A Glimpse of Heaven

by Michael Leslie

It’s not every day that we get a glimpse of heaven, but on occasion God is willing to show us the place He has prepared for us. Through fellowship and times of serving His will, He will bless us with a vision and a feeling of what eternity with Him will be like. We were fortunate to have this experience and this glimpse during our time in the Czech Republic.

Communion takes place with regularity and I feel like at times we lose sight of the true purpose and impact this time can have on our faith and relationships with other believers. Tuesday evening, 25 November, 2014, we took the time to have a communion dinner including the Fusion Czech Team and members of Kostel Jinak. Wine, juice, and bread were served in a casual fashion. Large loaves of fresh bread were passed around on a plate and each person tore off a piece of bread. Some grabbed small pieces, others grabbed larger pieces. Then the wine and juice were passed around and everyone served each other, dependent on what they wanted. Once everyone was served, the evening began with prayer and worship. It was a time of fellowship, to build relationships deeper than just names and small talk. As the evening began, the idea was to share stories of how God had been working in our lives or testimonies to our faith. Like most group discussions on very personal topics, it started slow. There were people that wanted to share, but I sensed a bit of hesitancy due to the freshness of our bonds. Then people started sharing, with translations from Czech to English and English to Czech. There were stories of how God changed the way He exists in our lives. There were stories of God changing hearts from hard to soft. There were stories of God making His will and plan for us so clear that deniability was not an option. There were also stories of God challenging faith and walking through the fire of trials with us. Most importantly, there were stories of redemption and God’s endless mercy and forgiveness for us as sinners and believers.  Hearing these stories was and still is, inspiring, motivating, and encouraging.

As people shared, I began to feel God’s presence and it became overwhelming for me. We were all letting our guards down and sharing the personal things close to our hearts. This sort of vulnerability made it feel like family, it helped make us family. Hebrews 10:24 – 25 sums up how I felt that evening. We shared the positive in our lives and the negative, but ultimately it came back to how God changed us for His glory. They were stories of encouragement and God’s holiness. I saw a glimpse of heaven that night, and how it will feel to live eternally in His glory. It was a time and evening I didn’t want to end, and I shared that with everyone that evening. I still wish I was there, that we were together with God, basking in His glory. Every time I think about that evening, I still get choked up and overwhelmed. He is amazing and His love for us is endless. I left that night knowing that Kostel Jinak and Fusion had become family, even though we are thousands of miles apart. I look forward to seeing them again and can’t wait to grow in Christ with them more.

Reflections of Growth

by Jess Lindgren
 
Words don’t easily express my thankfulness and joy in returning to Czech last week. For the last 8 years, ministry in Czech has been a huge part of my life. Whether it was leading English camps in the summer, living in Czech for 6.5 months or Skyping Czech students often, the Lord has continued to stir in my heart for this country and these people. He has also used my experiences in Czech to really shape me into who I am today as well – and I am so thankful for that.

I’ve had the unique perspective of “growing up” with many of the Kostel Jinak core members. We met as high school students – me, as a nervous American coming to “teach” English; them, teaching me much more. Many of them were not believers when we first met. Yet, through the years, I have seen the Lord change and transform hearts and lives. It brings tears to my eyes to think back on what He has done. Not just in the hearts of my dear Czech friends, but in my own heart as well.

Spending this last week in Sumperk provided opportunities for our team to connect with Kostel Jinak on a deeper level – to hear their hearts, their stories of what God is doing, to see a glimpse of their lives. We were able to spend a morning in the local high school – connecting with students, inviting them to  an afternoon English conversation time, a concert and English camp this summer. We also spent a morning individually walking around Sumperk and praying – for both the believers and unbelievers in this city. I had the joy of meeting several different girls for coffee and also reconnecting with several students from English camp this summer- so many good conversations. Our week in Sumperk with Kostel Jinak was purposeful in many ways, but I think the mutual encouragement felt by experiencing the family of Christ (that surpasses culture, language, and an ocean) was the most powerful.

