Day 1 in the Czech Republic

Door to door our trip to the Czech Republic took 22 hours. We made all our flights, had a bumpy ride across the Atlantic and a smooth flight into Prague where Jay Prager (an independent missionary) met us at the airport and helped us make the transfer to the train that took us to Ostrava.

The Czech Republic is located more or less in the center of Europe. It used to be called Czechoslovakia but after the collapse of communism, two countries were formed–the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We are staying at a conference center in Ostrava, almost to the Polish border and not far from the border with Slovakia.

We arrived at the conference center late last night. This morning we discovered that it is built on a hillside overlooking a valley.

It is a lovely setting for a conference. We’re here for the Josiah Venture spring conference. We drove from the airport with missionaries serving in Latvia. Later today we’re expecting folks from Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and many other Eastern European countries. As a group they are young, enthusiastic, visionary, and deeply committed to spreading the Good News among the young people of Eastern Europe, planting churches, and raising leaders who will impact this region for the cause of Christ.

Although the Czech Republic (like most of Europe) is nominally Catholic, the vast majority of people do not regularly attend any church. Though the country is beautiful and the people warm and friendly, there is a spiritual hunger that cannot be satisfied by material progress. There is a spiritual battle in Eastern Europe and the Josiah Venture missionaries are serving on the front lines.

Ostrava was once a center for coal mining. Today it is being transformed into a green region. These beautiful flowers are a sign that spring has come. Tonight Dave Patty, leader of the Josiah Venture, gave a very fine talk on what it means to be “fit for battle” (our theme this week).

After the service we adjourned to the dining room for a snack (apple strudel–very tasty).

Dave came to our table and shared the story of how God raised up Josiah Venture. He also told us that the conference center used to be a communist party training center. It was very run-down when Josiah Venture purchased it. They have renovated it and expanded it. When it is not being used by the mission, they run it as a regular hotel, open to anyone who wishes to stay here.