty, sentenced to five years imprisonment and fined 2000 dinars… Time in the prison seemed very long. I had no Bible to read nor pen and paper to write with. I spent my time walking back and forth in my place of confinement. One thing consoled me. I commenced to quote the Bible from memory, as much as I could
remember, and sweet peace came….”
This persecution served its purpose because the Belgrade Times reported his trial. This was a saving factor because he was released from prison with a warning that he leave the country. He traveled to Czechoslovakia, but because of the continued persecution of the believers, returned to Yugoslavia and went directly to the capital city of Belgrade with a petition to the government. They scrutinized the by-laws and Articles of Faith (of then P. A. of W.) and found them unsatisfactory. Again, he was arrested and was placed behind bars. He was surprised when a guard came to his cell and led him out into a courtroom where he was tried as a dangerous man, one who was seeking to spread a most subtle revolt. The judge had all the documents and charges against him and as he was looking them over, he would look at Brother Huba and seemed to be perplexed. Later it was revealed that the documents’ description of Brother Huba simply did not fit with what he saw. The charges against him would have resulted in long imprisonment or death, but because Brother Huba had no counselor to represent him, the judge simply asked, “Who are you and what is your purpose in being here?” “The voice of the Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Show them the hair!’ and I reached for my hat to get it and showed it to the judge. He leaned forward with an inquisitive look and as I explained how they had treated me, and it created a very emotional and dramatic moment as I spoke of my innocence and it seemed that everybody in the courtroom was moved.
I explained to the judge and the court that this is my hair which had been plucked from my head by gendarmes while they were tormenting me all night long. God gave me favor in the eyes of the judge. He set me free, but ordered me to again leave the country.”
Upon his release, the Lieutenant who had mistreated him previous to the trial sent word that he would like to see him. When he arrived the officer came into the room and had no smile or other expression of greeting on his face. Brother Huba greeted him with the customary bow to a person in official position. The man did not respond, but Brother Huba, smiling extended his hand and the man grasped the outstretched hand and pulled Brother Huba against his breast. He then threw his arm around Brother Huba’s neck and the harsh countenance disappeared as he broke down and pleaded for Brother Huba’s forgiveness.
God through this ministry raised up the needed leadership for the work. One outstanding brother was John Balca, the father of Ann Nowacki, wife of John Nowacki, United Pentecostal Church International missionaries to France, and sister to Sam Balca. The Lord also raised a native worker, Brother Milovoy, a Serbian, who was used of the Lord.
The ministry tours of Brother Anton Huba resulted in 54 assemblies, among them Slovak, Serbian, Croation, Hungarian and Rumanian churches and one Turkish assembly.
Brother Huba was a real missionary apostle and of interest to us, because he was from the East Central District when Pennsylvania was yet a part of the district. Brother Huba died April 21, 1967, and would have been 67 years of age in July.
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Sam also known as Jim Ellis
Apostolic in doctrine
Pentecostal in experience
Charismatic in practice
Non-denominational in affiliation
Inter-denominational in fellowship
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