Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, especially the capital city of Prague, forms the perfect example of the blending of past and present. The country’s architecture retains the medieval feel of generations past, while the people race to embrace a western way of life. Under communist rule, the Czech Republic experienced religious oppression and was shielded from the advances of the western world until1989 when it peacefully regained its independence after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Now, the Czech Republic is one of the most secular places in Europe. There are fewer evangelical church members than there are alcoholics in the country. Baptists number less than 3,000, with only a few dozen full-time churches. Religious freedom has meant less to the Czech Republic than it did to many of the countries in CEE. Despite a strong Christian history, a large percentage of Czechs remain atheist. The country boasts such claims to Christianity as being at one time the seat of the Holy Roman Empire, the birthplace of Slavic Christianity, and the home of pre-Lutheran reformer Jon Hus. The very stones of the capital city speak of strong Christian origins, but most Czechs walk past, deaf to the message of hope they offer.
There are a number of current ministry projects in the Czech Republic. Czechs as well as Russian, Spanish, and English speakers and Deaf are currently receiving an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Southern Baptist missionaries tell them of the hope and freedom that come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and work on starting new, multiplying churches among each group.
Even so, the atheist mentality that shrouds the country in pervasive spiritual darkness is still heavily oppressive on the lives of the people. The people of the Czech Republic are in desperate need of the saving knowledge of the Gospel of Christ.
If you would like to be a part of proclaiming this saving knowledge to the peoples of Czech Republic, please contact us at hope4cee@pobox.com.