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Latest News from Greg Strock, missionary supported by RUMC

Intern team mission
May 31 – August 12, 2007

Dear brothers and sisters.

My name is David Andrlícek. Some of you may remember me from all the dramas that I have been a part of at English camp and in church. I became a Christian in 2004 at English camp. Since then I have been able to help with four more English camps and tell people about what God has done in my life and how He has changed me. And now He is calling me to the biggest ministry opportunity of my life. He is calling me to be a part of a twelve-week summer internship with Josiah Venture/KAM.

What are God‘s plans for me? I will be a part of a team that will help lead three evangelistic summer English camps with youth groups from the cities of Tábor, Bohumilice (a village near Brno) and Prague (a Russian speaking church that meets in Vinohrady). We will try to give each youth group a tool that they can use to reach their friends for Christ. We will also be coaching the youth groups in evangelism and discipleship.

We, as a team, want to communicate Christ cross-culturally through relationships (we will be working with Americans and Czechs). In the end, it’s my passion to see Christ change young people. I want to see Christ working in us and in other Christians at each of the camps. But, I also want to bring back to our church a desire to talk with people about God, and not to be shy to tell what Christ did for us and for others.

What is my part in this team? God has given me so many gifts that I can use at camp. I want to let Him speak to people through the dramas that I will be a part of there. I will be available to help the young people to be more open and willing to share their feelings. I believe that it’s His will for me to be there for people. I want to be a part of this ministry.

But, I need your help. Because I will be away for three months from work I need Your financial support. I need to raise $1,800 to cover the trip costs and a team of people that will pray for me while I am preparing and during the summer ministry. The support you give will cover all in-country expenses for the whole three months. I’m asking you, would you please consider supporting me in either of these two areas? If you wish to financially support me you can send donations to Josiah Venture directly by printing and filling out the attached form and sending it to the support address bellow.

I don’t know what all God has for me, but He has given me the privilege of being a part of a great work. Thank you for your part in this ministry.

Home Address:
DavidAndrlícek In Christ,
Janáckova 47
Písek 397 01
Czech Republic David Andrlícek
+420 731 137 832
E-mail: david.andrlicek@kam.cz

Support Address:
Josiah Venture
PO Box 4317
Wheaton, IL 60189

I would like to support Josiah Venture and its ministry through David Andrlícek as an intern on Greg Strock’s summer team.

Account #17715

First Name ____________________________ Last Name
Address _______________________________________
_______________________________________
City ______________________________ State ________ Zip Code
Phone ____________________________ E-mail _________________________________
Please check one and fill in amount:
____ I am sending in a one time gift of $__________.
____ I would like to join David Andrlícek’s ministry team as a prayer partner and receive his prayer updates by email.

Please make checks payable to Josiah Venture and mail to:
Josiah Venture, P.O. Box 4317, Wheaton, IL 60189-4317

February 28, 2007

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart...” -Deuteronomy 8:2

I just started reading through the Bible cover to cover again. A couple of weeks ago I finished Deuteronomy. The Israelites are ending their 40 years of wandering in the Sinai wilderness and getting ready to enter the promised land. Moses says over and over again, “Remember...” “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt.” “Remember how He led you these 40 years.” “Remember what I taught you about sin.” “Remember how I provided.” Last month marked my one year anniversary of coming to Czech. It’s hard to believe I haven’t been on American soil in over 13 months. I have a lot to remember about what God has done and taught me over the last year. I posted a “2006 Year in Review” photo album on my blog <http://gregstrock.typepad.com/> if you would like to see pictures and read stories of 2006.

First-year finances: God has provided over-abundantly through you this last year. In 2006 my supporters gave 120% of what was budgeted. This has left a good surplus in my ministry account. This is good because the amount of surplus equals what it will cost to finish my seminary program online in the next year and a half. This surplus also allowed me to give to other areas of need within Josiah Venture. Thank you for your generosity. “...and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” -2 Corinthians 9:11

Mom & Dad! After 9 years of coming to Czech and living here for a year, my parents finally came out to see me on my turf. It was so fun taking them around to meet people, see sites, experience culture, and eat Mom’s cookies. I’ve posted a photo album of our time together on my blog as well. <http://gregstrock.typepad.com/>

Mom #2 (Bonnie Student) collected and sent a whole tome of love from Rosemount UMC with Mom #1. Thank you RUMC for all the cards, the prayer shall, puppy chow, and prayers.

