"And if necessary - use words"...

"Proclaim the gospel everywhere, to all people,

at all times

...and if necessary - use words".

Saint Franciss of Assisi

Ivanka didn't see Jason first, he saw her. She was almost hidden behind the crowds of people at the tram stop, resting against the wall with her two plastic shopping bags that contained -most likely - all her worldly belongings.

But when he put a hand on her shoulder and reminded her that they had met a few weeks ago at the train station, she was so happy to see him again. And when she saw the little lunch bag we gave her, Ivanka was full of hugs, kisses and words of thanks. But it was us that were truly thankful. Thankful that in some small way we could show the love of God to Ivanka and others.

Monika was there yesterday, too, as she is every Friday when we go out with sandwiches. It's hard to tell how old she is because her face is so swollen and red from both living out of doors exposed to the elements and spending her days driking cheap vodka as she was when we met her. She cried and reached out to grab onto us the first time we met when we told her that God loved her and had a plan for her life. She hung her head in shame at these words and we reassured her that God didn't condemn her, that He loved her and just wanted her to know that love.

She smiled through her tears and through the weather beaten and life weary face that at first glance appeared to be that of an old woman, there was a shine in her eyes that revealed a glimpse of a much younger girl, maybe as young as late twenties or early thirties. How did she get to this place? What happened? Only God knows and only God can take her out of this. For now all we can do is hold her hand, give her a hug and our little lunch and remind her again of God's love. It seems so little in light of her great needs, but for now it is better to do what we can, that not do anything.

Our heart's desire is to be able to offer more to these folks than just a lunch once a week. We have lots of ideas, dreams, etc. but we know that "unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain those that try to build anything on their own." So for now we will pray and we will continue to do what we can - to show God's love with sandwiches, cookies and an apple...to be his arms to hug and thereby proclaim the love of God to these whom most of the world would rather forget.

Would you please remember them with us? Would you pray with us for Ivanka, for Monika, and for the poor of our city? Pray that God would continue to guide and provide for this outreach and show us how to continue to show His love.

Near to the Brokenhearted...

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

That was the verse that came to mind to one of our team members today as we set out to try and serve the homeless of Prague. It has been on Jason's heart for some time now to try and reach out to the many homeless that are in Prague. In the parks, at the train station and throughout the city there are those who look to be the very ones that verse is talking about..."brokenhearted" and "crushed in spirit".

We made some sandwiches and put them together in a bag with some cookies, an apple and some tracts that tell of God's love. We went out not really knowing what we would do, painfully aware that what little we had to offer did not come anywhere near meeting all the pressing needs they might have, but wanting to simply in faith take the first step towards trying to help these folks and trusting that God would do for them all that we could not. We were not disappointed. We are learning that we never are disappointed when we simply step out in faith. :)

We handed out over 20 lunch bags and could have easily given out more. We saw a family sleeping on a park bench, drunks, people begging....one on hand nothing unusual in any big city...on the other, precious people that God loves.

We were able to talk to a few people, pray for a few others, and simply have our hearts broken with those things that break God's heart. The needs are so great and we wished we could do so much more. Some of us were able to minister to people using languages we had learned in other countries, some of our interaction was in English, and of course faithful Tomas was there to translate with Czech speakers.

We will be going out again next Friday, God willing, with food for both body and soul for these folks, not all homeless, but all looking for hope and for an answer to life's problems. Would you please pray with us for God to lead and provide for this effort? We want to do whatever we can, but more than that, we want to do whatever God is calling us to do.

Right now as a team we are reading Jim Cymbala's book Fresh Faith. It has been so encouraging to all of us to remember that, like the verse on the sidebar to the right of this post, anything that God will do in Prague (and is already doing!) will be not by our might or strength - physical or even perceived spiritual - but by HIS Spirit.

Cymbala writes that "One thing moves God: faith. Not doctrinal savvy. Not willpower. Trust in God alone stirs him to move miraculously on our behalf".

Pray for us for:

• continued guidance for ministry direction
• protection against discouragement and spiritual warfare
• to have God's eyes to be able to see and value His work in us as much as His work through us
• that in all things we would grow in love to one another and that God would be glorified

Prayer...

"What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better,

not new organizations or more and novel methods,

but men whom the Holy Ghost can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.

The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men.

He does not come on machinery, but on men.

He does not anoint plans, but men, men of prayer."

~ E. M. Bounds

God put it on Jason's heart recently to call our team to a day of fasting and prayer. How true it is that when "we draw near to God, He draws near to us"! We spent the day together praying and asking for God's leading, provision, wisdom, and strength in the Holy Spirit. It was a sweet time. Tonight at Bible Study we were reminded that true Christianity is built on an intimate relationship with God and that this comes about only by time spent with Him. Prayer is a key to that relationship.

May we ask you to pray with us for some specific needs?

• Pray for help with Czech language studies for the whole team.
• God to prepare the hearts of the Czech people and for new opportunities and open doors for ministry.
• Please pray for personal spiritual growth and quiet time with the Lord for the whole team.
• Pray for the Monday night Bible Study, for the Lord to continue to bless the teaching of His Word.
• Clear vision for future ministry.
• Pray for the believers in our fellowship that their faith would be strengthened and their love for God would grow.
• Pray for the evangelism on Fridays
• Pray for a fresh leading and guiding of Holy Spirit.
  Pray for physical and spiritual protection.

Thank you for all your prayer and support! Please let us know how we can pray for you as well. Write us at thepragueteam@gmail.com and we would love to agree with you in prayer!

Easter Outreach Team

"To turn the hearts of the people of Prague towards God - and the hearts of the people of God towards Prague!"
We didn't have this as a motto for when the team from Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe came to Prague, but we could have!

When the team was here Easter weekend our goal was that God would use them to turn the hearts of the people of Prague towards God. But also we desire that the people of God, whose hearts are already His, would be turned towards Prague!


While giving the students that came an opportunity to minister, experience another country and culture in Europe and to put into practice the truths they are learning at the bible college; we also wanted to show them the needs and opportunities here in Prague.

Our prayer is that God would put a burden on their hearts to pray for Prague, and that maybe some of them might hear God's call to come and minister here and be a part of our team. We know that "The history of missions is the history of answered prayer". (M. Samuel Zwermer).


And while the team was here we did pray. We prayed for each of the team members that, as they were nearing the end of their semester at college, God would clearly lead and direct each one on the next step that He had for them. We prayed for the different plans we had for outreach and evangelism for the weekend (more on that in the next posting!), and we prayed for God to lead us to those people in Prague that God was preparing to hear His good news! And He did!

More about the outreach at the college student dormitory, the Easter dinner and more in upcoming posts....keep praying for us and for these students...and for Prague!