slovakia partnership

In 2024, Catalyst Church began a partnership with Josiah Venture, an organization focused on introducing youth in Central and Eastern Europe to the saving power of Jesus and to connect them with local churches. In 2024 and 2025, we sent teams to support conversational English camps run by the Lutheran Church of Presov, Slovakia. The camps use English and sports to engage Slovak youth and provide a platform to present the Gospel.  The teams from Catalyst served alongside youth leaders from the Presov church and Josiah Venture staff in all aspects of the camp. 

Slovakia 2026 Updates

7/31/26

We've made it home.  Below are our first passes at processing the trip and seeing how God was at work in our time serving in Slovakia.  Thank you all for your prayers, we couldn't have done the trip without them.  We look forward to sharing more with you about our mission and partnership with the Evanjelický Cirkevný Zbor Petržalka as they continue to grow their KECY Camp ministry.  

Josiah Venture has also shared some pictures from the camp. You can find them here.

Breinn McDonald 
Tears fell as I felt God's presence the moment we began to worship with other camp leaders (from around the US) during our first night of training. I continued to feel His presence as I watched each unique gift of our incredible team unfold, building connections with the students. I also saw Him working through the hearts and love of the Slovak leaders who will continue to support these students. God is so much bigger than we know, and it was a privilege and honor to give this small part of myself and receive so much more in return. 
Civeah McDonald 
While I saw God working in many wonderful ways, such as forming such deep connections between everyone so quickly, I saw Him the most during the worship time we had on the night of the Labyrinth. You could literally feel the Holy Spirit within you and around you. It’s a feeling I just can’t explain because of how deep and spiritual it was, but I know in my heart what it was. I was moved to tears and felt emotions I swear I’ve never felt before. 

Jared King

It was inspiring to be an important part of their discipleship among both the young Slovak leaders and the campers. The Holy Spirit was leading us to make important relational connections to help students either come to Jesus for the first time, or allow us to help them grow deeper in their faith.

Peter Pelto
"Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” I'm continually amazed at how quickly the Holy Spirit can draw us together as siblings in Jesus, even when first languages and more stand between us.  This was true for us and the team from Greenville, the teams from Petržalka and Nové Mesto nad Váhom, and for all of us with the students. I am grateful to see how God is moving in Slovakia in the lives of old friends and new and also in the lives of the students we serve. I am excited to see how our partnership with the church in Petržalka takes shape as they continue their journey hosting KECY Camps and proclaiming and demonstrating Jesus' love in their neighborhood.  

Daniel Deisinger

I was able to sit with students and help them feel God's presence. We prayed, we sang, we ate, we played, we laughed, and we cried. I wore the armor of God for others for a week, and it was never more comfortable.

Shannon King 

I saw God working from the moment we arrived in Žillina. The Holy Spirit's presence was heavy as 7 inter-denominational churches from around the US worshipped with the Slovak leaders! What a great glimpse of heaven! I was also wondering how God would use my broken foot, and we don't always get to know the reason for our perseverance through suffering, but because I had to stay back from the hike, I had a 3 hour conversation with a Christian camper who accepted Jesus last year at camp and had been feeling discouraged since then. I was able to encourage her and mentor her in her faith! At the end of the camp, the Slovak leaders also gave me "most selfless" award, which I would point entirely to God, as I had doubts before the trip, and really our Catalyst team were the ones who were selfless in taking care of me!

7/26/26

On Sunday, we started our morning with delightful breakfasts with our host families, and then attended church service together at a church in Petržalka, called Evanjelický Cirkevný Zbor Petržalka. Our friend who was also a leader at camp, Lenka, is a pastor there. We heard a beautiful sermon, songs, and organ music, and then came to the front as they told the congregation about our camp week and blessed us.

After lunch with our host family again, we boarded a train for an hour- long ride to Nové mesto nad Váhom, where we had our final Kecy camp goodbyes with the other teams and some of the students and their families. It was fun, sweet, and we felt so blessed by those who prayed for us again. It was very bittersweet, as we don't know when or if we'll see each other again. 

Please pray for new Slovak friends and believers, and continued safety as we soon begin our return journey.

