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Glorious Hope - 6/2012 - Czechoslovak Baptist Convention
Contents Editorial – Natasha Laurinc............................................... 3 Update from Baptist World Alliance................................. 4 Informace Světového svazu baptistů................................. 5 Testimony – Anne Opocensky........................................... 6 They Who Love God – Marija Sommer’s Seventieth Birthday.... 8 Ti, kdo milují Boha – Sedmdesátiny Marije Sommerové..... 9 Odbor sester v České a Slovenské Republice – Iva Kernová.... 10 Chin in the Czech Republic.............................................. 11 Čjiné v České republice.................................................... 11 Pastor Josef Novak............................................................. 12 Kazatel Josef Novák........................................................... 12 The Vahalas........................................................................ 14 The Potmas...................................................................... 16 The Poenarus..................................................................... 19 Ruby Mikulencak................................................................ 22 Donations All donations should be mailed to our financial secretaries, using enclosed envelope. USA: Czechoslovak Baptist Convention C/O Vera Dors 6621 Elmdale Rd Middleburg Hts, OH, 44130 CANADA: Czechoslovak Baptist Convention C/O Henry Pojman 1305 Inglehart Dr Burlington, ON, L7M 4X6 Make check payable to Czechoslovak Baptist Convention or CZSKBC. Feel free to make a special designation on the bottom of the check: Convention, Glorious Hope, Scholarship Fund, Bibles for Czechoslovakia, etc. Please do not mail checks to our main address in Detroit, MI. Gifts for Ladies’ work—make check payable to Czechoslovak Baptist Women’s Missionary Union. 2 Printed on recycled paper Convention Mission Statement The Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada exists 1) to assist in extending the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in lands of central and eastern Europe, particularly the Czech and Slovak Republics; 2) to support the work of Baptists and other evangelical churches in North America that minister to persons of Czech and Slovak descent, and 3) to provide a Christian context for worship, fellowship, teaching, and appreciation of heritage among those in the United States and Canada who bear interest in the nationalities we represent. Misijní poslání konvence Československá baptistická konvence Spojených států a Kanady byla ustanovena za účelem: 1) napomáhat v šíření evangelia našeho Pána Ježíše Krista v zemích střední a východní Evropy, zvláště v České a Slovenské republice; 2) podporovat práci baptistů a jiných evangelikálních církví v severní Americe, které slouží českým a slovenským potomkům; 3) předkládat formu bohoslužby, obecenství a učení, vážit si dědictví těch, ve Spojených státech a v Kanadě, kterým leží na srdci národy, které reprezentujeme. Glorious Hope/Slavná nadìje Volume 38, No 6, 2012 (USPS 009334), ISSN 0700-5202 Published Bi-Monthly by The Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada. Periodical postage paid in Detroit, MI. Editor-in-Chief: Natasha Laurinc email: [email protected] You may send articles to above address. Desktop publishing and art: Vit Malek Assistant Editors: Janice Cermak, Ondrej Laurinc, Ph.D. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Publication Office: Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje P.O. Box 441516, Deitroit, MI, 48244, USA. email: [email protected] WWW.CZSKBC.ORG Convention photos by Dusko Pilic Moving? Let us know By Mail: CZSKBC P. O. Box 441516 Detroit, MI, 48244 Email: [email protected] Vol 38, Vol 38, No 5, 12 No 6, 12 E d i t o r i Ea d l itorial In Service “Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God…” (Luke 9:2) e are called into God’s service. This is what we used to hear in Sunday school. The need to share things is natural, human nature. People give one another information about the latest sales, whether goods or groceries. They tell each other W about good services, tasty recipes while cooking or excellent natural treatment of various maladies. They share about everything regarding daily life. Those who decide to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ cannot remain silent about what Jesus personally means to them. Those who taste God’s daily love and guidance naturally desire that others in their social sphere can taste it as well. That is why our Czechoslovak Baptist Convention has so many pastors, missionaries, and other servants in its history, that have carried the founding and organization of this convention on their shoulders for 104 years. God blessed this work in the past and continues to bless it today. The stories of those who devoted their lives to the service of God could fill the pages of our magazine. For practical reasons, this isn’t possible. We would like to bring our reader’s attention to current missionary workers that our convention is supporting. We are talking about missionaries who serve in various places, are of different ages, and serve for different lengths of time and in different areas of work; and about those, from the eldest Continues on page 13 Continues on page 9 Ve službě “Poslal je zvěstovat Boží království...“ (Lukáš 9; 2) sme povoláni do služby na Božím díle. To jsme slýchávali již v nedělní škole. Lidské povaze je přirozené, že se potřebuje sdílet. Lidé si předávají informace o slevách spotřebního zboží nebo potravin. Vzájemně si doporučují dobré služby, chutné recepty při vaření anebo vynikající přírodní léčbu všelijakých neduhů. Sdílí o všem, co se života týče. Ten, kdo se rozhodne následovat příkladu Pána Ježíše Krista, se nemůže nesdílet o tom, co to pro něho osobně znamená. Okouší-li Boží lásku a vedení v J průběhu každého dne, přirozeně si přeje, aby toto mohli okoušet i ti v jeho okolí. Proto má naše Československá konvence baptistů v historii tolik kazatelů, misionářů a dalších služebníků, kteří se zasloužili o založení konvence a na svých ramenou tuto organizaci nesou téměř 104 roky. Pán Bůh této práci žehnal v minulosti a žehná i nyní. Stránky našeho časopisu by mohly být popsány příběhy těch, kteří své životy této službě na Božím díle zasvětili. Z praktických důvodů to není možné. Rádi bychom však soustředili pozornost čtenářů na současné misijní pracovníky, které naše konvence pod- Vol 38, No 6, 12 poruje. Jedná se o misionáře sloužící na různých místech, různého věku, různé délky ve službě a rozdílné náplně práce. Od nejstarších až po ty nejmladší, kteří se na práci připravují. Za zmínku také stojí ta skutečnost, že v podstatě každý, kdo následuje Pána Ježíše Krista, má své poslání. Jeho okolí je také jeho misijní pole. Zvěst Vánoc jde ruku v ruce se zvěstí o spasení pro každého člověka. Pán Ježíš šířil poselství Boží lásky. Boží láska zjevná v našem životě oslovuje kolemjdoucí. A to je naše poslání. Miluj bližního svého jako sám sebe… (Lukáš 10; 27) Nataša Laurincová, šéfredaktorka 3 Update from Baptist World Alliance From the General Secretary The Stranger in our Midst by Neville Callam W hen the Council of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) met in Rome, Italy, in 2010, one of the resolutions it affirmed dealt with the Christian attitude to strangers. “We believe,” the EBF said, “that God commands us in the scriptures to love and to welcome the stranger. We urge all Baptists to show hospitality toward immigrants, refugees and ethnic minority groups and to work for a welcoming attitude in our societies.” According to the EBF, the resolution came against the background of “the fact that a generous openness toward strangers is being threatened through the presence of xenophobic groups in some political parties.” The EBF resolution noted that Baptists in Europe “have sometimes known the experience of being oppressed and discriminated against” but have displayed an unwavering commitment to work and pray for “human rights for all people.” It cited Deuteronomy 10:17–19 as one reason why the people of God hardly have an option but to show concern for strangers. A similar desire to adhere to the biblical teaching calling God’s people to value the stranger in their midst manifested itself in the Baptist Union of Australia (BUA). The National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries called on Australians to “oppose xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of ... ethnicity, culture and religion, and challenged Australian politicians to demonstrate their moral convictions and to exercise nonpartisan leadership in debates on immigration and refugee policy.” Among other Baptist groups that maintain a firm commitment to loving the stranger is Ameri- can Baptist Churches, USA, which resolved to maintain its “historical role as an advocate of human rights for