Community Church of the Santa Ynez Valley
Our Missionary Partners
Peter & Sonya Smith
Joshua, Matthew, Katherine & Daniel
10 Cervna 1942, 32 Lidice
Czech Republic
Ministry Update Letter, September, 2002
Dear praying friend,
Joyous greetings in Christ from the Czech Republic! Here is a brief update for the purpose of prayer and encouragement, knowing that God, through prayer, accomplishes infinitly more than we can ever imagine (James 5:16).
PRAISE GOD FOR:
-> Over 80 Czechs registered last week for our English outreach course!!! Beginning this Tuesday and Thursday we will be going through John's gospel with them. It is an amazing thing in this land to have such a wide door for proclaiming the Gospel with so many "atheists".
-> Beginning of a Bible study for new believers and those seeking the truth, which our Czech co-worker Pavel leads each Wednesday.
-> Visas being recently granted for David and Sharon Campbell who have come from Grace Bible Church, Australia and already are a tremendous help in the English outreach course.
-> God protecting our young Daniel's life as he ran out and was hit by a car in front of our house. Thankfully his foot had only minor injuries and the cast is already off.
PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR:
-> Growth in those who have recently placed their faith in Christ - Dana, Adam, Petra, and Ivana - and for an upcoming baptism
-> Boldness in proclaiming Christ for all those on the church planting team (Steigers, Campbells, Vondruskas, Pavel Marsalek, Smiths)
-> God drawing those we are sharing the gospel with to salvation (Roman, Petra, Lubor, Eva, Ivan, and Jana)
As always, please feel free to let us know how we can be specifically praying for you, and thank you for your partnership in the Gospel,
Peter and Sonya
Flood Update ~ August 29, 2002
Dear friend in the Gospel,
You have no doubt heard of the massive flooding that has hit the Czech Republic as pictured below. Some have reported it to be the worst flooding since the 14th century!
We are safe and have had opportunity to minister in word and deed to some flood victims who have become more spiritually sensitive. Yet you likely have not heard more significant news of God pouring forth His blessing in capturing the hearts of Czechs in recent months!
In the last 2 months God has given countless opportunities with 3 summer teams (thank you Cornerstone Bible Church of Garden Grove, Grace Bible Church of Brisbane and Faith Bible Church of Spokane) to proclaim the Gospel to many atheists!
->Over 100 Czech unbelievers heard the Gospel clearly presented and lived out before them through outreach camps!
-> 3 Czechs repented of sin and placed their faith in Jesus Christ receiving life eternal!
-> More of our Czech contacts than ever desire to read and study God's Word
-> God is growing the new church plant in Kladno that He lead us to begin last January
In response, we ask you to please praise God and pray for growth of those that God is saving (I Cor. 1:18).
Since emails are supposed to be kept brief, please let us know if you would like to receive our personal and action packed ministry prayer letter going out this week (just include your snail mail address in response to this).
To the praise of His glory in the church, Peter and Sonya
Ministry Update Letter ~ July, 2002
Greetings in Christ!
Thank you for your prayers for
this church planting work in Kladno, C.R. through which God is
blessing. Here is a brief update so that you might glorify
Him with us:
1. EVANGELISTIC BIBLE STUDY WITH PRISONERS
PRAISE! God has put a growing
fervor in the hearts of 8 prisoners to understand John's gospel
PRAYER-> Please pray that God, through the power of the Word, will grant them saving faith.
2. H.S. PRINCIPAL
PRAISE! "Zdenek"
gladly received the Czech Bible and said he will begin reading it
this summer!
PRAYER-> That God will show Zdenek He is more than an impersonal force and offers life in Christ
3. SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE
PRAISE! Czechs from Kladno
continue to join us in worship. In talking with one young married
couple yesterday, we came to find out that the husband Jan was
formerly a Roman Catholic priest and his wife Mirka formerly a
Jehovah's Witnesses! They are very enthusiastic about
joining us in fellowship and growing in the Word!
PRAYER-> That Jan, Mirka, and their two children will grow in Christ and that God will draw many more to Himself.
4. SUMMER OUTREACH CAMPS
PRAISE! God has given a
tremendous opportunity to share with around 75 Czech adults and
children (most are atheists!) in these English outreach camps.
People are still asking if they can join.
PRAYER-> that the living God will be unmistakably seen in the lives of the summer team teachers and understood as the Gospel is proclaimed.
Grateful for your faithful partnership in prayer, Peter and Sonya
Spring Outreach Camp ~ May, 2002
Thank you for praying for our last
weekend's outreach camp. We praise the Lord for a wide open
door for the Gospel with opportunities to share Christ with each
of the 17 Czech unbelievers. Several students evidenced the
impact of hearing the good news. Nada,and atheist of nearly 50
years, said that though she is an atheist, she believes there
will be a time in her life when she will come to believe.
Our neighbour Daniel who also attended is now showing a real
interest in spiritual things and realizes coming to God means
turning from sin. We are reminded of Christ's words to His
disciples concerning salvation: "With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Please continue to pray as we now seek to speak with these
students individually about there understanding of the Gospel and
need to embrace Christ.
Another tremendous answer to prayer this week is that God has
provided for us an office building which will serve as a
strategic place for interacting with unbelievers in the walking
and shopping zone of town. Please pray that many will hear the
good news through this.
Grateful that you pray as we proclaim and that God answers, Peter
and Sonya
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