Mark Gold: I had the privilege of hosting one of my ministry heroes for a few days. Mark came to visit me here in Cesky Tesin while making a trip to see the Letovice youth group. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of him kissing me on the cheek.

Bohumilice: You might notice that there are two new members in our youth group. Mom and Dad joined us for a weekend in Bohumilice. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to learn to care for new believers and seek to reach unbelievers. (more stories on the blog)

Tabor: This is my friend Poky. He is one of the leaders in the Tabor youth group. They are going through some leadership changes in the youth group. Pray for Petr (our pastor), Poky, Mr. Poky (Poky’s brother), Lenka, Terka, and Lukas as we seek God’s guidance.

Ceske Budejovice: When was the last time you went on a day-hike and ended up at some castle ruins dating from the 12th or 13th century? I was with the youth group from Ceske Budejovice this last weekend. They don’t have a leader. Instead they are leading as a team. Pray that God would give them corporate vision. Pray for church kids to take their faith seriously. Pray for unbelievers to believe.

While visiting Ceske Budejovice I stayed with my friend Dr. Eddy (the nick name is a long story and I don’t remember all of it). I’ve written about him before. He is not a Christian, but has been hanging out with the youth group for the last year or two. He is a thinker. He always has a question about the Bible or Christianity. Pray that he will continue to seek the truth and find it.

Language Course: For three weeks in January I took an intensive Czech language course in Prague. My class included an Iraqi, Iranian, Frenchman, German, Serbian, and one other American. I spent a ton of time getting to know this international, multi-religious group. A few times God gave me the chance to share my faith. I’ve made a ton of progress in the Czech language, but ever conversation that I have in Czech reminds me of how far I have to go. Please pray that I would continue to soak up the language.

Things to pray and praise God for:

• Traveling: in 2006 I traveled about 10-15,000 mile by train and bus in Czech and spent more time away from home than I did at home. Pray that I will continue to have the energy to continue the work.
• New Believer Discipleship: Pray for the Bohumilice group that they would take ownership of their responsibility to follow up with people who have come to Christ recently. Praise God that we have this problem!
• Interns: The summer camping ministry is quick approaching and we need to finalize who will be on the intern teams. Pray for me as I choose Czech interns.
• Youth Group Leadership: Ceske Budejovice and Tabor
• Finances: The first year here was great. Pray that God will continue to provide what I need to do what He has called me to do.
  

On the (web)blog: <http://gregstrock.typepad.com/

Christmas pictures
January photo album
Mom & Dad’s visit
2006 Year in Review Pictures

Thank you so much for what you give in time, resources, and energy to this ministry. God has chosen to make me dependant on you. Thank you for your generosity.

In Christ,

Greg

December 4, 2006

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” -James 3:1

Hello Friends,

I read the above passage this morning. One of my main spiritual gifts is teaching, so obviously this passage caught my attention. I’ve had a few opportunities to teach this fall. I am going through the book of Romans with some of the youth leaders that I work with (a great book of the Bible to get a grasp on our place in God’s plan). I had the opportunity to teach out of the book of Hebrews at the Bohumilice winter retreat. I quoted the above passage to ask you to pray for me as I seek to grow as a teacher of God’s word. Pray that I would effectively learn and implement the Word into my own life. Pray that I would teach it accurately and humbly.

As many of you know I has the privilege of spending two weeks in Kenya with my friends Eric Wildgen and Shane Gauthier and his family. They are missionaries there. Many of you know Eric and/or Shane. For pictures and stories you can go to my blog (gregstrock.typepad.com) to see the photo album (on the right) and post (main column).