immigrants, refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.” ABC USA also has pledged to continue its tradition in “resettlement of refugees and in assisting immigrants.” The organization identifies the following as the basis for its commitment: “the Biblical mandate that we be a caring and hospitable community, that we love our neighbors, that we establish justice and proclaim liberty; because we have a sense of Christian responsibility to serve human needs; because of our commitment to respect the human rights of all people; and because we are mainly a nation of immigrants.” It should come as no surprise that the BWA General Council meeting that took place in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2008, resolved to “renounce xenophobia and the misuse of immigration for political repression and division” and called on member bodies to “instill an ethic of love that supersedes ethnic, gender and political boundaries.” The BWA resolution also called on churches and individuals to “grow in grace and hospitality through international friendships and relationships” and to renew their commitment “to live in love and justice with refugees and immigrants.” Is it likely that every Baptist convention, union, federation and fellowship would strongly support the call to love and to welcome strangers? Let’s not forget the reminder in Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” And because God loves those we may regard as strangers, so, too, should we! Scan code for the BWA mobile app! or go to http://get.thechurchapp.org/share/baptist-world-alliance 4 Vol 38, No 6, 12 Informace Světového svazu baptistů Cizinec mezi námi Neville Callam, generální tajemník P ři zasedání rady Evropské baptistické federace (EBF) v roce 2010 v Římě, v Itálii, jedno z přijatých usnesení se týkalo přístupu křesťanů k cizincům. “Věříme tomu, že Bůh nám v Písmě přikazuje milovat a přijímat cizince. Vyzýváme proto všechny baptisty prokazovat pohostinnost k emigrantům, uprchlíkům a malým etnickým skupinám a napomáhat otevřenému přístupu v našich společenstvích.” K rozhodnutí EBF došlo na základě “skutečnosti, že v některých politických stranách působí xenofobické skupiny ovlivňující celkový přístup vůči cizincům.” EBF v usnesení podotýká, že baptisté v Evropě “mají z pronásledováním a diskriminací určité zkušenosti”, nepřestávají však “lidská práva pro všechny lidi” podporovat a modlit se za ně. Podle Deuteronomy 10:17–19 Boží lid ani jinak nemůže, než se o cizince zajímat. Podobná touha řídit se biblickou výzvou Božích lidí vážit si cizinců ve svém středu se projevuje i v Baptistické jednotě Austrálie (BUA). Národní koncil australských baptistů vyzval Australany „čelit xenofobii a diskriminaci v oblastech... národnostních, kultury a náboženství a vybízí členy australské vlády k projevům morálního přesvědčení a uplatňování nestranného vedení v diskuzích týkajících se emigrace a politiky uprchlíků.” Jednou z dalších baptistických skupin, které zachovávají přikázání miluj bližního svého, jsou Americké baptistické sbory Spojených států (ABC USA), které jsou odhodlány se držet své “historické role obhájce lidských práv, emigrantů, uprchlíků, přistěhovalců a těch, kteří hledají útulek”. ABC USA se také zavázaly, že budou pokračovat ve své Vol 38, No 6, 12 tradici “pomoci při zabydlování se uprchlíků a asistenci emigrantům.” Poslání této organizace se ztotožňuje s následovným prohlášením: “Biblický příkaz, abychom byli soucitnou a pohostinnou komunitou, abychom milovali své bližní, zjednávali spravedlnost a hlásali svobodu, nám je vlastní, protože máme křesťanskou povinnost sloužit lidským potřebám; protože jsme zavázáni respektovat lidská práva všech lidí; a hlavně proto, že jsme národem emigrantů.” Jistě nás nepřekvapí, že během Generálního koncilu světového svazu baptistů v Praze, v České republice, v roce 2008 bylo rozhodnuto “odmítnout xenofobii a zneužívání emigrace k politickým represím a rozkolům” a členové instituce byli vyzváni “vštěpovat etiku lásky, která odstraní etnické, rodové a politické hranice.” Rezoluce Baptistické světové alliance (BWA) také vyzvala sbory i jednotlivce “ke zdokonolování se v milosti a pohostinnosti v mezinárodních vztazích” a k obnovení závazku “žít s uprchlíky i emigranty v lásce a spravedlnosti.” Jak je možné, že každá baptistická konvence, sdružení, federace a obecenství vyzývá tolik k lásce a k přijímání cizinců? Vzpomeňme, co nám připomíná epištola k Židům 13;2: „Nezapomínejte na pohostinnost – vždyť díky ní někteří nevědomky hostili anděly“. Ty, které můžeme považovat za cizince, Bůh miluje, proto i my bychom je měli milovat. přeložila Nataša Laurincová 5 Testimony I am so thankful I was born into a Christian family. I grew up on a farm near the small village of Minitonas, about 230 miles north-west of Winnipeg Manitoba. I had one brother, Karl, 16 years older than me, and 2 sisters, Molly, 14 years older, and Bernice, 12 years older. I guess I was almost like an only child. Reading scripture and prayer was a part of our daily life growing up. Each night before going to bed Dad would read the Bible by the light of a kerosene lamp. I can still vividly remember the smell of the kerosene burning. I would follow along in my Bible as Dad read and this is how I learned to read Czech. Dad would lead in prayer and always closed by praying for my salvation, which annoyed me. I hadn’t done anything terrible. At least not yet. His prayers were finally answered on New Year’s Day evening in 1940. This is how it happened. The young people were invited to the Marik home, while the adults visited in ours. This was one of the first times I was allowed to join the young people. I was 14. We had games and so much fun that night. I remember they had a gasoline lantern hanging from the ceiling; it hissed but it gave forth a lot more light than our kerosene lamp at home. At the end of the evening when almost everyone had gone home, Dad came to pick me up. Before we went home he came in and led devotions with the small group of us there, as he usually did at home. I remember we sat in a semi-circle and knelt to pray. When their turn came, the young people could either pray or say a verse of scripture. Someone quoted John 3:16. When I heard the “whosoever” in the phrase: “...whosoever believeth in me will never perish,” it struck me that—that could be me. When my turn to pray came I was able to thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice for me. I knew that something had happened and that this must be what it meant to be born again. Afterwards I shared with the group what had happened and there was much rejoicing. During the winter of 1940, from January until the end of June, a classmate, Venus Zahradnicek, (who later became Venus Jarison, the mother of Viki and Bob) and I shared a flat in town in the home of Annie and Walter Novak. (Walter was the brother of Olga who would become Olga Glajch, the 6 mother of Archie Glajch.) Our farm was 10 miles outside of town, so staying right in the town itself saved having to commute every day. When we finished grade 10 at the end of June, Venus left to join her parents, who had moved to Windsor. During this time there was a revival in our church. By mid-July around 25 people, mostly young, had been baptized by Rev. Zajicek in the river that flowed through the section of the village where the church was. I remember the water sure was cold. Actually, I called to check and that river is still flowing today! In the fall I did not return to school as I needed to stay on the farm to help care for Mom who was not well. Soon cooking, baking and doing the laundry on a scrub board were my daily life. I tried beginning grade 11 by correspondence but by Christmas realized I couldn’t handle it. I did get credit for the three months though. I was not very happy about the situation, but had to face it and do the best I could. One day I caught myself humming a tune as I was kneading a batch of dough to make a loaf of rye bread. I started to laugh and thought: “OK, this is fine, we’ll do the best we can with what we’ve got.” That was a turning point for me. A little over a year later Mom died of tuberculosis. It was the week before Mother’s Day 1942. She was only 55. Her brother, who was a carpenter, built a beautiful wooden casket for her. Some time after the funeral Dad asked me if I wanted to go back to school. When I said yes, he arranged for me to come to Windsor to live with my older sister Molly and her husband Paul Ozdan. Thus, on a Saturday morning at the end of August, I left Minitonas to travel by train to Toronto. This was quite an adventure for a girl of 17 who had never before been anywhere by herself! I remember sitting on the train looking out through windows covered in soot from the steam engine’s billowing smoke. Three days and two nights later, having changed trains in Winnipeg and Toronto, I arrived in Windsor, just in time to register at Walkerville Collegiate to continue