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E-Mail: mhancik@centrum.cz In a country where 68% of the people are
atheists, our hearts yearn to see Czech people understand their need of the
Savior. Our ultimate goals are church-planting and training nationals for
ministry leadership. Working closely with Marek's home church in Brno, we
already have a ministry team of nationals who plan toreach several neighborhoods
through adult Bible studies, kids’ clubs, cultural events, a Christian
library, English classes and by living among them as God’s servants. We have
also been invited by Rich Hood, Word of Life Camp director in CZ, whose camp
property is near Brno, to assist in recruiting counselors from affiliated
churches, training their staff in Bible knowledge and leadership and writing
curriculum for their English camp.
For several years Marek has served in his Czech home church
Krestansky Sbor as youth leader and also regularly used his spiritual gifts in
preaching, evangelism, Bible teaching and church leadership. Julie grew up in a
missionary family serving with Word of Life. She has enjoyed serving the
Lord in several capacities including Christian publishing, kids’ church and
youth camp programs, teaching English and refugee resettlement. Her spiritual
gifts include shepherding mentoring, administration, leadership and teaching.
*******
Marek
is from Brno, Czech Republic. He finished his Master of
Divinity degree at Moody Graduate School in Chicago and
was graduated on May 14, 2005. He enjoys history, geography
and teaching. He first visited the U.S. 10 years ago and
has spent a total of 5 years living in various U.S. states,
working and studying. Julie is most recently from Chicago,
Illinois and is currently working in production services
at Christianity Today International, near Wheaton, Illinois.
She enjoys graphic design, wheel-thrown pottery and teaching
English. We both enjoy the outdoors: hiking, camping,
picnicking! We are planning to return to Czech Republic
to serve the Lord through evangelism, teaching and discipleship.
HOW WE MET
Even though we were both on the Moody campus simultaneously
for about two years (Julie working at Moody magazine and
Marek as a student) we actually met in Czech Republic
in July 2003. Marek was at home in Czech during that year
and Julie was there on a short term missions trip through
Moody Graduate School and TEAM missions. Julie was teaching
at some English camps and Marek came to the camp to visit
a Moody professor friend who was leading the missions
trip. And so...we met! We became better friends after
Marek came back to Chicago in January 2004 to complete
his last year of studies at Moody. We began dating at
the end of the summer 2004.
THE ENGAGEMENT
On December 31, 2004, we spent the day at Starved Rock
State Park, hiking some of the trails there and enjoying
an unusually sunny, warm day. It was at the top of one
of the bluffs overlooking the Illinois River, that Marek
got down on one knee and asked the big question. Julie
said yes and the day was even more beautiful! We are both
very excited to begin this new part of our lives together
and really thank God for the blessing of our love.
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