Merry Christmas

KOV-youth workers conference

God is Good.
This conference has been a greates place on earth to be over last weekend together with 65 youth workers from Serbia. I had this great honour to instruct the leader of the conference in the proces (last 3 months) as he never done such conference. It has been even greater joy to go there in person and help the final happening. I was even able to take two of my desciple who served with me. And yes we learned all so much.

Please pray for MREZA - serbian national youth workers training organisation as they are in search for their new National leader.
It was my personal joy that after 11 years since I have left Serbia I could be part of such significant event.
Thankyou for your prayers.

Serbia's Youth workers conference is near.

Please pray for all the preparation for this event.
Around 60 youth leaders are planning to come on 10. - 12. december to a very small place in OPOVO. It is miracle that we have got so many.
- Pray for four of us will go to Serbia on 9th the day before the conference. It will took us around 10 hours if roads will be cleared of the snow. For the safe journey.
- Pray for Steve the conference director who has new baybe born not long ago.
- Pray for the volunteers that we would like to work along once we came there. We would like to train them for the next year conference.
- Pray for GOD's spirit to speak to these youth leaders.
Pray for funds needed to cover it all. Already have 350$ still need 300$ to cover conference fee, travels, food and accomodation.

Teaching WORSHIP at Lutheran churches.

I love leading church in to presence of God, and if I get opportunity to teach about it I say Yes.
Well this week Two meetings with a lot of people have got together to learn about worship.
God was very gracious to me.

One meeting was in Dolny Kubin at Lutheran church. Many people even from the nearby willages come to this meeting. They wanted to know how could they worship God different then throug singing songs.
The second was in Presov and it was for Lutheran young college students. This one was speciall because so many friends from the east came to spend time with us. God was working in peoples lives and we are glat that we could spend time with him worshiping Him last night. Even heavy snow fall dindt stop us from making 8 hours return trip in 11 hours.

Levice Training weekend

We praise God for what He is doing through His church. His church in Levice is beautiful.
First night we meet with around 20 people and talked about the healthy descipleship by developing 4 main roots (Body, Word, Holly Spirit, Prayer). After this we went for bowling and used this time to meet the teams.
Next day was full of teaching about Christ's strategy in the ministry and this was also very practical as we had them create model (picture) of what they do.
Having all 5 teams together we had some refined moments when they could dicover and discuss and pray over current stage. These teams are very busy and many times have no time to even communicate between themselves... But this time was great for this.
On the end of the day we did youth meeting for them. Did few individual dicussions and went home. I believe God will use this time for better communication and understanding between the teams.
Our prayer is that GOD would continue to strengthen and lead this teams.
Our prayer is for new volunteers for the teams.
Our prayer is for a lot of these friends becomming children of God.
Our prayer is for Pastor and leadership of the church.

Youth leaders conference in SERBIA

You all know that I grew up in Serbia right? And that piece of my heart is still there.
Well over few last months some hard things have happend in the leadership of Serbian national training organization called MREZA. The leaders wife has decided to divorce which lead on his resignation. The rest of the team have still decided that they will go on and prepare this years youth workers conference.
The main coordinator have had a lot of question on how to do a conference as he never did one before but there is a great progress on their part. I have followed with him all the parts of the conference and we pray that God would just interveen.
We are sensing that God is in controll and that He wants to build this young generation of leaders in Serbia. We are expecting around 60 youth workers. Please pray for strength and wisdom over Serbian team. I would also appreciate prayers for wisdom over me as I play role of experienced director of youth workers conference that I would hear the Spirit of God to not overload the growth of movement in Serbia by our SLovak experience. That my help would not come from my own wisdom but Gods heart.

I am planning to go down to serbia on these dates 8. - 12. of december. The conference is 10.-12. but it would be good to help prepare and also I would take few of my boys who I desciple to experience it with me. Pray for extra travels acoomodation and food expences.
Pray for right people to register and come for the conference.
Pray for the serbian team.

Levice church - training for their 5 teams

Our training of leaders which we have carried for last 9 years has brought over 120 youth leaders that we had honour to walk with. This year we have realize that God is calling us to a deeper level of training these leaders. And this is how School of leaders 2.0 was formed. What is this about is simply getting in to the churches where these youth leaders are and helping them incorporate the Christs strategy in every day of a life of their youth work.
We decided that we will get involved with 4 churches but we already have 2 in addition. There is great interest comming from these churces and the needs are great.
This weekend 12.13. november we will spend with Levice. This church has done English evangelistic camp with our organization for the last 3 years and they have seen some great growth umong leaders but also among new believers.
This visit we pray that we would get to know the 5 teams better and may we see what they really need to be train in.

This is the picture of their entair church.

