Moving Experiences
by Jeff and Lisa Griffith — Ohio CCCC pastor serving in the Czech Republic since 1994
Have you ever prayed for something for a long time, and then when God begins to answer you are surprised? Well that’s the feeling we have in Kralupy, Czech Republic! In 2008 we moved to Kralupy to help the Cirkev Bratrska, a denomination that was started with the help of missionaries from Park Street Church in the 1890s, to establish one of about 100 preaching stations they have into a multiplying church. To say it’s been tough is an understatement. Kralupy is an industrial town which typically votes for communist or socialist parties in elections. As such, more than the national average of 76% are atheist, or agnostic at best.
Long before we moved, believers were praying for God to move and establish His Church in Kralupy in order that the entire region might be reached with the gospel. Kralupy is located on the train line from Prague to Dresden and Berlin, and is the first major station where the lines split to serve other towns in the area. Residents from approximately 40 towns and villages can be in Kralupy in under a 30-minute train ride. This doesn’t include bus lines or even travel by car, which would increase the number of towns and villages to over 100!
Since the fall of communism in 1989, the area has been resistant to the 
Good News of Jesus Christ. However through the grace of God poured out in answer to the faithful prayers of His children, this last year has seen movement like we have not seen since before the end of WW2, when the preaching station was seeing approximately 150 attending morning worship services!
One of the most significant things God did was a result of the crisis in the Ukraine. Corban University in Salem, Oregon was planning to send a short term team to serve in orphanages, but because of the conflict sought an alternative location. By God’s grace, they chose to come to Czech. Over the course of two weeks, we as a team visited six public Czech schools, contacting approximately 700 students by conducting PE and conversational English classes. Each school was interested in having us conduct after-school English language clubs for their students. But unfortunately, we don’t have the people to take advantage of this opportunity.
As a result of that team’s ministry, I am now teaching conversational English classes in a second public school in the Kralupy area. But what is even more exciting, Veronika Ticha, who serves with Betel Czech Republic, similar to Teen Challenge but with a focus on church planting, has been able to also serve in three of the schools with a Christian-based ethics workshop. It has been very well received by staff and students. A second workshop has already been planned for February in these schools.
Since September we have seen a significant increase in the number of people wanting to talk about spiritual matters, and in particular Jesus Christ! Once a month I preach in English, which is drawing in some of my colleagues from the public schools. We have just launched the course “Christianity Explained.” What surprised us is that nearly all those attending are in their late 50s to early 70s — a generation which is sometimes referred to as the lost generation, as they lived nearly all their lives under the influence of communism, and have forsaken what little they knew about God. We are also seeing a movement among Gypsies with two small groups being established by an evangelist from another town and others who we have met at the playground, wanting to know more about Jesus.
So pray with us as we seek to begin a middle school youth group for the kids we have contacted through the English classes and ethics workshops. Pray for Betel as they serve the gospel to those striving to break free from drug and alcohol addictions. Pray for our congregation, a group of 16, with eight of us being over 80 years old, as we lead “Christianity Explored” and form small groups for follow-up. Pray for us to find a way to incorporate the small groups of Gypsies into our congregation so that God will be glorified through the formation of an inter-racial church. Last but not least, pray for more workers in the Czech harvest field! There are opportunities to teach English to Czechs, lead English or sport clubs for kids or help those with addictions find freedom in Christ Jesus. The list goes on. We are also heavily involved at the Christian International School of Prague where students from more than 20 countries are taught in English while learning from a Christian perspective. They are looking for teachers and staff for 2015 and beyond, with one of the most critical positions being a new school director. For more information on how you can partner with us through short or long term ministry, contact us at Griffith@teamczech.org.
