“An NLI prayer team came to visit us in Sala, a small city in Slovakia where we are planting a church. Up to that point the work we had been doing had been going well, with an increase in the number of people coming to our outreach programs. However, personally, as leaders we were feeling tired, spiritually dry and really in need of refreshment. We can honestly say that refreshment is exactly what this team brought. Even though they were only able to spend a few hours with us, as they prayed over us and the work here in Sala, they confirmed promises that God had already spoken over us.

They prayed specifically into our present situation and prayed blessing and encouragement for the future; a complete refreshment. The clear insight God gave them into our lives and work was such a blessing especially considering they did not know us.In the evening that followed we did our usual outreach program and clearly saw the difference that their prayers had made, with specific answers to certain prayers that were prayed. Also, since that time we have seen more and more of God’s blessing poured out in Sala, and we know that this prayer team played an important part in this. The following week we saw around a dozen teenagers make commitments to following Jesus.

We truly thank God and NLI for sending this team. Their input was priceless and we would gladly welcome a prayer team back again.”

Radim Capla works as mission coordinator and administrator for the NLI Church Planting project in Czech Republic. We’ve just completed the first full year of this project, so what better opportunity for Radim to reflect back on his first year…

Radim Capla

NLI has been in relationship with a group of Pentecostal churches in the Ostrava area since 2005. In 2009, six new churches were launched in target cities that are mostly without any evangelical church at the moment. I joined NLI in January 2009 and have already learnt a lot. My scope of responsibility is to assist the church planters in communication with NLI, with the overseas partner churches and to help with organisational matters.

The idea of planting new churches as a way of a church growth is excellent. There are so many lost people, maybe even looking for ‘something’, but no church is available in their neighbourhood. I’ve been humbled by the church planters’ attitude. Their way of serving the Lord is amazing. The sacrifices they bring as families are sometimes enormous – small babies, full time jobs, serving in their mother church and on the top of that, starting a new church in another community! For some of them it is a real sacrifice for the Kingdom. I love these people.

Church Planting…

The NLI commitment to actively support the church planters works very well: really a good vision. It would be much more demanding without such a support: for some planters perhaps even impossible. Now you can see how visions and dreams, which some church planters have had for a long time, are becoming real! Isn’t it awesome? The permanent NLI involvement also creates the feeling that the church planter is not left alone somewhere in space! It is very encouraging. The church planters can see that there are many people supporting them – their mother church, NLI, and brothers and sisters from the partner churches.

I can see how demanding the task is to start a new church. Without God’s blessing it is impossible. However, the importance of other people’s support, faithful brothers and sisters, is to be emphasized too. Church planters need another people to support their hands. What is great about this project is that there is real teamwork. NLI creates a bridge between overseas partner churches willing to support the missions here, and the Czech church planters who are called to do the job. It is really nice to see this kind of cooperation and commitment. The partner churches are doing a great job in faithfully supporting the planters with prayers, finances and mission teams. I applaud it! It is a strong help for the project!

Mission Teams…

The mission teams did a great job here this first year. I realised how vital the short term mission teams can be. They can make a real impact on the community or on a group of people, especially when the mission is well prepared in advance. It was encouraging to see the effort of teams helping the church planters to impact their community. Contacts and friendships were made and I am really looking forward the next few years, as I believe we will see fruit from the mission. I was nicely surprised that all the teams came with a humble attitude – “What do you want us to do here? We came to serve you. Tell us what you want.” They even came with a willingness to do manual (practical) work to bless the local community.

The soil in Czech is not that soft, but we can see how things are moving forward. We read testimonies from the field of how God is opening doors and how people are responding. It is a long race and we rejoice in every small success. We cannot see multitudes coming yet, but each soul given by God is a miracle. I think that at the end of the project we should have a big celebration of what the Lord has done! Please continue to pray for us, as the opposition is often strong.

Thank you all who support the church in our country in any way. May the Lord reward you in abundance! God bless you real good!

Thanks Radim. You’re doing a great job!!

Please pray for Radim and his family. He does a great job in helping us support the church planters and in organising the mission teams in Czech Republic. The work can have its frustrations, so pray particularly for smooth and effective communication with the church planters, partner churches and project staff.

To find out more about Leadership development, church planting and mission teams in Europe, check out the ‘mandate’ and ‘mobilize’ pages on the NLI website….

NLI is going through a metamorphosis, we are birthing a new dream. After 18 years of work primarily in Eastern and Central Europe, the ministry has now set sight on expanding into all the nations of Europe. Yes, all 48 of them at current count. This dream is well worth sharing and totally worth being part of, it’s too big for any one ministry. It will take partnerships from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, across the borders of Europe – from every corner of the world!

Over the course of Eurosummit, 140+ delegates from over 15 nations not only heard the dream, but connected with how they could contribute and be part of the change! Youth Leaders from Bulgaria began planning training schedules with pastors from across the border in Albania. Church planters in Romania shared their heart to reach out into neighbouring Moldova. BOOST! (the NLI kids team) recieved invitations to work alongside churches in four new nations to help national leaders reach children in their communities. Hearts and minds opened to ideas on connecting with gypsy populations. Tears formed as the plight of the lost was shared.

It doesn’t finish here at one individual event, EuroSummit was merely another staging point; a snapshot of things to come. Many hours of planning, praying, traveling and implementing lie ahead, but great opportunities await us!