Fall is lingering here. We have yet to have any snow stay longer than a couple days. For this Minnesotan ex-pat the lack of snow is a bit depressing. But, it is nice to run without hopping over snow banks on the road.

This last weekend I was with the youth group from Bohumilice on our fall/winter retreat. We wanted to invite all our friends from English camp to follow up with them. There were 5 unbelievers who came. Praise the Lord! I had one especially pleasing surprise when I arrived. Katka (being kissed by her sister above) came to camp last summer not knowing the Lord. I found out that she had accepted Christ at camp and is being discipled by her sister (doing the kissing above). God does incredible things that we don’t even see.

Lucka and Petr were at camp this summer also. I had a two hour conversation with them on the train after the retreat about everything from family struggles to the existence of God to evolution and science and how God fits into the picture. The human heart is so hard (“the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” -2 Cor 4:4). Pray for Lucka and Petr and all of the students in this country who need to know the love of Christ. It is a miracle when anyone turns to Christ (“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him...” -John 6:44).

Jarda is one of those students whom you love to death, yet drives you nuts at the same time.  He has grown up in a Christian family (which is a rarity in this country).  At camp this summer he really disappointed me by not taking responsibility for his faith or the work to be done at camp.  At the retreat he showed a ray of hope by helping to lead the program Sunday morning.  Pray for him and other students like him who need to take personal responsibility for their faith and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Once again I want to thank all of you for the role you play in this ministry.  God is using you to make this ministry possible.

Needs and Prayer Requests:

• Finances: I am doing fine financially.  My support level has been consistent and sufficient this first year.  I have enough to pay my school bill (see the next bullet point) this winter and spring.  My request is that if you have committed to supporting me financially you continue to honor that commitment.  Thank you so much for your generosity to what God is doing in Czech.
• School: In January I will start seminary again (distance education over the internet).  I have 5 more classes to go.  I am planning on graduating from Bethel Seminary in the spring of 2008.  Pray that I will manage my time well as I study and minister.  Pray that I will be a good student and have wisdom as how to implement what I learn.
• Holidays: This time of year is pretty lonely being away from my family.  This will be my first Christmas ever being away from them.  Pray for me and for them.
• Czech Language: Language study continues to give me a headache.  My inability to communicate in Czech serves to both motivate my study and contribute to my loneliness.  I’ve had a few conversations recently that were encouraging (meaning it was a real conversation and not just total confusion on my part).  Please pray that I will continue to soak up the language like a sponge.

Thank you again for everything you are doing for this ministry.  Thank you for praying.  Thank you for giving.  Thank you for sending me emails and cards.

In Christ,
Greg Strock
--

Friday, October 13

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” He said to them, “’My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” –Matthew 21:12-13

Last month I attended my organization’s annual fall training conference. Part of the training dealt with poisons to effective discipleship. One of those poisons was treating the things of God with contempt. I have been reading A.W. Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy. In it he says, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment off thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” This past summer and fall God has been gently calling me to renew my reverence and respect for Him. The longer I walk with God the easier it is to relate to Him casually. Christ’s work on the Cross has given me access to the Holy of Holies, but I must continue to treat Him as none other than Holy. My intimacy with Him must be seasoned with reverence and awe. (I talk about this more on my blog: http://gregstrock.typepad.com/)

It has been a couple of months since I wrote last. Here is a synopsis of what’s happened since then and what’s up for this fall.

Vacation: Yes, missionaries go on vacation just like normal people. One of the benefits of living in Europe is the close proximity of cool places and the affordability of international travel. At the end of August, after our summer interns went home, my roommate Brad and I took a week-long trip to the Austrian Alps (a mere day’s train-ride from home). We hiked a total of over three vertical miles, played with mountain goats on a glacier, sat in lakeside cafés journaling, slept in, and relaxed. After an exhausting summer this vacation was much needed. I have a photo album on my blog (http://gregstrock.typepad.com/).

