John and Kathy and their family have lived in Tmava, Slovakia since 1997. Previously they worked for several years with Mission to the World in Prague, in the Czech Republic. They have also planted churches in Kenya and Seychelles.

Ministry Update

In Slovakia, the Lesondaks work with Covenant College in their Studies Abroad program and their course for Slovak executives at Trnava University. John teaches English as a second language at St. Cyril and St. Methodius Universities, and community English classes at The Building, a youth center which they opened in 2000.

The Building is located in Trnava, a city in the Western part of Slovakia which has two major Universities and several high schools. The Building is conveniently located a short walk from several of these campuses. The inside of The Building has several rooms: a tea room, a library/study room, and meeting rooms for English Classes and other activities such as weekly Bible studies, a Sunday night worship service, and small group meetings. They are also holding annual English camps in the mountains.

In June 2001 the Lesondaks hosted a series of conferences conducted by Peacemaker® Ministries, designed to equip Christian adults to resolve conflict in a Biblically faithful manner.

Praises

This year John and Kathy are seeing the fruit of several years of hard work. Having the building as a place of outreach has helped establish them in the community and in the lives of students. They are seeing the word of God take root in lives in very practical ways, and it is having an impact even on relatives and friends of the students.

The Bible study at The Building is growing, and is a sure means of God’s word taking root in hearts. The Sunday evening fellowship hour is growing slowly and becoming “church” for some.

Pray for Their Ministry

Pray that the Lesondaks’ work would have trust in the community. They are being seen as a cult by the Catholic church, and the local Catholic high school is telling the Catholic students not to come to The Building. Pray that their family would lead such good lives before the pagans that they would be ashamed of their slander and repent and believe.

Pray for Those They Serve Pray that God would deliver many from the snare of the devil and establish them on the Bible alone.

Pray for Them

Pray that God would grant them joy and peace as their “nest” grows smaller. Pray that as their sons leave for college that God would guide and direct their paths into service for Him.