Summer 2025 is almost upon us, and with it, a new camp season in the Czech Republic. This year will be the 4th year that Family Bible Church will help create evangelistic English Camps in the region. We are thankful to be partnered with a great Church in the eastern part of the country, and together we have reached hundreds of students with the truth of the Gospel.
One question that I get asked often, is “why do we keep going”? My answer is wrapped up in three scripture verses.
The first verse appears in Luke, chapter 10, as he is sending out 72 messengers to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The job was huge, and the number of messengers was small. While giving them final instructions, he told them “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (NASB) This same dynamic is at work in the Czech Republic today.
Approximately 60,000 Christians exist in a country of about 10 million. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. By partnering with a strong local church, we are sending a few workers from where there is relative abundance to where workers are in short supply. We work together for sake of the gospel.
The second verse that motivates me is found in Mathhew 28. After giving the great commission Jesus commands his disciples to take note of the fact that he is with them to the very end of the age. While in some sense, this is true for all disciples of Jesus, the context that Jesus makes this statement when giving the great commission. I believe that he wanted his disciples to know “when you step out in faith to make disciples of all nations, you are going to be stretched. At these moments, remember, I am with you.”
As we take short-term mission teams to the Czech Republic, God takes us out of our normal ministry context. The familiar is gone, and we are forced to rely on Jesus in ways that never would happen if we stayed at home. I have seen God work not only in the hearts of those we meet in the Czech Republic, but also in the hearts of those we send. Hopefully, we become more effective for Jesus through the process.
The last scripture verse is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world…”. God’s love, expressed by sending Jesus as savior was not limited to one people group or one nation, but the entire world. As we have gone the Czech Republic and seen God’s love for the Czech people in action, he has also grown this same love in our hearts as well.
There are four groups of people traveling to/from the Czech Republic this Summer:
Aidan Carson: Is exploring how God may use him vocationally as a Christian missionary. He will be leaving at the end of May 31 and returning in December 23.
Levi Sandy: will be serving as a short-term (10 week) missionary across the Czech Republic and will be helping with the administration and implementation of multiple gospel-related camps. He is leaving May 31 and returning August 7.
Short Term Teams: Doug, Chris, Sarah, Anna, Leah and Noah Sandy, Andrew, Shelby, and Quincy Carson, Betsy Sullivan, Faith Felts, and Andrew Micky will be helping implement a Sports/English camp in partnership with our receiving church. This team will be gone from July 15 through July 29. The Sandy’s will leave a leave a little early (June 25), to help with pre-camp training, and return a little later (August 11), to help with after-camp follow ups.
In addition to these FBC missionaries, we are looking forward to having our first round of Czech youth missionaries visit the United States. They are expected in June (13th through 25th) and will be serving alongside our youth at Vacation Bible School. It is a real blessing to see how God is growing our partnership so that we don’t just send but also receive missionaries.
We’re asking people to consider being a part of the prayer team that would intercede for us as we prepare for the trip and serve cross-culturally. We are confident that God will be our greatest ally through prayer. We are asking each prayer team member to commit to praying for us consistently and would appreciate it if you would consider this ministry on our behalf. If you are interested in being a part of this team, please contact Carolyn Slater.
We will also post regular blogs at this site so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing and what prayer needs we have.
To God be the Glory!