Hiking in Slovakia: This is where the lines between work and play blur. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. After Brad and I got back from Austria we went hiking with four friends of ours from the city that Brad works in. I knew them from English camp a year ago. Lad’a and I connected because of our mutual love for the outdoors. I got the chance to talk about Christ with Lad’a a few times during the trip. He wants to know God. He’s an interesting fellow. He is usually pretty quiet about spiritual things, but when he does open up it’s golden. Pray for Lad’a, his brother Mirek and their dad. Pray that they would come to know Christ. At the end of the month Brad and I will go hiking again with them. (I also have a photo album of the hiking trip on my blog)

What’s up for the rest of the fall: Youth group visits and language learning. I am back to traveling once a month to the three youth groups that I did camps with this summer (Bohumilice, Tabor, and Ceske Budejovice). This fall I am in a “coaching” role with them. Pray that God would give me wisdom as I follow up with these groups after the summer ministry. The picture above is of Krystof, a student I got to know at English Camp this summer. I will be hanging out with him this weekend when I visit Tabor. He has been coming to English camps for several years. He is very open with the fact that he doesn’t believe in God. Pray that he would see his need for Jesus.

I don’t have a lot of concrete ministry responsibility this summer. So, one of my goals is to study my butt off in Czech. Pray for my mind to become a sponge.

On The Blog: (http://gregstrock.typepad.com/)

JV Fall Conference
Treating God’s Things as Holy
More details on the fall ministry
Austria Hiking pictures
Slovakia Hiking pictures
Zvonar wedding (My best wedding pictures so far I think)

Thanks for taking the time to read this email. I am so grateful for your participation in this ministry. I need you to pray.

In Christ,

Greg Strock

Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” -Hebrews 11:13-16

Dear Friends,

This is the first summer in 9 summers of English camping ministry in Czech where I am not returning to the US. I wrote in my journal this afternoon that it feels weird and good at the same time.

When I read the above verses in Hebrews this morning it was as if God were speaking directly to me. I moved here by faith last January. I am obviously out of place here. I am an alien and stranger here. As I long to be in a place that is satisfying and where I fit in I must be honest with myself. There is no place on earth where I will truly fit in. Even in a place where I speak the native language fluently and understand the culture to a “T” I will not be satisfied. That is because I have been made for better place. And that is in the presence of Jesus Christ. I will not be truly home until after this life is done and I am in perfect fellowship with my Creator, Jesus Christ. This gives me the capacity to continue living and ministering here in Czech.

Bohumilice Camp

This final camp of the summer was the most stressful. After working with two experienced and capable youth groups all of the things that I took for granted became very apparent. This was the first time this youth group had led their own English camp, so I had to walk them through the process. This group is very shy and timid, so stepping up to leadership was extremely difficult for them. One of the biggest part of evening programs at camp is at the end of the week when Christian students give their testimonies about what Christ has done in their lives. No one volunteered to do this. Finally, the day before we needed our first testimony I sat down with the Czech team and explained why it is so important for them to share their testimony. It shows that the Christianity we are talking about is not just a philisophy or religion. It is real. It is practical. And Christ makes a difference. Jenda and Pavel (on the right above), two very timid and shy students, stepped up and volunteered to go in front of the whole camp and share what Christ has done for them. I was so proud of them.

Gabca (on the left) invited her friend Hanka (one the left) to come to camp with her. Gabca admitted to me at camp that she had not made Christ a priority in her life. She had taken Him for granted. When her friend Hanka came to Christ on the third night of camp she told me of her sense of responsibility that she felt for Hanka’s spiritual growth. It was so cool to not only see this new sister in Christ, but to here about Gabca taking her faith seriously now. Pray for both Gabca and Hanka to grow in Christ.

