Outreach

Slovakia 2025 Updates

Our Slovakia 2025 Team - Anna & Jordan Christiansen and Peter Pelto - has wrapped up their time in Slovakia. Below are updates they shared throughout their time partnering with Josiah Ventures and their work with students. We look forward to hearing more from them during our Sunday Service on August 11.

Update #6 (July 26)
The theme of the camp this year is “Real Life,” we explored the life of the apostle Paul, how he was successful in his own eyes but not in God’s, how Jesus meet and save him and his conversion. We also talked about his later life and how he suffered for the gospel. We invited the students to the good, but not always easy, life of following Jesus. From the stories we’ve heard, many moved further down this path.

This afternoon we packed up all the stuff from camp and sent the students home. The American team returned to Prešov and were greeted by our host families for the next two nights. They refreshed us with showers, naps and meals before we returned to the city center to meet anyone from the Slovak team and students who wanted to hang out. We wondered the city center, ate gelato and enjoyed each others company.

On Sunday morning we’ll worship with the church in Prešov. We’ll then have some time with our hosts and in the evening we’ll attend the KECY Camp Afterparty—this is one more opportunity to connect with the students and invite them into the community of believers to continue their journeys to and with Jesus. We begin our journey home early Monday morning.  

As we go, please join with us in praying that the students will stay connected. Many have said they want to, pray the seeds planted are in fertile ground. Pray too that the team in Slovakia will continue to make the Gospel real and compelling. They already are.  

Thank you all for your prayers and support. We’ll be home soon and are excited to continue the work of making new disciples.

Peter Pelto

Update #5 (July 25)
Many people were impacted by the labyrinth last night. We created a reflective atmosphere for the students. We know of 3 students that gave their lives to Christ and many more opened up to having deep conversations on topics of faith.

Today was the last full day of camp. There have been lingering conversations about the night before. The staff shared how they have clearly seen God working all week. There is energy in the air despite the tiredness felt by all.

Tonight the topic will be on the importance of having a community around you while you journey through your life and faith. We pray that students would see the value in this and desire to take part in the local church youth group.

Thanks!
Anna Christiansen

Update #4 (July 24)
Thursday night is a key moment at Josiah Ventures camps every year. On Monday and Tuesday, the evening program had a short talk that started to touch on deeper topics with the hope that we will lead students into spiritual topics in one-on-one discussions. On Wednesday night, the speaker left us with a heavy thought: the world is broken, filled with war, broken relationships, and death. If God exists, why doesn't he remove all evil from the world? Because if he did that, he would have to remove all of us. We are all selfish and hurt other people.

Tonight there will be a clear presentation of the gospel. Students will have time to reflect quietly about everything they have heard, and we will be available to pray with them. I pray that the students will engage and each make a decision for themselves. I pray that they will think about this more over the coming weeks and ask talk to members of the local church when they have questions. I pray that they will choose Jesus.

Jordan Christiansen

Update #3 (July 23)
It's just after midnight as I stop to write this note home. It's the end of the 4th day of camp and the days are packed and flying by. I'm grateful for our sisters and brothers from Five Oaks. Their faith, care, openness and youthful energy add to ours and the Slovak teams. This year at camp there are 40 students, about 20 in English classes, and the rest in volleyball or fitness classes. Our days are filled with lessons, team building exercises, competitions, arts & crafts, meals, skits, programs with talks, discussions, dozens of conversations and more fun activities.

Returning this year I've met people and picked up relationships from last year and have heard how God is moving in people's lives. One of the students shared that he was baptized during the year between camps. We don't always see the result of the work God has for us, but it is good to see faith growing and developing and new people knowing Jesus.

Just before coming in I stood under the clear night sky, framed with pine trees rising on the foothills around the camp. The stars were so bright I could see the Milkyway and I was stunned by God's glory-in the sky above me and my sisters and brother around me. I pray that those that don't yet know this all encompassing goodness will someday. I'm grateful to be a part of helping them see that goodness.  

As we enter the last two days of camp we ask that you pray for energy (the days are long, packed and beautiful!), and that God will speak through us and that more will know the complete and total goodness that's found us. We're praying the same for you back home.  

Your Brother in Jesus,
Peter

Update #2 (July 20)
We’ve arrived at camp! By the time you see this update the students will have arrived and the programs will have begun. We completed training with the teams from other American churches on Saturday and travels to the camp just outside Bardejov in the northeast part of Slovakia. The training was beautiful as we and the other churches prepared for our part in the five camps Joshua Ventures is supporting in Slovakia this week.

We met the team from the Presov church Saturday afternoon and spent the evening and Sunday morning getting to know each other and preparing the camp site. As the students arrive, please pray for:
The four other camps happening in Slovakia this week.
Unity among the American team (us and Five Oaks) and the team from Slovakia and that our love and care for each other will reflect the love God has for us.
That God will move among us as we remind each other of the good news and share it with those who have not heard it.

We’re grateful for your prayers as we continue our mission. =