Answer to Prayer - Pupils saved in Slovakian School!

God moved in a wonderful way during the Go to the Nations (GN) team trip to Bratislava; one of five major cities in the former Czechoslovakia, now divided into two independent republics: Czech and Slovak. The Church under the Castle is the name of the fellowship the team visited (a church in partnership with GN which also participated in the last 40-day prayer and fast for Europe). Its peculiar name makes reference to the church being situated within the mighty walls of the Lord's fortress and also alludes to a period in the past when the church was an underground movement with members having to secretly meet beneath the walls of Bratislava Castle. The pastor of this church is Daniel Mazari.

Primary school children in Bratislava led by Christians from the Church under the Castle

The team's main point of call was a primary school headed by Lydia Kosperova. It is unique to any other school in the nation for many reasons. Primarily, because God has got his sovereign hand on it. Most staff are Christians and through them many pupils and their parents are coming to know the Lord. Secondly, it is bilingual, being the only school in the nation to teach subjects in both Slovakian and English. For this reason it is also common for children of diplomats to be educated there. Also, the school is the only one to be officially overseen by a church, namely, The Church under the Castle. How this structure came about was a real miracle, but it wasn't without its toll!
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Children from grade 5 with Timotea (with guitar) and the team

Amazing Promise!

God has placed an amazing promise in the hearts of the Christian headship of the school, most particularly in the hearts of Pastor Daniel, Lydia (the headmistress) and Timotea Brablova (a grade five teacher). This promise is that the rivers of the Holy Spirit would flow through this school to touch their nation and other nations in Europe. The whole school programme is focused on preparing children, not just to be saved but to have an intimate relationship with Jesus and to establish them in the ministries. Subjects will prepare pupils to be missionaries abroad giving them insight as to how to live in different cultures and social settings. The object of bilinguality is for pupils to be able to integrate within the wide context of the English-speaking world- all for God's glory!

Alejandro, Timotea and the teacher of the boy who had just prayed to receive Jesus.

Prophetic Vision!

30 years ago Pastor Daniel Mazari had a vision from the Lord that Slovakia would be the place where the church in the West and the church in the East would meet and from there set out on mission to other nations. Other prophesies since that time have served to confirm this. Daniel recognises how, over many years, God has broken through old-fashioned and religious church structures in Slovakia in order to bring about his divine plans and purposes. The period of prayer and fasting also served to precipitate a revival within the church and, through an increased love and boldness from the Holy Spirit, people have been stirred to pray fervently for churches throughout Europe. Amazingly, much reconciliation is now taking place between churches around the nation as, jointly, they pray against powers of darkness within the political scene and see such powers destroyed as a result. 'For all this we give glory to God!', says Daniel.