You can read more about the camp and see pictures on my blog: gregstrock.typepad.com

Saying Goodbye to My Team

Last week I said goodbye to Bonnie, Kevin, Bethany and Jitka. I lived, worked, played and shared life with them for the last 2 1/2 months. This is one of the hardest parts of the summer; becoming so close to these people and then saying goodbye to them. God blessed me with such a quirky, fun, and spiritually deep team. You can read more about them and see pictures on my blog: gregstrock.typepad.com

The rest of this month is relaxing, collecting my thoughts and hiking before I get back into full swing next month. My roommate, Brad and I leave for a hiking trip in the Austrian Alps tomorrow. I’ll put pictures on my blog when I return.

How to Pray:

My team: That they would make a good transition into normal life after an intense summer. Pray that they would each continue to have a burden to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)

Bonnie: Pray that God would guide her with regards to future ministry as she finishes Bible School in the next year and a half
Bethany: Pray the same thing for Bethany as she continues Bible school.
Jitka: Pray for her as she enters our one year internship program next month.
Kevin: Pray that God would guide him in whether or not to study for a semester here in Czech next Spring.

The Bohumilice youth group: That they would follow up with all of the unbelieving students ffrom camp. Pray that they would each take personal responsibility to share Christ with these new friends from camp.
Me: Pray that I would process all of what God has taught me this summer. Pray that I would rest well this month and be ready to reengage the ministry here.

Thank you again so much for your part in this ministry. Your prayers and support are so vital to the growth of the Czech church.

In Christ,
Greg Strock

Sent July 23, 2006

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then my father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” -John 15:16

Lukas Cimburek shared this passage with the ministry team at the Tabor English camp last week. I first met Lukas 3 years ago at camp. That was the year that he decided to follow Christ. This year he invited his brother, who is not a Christian, to camp. In our morning team meeting, Lukas also shared how God was answering his prayer that God would give him the opportunity to share Christ with his brother. Seeing students choose to follow Christ, grow to spiritual maturity and develop a heart for sharing Christ is what I long to see more of here. Please pray that more students would choose to follow Christ. Please also pray for Lukas’ little brother Ondra.

My team and I just finished our 2nd camp of the summer with the Brethren church from Tabor in southern Bohemia (Bohemia is the western region of the Czech Republic). I have done English camp with this group two times in the past, so it was a reunion with many former students of mine. Some of them, like Lukas, had come to Christ and joined the ministry team. Others still need to come to Christ. One girl at the end of camp shared that after 7 English camps it was time to stop coming (she’s 25 now and feels she’s too old). She shared that even though she is not a believer, she will always remember the friendships. Part of me rejoices that she felt loved and accepted at camp. But a bigger part of me cries for her, that she is leaving our group without knowing Christ.

Krystof and Maggy are brother and sister. I first met them at camp 3 years ago. I really connected with them this week. We had our own little lunch club at camp. In order to join this elite club you must eat without utensils or hands. Unfortunately, we could only coerce one other person to join. After one of our lunch club meetings I got to talk with Maggy about God. I asked her what she thought of Jesus after having heard the message at two other camps. She shared about her family background and how her and Krystof had been turned off to Christianity when they were kids. I love these two and long for them to come to Christ. Please pray for them to one day come to Christ.

Lenka was born with Polio and, as a result, now is confined to a wheelchair. She has very little motor control and her speech is slurred. Despite all this she was able to join us for English camp and participate pretty normally. I was so proud of the ministry team from the Tabor church for making every effort to make her a part of camp. Pray that Lenka would come to Christ.

Bohumilice
About a month ago I asked you to pray for the youth group in the village of Bohumilice. At the time there were 6 students signed up for camp. My team challenged the Bohumilice team to take seriously what God was saying to them, that He was doing a new thing in there village and surrounding area(Isaiah 43:18-21). Now, there are about 30 students signed up for camp. I praise God that we have a new problem now. We might not have enough Czech Christians for the camp! Pray that God would equip us for our last camp of the summer. Pray that God’s Spirit would sweep across southern Moravia. Pray that the sleepy little church plant in Bohumilice would stand up and take ownership of the Great commission.

Thank you for praying. I could not do what I am doing if it were not for your prayers and support. I will be updating my blog in the next few days with pictures from the last camp.

In Christ,
Greg Strock

www.josiahventure.com