P.S. you can also pray for the protection of our kids as Zuzka goes to the school and I will be away to this church and our kids will stay with different people.

We praise God for His work at womans conference.

God is Good. This conference once again was example of His Grace. Around 190 women came together to meet with God. To praise Him and learn from His word. All women went home very encouraged and ready to continue be courageous standing firmly in His word. The theme was "Old fashion STYLE" and they talk about being courageous in doing things Christ would do and even for the price of other people calling you Old fashion.
Thankyou for praying and standing with us. And continue praying as the organizational team would need to have one of these woman involved in full time ministry for woman for our country as this has been done on volunteer work level so far. Pray that money would not be the breaking point where this ministry would end.

Here are few reactions from participiants:
"I am very thankful for you, for the whole team, for your ministry, through which God was able to change my life and spoken to me. This is my favorite conference."

"You are beautiful, faithful according Gods heart. You are our example may God Bless you."

"We also need to have our young daughters come to this conference and be exposed to these great things comming from God. They would be able to discover their faminity and see great examples of Gods women and know their stories of How God is working in their life."

Womans conference - next weekend

Dear brothers and sisters,
we praise GOD for so many opportunities to serve Him but also just be His child here in Slovakia.
We want to invite you for prayers over this weekend 5. - 7. nov.
Around 190 woman are going to meet from all parts of our country and will get inspired to be COURAGEOUS to STAND in HIS ways and HIS truth.
May GOD uses this time to touch hearts and minds of woman.
Pray for health for our family and just overall protection on travels and our children spending weekend with other families.

Josiah Venture FALL training conference 2010

This past weekend, nineteen of our Slovak staff and invited youth leaders participated in a week-long conference sponsored by JV. The theme was Grip | Strengthening our hold on the word of God. We reflected on Titus 1:9, “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

God has especially put Rasto (on the picture standing right over me) from Levice on my heart to spend more time with him over next year. He is one of the leaders we do our English camps with. His church is one of the biggest evangelical church in Slovakia and there are very little young men in leadership role. Over last 3 years God has strengthen the desire for this church to see these young men in leadership. Rasto is definetely one of them.

Exit TOUR Slovakia

This month, our team gets the opportunity to contextualize the gospel to teens through the use of a rock band. We will partner with five denominations, and eight schools to share the gospel to over 1000 high school students in four Slovak cities through the JV EXIT Tour Ministry.

EXIT Tour is an evangelistic outreach where Dizmas, an American band, who has been seen on MTV, will perform a small assembly in each school. Afterwards, we will offer preventative lectures focused on teen issues such as sex, drugs, AIDS, smoking, drinking, etc. In the afternoon, each day, the youth groups will host an activity, such as rock climbing, jam sessions with the band, soccer, etc. to strengthen relationships with the students. At the end of the week, we will host a free concert for the students, featuring the Band who will present the Gospel. Our desire is after the concert, the students will get plugged into an EXIT Small Gorup where they can grow in their newfound faith.

EXIT Tour | Slovakia 2010 from Mike on Vimeo.

Please pray with our team for protection on everyone’s hearts, minds and souls as we put the final details together. We are needing your prayers for the students, teachers and parents we come in contact with next week. For hearts to be opened to accept the Gospel, and for the youth to take bold steps of faith to befriend and follow up with these students. And, that these students will get plugged into an Exit Small Group, which will lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus.

Dates

Oct. 4 - 9 | Zilina

Oct. 15 | Bardejov (KECY Concert)

Oct. 16 | Presov (KECY Concert)

Oct. 18 - 23 | Kosice

Thankyou for your prayers,

Draho

The country I have lived for 17 years needs HELP.

Serbia
Dragan Mitrovcan the director of National youth network (MREZA) has invited me to come to Serbia. He needs help with leading their youth workers conference. He told me that after 10 years of organizing it he has run out of strength and isnpiration and that my 5 years of experience could be well used in Serbia.
As you know I have came from this part of europe 11 years ago. So I still can speak the language and know some people who could be good influence in searching for all the youth leaders in this country.

STATUS: - I am willing to help from Slovakia. Which will mean a lot of time on internet and skype. I also will only be able to help if the Lord allowe by providing the money.

Upcomming Ministry OPPORTUNITY: - Dragan wants me to help him organize their next youth workers conference. This conference takes place in Serbia in the middle of December. I will need to go to visit Dragan for one week in August and one week before the conference. The conference lasts for 4 days.

The NEED: 400 $ for travels + 300$ for food and accomodation. And lots of prayer.

Oli at the childrens camp.

We have took our oldest Son Oliver (8) first time to the camp. This is christian camp. I believe he will gain a lot of great experiences and most of all we pray that he will have even stronger desire to folow and serve God.

