Here's to trying something new. This month, my monthly newsletter takes on a different form, mainly in pictures. Enjoy scrolling through and viewing many of the various ways that God connected our team and myself to the community, all for the sake of sharing His Gospel.
By the middle of April, the reality of teams coming to serve at English Bible Camps during the summer set in. Borders closed, stay-at-home orders in place, and a pile of stipulations attached to any kind of activity that might take place. Right about that time, a message arrived. "Ben, would you be able to put together a team to serve in Třinec (Czech Republic) at our Teen English Camp?" My mind told me, "This is never going to happen." However, the second week of July, there I was serving alongside the Czech team and three other in-country Americans as 51 youth arrived for camp. Temperatures were scanned as participants entered the building. Masks were worn when leaving the premises. And each day, we made it through, by the grace of God, without any injuries or sickness. The Gospel was proclaimed, and new connections were made for the church. What seemed impossible only a few months prior, became one of the greatest blessings of the summer not only for this community but also for myself.
English and Bible Time
The theme of God's Gifts guided our English and Bible times. Each day, we looked at a different gift from God: the Holy Spirit, teachers, faith, joy and life. Students took home an abundance of new Bible related vocabulary and the Good News of the Gospel. We adapted our English Bible Camp curriculum used at English Bible Camps in 2019. If you are interested in using the curriculum for an EFL setting, click the button below to access it for free.
Sports and Team Olympics
In addition to English and Bible, participants received a color for the week connecting them to a specific team. Each day, groups rotated between playing volleyball, football (the American version), and baseball/softball. The sports time culminated with a tournament style play at the end of the week promoting healthy and exciting competition.
Sharing the Gospel and investing in those around us.
Each morning, we gathered in the large fellowship hall (which actually used to be a movie theater). Laughter, singing and smiles filled the room. And each day, one of our team members shared a way in which God worked in our lives. Our sharing continued throughout the day and even into the evening as we spent the afternoons and evenings with the Czech team.
Everyone needs to eat. Let's eat together.
As the participants left and as we departed for the week, the goodbyes were more like hellos. Certainty that we will see each other again set in. We shared the Gospel and love of Christ during the week. We now continue to pray. But above all, we know that God holds everything in His hands. May each participant believe and call upon the name of Jesus as Savior of the world.
My love for cooking joined together with my love for youth this month. The middle school/high school youth group (dorost) from Albrechtice invited me to cook for their summer retreat as well as to share a message with them one evening about Jesus as our friend. I gladly respond, "Yes." Cooking for around 20 people for an entire week proved a new yet exciting challenge for me. And God blessed it all, our time around the table, walks up and down the rolling hills, spontaneous adventures and Spirit driven conversations.
All groups and all generations joined together from our church plant team, English Talk Group and English for Seniors. We met in creation, in the natural beauty of what God made. I saw very vividly the most wonderful work that our Lord and Savior is doing. He connects His church to the community, grows it and builds on the relationships that He forms. And we pray that this group of 31 grows and grows. Whether we are connected through English, food, friends or other means, we are all connected through our loving and kind Father.
English Talk Group (ETG)
During the summer, ETG has been enjoying gatherings at various family homes and even in the mountains. Our core group of students come regularly to enjoy this community, often to share a meal, to practice English and to hear the Gospel. During one recent outing, a young woman shared that she believes in Jesus as her Savior. Her faith journey began when she joined ETG. Praise the Lord for bringing her into this community and for giving her faith!
English for Seniors (Retirees)
Our older group of English students, commonly referred to as the Seniors, enjoyed similar gatherings to the younger ETG counterpart. Grill parties, Zoom calls and hikes up the mountain connected us together as well. They are a fearless group, ready to learn and open to hearing about our great God. During one session of our Zoom lessons, we all caught onto the phrase, "God is good all the time. All the time God is good." And how true it is.
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD.
We look forward to the coming month and the great things that God is preparing for us. A new location awaits our growing church plant. Construction is underway in a larger and more centralized space, and we excitedly prepare for new ways to connect with people and to share the Gospel.