Common Grounds / Revnice
As new workers arrived to help, Common Grounds added a teen ministry to the schedule. “Our first meeting was April of 2002 and we had eleven kids come,” Tom adds. “That’s been steadily growing and we’ve had as many as twenty-five teens attending at times.. The interesting thing is that in April of 2003, eleven of the teenagers made a commitment to follow Jesus. That blew us away! Five or six of them are strong and are in Bible studies every week - and it’s those teens that are helping us with the new Clubhouse Ministry. So we can see this faith reproducing in their lives to affect the lives of others.
Clubhouse, started by Jackie Lewis, of Vandalia Ohio, who joined the team in 2003; is an after school ministry to children from ages seven to eleven years old. Here we teach the children English and focus also on building scriptural principles into their lives each week. The program is designed to be run by local Czech teens who have been who have been trained and made a commitment to teach the younger children. That is exactly what is happening now with our young Czech co-workers.
2006 we added another teen event called “Exit 316”. Every Friday night the teens meet & watch a taped Czech TV program video specially designed for young people about real life issues. After the video there is a discussion and a Christian point of view is given. This event is led by our Pastor Daniel and a team of young Czech leaders. It is a safe place where teens can share and talk about life and hear God’s perspective from the Scriptures.
Another new addition to the Common Grounds team in 2005, was Noel Garrett from Huber Heights, Ohio. Noel is currently in full time language study as well as assisting in Exit 316 teen club. . Noel has a chance now to exercise her skills in a European setting from training received in her Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City Ohio working in the children’s ministry team and teaching school in Dayton Ohio. Noel comes to the team with much experience including overseas mission work with young people. We are thankful and already see how God is using her. Noel begins the new year-2008 with one on one Czech Bible studies and discipleship groups. Noel also has taken over the leading of the Clubhouse children’s ministry and continues to train young Czech leaders.
Lucka, (our Czech co-worker) leads the Mom’s club each week where over 15 moms and 20+ toddlers come for social gathering where they can meet and discuss issues on raising children and other issues in the home.
The ministry momentum surrounding Common Grounds is truly inspiring. In fact, due to the strong desire of many Czechs, a Sunday night church has been established. “We started this 5 years ago with only 3 attending, now we have over 40 adults and teens coming each week”. “People come from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Sunday nights,” Tom explains, “We have fellowship time together as we have some soup and sharing around a table; some singing. It’s a small group atmosphere - a different kind of a church setting. We share some scriptures and we discuss life applications and then pray together. We have all of the elements of a Sunday morning service but we do it on Sunday night because so many of the people in this community are gone for the weekend. It’s an attractive alternative method to the ” church” they knew years ago under hard line rule. It’s a safe environment where they can come and learn about God and eventually establish a relationship with Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Sprit in their lives. In 2007 we were approved by the denomination as a formal satellite church of the Mother church in Prague. This means we are officially a local church body reaching the town of Revnice and surrounding communities with the light of the Gospel where no evangelical presence existed before. We currently have a new Czech Pastor. Daniel Hejzlar & his wife Daniela have 3 teen children who are now active in the Common Grounds ministry. Daniel is a visionary / gifted teacher-preacher and has a desire to see the emerging church be effective in the lives of the Czech people. Daniel already has 10 years experience in church planting here in Czech. The next step in the life of this new church is to train and disciple leaders to be effective in evangelism and serving out of their giftedness in other aspects of the body of believers. Elders were appointed in October 2007 and already our first 5 Baptisms took place. Now a women's home group meeets e/o Monday ot our home and a men's group meets e/o Weds. at Common Grounds for fellowship and dicipleship.
Looking for a place where God can use YOU? We are looking for people who like to work with youth in music/drama/discipleship. Do you teach English? Do you work in your local church in these areas now? We are looking for YOU!! God is doing amazing things in this country NOW! Come Join US!
Contact us at tsampley@msn.com
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Common Grounds / Revnice
