Skateboarding Priest Reaches Out to Young People

Jeremy Reynalds : Aug 24, 2010
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"Many times I have felt that this is the way I can bring many people a bit closer to Jesus."

(Hungary)—A Hungarian Roman Catholic priest is reaching out to young people with his skateboarding tricks—and becoming a YouTube sensation in the process.

According to a story by Christian Today's Charlie Boyd, a video of Rev. Zoltan Lendvai skateboarding has been viewed by tens of thousands of people. The video, called Funny Priest Skateboarding, shows the priest performing on his skateboard as he talks to a group of teenagers.

Christian Today said Lendvai, who is based in Redics, near the border with Slovenia, learned to skateboard as a young teenager at school. He believes skateboarding is an effective way of reaching young people with the Christian faith.

He told Reuters that he is inspired by the 19th century Italian priest and educator Saint John Bosco, who used games to teach poor children.

"Many times I have felt that this is the way I can bring many people a bit closer to Jesus," Christian Today said he told the news agency.

According to Christian Today, he talked about three teenage boys who started coming to church after he taught them some skateboarding tricks. He added that he has given away at least six skateboards bearing the papal coat of arms to young people in his parish.