Breinn McDonald 

7/23/26

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Wednesday at camp was our rest day with a walk to the Danube river, games, naps, swimming at a near by water park, and a change from the normal rhythm of camp life. On Thursday we continued with activities and discussions but it’s a special day too. On Thursday the evening talk centered on our pride and brokenness and that God loves us so much that he gives us himself as Jesus so we can live. The campers then experience the Labyrinth, an experience where they have time to process and think about new ideas they heard about this week. 

In the Labyrinth the students received a stone.  At the end they read:  

“You may still be carrying a stone from an earlier station. Back then, it represented the things we carry - mistakes, regrets, things that hurt us, and ways we may have hurt others. If you want, you can leave your stone under the cross. Earlier, you saw a clean mirror and a question: Is a new beginning possible? For many people, the cross is the place where that question finds its answer. A reminder that forgiveness is possible, and that we don’t have to carry everything forever. But the choice is yours. You can leave the stone here, or keep it and take it with you.” 

Let’s all remember the absolute full goodness of the God who loves us and pray that many students leave their burdens at the cross. 

Peter Pelto

7/22/26

Today's Update: In the morning we had the regular English and Sports track time, and we played a different team than the first day. After that, we had a team building exercise where we had to work to pick up plates while blindfolded, and having to go off of hand signals, like tapping the left shoulder of your teammate to turn left. In the afternoon we had crafts, and the US sport was soccer!

Our evening gathering was 'nerd' themed, so that was really fun! The open-book was by my roommate, Naťa, and most of the students were in attendance because it was so good. 

Civeah McDonald

7/21/26

Today was the first full day at camp! English classes & sports classes went really well! We each have about 5-7 students and 4 leaders in each group, so we can really make a great connection in small groups! We also spent part of the day bonding over making a crate for our egg drop and then discussing about safeguards in our own life. Some students really opened up. We wrapped up the afternoon with a field game that tired us out, but we were able to rest after that. It was great fun and the weather is starting to cool off. Please continue to pray for Jordan & Anna’s suitcase to be delivered and for Shannon’s broken foot to continue heal.

7/20/26

After our training and preparation over the past few days, today we were finally able to meet the campers! We wanted to show them a warm welcome, so we all blew bubbles and cheered as each student arrived this afternoon. After that, we spent some time connecting with large-group games, dinner conversations, the evening program, team-building, and other get-to-know-you activities. Jared also did a nice job introducing the camp theme, "Out of the Box," to the students, and we had fun coming up with team names and logos and sharing them. 

Please continue to pray for rest, energy, wisdom, and for all of us to be willing to step "out of the box."

7/19/26

We arrived at camp this afternoon! Normally, a Josiah Venture camp is a partnership between one Slovak church and one American church. This camp is unique this year, because there are two American and two Slovak churches joining together. One of the Slovak churches is preparing to launch a new camp next year, so they joined forces with an existing camp this year while they learn and prepare. Today we got to know the Greenville team, the other American team we are serving alongside, as well as the teams from the Slovak churches.

We prepared our hearts through worship, sharing our testimonies, and being reminded that we are the ones standing in the gap for these students. Just one week at camp can change their entire eternity.

Please pray for unity among all four church teams. Pray for anxieties to be calmed and our joy to be evident as the students arrive 

Anna Christiansen

7/18/26

As I write this we’re on our way from the training location in Zelina to the camp site. During the training we heard from many faithful servants who have and are working in Slovakia sharing the Gospel and spent time with the teams from other American churches going to serve at other camps. I’m encouraged by the generations of people who love Jesus so deeply that they’ve traded a normal life for a life of service. 

In the training we were challenged to be present with the students at the camp. God has prepared us for this mission and called the students to be there. God has done the same in your life too. We’re praying you’ll be present with the people God’s given you too. 

Peter Pelto

7/17/26

The team has arrived and is completing some training with Josiah Venture before traveling to the camp where they will work with youth & young adults in language and sports activities.

The airline did lose some luggage in transit, so please pray for quick resolution. Please also be praying for physical rest & readiness and for safety as they travel to camp in the coming days.

https://www.josiahventure.com