God Is Working

Slovakia

Slovakia is a country of over five million people and

nearly all of them live in spiritual darkness. Catholicism has

a stronghold on the people, and if anyone leaves, there is

often intense pressure placed on their families in an attempt

to bring them back. While not as prevalent as Catholicism,

there are some Lutheran, Protestant, and Baptist Union

churches too. All of the non-Catholic churches send all their

potential pastors to a single seminary where it is near

impossible to teach the Bible clearly because of all the

differing opinions of men that are mixed in. Alongside this,

or perhaps because of this, the Charismatic and Ecumenical

movements are very strong. The most well known part of the

Charismatic movement is speaking in tongues while the

Ecumenical movement emphasizes all churches from all

denominations working together regardless of the

compromises that need to be made in order to do so.

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Ministry

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       I look forward to partnering with the Waites. They have been serving in Slovakia for over 20 years with Baptist Mid-Missions (BMM), and in December of 2022, I was able to work with them in Slovakia for about two weeks. As far as the Waites can tell, their small church is the only one in all of Slovakia that holds that the Bible is absolute truth, that once saved, Christ secures our salvation and therefore it is not a result of our works that keeps us saved. Even the Baptist Union churches don’t teach that we have eternal security.

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       This little church is shining a light in Kezmarok, Slovakia, and has 25-30 members currently. Most of the older generation have gone to their eternal home, and now the core of the church is made up of young families and couples. One family has three children, two other families have one child each, and there are two couples that were married a year ago. Nearly all of these individuals have had to make very difficult decisions at a very young age, 16-20 years old, in order to follow Christ. They’ve given up friends, had family relationships become strained, and even had to leave the Catholic priesthood. There is an overwhelming need for discipleship, mostly one-on-one.

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       The Waites are in the early stages of starting a Bible Institute to train up the next generation of pastors, deacons, and other church leaders to carry on the work. There are one or two individuals in the church they have identified as potentially able to pick up the mantle of pastor after training. This is critical as the Waites will not be able to continue serving the same way they have indefinitely. In addition, they want to be able to plant a second church about two hours away where one of the families currently lives. Currently, this family is only able to make it to church about every two weeks. 

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       I want to follow God’s lead and go back to Slovakia to help with anything I can. I'm planning to go for 18 months to start with and as long as God continues to lead to Slovakia, I'll go back full time after that. While I am there, I’ll spend time learning Slovak, so I can more effectively minister. I’ve recently obtained a TEFL certificate so that I can get into the community by teaching English. In addition, I can help teach the English classes at the Bible Institute. There are opportunities to befriend and disciple the young ladies in the church. There will be lots of cooking that needs to be done (the church has multiple meals together each week to facilitate fellowship and discipleship). Then, if and when God provides the opportunity for a church plant, there will be unending things that I will be able to help with. 

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Partner

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       Will you please join what God is doing in Slovakia and partner with me? I cannot do anything unless God is in it.

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Will you please be praying that God will open the doors that He wants me to walk through and that He will provide all that I need to take those steps (spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and materially)?

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       Will you please be praying that hearts would be open and ready to hear the gospel and that the eternal destiny of souls will be changed?

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       Will you please be praying that He continues to grow and shape me so that I can be more effectively used by Him?

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       Will you please be praying that He sends more laborers into His harvest fields?