in high school. That year I took typing and shorthand instead of languages. My earlier correspondence courses, taken while my mother was sick, were a help when I returned to school. The next year, Vol 38, No 6, 12 when I was in Grade 12, I enrolled in a special course equipping me to be a stenographer. After graduation, I obtained a placement at Fitwell Glove near Tecumseh and Walker Roads. The manager told me: “At the end of the day you must come and tell me you are done and ask if there is anything else I want done.” This was a red flag for me and I knew I didn’t want to work for this man. So after the second day, I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to have two days’ experience working in his office. I also said, “Will you kindly pay me as I won’t be coming back.” I had a very strong feeling that this was the right decision to make at this time. The next place I was sent to was an attorney’s office. I was asked to work there for three days, typing and recording mes- Convention 1996 Helen Struharik, Anne Opocensky, Eillen Lev, Natasha Laurinc sages for a man named Mr. McCullough. When my time was up, he kindly said, “If you need a reference you can use my name.” Interestingly, his son is our attorney today. It was only three days but I could have worked for this kind man forever! My next job was with the Inspection Board of U.K. and Canada. I started on Oct 2, just three months after graduation. This was a war-related position and I was a secretary in a factory which produced guns and bomb tails. This position ended with the end of the war in August 1945. After a week’s vacation I started working with Canada Manpower on casual/ temp placements. It was a busy time as Ford was on strike. Some years later I noticed an advertisement by Canada Customs for uniformed staff. I applied, a process which involved a written examination followed by an interview. I wrote the exam on Saturday, November 13, at W.D. Lowe School. There were about 8 to 10 of us taking the exam. After lunch I had my interview. The interviewer said to me, “Miss Vintr, either you were very fast or you didn’t know the answers.” As it turned out, I was second on the list for hiring. The person who placed first started on Dec. 1, and I was called to report for duty on Apr. 3, 1952. I received my uniform and badge. It was badge Vol 38, No 6, 12 Anne Opocensky served as a secretary of The Czechoslovak Baptist Women’s Mission Union from 1974 to 2002. That makes her the longest-serving officer in the history of the Women’s Mission Union. #1311. My supervisor reminded me about my new position: no weekends off, no church. He was encouraging nevertheless and he himself was a member of Campbell Baptist Church. Another supervisor I had, also a sort of father figure to me, went to Turner Road Chapel. It is so interesting how the Lord often placed Christians in my path during the course of my career. Training for my new position was on-the-job training. There was a big book of instructions with everything you needed to know. I worked at the tunnel, first in the traffic office and then at the bus office, and I enjoyed the work. At the beginning of 1956, I moved to the bridge. Near the beginning of April, I noticed a new name on the men’s work schedule–F. Opocensky. I recognized the name as Czech and so wanted to meet this guy. He was on days and I was on afternoons, so on the fourth day I arrived for work at 3:30 p.m., a half hour early. Before very long, sure enough, in came Mr. Opocensky with someone from a car who needed to make a declaration. I asked him if I might speak with him. When he agreed I introduced myself. As we shook hands I checked him out, his hands that is: clean finger nails, good sign. I said I had heard through Rev. Zajicek of some Opocenskys in Dominion City south of Winnipeg. He said, “I am the younger son.” As Pastor Zajicek was currently the pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Windsor, I asked Fred if he would like to visit the Zajiceks with me. He agreed and the visit was arranged. Continues on page 13 Zajicek family 7 They Who Love God Marija Sommer’s “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) arija celebrated her seventieth birthday on January 17th. She was born in Yugoslavia to a Baptist pastor’s family. Beginning in childhood, she dedicated herself to playing the piano. After completing music academy in Zagreb, she visited Czechoslovakia where she met the man that would be her husband, George Sommer. Their marriage (July 3, 1964) started their joint journey in God’s service, during which they were able to fully develop and utilize their talents. In 1969 Marija accepted a position as a professor of piano in Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, USA. Marija and George first attended the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada in 1972, and participated actively right away. From 1992 to 1994 Marija was the president of the Czechoslovak Baptist Women’s Mission Union of USA and Canada. She is presently the treasurer of this committee in the USA. Besides her amazing musical talents and abilities, Marija is also famous for her hospitality. Every guest is virtually given royal treatment. Her sincere laughter makes one comfortable and is always encouraging. Marija has had many experiences in these past seventy years of her life, and they have just served to strengthen her walk with the Lord. One of the verses that have accompanied her throughout her life is Romans 8:28. We gratefully wish Marija an abundance of God’s blessing and guidance in the coming years. Editors of Glorious Hope M 8 Vol 38, No 6, 12 Ti, kdo milují Boha Marije Sommerové „Víme, že těm, kdo milují Boha,všechno napomáhá k dobrému – totiž těm, které povolal podle svého záměru.“ (Římanům 8; 28) vé narozeniny Marija oslavila 17. ledna. Narodila se v Jugoslávii v rodině baptistického kazatele. Od dětství se věnovala hře na klavír. Po absolvování hudební akademie v Záhřehu navštívila Československo, kde se setkala se svým budoucím manželem Jiřím Sommerem. Sňatkem (3. července 1964) začala také jejich společná cesta ve službě Pánu Bohu, při které se talenty obou mohly plně rozvinout. V roce 1969 Marija přijala nabídku z USA na místo profesorky klavíru na Alderson-Braddus College ve Philippi v Západní Virginii. Sejití Československé baptistické konvence USA a Kanady se poprvé Marija a Jiří zúčastnili v roce 1972 a hned se také aktívně zapojili. V letech 1992 – 1994 Marija působila ve funkci předsedkyně Československé baptistické misijní jednoty sester USA a Kanady. V současné době je pokladnicí této jednoty v USA. Kromě úžasných hudebních schopností a nadání je Marije také proslulá svým darem pohostinnosti. Každý návštěvník je zahrnut přímo královskou péčí. Její upřímný smích vytváří pohodu a vždy povzbudí. Během sedmdesáti let svého života prošla Marija mnohými zkušenostmi, které ji jen upevnily na cestě za Pánem. Jedním z veršů, které ji životem provázejí, je verš k Římanům 8; 28. S vděčností přejeme Mariji hojnost Božího požehnání a vedení i do příštích let. Redakce Slavné naděje S Vol 38, No 6, 12 9 Odbor sester v České a Slovenské Republice Č eský odbor sester úzce spolupracuje se Slovenským odborem, především při přípravách konferencí. Členky českého odboru: Věra Černíková - před- Letošní konference byla na Slovensku v Bernolákově s tématem: ,,Moc modlitby – Velkou moc má vroucí modlitba spravedlivého.“ (Jan 5,16b) Slyšely jsme dva referáty „Moc modlitby – modlitba ženy“ a „Modlitba jak nás ji učí Ježíš“ a v sobotu večer viděly výborný nový muzikál bratra Slava Krále „Zasľúbená zem“. Setkaly jsme se také v odpoledních diskusních modlitebních skupinkách: Vnitřní zranění, Mladší vdané sestry, Starší vdané sestry, Svobodné sestry, Ovdovělé sestry, Problémy s dětmi, Skupina bratří, Korálkování… Sesterská práce sedkyně, Helena Včeláková - tajemnice, Jiřina Vimpelová a Marie Horáčková - členky. Členky slovenského odboru: Ruth Maďarová - předsedkyně, Jarmila Balážová - tajemnice, Judita Kolaříková a Ludmila Sýkorová - členky. Výbory ČR a SR se společně scházejí dvakrát ročně k jednáním, na kterých se mimo jiné připravuje program společné konference, jejíž průběh zajišťují členky výborů. Konference sester mají duchovně vzdělavatelný charakter. Je potěšující, že se jich účastní sestry všech věkových skupin a jsme rády, že můžeme mezi námi uvítat i bratry. 