I’m filled with thankfulness as I think about our brothers and sisters in Sumperk – and what the Lord is doing in this city. We have much to learn from Kostel Jinak, and I’m so thankful for that. I’m thankful for opportunities to return each summer to lead English camps, and to be on mission together. I’m thankful for continued relationships, year after year. I’m thankful for renewed perspective in returning to Minnesota. The partnership that NHC has with Kostel Jinak is continuing to bear fruit – and we give glory to God for what only He can do! He is at work in the Czech Republic and He is at work in New Hope – changing and transforming hearts to know Him, follow Him, and trust Him more. Thank you, Lord!

throughout the years...

 

God of This City

Photo by Michael Leslie
Statuary of the Holy Crucifix and Calvary
Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

"God Of This City"

by Chris Tomlin

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

There is no one like our god
There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Auschwitz - Birkeneau

26 November, 2014
Michael Yee

I read Ephesians 6:16-18 to prepare for today’s trip to Auschwitz-Birkeneau.  All of us were going to experience a gamut of emotions and I prayed that we had the strength to withstand the heaviness of this day. I prayed that each of us are convicted that the Lord redeems – that good can come out pain and the worst in this world. This place is a juxtaposition of the cathedral in Prague. Evil is but an echo but the enemy still lingers around the corners ready to grip our hearts and minds. That’s why this place can be so painful for those who visit.

I braced myself as I walked towards the main gate. 'Birkenau' means 'birch forest,' and without having context of what occurred here, it is quite beautiful and not what you expect. In my mind I allowed the veil to fold away. On top of the rusted railway tracks I see the cars pulling in and the black smoke of souls rising out of the chimneys. I could feel the void of hope and joy. There is a lawful evil taking place as human identities were methodically replaced by a number.  There is an unseen and lost presence when you enter the camp when you walk amongst where over a million died.

How suiting that the sky was gray and the damp chill hindered my ability to warm my hands. The ground was muddy and the standing water was drowning the grass. As I stared at the stairs leading downwards to the underground gas chamber, the ruins were steadily replaced by an entrance to an undressing room. I could hear classical music to make the prisoners feel at ease as they were lead inside. There is a man shouting that that after a shower there would be a warm meal. The undressing room was almost directly below a brick building that contained a furnace room. At right angle to the undressing room was the gas chamber. To hide the gas chambers from an aerial view, the gas chamber’s three-foot high roofs were covered with dirt and planted with grass. The reinforced concrete roof was six inches thick, with four holes, in a zig-zag pattern, where the Zyklon-B gas pellets were poured into the room.

I am thankful for Lauren, Paul, Martin, and Colson. Their companionship pulled me back from the edge of losing myself in a tidal wave of despair. I was straddling a dangerous place I’ve been before. That place was filled with an unbearable guilt for humanity. I could hear whispers revealing the deliberate planning that went into the purpose of each building and the operations that made this place history's most productive factory of death. 

In the adjacent field known as “Mexico” there was a doe slowly walking through the tall grass. Something stirred in me as I watched her – oblivious to the land just outside the barbed wire fence. She brought me back to the present and reminded me of His redemption and resurrection. It gave me strength to continue moving forward – one step at a time. The birch trees are beautiful…

As we turned the final corner, there were men on rickety ladders maintaining the siding of a reconstructed barrack and another crew casually pouring fresh asphalt into one of countless potholes. This was the anti-Disney Land.  I understand their role. I understand the need to replicate and restore what many would prefer to forget. And forgetting is what the Enemy wants. We are visual creatures hardwired for imagery. It helps us to remember. That’s why we buy souvenirs at concerts and at the end of vacations. It’s why we take photographs of our loved ones at birthdays and of the sunsets in faraway lands we visit. It’s why we take communion and break the break and drink the wine to taste the extent of Jesus' sacrifice as a reminder of His undeserving grace.

As I collected myself after leaving Auschwitz-Birkeneau I realized I was half scraping and half stomping my shoes on the curb trying to get the dirt off. It was like I was unconsciously trying to wipe my hands clean. How quickly I forget His grace. I took one last glance behind me before I lowered the veil. I observed a multitude of generations walking the stone paths with arms interlinked silently saying “never again”.

Auschwitz

 Work Makes You Free

 Suitcases were confiscated upon entry

Starvation

 after the war, some of soldiers tried to destroy the gas chambers

Schooling in Czech

25 November 2014
Michael Yee

I knew that Czech schools partner with many organizations to teach English. New Hope Church partners with Josiah Ventures (click here), and sends a high school group every summer to teach English in camps. But I didn’t know what drew the students to participate.

