Community Church of the Santa Ynez

Community Church of The Santa Ynez Valley

Czech Republic Ministry Trip

July 15 – August 4, 2003

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Team Members:

Dennis McBride, Margie Bettiga, Julie Gibbs & Elizabeth Opheim

(This page will be updated periodically with information and photos.)

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Ministry Opportunities & Prayer Requests

(June 27 Update)

We are excited about this opportunity to minister with our missionaries and dear friends Peter and Sonya Smith in the Czech Republic.

Each summer, Peter, Sonya and their ministry team conduct a one-week language camp for Czech nationals who wish to sharpen their English-speaking skills. Peter has full freedom to structure the camp’s curriculum, discussions, games and music around the Gospel. Therefore, the camp has proved to be an excellent opportunity for sharing Christ with people who, for the most part, are from atheistic backgrounds. This year the camp will be conducted in Krivoklat from July 19-26.

The camp will host about 130 adults and 40 children, which is the largest camp the Smith’s have conducted to date. Our team will join with teams from Faith Bible Church in Spokane, Washington, and Cornerstone Bible Church in Orange County, California, to assist with various aspects of the camp, as well as with follow-up and street ministry in the days immediately after the camp.

Our team’s primary roles will include:

Building relationships with the campers, and sharing Christ with them as opportunities arise.
Assisting with the daily conversational English lessons.
Assiting with daily discussion groups on various Bible-based topics.
Presenting brief informal talks about various aspects of life in America.
Leading music, interactive workshops, skits and games.
Participating in street ministry and follow-up after the camp.

We will leave Santa Barbara on July 14—fly to Frankfurt, Germany—and then on to Prague, which is the capital city of the Czech Republic (the former Czechoslovakia). From Prague we will take ground transportation to Kladno and Krivoklat. We will return to Santa Barbara on August 4.

Please pray for our team as we complete our preparations and then travel to the Czech Republic. Pray also for Peter, Sonya and the other team members. There is much work ahead of us, but we are excited to see how the Lord is going to impact our lives as well as the lives of the campers and their children. Our sincere prayer is that many of them will come to Christ.

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Pictures from 2001 English Camp

Map of Czech Republic Significant Spiritual Needs

Summer, 2001 Campers & Staff Summer, 2001 Various Classes Summer, 2001 Camp Follow-up

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Final Update

As it turned out, we were unable to update the webpage until we arrived back in the United States. But we thank the Lord for a safe and productive trip. We made many wonderful friends and had the privilege of sharing Christ with them all.

Please join with us in praying that the gospel will take root and produce lasting fruit in their lives. Pray also for Peter and Sonya Smith as they conduct extensive follow-up with many of the English Camp students.

Here is just a sample of the people we met and the things we experienced:

Team Picture at Santa Barbara Airport

Frankfurt Airport

Prague Airport

Residence in Kladno

Kladno Park near residence

Prague 1

Prague 2

Prague 3

Prague St. Vitus Cathedral 1

Prague St. Vitus Cathedral 2

Prague St. Vitus Cathedral 3