10 Centrum práce sester leží v domácích sborech. Sestry mají na starost hosty, připravují občerstvení při slavnostech, při sejití členů sboru, pořádají vánoční večeře pro seniory, navštěvují nemocné a také navštěvují starší členy sboru při příležitosti jejich narozenin. Sestry slouží zpěvem při shromážděních, vedou modlitební chvíle. V mnoha sborech jsou sestry učitelkami nedělních škol nebo dorostu, připravují dětské slavnosti ve sboru, programy pro děti nebo dětské letní tábory. Pracují v různých klubech, např. v klubech maminek, v dětských domovech. Setkávají se ke svým schůzkám většinou pravidelně měsíčně, někde i v kratších intervalech. Jsou sbory, kde sestry svá setkání z různých důvodů nemají nebo mají nepravidelně. Někde na tato setkání přichází sestry všech věkových skupin, v některých sborech pouze starší sestry. Jsou sbory, kde mají zvlášť sejití starší a zvlášť mladší sestry. Na společných setkáních studují Písmo, sdílejí se s každodenními starostmi, hovoří o zkušenostech s Pánem Ježíšem, poslouchají příběhy ze života věřících, zpívají duchovní písně. V mnoha sborech se zapojují spolu se sestrami z jiných církví do programu Světového dne modliteb, který se koná první pátek v březnu. Sestry také s vděčností přijímají program Světového dne modliteb baptistických žen, který se koná první pondělí v listopadu. Finanční prostředky získává odbor sester ze sbírek, které se konají při Modlitebním dni baptistických žen (polovina sbírky je pro projekty a potřeby v ČR, druhá se posílá na účet EBWU) a z dobrovolných darů. Verš pro sestry na rok 2012 je pro nás velkým povzbuzením a posilou: „Já jsem Hospodin, Tvůj Bůh, držím Tě za pravici a pravím Ti: Neboj se, já jsem Tvá pomoc.“ (Izaiáš 41,13) Iva Kernová Vol 38, No 6, 12 Chin in the Czech Republic I n the Czech Republic, Burmese refugees have also found a place to call home. They are the ethnic group Chin. They identify themselves as Christian and most of them have settled in Moravia. In April of 2011, the Chin congregation was accepted into the Baptist Union of Czech Republic. There are about ten families in the church of Chin. From the eighteenth to the twenty-fifth of August, the people of Chin had a retreat together in Puste Rybne. Participants spent seven days in fellowship, during which songs and preaching were heard in their language. Three young people were baptized in the local swimming pool. Thanks to the support of the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada and gifts sponsored by the Czech Baptist Union Prague 6, the whole trip, with 35 participants, was entirely free. Vol 38, No 6, 12 Čjiné v České republice V České republice žijí také uprchlíci z Barmy. Jedná se o etnickou skupinu Čjinů. Hlásí se ke křesťanství a většina z nich se usadila na Moravě. V dubnu 2011 byl sbor Čjinů přijat pod hlavičku Bratrské jednoty baptistů v České republice. Sbor Bratrské jednoty baptistů Čjinů tvoří asi deset rodin. Od 18. do 25. srpna 2012 se konal společný pobyt Čjinů v přírodě v Pusté Rybné. Účastníci prožili sedm dní v obecenství, ve kterém zaznělo slovo i písně v jejich jazyku. Tři mladí lidé byli pokřtěni v místním koupališti. Díky daru Československé baptistické konvence v USA a Kanadě a sponzorskému daru sboru BJB Praha 6 byl celý pobyt pro 35 účastníků zdarma. 11 Pastor Josef Novak The year 2012 marks 60 years in God’s service in the life of Josef Novak. T he beginning of his service was in 1952, when he preached as a student in the Bethlehem Chapel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in central Canada. Taking brother Novak’s heritage into consideration, he could mainly serve among the Czech and Slovak people. It’s no wonder, then, that he was the pastor of the Czechoslovak Baptist Church in Toronto for twenty-three years (1955-1978). After this period he served in Canadian congregations. His participation in the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada showed itself in a variety of positions, including being the Convention’s president, editor-in-chief of Glorious Hope, and his current position as the Convention’s vice-president. In 1985, Josef founded the Czechoslovak Evangelical Mission, which was focused on preaching the message of salvation for every individual in the form of tracts. In the course of this mission’s 27 years of existence, its tracts have been translated into many languages. Today the mission is not only concerned with creating tracts; distributing Bibles throughout the world is its other practical way of helping wherever it is needed. Pastor Josef Novak belongs to that group of servants who never retires. Kazatel Josef Novák Z ačátek jeho služby je zaznamenán v roce 1952, kdy kázal jako student v Betlémské kapli ve Winnipegu v Manitobě, ve vnitrozemí Kanady. Vzhledem k jeho původu mohl bratr Novák sloužit hlavně mezi Čechy a Slováky. Není tedy divu, že působil 23 roků jako kazatel Československého baptistického sboru v Torontě (1955 – 1978). Po tomto období sloužil i v kanadských sborech. Jeho zapojení do Československé konvence baptistů USA a Kanady se promítlo v několika funkcích–od prezidenta konvence přes předsednictví v různých složkách konvence a redaktora Slavné naděje až po současnou funkci viceprezidenta. V roce 1985 Josef založil Československou evangelickou misii, zaměřenou na zvěst o spasení pro každého člověka, formou traktátů. Během 27 let existence této misie byly jeho traktáty přeloženy 12 do mnoha jazyků. V současné době se nejedná pouze o traktáty, ale i o zasílání Biblí do celého světa a další praktickou pomoc, kdekoliv je potřeba. Kazatel Josef Novák patří mezi služebníky, kteří do důchodu neodchází. Maria Gabankova 1985 the Czechoslovak Baptist Church in Toronto Rok 2012 v životě Josefa Nováka označuje 60 let ve službě na Boží vinici. Vol 38, No 6, 12 Testimony… Continues from page 7 When we arrived, the Zajiceks were surprised at how Fred had changed as he had been only a young lad of 15 or 16 when they saw him last. While she was making the tea, Olga said to me quietly, “I remember Fred and his brother were very kind Grace Baptist Church in Windsor, ON to their mother and sisters. He would make a good husband.” I How can I describe our church family? The title of an filed that away for future considanthem by J.W. Peterson comes to mind: “Love and Kinderation. ness.” Often times this has been expressed in the form of meals Actually, the future consideration was not very far in the prepared for our nourishment and enjoyment. I thank God future. Fred asked if he could come to church with me. He for all the love and kindness shown to Fred and me by our wondered where he would sit though, as I played the piano church family over the years. during the service. When he started coming with me it caused “In sickness and in health. For richer for poorer...” We have quite a stir. Fred had been boarding in Riverside and then he had some experience of this during our lives, When there was found a new place to live on Meighen Road, next door to the a need, maybe the answer didn’t come when we thought it Schmidt family who also went to the church. His landlady should but it always came. It wasn’t always what we were lookwanted to meet his girlfriend. I guess I passed muster. Once ing for either. Sometimes it was better! we started dating, Fred didn’t Sometimes now I can’t sleep at night. When this happens waste any time. There was defiI pray around the world or sing hymns in my head. Interestnitely some chemistry between ingly, in these private concerts I sing soprano as well as anyus! When Fred asked if I would body. I remember old hymns and choir pieces. Sometimes I marry him, I said, “I would like am amazed at how much I can remember! One of my favouto think it over and pray about rite hymns is “When We All Get to Heaven.” These night-time it.” He assured me he would reveries when I can’t sleep are joyful nevertheless. never interfere or discourage my I thank God for all his faithfulness and His all-sustaining involvement in the church. On th power. I feel that He has been with me all the way on life’s Aug 15 , Fred came to my door incredible journey. His constant presence has always been a with an engagement ring. A girltremendous help and comfort to me both day and night, and friend of mine was there at the I am so grateful for that! time and when I came back from answering the door she noticed Anne Opocensky the ring on my hand and yelped in delighted surprise. Just less than 11 months later, on July 6th, 1957, Rev. ZajiEditorial… Continues from page 3 cek, assisted by Tom Boyer at Bethany Baptist Church, marto the youngest, who are preparing for this work. ried us. Pastor Zajicek commented on the significance of July Their service is a reminder of the truth that in essence 6th, as it was the anniversary of the death of the famous Czech every person who follows Jesus has his or her own calling. martyr John Hus. The reception was held in the basement of Their surroundings are also their mission field. The good the new, still unfinished Grace Baptist Church building, at tidings of Christmas go hand in hand with the good tid3150 Tecumseh Road East. It was the first wedding reception ings of salvation for everyone. Jesus spread the message of here at Grace. God’s love. God’s love revealed in our lives reaches those A highlight of my life has been the opportunity to be who surround us. And that is our mission. “…Love your involved in the music ministry of Grace Baptist Church for neighbour as you love yourself…” (Luke 10:27) over six decades. On Jan 21st, 