(Written by Doug Sandy)
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37b-38 (NIV)
Tucked into the heart of Europe lies the Czech Republic. It is a country of vast natural beauty with scenic mountains, rivers, and forests. It is a country of rich history, with the largest concentration of castles of any European nation. It is a country of culture, touting composing greats such as Antonin Dvorak and Gustav Mahler. It is also a country of great spiritual need. Emerging from communism in 1989, today only 1% of the population are Christians and most people have never heard the good news of Jesus. The opportunity for harvest is plentiful.
This summer Family Bible Church will be partnering with Josiah Venture to help bring the Gospel to the eastern region of the Czech Republic. Josiah Venture’s vision is to build disciples among the youth in Central and Eastern Europe in such a way that whole societies are transformed. This might seem like a big task. But we serve a big God.
Who is going?
The FBC team consists of seven people (Aidan Carson, Carson Slater, David, Caleb and Sarah Sandy, Betsy Sullivan, and me). We will be meeting up with two more small teams – one from Nevada, and one from the town of Český Těšín in the Czech Republic.
What will we be doing?
We will be assisting in running a summer camp for Czech high-school students. The camp will feature English language lessons, American sports, and most importantly, a systematic way of introducing campers to Jesus. The FBC team will be responsible for helping with music, devotions and teaching by embedding ourselves in the life of the camp and pointing people to Christ at every opportunity. The program has been very successful in the past, and many of the Czech team point to English camp as the reason for their salvation.
When is the trip?
The team will leave on July 25 and will return on August 9. This might seem like a long time from now, but there are a lot of preparations between now and then.
How can you help?
There will be more information forthcoming on how you can give financially if you are blessed to be able to do so. More than anything else, we desire your prayers.
A personal note
Someone recently asked me why I was so excited about this trip. My answer: “Although I have been to Czech before, it felt like I experienced it through a hotel window. Distantly. To return to build relationships, share the Gospel, and point young Czechs to Jesus – I’m all in.”
Specific prayer requests
- Preparation for the trip goes smoothy
- Health of the mission team