“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.“ 1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)

Peter wrote this letter in the mid to late 60’s AD when persecution against Christians was high.  The letter is an encouragement to believers who were facing threat of death and imprisonment for their faith.  Satan was trying to destroy the early church, and Peter gave practical advice to how they were to respond:  they were to be alert to the fact that spiritual forces were behind their present suffering, and they were to resist and stand firm.  If the early church crumbled due to fear, Satan’s work would have been accomplished and the gospel would have been stamped out.  Instead, by holding firm to their faith, early Christians provided a testimony of faith that could not be extinguished even to this day.

So, what does this have to do with the mission trip?  Thankfully we are not facing death or imprisonment for our faith, but we have faced adversity as we have been serving here in the Czech Republic – health issues, emotional issues, minor frictions, and the like.  I am certain that Satan would be quite happy to stamp out the gospel influence here, in America, or anywhere else he can.  Now has our hardship been the direct result of the devil’s schemes? I can’t say.  However, our response has been the same: we hold firm to our faith and we pray.  By God’s grace the team has remained united in purpose and served well.

Today we finished our final full day of camp.  Tomorrow morning we pivot to follow-up activities with the church.  Our prayer is to close this chapter of ministry well and help the new students transition to the youth group at the church.

Thank you for following along with us in prayer.  We look forward to being united with you again soon.  Until then, we pray that Christ richly blesses you with His peace, grace, and love.

Prayer Requests:

• That Christ would be glorified in and through the partnership between Family Bible Church and Církve bratrské v Českém Těšíně (the Czech church) this summer.