2001, my sneaky friends at Grace Natasa Laurinc, Editor-in-Chief surprised me with an appreciation dinner. A commemoration plaque I received at that time hangs on the wall of our home on Mark Avenue. Vol 38, No 6, 12 13 The Vahalas June 2012 D ear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, we hope you are well and walking daily with Christ. We wanted to give you a quick update about some things that are going on as we are traveling so that you may rejoice with us as well as pray for us and therefore enjoy the fruit of God’s faithfulness. called Eurovangelism. It is a Canadian-based group which has for the past 45+ years supported mission work in Eastern Europe. They help to collect funds and raise awareness about missionaries in many former communist countries, Latest Happenings: We continue to be amazed at God’s providence and his leading us to meet people and churches. Late June we started our voyage north, and our first stop was Lexington Baptist Church in Lexington, VA. Providentially, Lexington Baptist Church has in the past done a lot of ministry work in Slovakia and so they were quite informed about the spiritual condition of the Czech Republic. From Lexington, we headed up to Canada (Toronto area). We stayed two weeks with our friends and supporters in min- Our wonderful hosts The Racinskys all the kids (ours and theirs) istry and were able to meet with several families whose Czech ancestors had settled in this part of Canada. We also had the privilege of speaking at Meadowvale Baptist Church in Mississauga, Canada. This particular congregation was unique in that though the group was small, there was a wide variety of nations represented. What a great picture of heaven! While we were planning our trip to Canada, we were informed that since our work is not based out of Canada it would be difficult for Canadian individuals and churches to partner with us financially and receive a tax deduction, due to particular tax laws. However, while in Canada we were led to an organization (about 10 minutes from where we stayed) 14 but they had nobody to partner with in, you guessed it, the Czech Republic. In fact, they had been praying for the past year that God would send someone whom they might help to do mission work in the Czech Republic. We have established a partnership with Eurovangelism so those of you who live in Canada and are supporting or plan to support us can do so through Eurovangelism. (This in no way affects our U.S. supporters, who can continue to send contributions to our home church, North Wake Church.) At the beginning of July we traveled a little south to Meadville, PA. Our trip took us directly through Niagara Falls so we took the opportunity and visited the Falls. After arriving in Meadville we spent several days at the Czechoslovak Baptist Our friends and hosts near Meadville, PA Convention of USA John and Kevin Ann Smith and Canada (July 5-8). There we fellowshipped with a number of believers with Czech/Slovak roots, some of whom have expressed the desire to partner with us financially, and Anthony gave an update on our preparation for the mission work. After the convention we remained in the area to continue to meet with churches and individuals in and around this area. We visited Library Baptist Church near Pittsburgh, PA. Many of its church members spoke with us and told us that their Vol 38, No 6, 12 The Vahalas ancestors had come from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). We are presently staying near Meadville, PA, with our dear friends in Christ, who graciously opened their home to us. We are quite familiar with Meadville since, once again by God’s providence, we have served at one of the local churches for several summers in the past. While here Anthony also helped with a soccer VBS at a local church that is considering supporting us. Czech Update: In the last newsletter you heard about our involvement in setting up the Czech Bible Institute. The school is up and running – praise God. Yet with the establishment of a new school come many responsibilities, and the need for us to be in the Czech Republic increased even more. My mission partner Lance (in the Czech Republic) recently sent me this message, “Hey Anthony. My thoughts are that if you are not here by spring, it will be virtually impossible to continue with the preaching program next year. I can’t do that much teaching virtually alone.” We are praying that God would provide the funds necessary for us to go to Czech so that we can begin the work there as soon as possible. Please consider, in view of this great need, partnering with us financially – that is, becoming our monthly supporters. Story: God answers prayers Recently we met a brother in Christ, Randall, who has led many mission trips to the Czech Republic. When we contacted him and told him about our work in the Czech Republic, he was very excited and sent us this photo with a brief description (abbreviated). In October 2005 a mission team from Dublin Baptist Church, OH, traveled through Moravia (the eastern part of the Czech Republic). In the process of visiting the three largest cities in the region, we had to change trains. While waiting on a platform for our connection we began to pray for the city in which we had found ourselves – we prayed that God would plant a church here. The name of the city? Prerov – the very location where we are preparing to plant a church (see our website). God answers prayers! Important Reminders: All the information on giving is on our website www.gospelforczech.org. Our current level of support is 32%. Praise and Prayer Requests: Praise God for those who have committed to partner with us not only through prayer but also financially. Pray for safe travels as we continue our travels over the summer. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to stir people’s hearts to partner with us through their prayers and financially. Pray that we would not lose heart in the fundraising process. Sept. 2012 Greetings to you all, We are excited to share with you the latest news about our fundraising efforts. We want to thank you for your prayers and support. We continue to experience God’s faithfulness to us as we press on with raising funds. Please pray: • That God would continue to open doors for opportunities to meet people and churches who would be interested in partnering with us. • Pray that we would not be discouraged in the process. • Pray that Jamie and the kids would learn the language. • Pray for safe travels as we are on the road quite a bit. • Pray that amidst the busy schedule, homeschooling would go smoothly. • Pray for our spiritual health. •Pray that God would work in the hearts of Czech people that we hope to reach. • Pray that the seminary (CBI) would be instrumental in raising up future leaders and solid believers for the Czech body of Christ. Vol 38, No 6, 12 15 The Potmas T The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) EAM’s purpose is to help churches send missionaries to establish reproducing churches among the nations to the glory of God. We seek to do this wherever the most people have the greatest need, in collaboration with churches anywhere. TEAM is an evangelical, nondenominational organization. The vision of the organization is both to be and build the Body of Christ, wherever the most people have the greatest need. TEAM Czech Republic TEAM’s involvement in the Czech Republic dates back to 1990, a few years before the peaceful split of Slovakia. Through much prayer and the Lord’s leading, TEAM leaders established connections with some Czech believers. Shortly after, a partnership was formed with the Czech Church of the Brethren (Církev bratrská) and TEAM began sending missionaries to the Czech lands. Purpose Statement To work with national believers to establish culturally relevant reproducing churches. Vision Statement: 20 new churches in 20 new communities by 2020 In 1991, Mark was the first TEAM worker to enter the former Czechoslovakia, spending one year teaching English as a tool for evangelism. That same year, Gretchen was also a short-term worker with TEAM in France. They met in 1993 at TEAM’s Candidate School in preparation for full-time missions, and a year later they were married in Gretchen’s home town of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They ministered for two years in Mark’s home town of Windsor, Ontario, before leaving in August 1996 for Prague, Czech Republic. During their first term of ministry, from 1996 to 2000, the Potmas helped to establish the Opatov-Seberov church in Prague. During their second term, from 2001 to 2005, they helped to establish the new South City Church in the Haje neighborhood of Prague. Since 2006, they have been helping to establish a third new church, CB Skalka, in the 10th district of Prague. In May 2010 Mark was ordained as a pastor in Církev bratrská, the Czech denomination which TEAM partners with in church planting. “In 1999, our vision statement was “By God’s grace, we will establish five churches within existing and new ministry regions by the year 2009.” We praise God that five churches have been established. Now, God has been challenging us even more in advancing His Kingdom. In 2011, we adopted our new vision statement.” Gretchen and Mark have four children: Luke (1997), Noemi (1998), Ben (2002) and Elise (2004). 