Sheppersons in Slovakia

I just found this podcast of when Zac taught in church a few Sunday’s back. It’s off of our church’s blog site, which is a great way to see everything going on here (and if you can read and understand Slovak!). But listening to the podcast is relatively easy to do (even if it is Slovak), it’s a matter of clicking and recognizing Zac’s name.

Anyway, here’s the link again, if your interested, and yes he is speaking in English (with a Slovak translation). I hope you enjoy it. He is scheduled to preach once a month, so hopefully we can have them all linked here.

I came across this link today of some GREAT photos from the worship festival Zac and the kids went to last week (Campfest). I think these photos really give an idea of what it was like there. The guy who took these is the same Matej that produced the Davka CD for Zac, a very talented young guy.

Also Danny Jones told this story to me Sunday about campfest:

“During the last concert, we gave an “alter call” for all the leaders working with youth in Slovakia to come forward and have someone pray for them, extending a blessing to them for this next year. It was a very emotional time for me, seeing over 2000 people come up front. Then I remembered my own son, Dawson, who is working with the youth of our city, Zilina. He was not able to be in the crowd, receiving the blessing since his band was preparing to go onstage for the last worship set. So I found my way back stage, looking for him. Then at that moment, when we met up, I lost it, all emotions and composure. I prayed for him and his ministry and gave a blessing as the 2000 before him received. God is really doing an amazing work here in Slovakia and I’m just so priviledged that now My son is a big part of it” (very loosely quoted, as I couldn’t remember it word for word-K.S.)

Danny and his family (minus his oldest, Dawson) returned Monday to the States after 13 years of ministry here in Slovakia for their first 1 year furlough/sabbatical.

Please help us pray for my sister’s little girl, Eva Grace. She is 2 years old and recently diagnosed with stage 3b Melanoma. She began treatments at the MD Anderson Cancer Hospital (Houston, TX) on July 31. Depending on her progress and response to the treatment, she will continue to receive treatments over the next 12 months. Please help me pray for them in these ways:

• Eva Grace - healing and continued high spirits during her treatments. Also against any reactions or side effects of the treatments
• Maddox (her brother age 3)- emotional protection as he endures long days without Mommey (while they are gone to treatment), comfort as he “sees” the pain and sickness his sister endures, and peace and contentment when most of the attention is directed at Eva Grace these days.
• Georgia and Anthony (parents)- for peace, contentment, comfort in so many ways through all the stresses of the days. Protection against fear.
• finances- faith, that as the bills pile up God will provide for them. That they can trust Him with this and not feel the burden to “figure it out” (when it simply can’t be figured out)
• Help- that God would provide them with the practical and daily help they need (meals, childcare, someone to talk to)

They have a website dedicated just for her if your interested in more detailed information just click here

Despite my inablity to keep writing regular updates, significant things have been going on with our family here in Slovakia.

In April as we celebrated Easter, our very own Gwyneth Anne prayed for the first time for Jesus to come in her heart. It was a very special and precious time for our family to celebrate both Christ’s resurrection and the new life Gwyneth has now in God’s family.

April was a bit wet, however we were happy to finally be “snow-free”. Although the warmer weather did melt away the snow, it left everything a wet mess! So whether it was raining or melting, we were wet (a lot). No one seemed to mind though!

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For the past school year I (Zac) have been teaching English conversation in a public high school. I teach all the students in the 9th grade class. At the end of the year I invited as many as were interested to come to our summer camp. One girl named Majka took me up on the offer. But not without opposition. This is the story she told us after camp.

When her parents found out she wanted to go to camp, they were convinced our organization was a cult. Some of the parent’s friends even told them that they had heard of a cult in Zilina (our town). But Majka was determined to go and offered lots of convincing arguments.

The parents finally conceeded, but offered Majka a crash course on how cults work. “Primarily, they will keep pressuring you to join them and if you don’t they will keep putting pressure on you”. They all agreed that she could go to the camp but that after two days, if she determined it was a cult, that the parents would come immediately and rescue her. (more…)

Evangelistic Music Festival - This week over 5000 students from around Eastern Europe will gather just below the Tatra Mountain range for a week long music festival. The gospel is presented in numberous formats throughout the week and in the past hundred have believed in Christ. Pray for a strong presence of God that will further fuel His movement across Slovakia. Zac will also be selling youth ministry training materials there, so pray for materials to get into the hands of those in need. To know more about Campfest (in English) click on this link: www.campfest.sk

Kid’s Camp - This week (August 7) Emili is at a christian kids camp sponsored by our international organizaion, Josiah Venture. There are missionary kids from all over europe who have come for this special week of fun, activities, Bible teaching and inspiration. This is Emili’s first time out own her own for so long without Mom and Dad, so pray with us for her protection as well as her to be insired to know God.

Training School Starts - The first weekend of October starts our youth ministry training school. Zac will be teaching Systematic Theology again and mentoring several students in their local church youth work. Registration is going on now, so pray for God’s hand in the right selection of students from across the country.

Emili and Gwyneth’s school - Next month (September) Emili starts third grade and Gwyneth will repeat first grade again since she is only 6. So pray for a great start for them academically, a renewed ability in the Slovak language, and all the other things that go along with school for kids.

New Church building - Our church has been meeting in someone’s house for some time now. We are asking God to provide a special location for us to move in the next month. Pray with us for his guidence this decision.