August 10th, 2010 by Zac

I wanted to share a few stories about how God works through English camps in Slovakia this summer.

In case you didn’t remember, we had 8 camps with 9 participating Slovak local churches and 6 American local church teams. The last camp is finished and now the stories are streaming back.

“I came to camp to find God – and I found Him” one teenage boy said. A rough life with an abusive parent had made his heart soft even before camp started,  to the idea that there must be something better out there. We always pray that God will prepare the students who come to camp. This is one classic example that unveils our passionate God, who works quietly behind the curtain of individual lives to make his love known. We praise you God, for being infinitely more at work than we imagine!

“I only go to church with my grandmother during the holidays, and I don’t really believe in God”, one camper commented. But after the influence of a christian schoolmate (who, by the way, had met Christ previously at a KECY camp), an intense week hearing truth and being with other God followers, gave his life over to God´s control. Thank you God for your perfect power to convince.

Classic quote – At the beginning of camp – “I don’t like that kind of music” At the end of camp – “Could you please give me the names of those bands and camps songs?” You are a God that changes our mind!

Rado was a typical students these days…. black clothes, long hair, earphones, “leave me alone” type … who met Christ at camp.  “He cried at least 5 times on the last day as we all said our goodbyes” someone said. Thank you God for breaking our hearts.

One student said, “I already decided against following God last year” (because of his refusal to enter catholic confirmation classes – we found out later) . But because of the persistence of a loving camp leader, he decided to give his life to Christ. He is already a part of a small group of believers who meet in his local village.  We worship you God, because you give us second chances.

These stories can be repeated over and over with slightly different details across Slovakia and Central Europe. God has changed lives this summer – it’s easy to hear.

And for those of you who pray and support the work of Kompas Training Center, I hope you sense and hear the impact of your sacrifice in the words of the above comments.

June 16th, 2010 by Zac

English, fun and truth. They make a great mix! That’s why the camping ministry in Josiah Venture bears more fruit than any other effort. In Slovakia, we’ll spend a week with 400 to 500 high school students over the course of the month of July. 6 American church teams will join teams from 9 Slovak churches to carry out 8 camps around Slovakia.

This years theme is “Redeem” and will focus on our need to be “bought back” from our slavery to sin and death. Our whole family will be attending the camp organized by a local church in Bratislava (our capital city).

Will you please pray with me that God will open the eyes of hundreds to their need for a redeemer.

June 16th, 2010 by Zac

I could tell by the way the students stared at their diplomas that they were impressed with the way it looked and that they were proud of what they had accomplished. Likewise, I could tell by the way the students said goodbye, that what we had accomplished together this year had left a deep impression on their hearts.

On Sunday, the last day of May, 20 students traveled back to their homes from graduation, probably better equipped than 90% of Slovak church members. Pray with us that God will mobilize them in the years ahead to pour themselves out into the lives of those around them.

Our school for youth leaders is an investment. It is a serious investment of time, money, influence, experience, wisdom and knowledge. And it’s all for the strengthening of the church in Slovakia.

June 16th, 2010 by Zac

There is a certain part of me that wakes up when someone is crying. It awakens a desire to help, to rescue, to comfort. And when there is something that keeps me from responding, I feel really helpless and trapped. I guess that is partly the man in me and partly the parent instinct inside.

Now that it’s warmer outside, we have the windows at our office open all day. Just behind our building is the city hospital. Often we can hear the children in the hospital crying and screaming. It’s not a good feeling to hear this and not be able to help or calm or comfort or care.

But I have been taking it as a reminder that there are thousands outside, beyond our office walls that are crying out for help. Crying out because they don’t know the meaning of life, because a sinful world has cruelly punished them, because they are alone, because they don’t have hope.

God help me to find those who are crying out and need you and the joy that you offer.

June 14th, 2010 by Zac

Annual reports are typically very boring, with lots of  numbers and percentages. But I have to say that our Training Center Kompas annual report is not so bad. It has lots of pictures, stories and a thumbnail view of our whole work in Slovakia. It’s online, easy to read through (in English or Slovak) and of course, it has all the numbers if you’re the numbers type.

I hope you’ll take 10 minutes to browse through it. Just click here

When you get on the report page, just click the arrow on the right to advance to subsequent pages.

April 17th, 2010 by Zac

This is a question that is frequently on my mind these days. I’m not worried about IF the church will survive. Church has been around here for centuries. And I believe it will be perpetuated in its current form. But my interest is in the FORM in which the church will survive in the future. The historical church has become so institutionalized and heavily structured, that renewal seems complicated at best. And its not only here in Central Europe that many are speculating about these ideas. The church everywhere is facing challenging times.