16 Updates: September 2012 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Psalm 22:27 Most of the students who register for our conversational English and evangelistic Bible classes at Skalka are Czechs. But this fall several Mongolians have shown interest in the classes, and Mark is teaching six of them beginner English, none of whom are Christians. Miraculously, we were able to buy five Mongolian Bibles from the Czech Bible Society. With the help of an interpreter from the Mongolian church that meets at Skalka, the students all participated in our first chronological Bible study, “Firm Foundations: From Creation to Christ” in Mongolian! Our Legoprojekt outreach: We were pleased to host over 50 kids (plus parents and grandparents) at Skalka over the course of four days in September. In addition to building an 8-meter-long (26-foot) Lego City, the kids heard about our Good Shepherd, Deliverer, Great Designer, and Solid Rock on which to build our lives. Everyone had a good start to the new school year, and as often happens, Gretchen’s birthday fell on the first day of school. In addition to family responsibilities, Gretchen is teaching two English and Bible classes this year at Skalka, leading the Moms’ and Kids’ Club, and teaching Sunday school. October 2012 A cord of three strands is not easily broken.–Ecclesiastes 4:12 TEAM Czech is growing! Our monthly TEAM Czech gatherings are slowly outgrowing our respective living rooms! With the arrival of the Titus family, TEAM Czech Republic is now made up of 12 adults and 16 children! More co-workers are on the way. M4 is spreading! Vol 38, No 6, 12 The Potmas The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) M4 is a training tool that covers most of the areas that are important to work on, from the time you catch the dream of a new community and church, to the fulfillment of that dream, when you are a growing community with a core of 30 to 70 people or more. M4 is based on the Great Commission. We are confident that all followers of Jesus can participate in church planting and multiplication of communities. Everyone is not a pioneer or a church planter, but most people can be a part of a team, starting something new together. From the Great Commission we have extracted four focus areas, represented by four key words starting with the letter M. Master: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Mission: Therefore go. Multiplication: and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Movement: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. The response to the new M4 church-planter training has been overwhelming! The Czech M4 steering committee was expecting about 10 to15 church-planting teams, and we already have 18 teams with 4 to 6 members each from five different denominations across the Czech Republic and Slovakia (red squares on the map of the Czech Republic, below). During the first weekend, the team leaders will meet their coaches for an overview of M4 church-planter training, and will learn coaching and mentoring principles as well as how to best lead the team God has given to them. Trainers are coming from Norway to help get M4 started, and then the Czech leaders will take over responsibility for the next round of M4 church-planter training. Skalka Church is developing! This fall about 100 students are attending twelve different conversational English and evangelistic Bible classes, including two taught by Gretchen. Every Tuesday morning she teaches a Vol 38, No 6, 12 group of eight complete beginners who stay for a Bible class in Czech, and on Wednesday mornings she teaches a class of ten intermediate students, followed by a study through the Gospel of John. Mark has begun to teach a group of eight Mongolians who are complete beginners, and they thoroughly enjoy staying for the Bible class translated into Mongolian by Murun, a believer from the Mongolian church that meets at Skalka. On Canadian Thanksgiving we invited the whole class of Mongolian students over for a turkey dinner with all the trim- mings. It was a great opportunity to share hospitality, different cultures, and the good news with them. In September the Skalka Church reached the milestone of meeting for church services every Sunday. A few families are in the process of becoming regular attenders, which means that Sunday School attendance is up, too! More members are taking on responsibilities for various aspects of the ministry, for which we are grateful. North City is calling! Our church is continuing to work out the details of a partnership agreement between our church and Heřmánek Christian School in North City. Some of the building has already been fixed up, but there is still much to be done before outreach can take place at Ládví. The kids are engaging! Our most recent guests were Mark’s aunt and uncle from Canada, which provided us an opportunity to see some new things in Prague and to play games in the evening. Elise and Ben have begun attending classes at the community arts school – Elise for piano and Ben for visual art. Ben has also discovered the ukulele. Luke keeps an eye on our neighborhood as he delivers flyers four times a week, and Noemi is always ready 17 The Potmas The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) to help out just about anywhere! People are praying! 1. Please PRAY for the ministry of TEAM in the Czech Republic and for our vision of “20 new churches in 20 new communities by 2020.” 2. Please PRAY for a powerful impact from the M4 churchplanter training – for the coaches, leaders and team members, and for the areas being reached. 3. Please PRAY for Gretchen’s and Mark’s students this fall, and for the many other outreach programs of the Skalka Church, including the Mom’s and Kids’ Club and Alpha. 4. PRAY with us for more open doors in North City, for the details of a partnership agreement and for speedy reconstruction of the new ministry facility at Ládví. ...the hands and feet of Christ November prayer update “I was hungry and you gave me food... I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” - Matthew 25:36 1. We were encouraged by the results of an independent evaluation of South City Church and the Skalka church through the Denominational Council. According to the report, both fellowships are actively pursuing spiritual growth and community life as well as reaching out to their respective communities in evangelism and acts of service. Please continue to PRAY for the members and attenders that they would not grow weary in reaching out in these ways. 2. At the Skalka church, two service projects are underway: Gretchen is organizing our church’s participation for the first time in Prison Fellowship’s “Angel Tree” project – we have committed to giving Christmas gifts to ten children of prisoners. Petr and Mirka co-ordinated an afternoon of practical help for the homeless people who hang out in the Skalka neighborhood, in cooperation with Prague 10th District Social Services and a non-profit ministry to the homeless called Nadeje (Hope). Please PRAY for continued opportunities to share God’s love in practical ways and PRAY that each person in our church fellowship would find a place to use his or her gifts. 3. Please PRAY for Mark’s parents, Jerry and 18 Joanne, as they face the daily and long-term challenges of living with Jerry’s Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. We are thankful that Mark had the opportunity to spend a week with them earlier this month and that their faith and their love for the Lord and each other is strong. 4. The Alpha course at the Skalka church this fall has had eight participants at various stages of their spiritual walk. One woman named Jitka, who has had a very difficult life, has put her faith in Jesus and would like to be baptized. We have been blessed with the gift of free suppers for Alpha each week from the Christian owner of the Korean/Japanese restaurant where our Mongolian pastor friend Daniel works. Please PRAY a blessing on the restaurant owner and PRAY that each participant would accept God’s gift of grace. Serving the least of these, Tax-deductible gifts can be sent by mail, by phone, or online, designated for Potma ministry, acct. #117218. TEAM USA: P.O. Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189-0969 www.team.org, [email protected], 1-800-343-3144 TEAM Canada: #372-16 Midlake Blvd SE, Calgary, AB T2X 2X7 www.teamcanada.org, [email protected], 1-800-295-4160 Being and Building the Body of Christ – Wherever the Most People Have the Greatest Need Vol 38, No 6, 12 The Poenarus BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya Dr. Dan Poenaru, BSc., MD D an is a pediatric surgeon working at BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. Following medical school studies in Toronto, Canada, he trained in general surgery at McGill University, then in pediatric surgery at the Universite de Montreal. He has also earned a Masters in Health Professions Education through the University of Illinois in Chicago. He has practiced academic surgery for 10 years in Kingston, Canada, and since 2003 has been in clinical and academic practice in Kenya. His current roles include clinical director of BethanyKids Africa, consultant pediatric surgeon at Kijabe Hospital, and program director of East Africa’s first fellowship training pro- September 2012: Starting in Ethiopia… D ear friends, Tomorrow Dita and I will head to Addis Ababa, joining our recent graduate Frehun Ayele in starting the BethanyKids work in Ethiopia. Could I kindly request your prayers in this important step? The Kingdom potential for this is so significant—Ethiopia has more than twice Kenya’s population, with 1/5 of the number of pediatric surgeons— and our central location in the national capital also could potentially lead to an “opening of the floodgates” in terms of children to care for. Moreover, our opportunity to care physically and spiritually for families from across the Horn of Africa will be much greater, as travel into Addis is easy and cheap— we already have a waiting list of patients from those regions! The challenges are also many, however, and here are a few items we would appreciate your prayers for: • Passing without hassles through the customs with some surgical equipment (Ethiopia is known to be very strict on customs, even when the equipment is used and donated); • Obtaining our Ethiopian medical/nursing licenses—a very tedious process in which we are helped by the hospital; • Building a good understanding and working relationship with the Korean leadership at Myung Sung Christian Medical Center (MCM) and with our new colleague Frehun; • Wisdom in setting up the administrative structure and policies for the new BethanyKids Ethiopia; • Personally, divine assistance with the Amharic language (apparently one of the most difficult languages to learn for Vol 38, No 6, 12 gram in pediatric surgery. He is adjunct professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Queen’s University, Canada, senior lecturer in Surgery at the University of Nairobi, and honorary professor of Surgery at Aga Khan University, Nairobi. His areas of interest are chronic surgical disabilities in African children, the nature and provision of pediatric surgery in developing countries, faith issues in clinical practice, as well as surgical education. Dan is married to Edita Stepita (Slovak origin), who is a nursing clinician and educator, and the Poenarus have two sons. outsiders, including a totally foreign 130-character alphabet) • Our family left in Canada (including Dita’s aging mom and our two boys in university), so that we can focus on God’s work in Africa. Thank you so much for your prayer support! We are so privileged to be used by God in Africa and to be your co-workers, and are excited about what He plans to do in Ethiopia! Blessings, Dan & Dita Poenaru Main entrance to our hospital in Addis, MyungSung Christian Medical Center 19 The Poenarus BethanyKids in Ethiopia November 2012: Starting in Addis Ababa This Amharic expression, simply meaning “Thanks to God,” has been so much on our lips over the past month here in Ethiopia! The strange-looking script and the tongue-twisting pronunciation reflect the challenges of the language that we are struggling to learn. But at the same time, the meaning of the expression reflects fully our attitude of gratitude to God for all that He has faithfully provided for us during this newest transition. And probably the best way to testify to this is by following up on the list of prayer requests which we have sent to some of you just a month ago… Here below, in italics,were our prayer requests from Sept. 29, 2012. God’s answers to these prayers are added after, in regular print. Tomorrow Dita and I will head to Addis Ababa, joining our recent graduate Frehun Ayele in starting the BethanyKids work in Ethiopia. Could I kindly request your prayers in this important step? The Kingdom potential for this is so significant – Ethiopia has more than twice Kenya’s population, with 1/5 of the number of pediatric surgeons – and our central location in the national capital also could potentially lead to an “opening of the floodgates” in terms of children to care for. Moreover, our opportunity to care physically and spiritually for families from across the Horn of Africa will be much greater, as travel into Addis is easy and cheap – we already have a waiting list of patients from those regions ! The challenges are also many, however, and here are a few items we would appreciate your prayers for: • Passing without hassles through the customs with some surgical equipment (Ethiopia is known to be very strict on customs, even when the equipment is used and donated); This was the first little miracle in our transition: through a combination of airport arrivals area chaos, wise help from our Korean hosts, and divine providence, we were waved through the check points with all of our luggage (and essential surgical equipment) unopened. In the natural anxiety of our landing in a foreign country (Dita’s first visit to Ethiopia), this sure felt like God’s smile and welcome to us! • Obtaining our Ethiopian medical/nursing licenses—a very tedious process in which we are helped by the hospital; Well, this tedious process normally requiring several months took less than two weeks, and both Dita and I are now licensed to work in Ethiopia as surgeon and nurse! Our most helpful Korean hosts are now helping us obtain longer-term work permits (so we won’t have to rely on temporary visas), and Ethiopian drivers’ licenses. • Building a good understanding and working relationship with the Korean leadership at Myung Sung Christian Medical Center (MCM) and with our new colleague Frehun; So far so good! In fact once again we have been amazed at the kindness of the Korean staff here and their great willing20 ness to help in every way – from arranging a most comfortable apartment for us on the hospital premises, to providing surgery, clinic, ward and office space for BethanyKids, to taking us shopping each week in the hospital vehicle! As for Frehun, it has been a privilege to work alongside him in the many logistics, visits to other hospitals, and caring for patients together. It is such a joy to see and benefit from the fruit of three years of training this young man in Kijabe, in the form of an excellent, godly consultant pediatric surgeon who is literally opening the doors for BethanyKids in his own country. • Wisdom in setting up the administrative structure and policies for the new BethanyKids Ethiopia; We thank God for accomplishing a fair bit during just one month: we have set up the financial arrangements for our work here, a good reporting structure, and a patient database. Our start as a charitable organization here in Ethiopia has been publicized both in the print media and on TV, and we are in every way “open for business”—where the “business” we are offering is Dan with his first little patient in Addis that of healing children and transforming lives, offered in particular to the tens of millions of children in the country whose families have very limited financial resources for surgical care… Speaking of surgeries: we have had our first operations this past week, and by God’s grace they have gone well. The relatively slow first weeks allow us to prepare well for the work ahead, and give Frehun study time for his upcoming fellowship exam. We are also bracing ourselves for possibly lots of surgeries once the word gets out that we offer our services almost free… • Personally, divine assistance with the Amharic language (apparently one of the most difficult languages to learn for outsiders, including a totally foreign 130-character alphabet); Yes, the Amharic language with its unusual alphabet and very unintuitive (for us Westerners) grammar has been a challenge, but one far from insurmountable. God has provided us an excellent teacher who comes twice weekly to our house, and with her help we have slowly started using basic phrases and reading shop names on the streets, all to the amused delight of the Ethiopians! Vol 38, No 6, 12 The Poenarus Dita assisting the pediatric surgery nurse during her hospital orientation BethanyKids in Ethiopia As for Dita, she has also started her work at the hospital, observing various departments and planning a comprehensive report on infection control for the hospital. She is also trying to complete her thesis for the Masters’ course… Our life here has been quite good—we live in the