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From the
top of the tower overlooking Litomerice, Czech Republic, Pastor
Pavel Kalous pointed toward a cluster of apartment buildings and
said that is where new ministry among youth will begin. Ever
since I landed in the Czech Republic on education leave, I had
been meeting visionary pastors and deacons who spoke humbly,
assuredly and with commitment of the mission outreach of the Czech
UMC. General Supt. Josef Cervenak planned my itinerary June
14-20 to include visits to Nove Mesta, Horni Pocernice, Vrsovice
(all in Prague), Litomerice, Poust and Jihlava. I was
accompanied by my teenage sons Anthony and Marcus.
We were
impressed with the activity from the day we arrived. The
sidewalk in front of the central UMC in Prague was torn away for
the installation of new city electric lines. Scaffolding
along the church center exterior enabled workman to construct a
new outer wall. Cement blocks were being hoisted up by
pulley. These were the delightful sounds of work in
progress.
Our
visit to Horni Pocernice the next day did nothing to alter the
impression of the building for the future. The Director, Jan
Harbacek was conferring with the members of the VIM team from
Birmingham, MI on assembling the new doors and beds for the Center
for Christian Assistance. This property of four large
buildings had originally been purchased for church social ministry
in 1922. It was now in the process of being returned to the
UMC, and much work contributed
over $62,000 in 2001, and visits were made by the following:
First UMC of Birmingham MI (two different |
needed
to be done. Forty-five residents were already being housed
while the work was in progress. VIM team members were
applying fresh paint to the gates. We were proudly shown a
new soccer field ready for action and a commercial kitchen which
supplied low cost meals for elderly in a restaurant on site.
Clients were trained in kitchen work and restaurant
management. They also operated a meals-on-wheels program for
persons in the community who could not walk to the center.
We saw
more of the spirit of making all things new at Poust, where the
church camp was being readied for summer camping. Located in
Southern Bohemia, this camp is nestled among 100 year old pine
trees. The floor of the 300 year old chapel was being
scrubbed and an old cabin was being refitted with heat to extend
the use of the building for autumn retreats. Trails had been
marked with paint and the cabins freshly cleaned.
Tana
Kuklova's excitement about the hostel program for homeless men in
Jihlava was justified. Tana had restored a neglected
residence into a model center serving 22 men. She had even
made a beautifully landscaped courtyard as a quiet and peaceful
place of reflection for her clients. Her excitement was
matched by Ctirad Hruby's enthusiasm about the recently opened
women's
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shelter at the edge of town which he managed. Both
were thinking of ideas of expanding their ministry. The
increase in homeless people in recent years has given Tana a
vision of another shelter. Ctirad hopes for a play area for
children of his clients.
What
impressed me most during my visit was the dedication and
commitment of the leaders of the Czech Republic UMC. They
focused on ministry to others. They worked as a team.
Computers were in every office. They were as comfortable
with computers as they were in telling the old, old story of God's
love. They had been trained in Disciple Bible Study.
The number and scope of their ministries is inspiring considering
the membership of the entire Czech Republic and Slovakia UMC is
about 2000 people.
One
evening in the open air courtyard beside the church at Horni
Pocernice, Pastor Pavel Janousek led songs about Daniel.
Children and adults, Americans and Czechs, listened as a member of
the VIM team retold the story of Daniel, a man of God, a man of
faith an courage. Somehow I felt the story was fitting for I
had met many Daniel's in my weeks stay, people whose faith had
endured through testing and who lived to proclaim a God of hope
who sustains life with his everlasting love. They were
people who were changing the spiritual landscape of the Czech
Republic. People of US Annual Conference can demonstrate our
connections by becoming Partner congregations, sending VIM teams
and supporting the ministries of the Czech and Slovak Republics
UMC by our Prayers and gifts.
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