Levice KECY camp

Few days ago I have visited Levice KECY team. 12 hours with them has been real joy. Standing over the city and praying with the team has made my heart very happy. I just felt very strong desire of these people to see new kids knowing Jesus. They have 24 unchurched kids. Together with US team and TCK team we will make great 60 people camp.
As you pray for us, pray for:
- openes of their hearts for Gospel
- pray for me as I will be speaking the Gospel on final night
- pray for the health
- pray for good weather

There is one more specific prayer topic:
- This church has lack of MAN LEADERS. Please pray that God would aweaken one strong man who will have desire to lead youth closer to God.

Visiting the Camps.

Summer is the time when we at TCK walk along side the churches by helping them run youth evangelistic camps. It is the time of influencing the local church to get out from building and evangelize, time to grow its leaders, time to find new workes with the passion, time to lead someone to christ, time to play a lot of sports, time to find new friends...
As I write there are 3 camps finishing their first term (Zilina, Liptovsky Hradok, Bratislava). I took my family to visit all 3 of them. On all 3 of these there are around 100 teenagers needing Christ. As the camp is finishing and goodbyes are said pray that each one of these teenagers would continue comming for camp clubs organized by the local church over the whole year.

On our 5 day trip we stayed at tent. To keep the cost down but also for the family experience. We build our tent in the yard of our neighbours (from Zilina) house in Tatra mountains. Through our stay we even celebrated her birthday. It was good fun as she has also 3 children and our kids know each other well. And I have to tell you a story of Viktor.
While we were bilding our tent their small boy (2) and Viktor (3) has decided to go for walk. This is small willage without any dangerous traffic but still there is a small river going through it and there is forest and mountains... well 15 minutes is long time if you can not find your child... but as I was running through the willage and been asking all of the people along my run I soon find that two little boys did walked this path. Very soon I saw them walking down the street with no fear and worrie. It was one of this moments when I just thanked God for protection and care over my family.

Our next step?

We have been here in Zilina for last 11 years. We feel calling for change. Not ministry change but more place within Slovakia. A year ago our calling have got a name "Banska Bystrica". My cousin who is pastoring church in this city has given us invitation to come and help them bridge their churche's elementary school relationship's with the Christ and Church. There are only two such elementary schools in our country and this is one of them.
The second calling I am experiencing in based on this map representing all the participians form last national youth conference. After while you can see some gaps in the middle of our country. I have dream that this middle part of Slovakia would become stronger on number of youth leaders. One of the ways is to go there and live among them. This is where I feel calling.
I would still remind being involved with TCK/JV organization as they are willing to send me out to the field. My task would be to discover these youth leaders and map the need for growth. I would not continue in my role of director of youth conference but I would start to develope new evangleism tool we are offering to slovak churches called Fussion. (I will write more about it as it goes on.)

Pray for us as we are in the middle of our decission making proces. We have already decided to take this direction but there are a lot of things that need prayer and wisdom.
- Pray for timing of this move. End of August 2010 or move next year 2011 in June.
- Pray for Oliver the oldest as he has tears in his eyes when we talk about the move. Even if it is 55 miles away from Zilina where he has all the friends.
- Pray for house or flat for rent. Also the wisdom for our flat that we own here in Zilina.
- Pray for the financial situation for our family. We need to have certain amount to be able to move and at this moment raise up around 500$ montly as to be able to make this new step.

SPM graduation and my family in pictures.

Johanna with Ada one of the graduates. They have plan to visit each other soon.

All nicely dressed and listening final words.

Zuzka with Danila one of her students that she mentored.

Romana another student that Zuzka mentored.

20 Youth leaders graduated our SCHOOL of LEADERS

I could tell by the way the students stared at their diplomas that they were impressed with the way it looked and that they were proud of what they had accomplished. Likewise, I could tell by the way the students said goodbye, that what we had accomplished together this year had left a deep impression on their hearts.

SPM is an investment. It is a serious investment of time, money, influence, experience, wisdom and knowledge. And it’s all for the strengthening of the church in Slovakia.

On Sunday, 20 students traveled from Velky Slovkov, probably better equipped than 90% of Slovak church members. I am praying that God will mobilize them in the years ahead to pour themselves out into the lives of those around them.

Thank you, each one ouf you, for your commitment to this vision! Each of you was faithful to the end and made great contributions to the whole process. I hope that in these hours and days after SPM graduation, you will feel a strong affirmation from our Father that you have pleased his heart. You have gave your money and prayers giving your life to his love… the Bride.

Grace and Peace to you from God and from me. Draho.

