| I mainly help with English-speaking
churches, especially our own PC(USA). One of my particular tasks
is to help with church-related travel groups that wish to come
to the Czech Republic. As many American Christians are discovering,
meeting our Christian brothers and sisters in other lands can
be very rewarding, while it makes visible the ties that bind us
in Christ.
One church group that has cultivated substantial contacts here,
and has helped with several church construction projects, is the
First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, Maryland. I wish I could
take credit for the fine partnership these folks have developed
with various parts of the ECCB, but it predates my work here.
If you receive the Czech Working Group Newsletter, which I edit,
you can expect to read about this exciting partnership in the
upcoming issue.
One of the things I do is help the national staff of our partner
church to develop its English language skills. As in Slovakia,
so here in the Czech Republic, English is an important way of
communicating with people and churches in an international context.
Beyond teaching, I often am involved in translating various church
documents, including sermons and letters.
Recently, our office met with students from Columbia Theological
Seminary, the Presbyterian seminary in Decatur, Georgia. These
students came to the Czech Republic to learn more about the church
here. The seminary's goal is to "stretch" these students
and help them to be ready for various kinds of ministry when they
are ordained in the United States in the not-too-distant future.
Our office also recently hosted a Scottish group called “Faith
Share.” This group came to learn more about urban problems
here and to see how the ECCB is doing ministry in inner-city situations.
In the aftermath of the severe (once-in-150-years) flood, which
struck in August 2002, the ECCB set up a flood commission, comprised
mainly of the diaconia, the service arm of the church. In the
early stages of flood recovery, it coordinated the work of more
than a thousand volunteers. Now, it is monitoring the needs of
the families affected by the flood and channeling aid to them.
Additionally, the ECCB leadership sponsored a seminar about the
Iraq situation late last year. We specifically considered it in
light of Christian, just-war theory. A representative from the
U.S. Embassy was there, as well as a seminary professor, and even
a couple of former Czech ambassadors to other countries. I was
asked to present the PC(USA) point of view and had communicated
with staff in Louisville to learn more specifically about it.
But, there has been another big change in my life. This past
September, I got married! But, that is a story for another letter!
Joyce is a United Methodist pastor who served for many years in
the West Ohio Conference, most recently in the church where we
were married. We are now here together in Prague where she does
translating for our partner church and its seminary. I will plan
to introduce Joyce in a forthcoming letter.
Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank those of you who
have been financially supporting my work over the years. Your
support helps to make it possible for me to continue here, and
I am deeply grateful for it. Almost all of you have been contributing
through various offices of the Presbyterian Church (either in
Louisville or through your presbytery). I believe only one or
two congregations have contributed through the Outreach Foundation.
Because I have been reassigned, and my work has changed a bit,
this Foundation will no longer be receiving contributions toward
my work. If you are one of the few congregations that have been
sending money through the Outreach Foundation, and if you wish
to continue to support my work here, please contact our denomination’s
Mission Funding and Development Office. That office can provide
you with a pledge form and with further information. You can contact
them at (888) 728-7228, x5650.
I am afraid that with all the changes in my life, I have not
done a good job of staying in touch with you. However, I appreciate
this opportunity to tell you some of the things I am currently
involved in, and to remind you that I continue to greatly value
my relationship with you.
With deep gratitude for God’s good gifts and for your prayers,
encouragement, and support,
John
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