hospital compound just a threeminute walk from the hospital, and can eat three meals a day in the guest cafeteria! Unfor- the linguistic and cultural experience of small shops. We have also made some good friends who have been kind enough to take us occasionally by car, especially on Sundays to church. The Italian occupation of Ethiopia during WW2 has left an amazing coffee culture, combined with the country’s worldfamous coffee beans – so we are enjoying frequent, inexpensive and superb macchiatos! As for sports, Dan has started running Dita shopping for house supplies in the neighborhood The hospital guesthouse where we live tunately the latter offers only Korean food, and after a few days of kimchi (spicy fermented Chinese cabbage) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we have decided to alternate the cafeteria with some home-cooked meals and delicious habesha (Ethiopian) food. We have a very comfortable two-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen, which means that we can host friends who would like to come to visit! Addis is a beautiful city which we are just beginning to explore. It is situated at 8,000 feet altitude, so the weather is never too hot, but most of the days are sunny and beautiful (Ethiopia is called “the country with 13 months of sunshine,” an allusion to the 13 months of the traditional Ethiopian calendar). We don’t have a car here but have found great shopping on the streets around the hospital, and have enjoyed together Vol 38, No 6, 12 inside the compound, which at the altitude we are counts as “altitude training”… • Our family left in Canada (including Dita’s aging mom and our two boys in university), so that we can focus on God’s work in Africa. Being away from our entire family has not been easy – but fairly reliable Skype contact has been an unexpected blessing, in a country with rather poor internet coverage. We are thankful that our boys have survived well their mid-terms, and Dita’s mom is doing well. We plan to return to Ontario for Christmas to see our family before resuming our work here. Thank you so much for your prayer support! We are so privileged to be used by God in Africa and to be your coworkers, and are excited about what He plans to do in Ethiopia! Indeed this beginning has been smooth and pleasant, by the grace of God and through your prayers. We feel that God is the one who has directed us here, and we look to Him for our life, work and ministry here. After all, we are in the very country about which the psalmist said: “Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God,” (Psalm 68:31, NASB). And how much we appreciate your hands stretched out to God on our behalf, as we labor together in His vineyard—thank you! Blessings to you all, Dan & Dita Poenaru 21 Ruby Mikulencak SIM USA Mission Report July 2012 I t is a wonderful privilege for me to be here this morning to thank you for your continued support and to share more about what the past three years and the future hold for me. After six farewell services, I left Ghana in January 2012, and had an amazing adventure of visiting old colleagues and friends in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. I reached Wisconsin at the end of March and will be here in the area until the end of September. So what happens after that? Many thought that when I left Ghana I would retire. In fact the other day I was speaking by phone to my very good friend, Diana, in Ghana and she asked me, “Sister Ruby are you sitting down?” I thought, well Diana of course I am sitting down, but she went on to say “Or…are you still working for God?” For Diana, sitting down was the word for retirement. Well, I told her I am not retiring. In fact last July something I read from My Utmost for His Highest, written by Oswald Chambers, stimulated my thinking about spiritual retirement. Until I read that, I think I was asking myself, have I not fought the good fight? Haven’t I contributed enough to the kingdom of God? Can I not now retire and enjoy prayer and Bible study and not get too involved with the nitty-gritty of life? It could be easy to say I have served long enough and it is time for resting, but Oswald Chambers really challenged me that for a child of God there is no spiritual retirement. Instead of retirement God has given me the wonderful opportunity of still being involved with His global plan for reaching the world with the Gospel. Before I get into that though, let me share some verses from God’s word that have spoken into my life as I thought about leaving Ghana. 22 Isaiah 46: 3b–4 “I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” I have found this to be true in my life. God has carried me along all these years. It is something that cannot be explained because it is a mystery of how the Lord works within us. Yet I am grateful for His involvement in my life from my birth, in fact even before I was born, until today. Sometimes I just shake my head in wonder. Amazing yet true – the eternal God intimately involved in our lives! Because of this involvement of God in my life, I can say with the Psalmist in Psalm 16:7–8 “I I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” All my life the Lord has guided me. He knows me (and by the way, He knows you, too) inside and out. He knows that my heart’s desire is to stir people up into a topic that is so dear to my heart. My passion is for missions but it is also for the younger generation to be part of God’s vision for mission. Once again I find Scripture speaking into my situation, giving me a role I can do in my remaining time here on earth. Psalm 71:14–18 “As for me I always have hope. I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.” My cry to the Lord and also the desire of my heart is to proclaim to this new generation God’s mighty miracles to all who come after me! Vol 38, No 6, 12 Ruby Mikulencak God is giving me the opportunity to remain involved in missions even from San Jose, California. By the end of September, I hope to be living in San Jose with my sister. Why California and not Wisconsin? I am afraid I have lived too long in Africa to be able to stand the long, cold winters of Wisconsin. California is a lot warmer than Wisconsin, and because I have a sister who lives there, I am able to do my new role in missions from California. Now what will I be doing? In order for me to explain my new role, I need to give you some statistics that will help you see how I can still be involved in global missions in San Jose. Let me remind you of some interesting facts that show there has been a shift in Christianity from the West to the Majority World. • In 1905 – 95% of all Christians lived in the Western World. • In 1977 – there were as many Christians in Africa, Asia and Latin America (the Majority World) as in the West. SIM USA • North-East India has plans to send many thousands into foreign service. •Ethiopia has a plan to send out 500 missionaries within the next 10 years. • Ethiopians are already serving in countries like India, Pakistan and Sudan. My new role will be as a mentor, trainer and mobilizer for majority world missions, trying to encourage and help send out through SIM these new missionaries. I can do a lot of this via the internet although there will be some travel involved. I am excited to be able to continue stirring churches and people into missions. I am grateful that the Lord has given me this new assignment and I look forward to starting it in October 2012. Once again in order for me to continue serving, I do need your continued prayer and financial support. May the Lord bless you for this continued support! • 2000 – Change of momentum in missions – no longer “From the West to the Rest.” • 2009 – Most Christian missionaries are coming from the Majority World. • What used to be the harvest field has now become the harvest force. Some further statistics to show you the involvement of the Majority World Church in missions: • The USA still leads the way with about 34,000 career missionaries. • Of 24 top US-based missions, 16 (66%) are in decline. • KOREA has sent 22,000 with plans to send 50,000. • Latin America has sent out about 12,000 – of which about 5000 are to other continents. • China has a plan to send 100,000 from China through Asia to Jerusalem. • Nigeria has sent out 5,600 working in 58 countries, and plans to send 50,000 by 2015 – many to North Africa and ending up in Jerusalem. • The Philippines has a plan to train 200,000 workers, many of whom work in the Middle Eastern countries. • India has the largest number of cross-cultural missionaries (second to the USA) in the world. Vol 38, No 6, 12 I November 2012 have a new home, a new office, a new roommate and a new role! Adjusting to life in San Jose, California, far away from Ghana, has been interesting and challenging. I feel settled into my new home and office, thanks to my sister Rosemary and some of her friends, who have made me feel right at home in my office. 23
