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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 for Jesus as Saviour in their lives. Our ultimate goals
are church-planting and training nationals for ministry leadership. Since our
move to CZ in 2006 we have been working closely with Marek's home church in
Brno, ministering in neighborhoods through kids’ clubs, cultural events and
through the establishment of a Christian library. Marek has served as an elder
in this church and as youth leader, as well as teaching weekly Bible seminars.
We have also been working with Word of Life Camps near the city of Brno, Marek
in the leadership of counseling staff and Julie in helping with the English
program. In addition, in 2008 we were invited to share in the church plant
ministry in the nearby town of Kurim. Marek has been privileged be part of the
teaching there and we value the relationships we’ve made.
In December
2009 we moved to the town of Tisnov, which is 20 kilometers outside of Brno. It
has a population of 10,000 and is growing rapidly with new housing
developments. There is no evangelical church in this town. Our desire is to see
God bring people to know Him and to build His church here. With God’s help and
guidance, we plan to hold Bible studies, build relationships with local schools
and community centers and begin church meetings. Please pray as we begin this
new phase of ministry in Czech Republic.
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Marek is from
Brno, Czech Republic. He finished his Master of Divinity degree at Moody
Graduate School in Chicago, graduating in May 2005. He also has a previously
earned Master’s Degree in Education of History and Geography from Masaryk
University in Brno, CZ. Julie is most recently from Chicago, Illinois. She
graduated from Moody Bible Institute in December 1997 with a B.A. degree in
Print Media Communications. In 2004, she completed a certificate to Teach
English as a Second Language, also from Moody Bible Institute.
Though Marek
and Julie were on the Moody campus simultaneously for about two years (Julie
working at Moody Magazine and Marek as a student) they actually met in Czech
Republic in July 2003. Marek was in Czech during that year to serve in the Czech
national army 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 Julie’s
missions trip. And so...they met! Marek returned to Chicago in January 2004 to
complete his last year of studies at Moody and they were married in June 2005.
They moved to the Czech Republic as missionaries in June 2006.
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