Rev. George Vidits
George was born in Beiu~ (a place name roughly meaning Where the Buffalos Roam’) in western Romania. Although born in Romania, he is of ethnic Hungarian descent, with a surname of Serbian origin. (Vidits is pronounced as the Manchester United player’s name Vidic, but he is quite happy to respond to `George’!)
Born a son of the manse’ in the Reformed Church in Romania, during the communist regime of Ceau~escu, from teenage years he felt a call to ministry. Entry to Theological College in the 1980s was not easy (only two new students were allowed each year, and only those of the `right resume’ could get in!) For reasons still unknown, he was refused three times. After the third time a friend from the college told privately that while the system persists there will be no place for him there. However some three years later the communist regimes of Eastern Europe collapsed. As aid convoys reached Romania, George got involved in interpreting for them and guiding them in their mission there. Through one such convoy, he met Jean Swan, a Christian nurse from Helensburgh who had a vision for young people of Eastern Europe to have a chance to higher education in the UK. This is how George and his friend Beni arrived in Helensburgh and St Columba in 1990. They were meant to come for a year. George stayed with the generous support of St Columba until he got his BD from the University of London, via Glasgow Bible College. As soon as he had a certificate that he is Bachelor, he ceased to be on marrying Susan, whom he got to know at the college, thus fulfilling the age old tradition of the institution, and making it into Glasgow Bridal College.
George ministered for eight years in the Reformed Church in the farming village of Hodos in Romania. In 2002 Sue and George returned to Scotland, where George studied for a post-graduate degree of MTh at International Christian College in Glasgow. Meanwhile he was assistant minister at Milngavie: St Paul’s for over three years, until he became minister of St Columba in October 2006.
As a youngster George played basketball, recently however he was introduced to golf. Handicap? Yes, a lot! But he enjoys it. George regularly joins the Dads and Lads group of the congregation for football and basketball. He enjoys reading, television, sports (he is a dedicated Scotland supporter), walking, and fiddling with the computer. Susan is from Potters Bar, she is a palliative care nurse, and has a degree in theology. They are both looking forward to the new opportunities of ministry at St Andrew’s Kirk.