So I asked this when we met with Brad, who is a missionary with a church in Vsetin. He answered this in two parts. First, many Czech  English teachers, do not speak English. This is because they had to switch from teaching Russian to English after the Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved in 1993. As a result students are often proficient in English from a reading and grammar perspective, but not in conversational English.

Second, students take an exam in the 8^th grade (age 15) that places them on a track for a secondary school that specializes in preparing getting into either a vocational school or what we would call college in the United States (research at a university, engineering, nursing business, etc.). Basically a student’s grades determine which secondary school he/she can attend. A requirement for completing secondary school is an examination which is required by all universities and colleges. This examination includes an English oral exam taken in front of a panel that lasts about half an hour.  For more information on the Czech school system, click here.

In retrospect, I put a lot of my self-worth into academics. Looking back, this has been a slippery slope. From a Christian perspective I look to Exodus 32:7-8. My studies and grades used to be my idol, my golden calf. It was even more slippery that I was rewarded very well putting my energy and self worth into my studies. I am in awe at the idea of a Czech student in 8th grade aspiring to pursue a profession at such an early point.  God tells us our worth is not really of the “self”. Rather it is worth given to us by God and we are valued in a way that can’t be measured because of the price He made through the death of His son on the cross to make us worthy. I pray that if there is an opportunity to encourage the high school students with this, that I can convey this message.

A Day of Rest

Today was a day of rest. While some of us woke up bright and early to go for hikes or runs, others took the opportunity to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

Our team met over lunch and enjoyed giant servings of chicken noodle soup, schnitzel and potatoes. We took the opportunity to process observations and experiences that have impacted us so far. Many of us talked about the stories we've heard of great resistance [from families] that fellow Christians have experienced as they've turned to Christ. It has been incredibly special and a rare occasion for our new friends to so easily open up to us these past few days. One of the prayers, before our team left the MSP airport, asked God for vulnerability - both within us and those we'd interact with. God has met this request above and beyond what we could imagine.

We have such a diverse team of individuals with incredibly unique strengths and perspectives. Team members were affirmed in their giftings as we shared stories around lunch. Mike Leslie, for example, has such a joy and realness to him that is able to transcend cultural barriers. Michael Yee has the ability to observe, soak in every moment, be present in mind, yet see beyond the surface. Heather, Lauren, and Jennifer have been asking their Czech friends as many questions as possible. And, as Jess returns for her 8th time, she still has such an openness to be teachable and malleable. 

As we go into the high schools tomorrow to invite students to English conversation time, pray that we will continue to be intentional with even the smallest of interactions. We want to make the most of our time here and use it for furthering His kingdom.
Below are just a few pictures some of our team members have been taking thus far.

Team Insights

A few of our team members have been journaling their experiences. Below is a sampling:

22 November
Michael Yee

This morning Jennifer, Heather, and I briskly walked across Charles Bridge and back up to Prague castle. As we went inside Katedala Sveteho Vita to marvel at the stained glass and interior, it dawned on us what Vasek meant when he said that “people know about church, but it’s about old relics and buildings.” The structures, like Katedala Sveteho Vita are now for tourists. It resembles more of a pulseless wax museum, a snapshot in time. The shell of its former self is sustained by admission fees for the opportunity to walk up to a perch and feed the desire to look at the sights below rather than to look above. Long gone is the collection of heartbeats directed towards God. The only light coming from within are from the flashes of iphones and digital SLR cameras. The soul and community centered on Christ has left these amazing feats of architecture. I now understand the need for people in this country to rethink what the church is. This is the essence of Kostel Jinak, “different church”.

 22 November
On discussing the very real sacrifices that many Czech Christians have made - Christ before families.

(Fusion Member) - "If your families are not accepting of your choice to be a Christian, who is your support system?"

Through tears a strange mix of courage, sadness, and hope, (while glancing around at the room full of fellow Christians) The Reply - "My new family."

23 November
Heather Indelicato

Joining Majak (Lighthouse) and Metro in worship and our new friends from Kostel Jinak in prayer today was a great blessing. It reminded me how incredible God is...He doesn't disregard the differences of language and culture or insist that we leave one behind for another but brings the best in each together to create an amazing collage. Today was only a taste of what heaven will be when we all gather from every tribe, tongue, and nation to sing His praise in an unbelievable harmony.