Annual Report 2009

God has been faithfull over whole last year. This annual report is just little piece for you to look in to what God has been doing through TCK ministry.

Here is the link for the web site where you can read whole report: http://tckompas.sk/annual

New Challenges

We were able to come to the Spring conference only for one day, due to Zuzka's state exam, that she was taking. It was fun to reconnect with some of our friends. I also had two important meetings. One was with Dragan Mitrovcan from Serbia. He expressed their need for help with the national youth workers conference. They have done it for the last 9 years but Dragan thinks it is not going well.

Please pray for this decision to be made soon as he is expecting some answers.
This would require extra time for preparation, extra funds for me to travel down to Serbia (2-3 times), and absence from my family.

Another meeting I had was with the director of FUSION ministry in CZech republic -Terry English. This evangelistic tool has been very succsesfull in starting new youth groups in local churches. My name was mentioned with this new program. I asked a lot of questions and I got a lot of answers. It is a great tool for reaching unchurched kids through teaching them how to play music, sing, conduct, dance, create media... through in once a weeke meting in the local church club room.

Please pray for the clarity for me whether I should step in to this new role of main coordinator in our Country.

KECY 2010 - Training Weekend

This summer, our English Evangelistic Camp Outreach, KECY, theme is Redeem. And we are gearing up for another crazy, wild, fun-filled and life-changing experience for our Slovak and North American youth groups, interns, team, and students.

Last weekend, we have hosted our training weekend where we brought all eight youth groups to Zilina to prepared and trained them for this summer’s experience. Our desire during the week was to focus less on the camp logistics and more on follow up, especially one on one discipleship. We see the camp as a tool to build relationship, trust and an opportunity to share the gospel. And after camp, a time to strengthen those relationships, build community and leading the students into a growing relationship with Jesus.

Please pray for our 8 youth groups to grasp what God wants them to learn and use to help build His Kingdom.

Throught the weekend my main task was to lead us all in to the presence of God through worship.

Youth leader’s conference – filled to capacity!

“I have prayed for two years”, one young woman said with tears, “that God would teach me what to do with the girls I am leading. And this conference has been the answer to that prayer. Now I know the specifics about how to disciple”!

Over 600 youth leaders from all over Slovakia gathered together for a four day conference of inspiration, help and training. As it seems to be every year, the auditorium was packed and overflowing with excited participants eager to learn.

To “pass the baton forward” was the challenge. Like relay runners, it’s our calling to personally hand off the life we have in Christ to another person through personal evangelism and discipleship. Everyone received their own baton and the spiritual tools to put the “hand off” into motion.

In one session, each participant was given a few minutes to write down names of specific people to whom their baton could be passed. In those moments, God seems to say to me that these moments of specific application were changing the spiritual landscape of Slovakia! Potentially thousands of young people will be raised up to run the race.

God is at work in this generation in Slovakia. Run!

9 Years of our marriage.

Today is 9 years since we said YES to each other speaking words of promisses to each other love and faithfulness.
God is good to us. He has thought us one major truth about us. That there is beauty and danger in our differences. Beauty because we allways bring two perspectives to one result. Danger when we are not walking closely with God we hurt each other by being to much in the center of attention.

I praise God for beautiful woman full of wisdom. I have privilage and honour to be her husband. I praise God for 3 amazing children to us.

Tomorrow we will meet with Dave Patty (Josiah Venture director) to pray and seek God to help us walk more in His strength. We will seek to know if there are is anything that has chance to distort Gods given autority and His image in us. We desire to walk in complete freedom experiencing Fullness of His joy and presence in our lives.

ECAV worship

Lutheran church in our city organized a weekend of purpose and vision for their ministry. I had got an invitation to come and speak about worship. We looked at some theory but most of it was very practical as how to prepare the next meeting with worship incorporated. We saw that they needed to work on the ways how to involve their young people. This was a great honour for me to serve at their planning meeting.

Visiting Rumbolds

I took 3 days vacation and our whole family went to the far east of our country 4 and half hours away. Bardejov is the city where our new missionary family Ed and Wendy Rumbolds moved their whole family from US to serve in local a Lutheran church in Slovakia. It was great time we had spend with them. Our kids played with their 5 children. We cooked and ate together. We learned Slovak language together. We jumped on the trampoline. It was fun. We love spending time with them. And they are an example of courage and faith for us. I have learned how much they live the principal of the old testament where Jews has been encouraged numerous times to teach their children the principals of Gods word all the time and all the places. It is just when there is little disobedience or attitude Ed or Wendy would immediately identify and put it in to the light of Gods word. Yes that was very inspiring. At one moment I have had wooden spoon in my hand as a tool of helping with the obedience and I had realized that before I would use it I would point to the truth of the Word of God first.