His mother, Erzsébet Benkő, was the descendant of a renowned Transylvanian Reformed clerical dynasty dating back hundreds of years on her father's side.

In addition to theology, he did youth work in the Pasarét Reformed congregation under the guidance of his paternal friend Sándor Joó, a pastor.

In 1958 the Állami Egyházügyi Hivatal (ÁEH), the communist state organization supervising the churches announced the fight against "clerical reaction",[4] and as part of this, young pastors who had graduated from the Budapesti Református Teológiai Akadémia and were involved in the revolutionary events were exiled from the capital.

[10] Szabó was transferred from Jászberény to Baranya, like several of his former Budapest theologian fellows, such as Loránt Hegedűs, András Bóka, and Péter Czanik, only to remain there for decades, or even permanently, at a "safe distance" in the most remote, southernmost county of the country.

His ecclesiastical superior confided that the decision was slow because 'up there' he was not considered a 'good cadre', as he was too dedicated and effective in his work to renew the spiritual life of the congregations and people around him.

However, under Szabó's leadership with the help of donations from the local congregation and foreign grants, the parish house was made habitable in less than six months.

Even around his new location, following the years in Belvárdgyula, Szabó had no shortage of congregations: Hímesháza, Nagynyárád, Majs, Lánycsók, Székelyszabar, Szűr, Palotabozsok, Véménd, Homorúd and Sátorhely were all included.

Szabó was a committed ecumenical believer, and in Mohács he maintained excellent relations with the pastors of other denominations, with whom he regularly organized joint, universal prayer weeks.

The bishop made him clear that he could not officially grant him a permit because of the ÁEH, but if he insisted in implementing his idea offered him a Gentlemen's Agreement promising to protect Szabó from possible retaliation in the future.

Bible verse at his funeral: ’Because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.’ (2 Timothy 1:12) Mihály Szabó's ashes have been resting in the church cemetery in Maglód since February 19, 2011.