Recently our staff at Kompas training center, along with some other church leaders from around Slovakia attended a conference on healthy reproducing churches in the Czech Republic sponsored by our mission Josiah Venture. The guest speaker was Alan Hirsch. Alan is the author of  “The forgotten ways” and “Re-Jesus”. His ideas that take us back to the principles of the early church have radical implications for the way church is done in this part of the world.

Everyone who attended came away extremely challenged by his teaching and asking God how we can be a part of nurturing a church movement for this generation. Please pray for the church in Central Europe and church leaders in Slovakia. The church will survive, but how will she look?

April 16th, 2010 by Zac

“I have prayed for two years”, one young woman said with tears, “that God would teach me what to do with the girls I am leading. And this conference has been the answer to that prayer. Now I know the specifics about how to disciple”!

Over 600 youth leaders from all over Slovakia gathered together for a four day conference of inspiration, help and training. As it seems to be every year, the auditorium was packed and overflowing with excited participants eager to learn.

To “pass the baton forward” was the challenge. Like relay runners, it’s our calling to personally hand off the life we have in Christ to another person through personal evangelism and discipleship. Everyone received their own baton and the spiritual tools to put the “hand off” into motion.

In one session, each participant was given a few minutes to write down names of specific people to whom their baton could be passed. In those moments, God seems to say to me that these moments of specific application were changing the spiritual landscape of Slovakia! Potentially thousands of young people will be raised up to run the race.

God is at work in this generation in Slovakia. Run!

April 9th, 2010 by Kim

click the image for a great video and link to the KPM webpage

Pass it forward…

…it’s our desire to see Slovak youth leaders make disciples who make more disciples as God commanded us to do. Beginning yesterday afternoon, our TCKompas (Training Center Kompas) team began the opportunity to inspire, train and equip over 600 Slovaks at our Annual Youth Leader’s Conference. The theme is “Pass it Forward” and will focus on the importance of discipleship.

Please join us in praying for…

Protection over our speakers, performers, volunteers and their loved ones

The leader’s hearts, minds and souls to be drawn to the knowledge of God’s truth

Teams to catch the vision to return home and make more disciples

Thanks for your prayers, and we look forward to sharing more with you after Sunday.

Please help us pray for the annual youth workers conference going on this weekend here in Zilina. Pass it on

January 30th, 2010 by Zac

Thanks to your generous year end gifts, we are no longer in minus figures in our ministry account at Josiah Venture! In a previous post, (see previous post) I had explained that the global financial crisis had forced some supporters to reduce their monthly giving – creating this shortfall.  So, we would like to say a word of deep thanks to all of you who gave extra or gave special gifts to Josiah Venture in December to bring us to this place. We sincerely appreciate your personal sacrifice and investment into God’s kingdom through us. It certainly made for a happy new year!

At the same time, I have to be honest and say that our debt free status may not last long. In the last year, we have only added one new monthly partner to our support family, from the ten partners (we have mentioned so often) we need to shore up our financial needs. Also, in this condition, we have NOT been able to add back  the $500 salary reduction that we imposed on ourselves last year.

So, please pray for us in this situation. We  really need God to bring those additional 9 monthly partners to us soon.

January 29th, 2010 by Zac

It’s usually the same every week. On Sunday afternoon, “Mr. Jay”, as we’ve nicknamed him, calls me (Zac) on on my cell phone to make sure we’re at home, and within 30 minutes he’s knocking on our door. All the kids run to greet him because they know what this means for them – PLAY TIME! He sword fights, plays computer games, chases, tickles, laughs and jokes. And at some point in the chaos, candy of some kind (usually chocolate) comes out from his pockets for each of our kids.

Dinner together usually follows, prepared with love by my wonderful wife. Then me and Jay find a quiet room for focused time in God’s Word and for prayer.

For some months, Jay has been coming closer and closer to our family and to God. He also is enrolled in our school for youth leaders at Kompas. So, there is always lots to talk about – from theology to Bible study to relationships to ministry.

At present, he is working in his father’s business and is asking God to show him the next steps for his life. He wants to finish his college education and serve God wherever he leads.

It is obvious that God has His hand on Jay and that he has great plans for using him here in Slovakia.

Please pray that Jay will keep growing in God’s wisdom and grace in the days ahead.