Arrival

We made it safely - with NO lost luggage and without any incident! As soon as we arrived in Prague, we checked into our hotel and began touring Prague at night. We're visiting the city square again this morning so we can see it in daylight and then we'll be heading off to Sumperk to meet with our hosts and to attend a service at Kostel Jinak.

Open Doors

"Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut."
Revelation 3:8b

This past Sunday, Pastor Paul Schoolmeesters taught a timely message about opportunities and faithfulness to Christ. You can listen to it here. What doors is God opening in your life?

Today, we take the next step toward an open door on our own horizon. We leave for the Czech Republic at 7:30 tonight. Thank you to all our supporters and encouragers! Your investment is far above what we could imagine. You play an important part in all of what lies ahead. Your prayers are coveted. And we are so grateful.

Meet Colson Wabshaw

Hi; my name is Colson. I grew up in a Christian home; my family went to church every Sunday, and I learned about God from an early age. When I was about 6 years old, I prayed to receive Christ in my life. Though I may not have fully understood what a ginormous decision that was at such a young age, I know God was at work within me. I really started to understand and grow in my faith during my eighth grade year.

At this time I had started playing in the worship band for the Junior High youth and I think that is where God really started to work in me and preparing me for the future. God showed me a lot about what it takes to be a leader. And that’s when I really started to believe and grow in my faith in Jesus. All through high school God was working in me.

He also gave me the opportunity to go to the Czech Republic with the high school youth from 10th grade through my senior year. It taught me a lot during those trips - trust, faith, and patience were three main areas where God helped me grow. I’m looking forward to returning to Czech to reconnect with old friends and help connect with more people both here and over there. I love the Kostel community!

FUN FACTS: Ke$ha is cool. Music is my passion. I’m lead guitarist in a local Minneapolis band. Bad drivers annoy me.

Highlights from Friday

A huge THANK YOU to everyone to came to New Hope's Got Talent this past weekend; the fundraiser was a huge success!

We began the evening with a silent auction in the hallway. There were so many goodies to choose from - 1 hour massage from Detox Massage, photography with Giah Photography, Movie In/Movie Out baskets, Game Night basket, Rainy Day Reading basket, and so much more!

Also, a special thanks to Compass Electric for matching financial donations!

Amanda Maas kicked off the variety show with her performance of "When Will My Life Begin" from Disney's Tangled. The evening was full of entertainment - spoken word, a bluegrass band, screamo, punk/rock, and stand up comedy.

Paul Schoolmeesters & Dayton Dodge emceed the evening and included a few acts of their own - the history of worship music, impersonations of each other, and the conjoined twin - "Paulton."

In the end, the Emcees's Choice Award went to Chintya Kaligis & Elayna Abboud for singing, "Call on Jesus." Joshua and Matthew Nelson's juggling and uni-cycling act, "Brotherly Love," received the Fusion Czech Team Choice Award; and, Honorable Mention went to Layla Johnson for singing, "Amazing Grace."

If any of you were on Facebook, you may have noticed a video from Jess Lindgren and Jennifer Stahl, promising that if more than 200 guests attended New Hope's Got Talent, 2 lucky Fusion Czech Team members would receive a pie in the face after the show. Just 15 minutes into the show, we counted our attendance to 214! Colson Wabshaw and Mike Leslie were voted our pie-in-the-face winners! 

Below are a few more pictures from the night. Many thanks to our tech and sound team, stage managers, silent auction donors and bidders, those that participated in and attended the variety show!

Layla Johnson

 Our Tech Team

 Paul & Dayton

above: "Brotherly Love"
 below: Chintya & Elayna

Meet Heather "Inde" Indelicato

Who I Am
My name is Heather Indelicato, but some people call me Inde (pronounced like Indy from Indiana Jones) and I'm always up for an adventure. I grew up in Illinois and moved to Minnesota to attend college in Minneapolis. I always intended to leave when I completed college, but through a series of events, I stuck around and have have been enjoying city life for about 10 years now. I'm an adult education teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools. In my time there, I have taught ESL, career search support, and writing for English Language Learners, GED students, and college preparation students.

