watching you

A great reminder and encouragement for all of us with little guys...

My Valentine...

Feb 09 Update

Hello! Much love from Patrick + Ivetka in Bratislava, Slovakia! We figured we were over due for a ministry update, so here it is. We have broken it down to 3 stages: Rewind (past), Now, and Fast-forward (our next steps). So, read and rejoice in all that God is doing here in Slovakia, so simply jump to the part that most interests you. Thank you all for your prayers, love, encouragement, support, and financial donations. Together with you we are a TEAM and it's good to know we are "more the conquers" in Jesus! Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

in Jesus,
Patrick, Ivetka, Gabriel, David


Online Donations: Account # 1175

Our Sending Agencies:
Go! Ministries: http://go.ccnorco.org/
Shepherd's Staff: http://www.shepsstaff.org/

\\Rewind\\

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

Now, that may be an overstatement, but the truth is that reviewing what God has done from time to time certainly helps propel you into what God is presently doing. Even the Apostle Paul suggested this in Romans 12:1-2 when he told the believers that "...in view of God's mercy (already given), offer your bodies as living sacrifices (now)...then you will be able to (near future) test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will." The basic message - bask in God's goodness done, yield to Him in the now, and get tuned into the good things He's got coming around the corner.

So, what has God been doing in 2008 in the ministry?

- We had the chance to collaborate with Betka & Christina to launch the Potichu Nahlas (Quietly Outspoken) club in Nitra. This is a outreach meeting focused on university students. It utilizes conversation, music, film, and fun to engage students in discussions about life issues and present a Christian perspective on this. The club is now continuing on for it's second academic year and has been passed on to new local leadership!

- God plugged us in a new church plant, Mozaika, in Nitra where we were able to support the ministry under the leadership of Pastor Miro Toth (a very anointed Slovak pastor in Nitra). It was great to see God build up His bride there - not by might or man's power, but by His Spirit! Plus we were encouraged to see that God was confirming past visions concerning Nitra that were on our hearts via the work He is doing through the Mozakia ministry.

- We organized a three week speaking tour from Neal & Yvonne Pirolo (ERI ministries) that impacted a number of denominations & churches throughout Slovakia & the Czech Republic. It seems as if God is really beginning to stir the Slovak church (across denominational lines) towards being a part of His big plan of making himself known amongst the nations. The common question that most churches had were - "what are the needs? how do we meet them? how do we prepare to do the work?" What amazing hearts in tune with God's heart beat!

- We helped (along with many others) to send our Slovak friend Eva K. out on a short-term missions trip to China to help bring Bibles into that country. The result has been that Eva is now considering full time missions work (possibly in Asia), plus her experience is inspiring other young Slovaks to consider participating in missions. I just heard of another friend in Nitra now praying about going to Nepal or Tibet....very cool!

- God moving us as a family to Bratislava (the capital city) and starting to lay down the foundations for a CC church plant here. Currently we meet have a weekly Sunday evening worship service. We have been meeting since September - so it's still in the infant stages. But it has been a blessing to see God do the work here and bring the increases in His way & time! It's all His work, but that is what is beautiful about it. And it is "good, pleasing, and perfect!"

[ Jump to NOW or FastForward or the latest blog entry ]

[now]

"...in view of God's mercy offer your bodies as living sacrifices..." Romans 12:1-2.

God has been so good to us. And as the Apostle Paul says - the only reasonable, logical, spiritual expression of gratitude is to yield yourself to His program. Get in step with what He is about to unfold. That is our life & ministry at the moment. Simply enjoying what God has done. Then being astonished at what He does when we get out of His way and follow His leading.

As was already mentioned in the \\Rewind\\ section - we are currently planting a CC fellowship here in Bratislava. More precisely, God is planting a church here in Bratislava. We have so little to do with it - which is great! It's been amazing to see who God brings on a weekly basis to the Sunday evening worship services. With no outside advertisement and not really inviting anyone, God is still filling up our apartment week after week. And for us its a blessing to serve the people who come because we know without a doubt that God brought them to us. They are His sheep and He wants them feed and loved!

As a church we have been gathering weekly to simply meet with Jesus. Our "motto" is Acts 2:42-47 "They devoted themselves to the Apostles teachings and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." So, we try to strike a balance of these 4 things and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as we worship, serve one another, and empower us to share Christ's love with those around us. And it works!

Please keep us in your prayers as we ask God the simple question - "what's next?"

[ To find out what's going on in the NOW of our personal life just cruise through the blog or check out our recent post "to busy to blog?" ]

[ Jump to Rewind or FastForward or the latest blog entry ]

//Fast-forward//

So what are some of our 2009 goals, hopes, and dreams?

- Continue to focus on the Bratislava church plant.
- Begin to have some consistent outreach projects running and supported by local people from the fellowship.
- Have the Golgotha Gospel Choir (from CC Budapest) perform an outreach concert in the spring. This has proven to be a great means of communicating the Gospel in other cities.
- Preach & teach in other local Slovak churches as God opens the doors. Presently we have been invited to share in a number of churches in the Bratislava area.
- Help get local Slovak churches & individuals involved in world missions.


