From: Mike Morrow Mailto:Mike

From: Mike Morrow [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 2:02 PM To: Michael Morrow Subject: Prague Report/End of Year

Prague End of Year Report, Jan 15, 2013 Stroupeznickeho 26, 150 00 Praha 5 Czech Republic email: [email protected] Tatana: [email protected] (011 420) 257 323 056

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There are some years when God's blessings are veiled from our hearts and minds, not so with the year 2012. From beginning to end we were greatly encouraged in our work as it relates to God's Kingdom in Eastern Europe. We witnessed first hand, numerical increase, spiritual growth and steadfastness to our Lord and His Gospel among Christians in Prague and other small churches scattered throughout the region of the Czech Republic and northern Slovakia. Reports from Romania, Moldova, Lithuania and southern East Germany were likewise uplifting as Christians grow in their knowledge and faithfulness to the Lord.

In this society it is very difficult to make a commitment to serve the Lord and to continue to remain faithful after doing so. Ondrej, after four years of diligent study confessed Christ and became a Christian. His wife, father, mother and elder brother have always been die-hard atheists, but it seems that Ondrej has always had a sense of responsibility to God for his actions. Even so, we went back and forth over the evidences of God's existence for months, even years, not so much for him to become a believer, but to be able to legitimately and rationally defend his belief when challenged by his family and friends. Over the years, he learned the arguments well, both pro and con, that solidified his belief in a true God that is both Creator and the Redeemer of his soul. Having studied with different religious teachers in Prague, he was very keen to question my faith pertaining to my practice of Christianity - always requiring supporting scripture. We have welcomed Ondrej into our midst along with two other men baptized in the spring, giving us a total of seven Czech men in the congregation in Prague. Hopefully Ondrej, will not succumb to the pressures at home and all three of these men will continue to strive to grow in knowledge, faith and service to the Lord. This year we also had our first second-generation baptisms of children of our members. Two young ladies, Jana and Katka Novak.

In the last part of the year, Tatana and I were blessed to be able to visit and study with Christians in other locations. It is always a joy to study with the spiritually minded that make up the church in Litomysl. The Lustyk family has returned from London after a year's absence. Their three boys make studying with them very delightful. We spent a weekend studying with them on Friday evening, then on to two other families on Saturday, ending our visit worshiping with them on Sunday. The church numbers around 15 for worship. Litomysl has become one of our favorite places to visit and teach. We were also, able to visit and worship with the committed Christians of Martin and Banska Bystrica of northern Slovakia. They are located quite a distance from Prague, it takes a full day to travel there, but it is always a great encouragement for us to observe their continuing faithfulness and love for the Lord. We have known most of them now for over 10 years. Wish we could spend more time with them.

Our 15th Annual Lectureship in Kamenice nad Lipou was again an event that was very edifying for all. It was quite an international event this year, with attendees from as far away as Venezuela and Singapore and with folks in between (Alabama, Atlanta, Manhattan, Gettysburg, Belgium, Germany, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania and Moldova). Voices of eight different languages were blended as we sang "Glory to God" together in the native tongue of the different nations represented. We look forward to this year as David Tomley (Post Modern Dangers to the Church) and David McClister (Hebrews) have agreed to come to speak.

Other Notes: Jan and Hana Fojt have returned to Brno from a work assignment in Toronto, Can. They worshiped from time to time with the saints in Brno via Skype. Marie Kubicek continues to be confined in a rehab because of a broken leg. Ondrej still struggles with a chronic case of lyme disease, maybe the stronger antibiotics he is now taking will destroy the bacteria that has been plaguing him for the past six months.

Tatana and I are always deeply grateful to you for your prayers, financial assistance and encouraging words that make our work here possible. Please continue to remember all those committed to serving Christ in Eastern Europe in your prayers as we labor in societies that are convinced, "God is Dead."

In the Lord's Service, Mike and Tatana