How I Became a Christian
I grew up in a loving home that didn't go to church regularly for the longest time and then when we did, church was a Sunday morning thing. I attended Sunday School and church services; I looked forward to church camp and special events throughout the year, but didn't know Christ as more than a character in a story until high school. Growing up, I longed for something that gave purpose to my life and made sense of the chaos in the world I saw. I saw hints of this at several points, but it wasn't until I met some people who genuinely took time to know me that I really gave this faith thing a chance. I observed for a long time and asked a ton of questions, until one day I surrendered. After that, my desire to know this Jesus was insatiable and I sought everything I could to know more. Since that time, through many ups and downs, I have found this to be certain: Jesus loves me; I am His; and he has never abandoned me.

Why the Fusion Czech Trip
I've had several opportunities to visit Europe and each time I find a deep passion for the people in the different places I travel. As I've heard Vasek speak on the different visits he's made to New Hope Church, I've had a growing desire to be a part of what's happening with Kostel Jinak. I look forward to meeting people, listening to their stories, and learning from each of them. I believe the Fusion Czech trip is an opportunity for me to learn how I can connect with the people of Kostel Jinak and strengthen the connection that has been started between our churches as we share the Gospel with the people in our worlds.

What You Could Pray For
Relationships: While I really enjoy people, I don't always find it easy to connect. Please pray that I will be able to build real and lasting relationships with both my teammates and the people at Kostel Jinak and in Sumperk.
Work: As a teacher there's always a lot to be done and it's hard to be away from my classes. Please pray that the preparations I need to make will be completed and that the students will find success while I'm away.
Trip: 10 days doesn't seem like a lot of time, but time is irrelevant to God. Please pray that we will see and accept the opportunities God prepares for us, both while we prepare and while we are in Czech.

And... Some Random Fun Facts
Everyone loves a story, especially with pictures which are a fantastic way to tell stories, and I really enjoy taking pictures. I can pass on most candies, but I really enjoy baked goods - Stollen is one of my favorites. I don't know a lot about pop culture and I can't recall names of most actors, artists, etc, but I really enjoy a good book, movie, or song. My favorite movie/actor and book/author are always changing, but my favorite genres are sci-fi/fantasy and historical fiction. For me, it's all about the story, and I'm always looking for a new author/actor to check out.

Meet Rachel Cherico

Hi, My name is Rachel. I grew up in  New York until I was 11 years old. My family moved to Minnesota when I was in 5^th grade and I’ve lived here most of my life (except, I did live in the Dominican Republic for a year!).

I chose to follow Jesus after I heard the gospel from my Sunday School teacher. I was very young, but I knew I wanted to follow God. Even though I’ve been a Christian a long time, I have been through some challenging times, and I am always trying to follow Christ better. I was typically a shy kid when I was younger, but one day in junior high, after hearing many missionaries at church speak about their adventures of following where He called them to all over the world, I decided I wanted to give missions a try. My parents almost didn’t even believe me at first! But they sent me off to a city near Chicago where I worked with little kids. Through various missions trips that followed, I developed a heart for children. I knew that I wanted to do something that would make a difference for them.

I now work as a 3^rd grade teacher in a diverse community of children that come from all kinds of home lives and situations. Whether I’m tying shoelaces, grading tests, or reading a story, I love that I know teaching young kids is exactly what God wants me to do and He began to put that desire in my heart a long time ago.

I first heard about the Fusion Czech trip and I wanted to go, because I thought it would challenge me in my own faith. I’m comfortable talking to kids, but I don’t always feel comfortable talking to my peers about my faith; and I knew that was going to be part of what we were doing in the Czech. I had to get special permission from the principal at my school and the superintendent of all the schools to get time off to come on the trip. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to go, but I decided that I would allow God to work out those details.  My boss approved the trip, and I am so excited to meet Christians from another part of the world, learn about the Czech culture and see where the relationship between Fusion and Kostel Jinak takes us.

FUN FACTS: I jam to Beyonce and Adele. I have 2 nieces - Maxine & Penelope - and they’re the cutest little girls on this planet. My guilty pleasure is making pancakes on Saturdays. I can whistle to Christmas songs really well!