Part of the real answer to the big question of "what's next?" is what we have been doing from the beginning - prayer. We are quickly learning that the "be stressed, burntout, and just be 'faithful a bit longer' " model of ministry is not the way to go. But, the "wait upon the Lord" and watch what He does model is a blast! And most of my role in it is prayer.

So, how can you pray with us?

Please pray...

- that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading of the ministry.
- that we will not fall into the temptation to take the reins and mess God's work up!
- that we will always remember that we are only co-labors of Jesus (and He pulls all the real weight!)

- for clear guidance of the "next steps" as we would like to communicate the vision with others and make intentional, Spirit lead steps as a church.
- as a church we would all be on the "same page"
- that everyone in the church will find their part in the Body

- for Ivetka as she leads the Children's Ministry (we actually have more kids then adults!)
- for Patrick as I lead the worship meetings and teach the Word
- for open hearts to grow in the grace, knowledge and love of Jesus as a church
- that God's presence would be felt strongly on every meeting, that all who enter would know that they meet with Jesus!
- for the families and young people who attend the church: Akihito+Kieko, Vic+Darla, Mike+Heather, Peter+Silvia, Pali+Marcela, Peter, all the kids, and all our "random" guests.

Thanks for praying! We will keep you posted on how God answers!

[ Jump to NOW or Rewind or the latest blog entry ]

slovakia.travel

Check out this great website about all things Slovak.

Too busy to blog?

Life is busy. Too busy to blog it at least. Blogging is for sure near the bottom of my "2do" lists. However, it is the way that I keep in touch with most of you all.
Basically, for the last few weeks we have been having a blast with the Sunday evening worship - small group, but great new faces & hearts. Clearly the Spirit is doing something special amongst us. We have also been having a blast to our immune systems as there has been a least one of us sick at any given moment since January. Also, something blasted my car...it's been out of commission for a few weeks. Fortunately, the BODY (the church) has been ministering to the BODY (us) with lots of mechanic help (thanks Vic... and Darla) and lending us some needed wheels (thanks Kieko). And Yes - our Skoda is now scooting us around the icy streets of Bratislava again! Additionally, Ivetka had her 23rd birthday again - she is getting better & better each year... and we celebrated it over dinner at the Three Musketeers restaurant (which the boys loved!) At school I have been plenty busy and recently created a blog for my students (which serves to keep them doing their homework and also document their crazy antics/projects.) Yes, it is still snowing here. We still haven't defeated the White Witch here in Slovakia. Locally they call her Morena and when they find her they beat her to death, light her ablaze, then drown her in the river (yes, this is a real custom!) Does that give you any indication of how we might feel about winter here? And that is our current "now" summed up in a blog-shell. Hope you enjoyed the ride.

Connected

"I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing" John 15:5

Do we really believe this? Then why don't we all start living it?!

Growing

"What after all is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." I Corinthians 3:5-6

We all have a part in this co-laboring with God. That's a good truth to remember. I just have a part. One part. And the task in not complete without my part. Nor is it complete with my part, if others aren't doing theirs. Yet despite all our collective labours, the most vital, life giving part comes from the Lord Himself. We are simply preparing the conditions. God is beginning the growth, the life.

I can loose sight of that at times. I take my part too seriously. Forget that others are part of the process. And miserably fail when I don't give God space to do His part - the most needed part.

Recently I have received some very positive reports of how God is bringing the life & growth to ministries or "fields" in Nitra & here in Bratislava that we have had a part in. On one hand I'm rejoicing. It's cool to see God move and fulfill past visions He has given. On the other hand, even though I can now see the fruit, I'm a bit bummed out. Why? I can see results of plowing the hard soil, others have come along and watered it, God brought growth, and now it's time to eat of the fruit - and I'm not at the table anymore. We have moved on to new "fields" and "building" projects (v9).

I'm simply trying to figure out how to be content in my one part. For the most part it has consisted of doing some hard ploughing of tough soil. I guess I just need to keep it all in God's wide perspective - "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes all things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his labour." (v7-8)

We are just preparing hearts for God's life to take root and grow. Nothing more, nothing less. And like John the Baptist who had a similar mission - "I must decrees, that He might increase." (John 3:30)

Epic Stories

I just received a link from new friends Mike & Heather who work/serve/hangout here in Bratislava. One of the new places they hangout is our Sunday worship service. They are very cool young couple from a CC in the Philly area. One project they are working on is called Epic Stories, which are short videos highlighting what God is doing through His people around the world. Hopefully we can see them apply their creative skills to the beautiful work God is doing right here in Slovakia. Pray for this couple as they do a shoot of a Roma (Gypsy) church here in SK this weekend, and then off to Greece for another adventure.

Good & Silly

I love my guys. And I love to take pictures of them simply being themselves. Which, as a kid comes much more naturally then it does to us adults. Here are a few from sunnier days in CA....