Who are you?
We are three Germans and one Czech who have just started a house church together. We work as computer scientists or teachers, and one couple is expecting their first child. As a team we meet weekly near Hradčanska, the metro station at the castle hill. There are also several people from Prague who are interested in believing in Jesus and with whom we read the Bible together.
What do you want to see?
The Czech Republic is a very atheistic country. We want to see that faith in Jesus Christ is gaining a foothold again and that people experience the freedom that comes with it. We dream that this movement will reach Czechs from all social groups, and that 600 years after Jan Hus, this country will once again give impulses for reformation.
What if Eliška, who has just met Jesus, now tells her parents and siblings about him, for whom faith always seems ridiculous?
We hope that many more will emerge from our one house church, who will not only help people in their first cautious steps in faith, but also support them comprehensively in founding their own house church.
How did this idea come about?
God has spoken personally to all of us in the house church.
For one of us it began during a prayer night when someone had an impression for him, and after several weeks of intensive prayer it was finally clear: “God wants me in Prague.” So he finished his project at work, passed on his responsibility in the church, and prepared for the move. Another person felt called by God to a foreign country, following the example of Abraham. One of our team just had the deep inner conviction that this country is the right place for him. Yet another person had several detailed visions of walking through the Old Town of Prague.
We are united by the fact that church-planting in Prague is on our hearts.
What challenges are you expecting?
Prague is the most expensive city in Europe, in terms of cost of living per average income. Many people have to work more here than elsewhere and have less time to spare.
The atheistic culture means that an interest in faith often meets opposition. For example, we have heard several times that parents have taken the bible away from their children.
Therefore we expect that we will need a lot of perseveranc: so we are happy to receive active support. Up to now we know mainly young professionals and students. In view of the upcoming birth, we would also like to get to know young families: so we would also be grateful for contacts.
What will you do?
Besides our weekly team meeting, we have a monthly prayer meeting for the Czech Republic. We also have mentoring sessions to train future leaders and support them in their next steps. At the moment there is also a basic faith course for interested people. We want to continue these formats and if necessary adapt them to changing situations.