How does it feel after one month since returning to the States after my summer in the Czech Republic? Well let me tell you...

I am still blown away by what I saw the Lord do. To see students come face to face with the living God is something that only makes me more and more in love with my Savior.

My heart still burns for the lost young people of Czech, as well as for those young Czech leaders who have no real opportunity for any theological training or ministerial experience. This summer was not a one-time thing - God has very much confirmed my calling to have a part in training up this next generation.

I want what I have learned to not just stay in Czech, but to live the same way here in Chicago. I want the same burning desire for Jesus' name to be lifted high, and a readiness to share the gospel as well as exhort and encourage those who have believed it.

But more than anything, I want to know Jesus more.

Thank you for standing with me throughout this summer of ministry. Would you continue to stand with me as I manage our on-campus coffee shop, disciple high-schoolers at Grace Church of DuPage, and lead worship for the students of Moody Bible Institute?

I know this is only the beginning of the many journeys I will embark on with the Lord!

On July 20th, 2011, there was a multitude of angels in heaven rejoicing over the spiritual birth of a new daughter of God!

During our first discussion group, we asked everyone what their hopes or expectations were of camp. Many said, "I want to learn better English," or, "I came to meet Americans." Aneta's response was quite different: "I'm here because I want to find God."

As we stayed up late in our discussion group flipping through Scripture and answering questions, it was so obvious to both Ryan and I that the Lord had a firm grip on this young girl. We knew He would complete the work He had started and draw her to Himself.

And on July 20th, 2011, this lost sheep was found. Her eyes were opened to the glory of Jesus Christ and her own need for a Savior. Let us all rejoice for our new sister in Christ!!

Luke 15:3-7

So [Jesus] told them this parable:

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Aneta has an incredible story of God's faithfulness amidst much pain and struggle. I can't wait for you to hear the whole story in heaven one day! But really, her story is just beginning. Aneta needs much prayer as she begins her walk with the Lord. Being a Christian in the Czech Republic is not a popular thing, and she will likely face opposition from her family and friends. There will be times where she will no doubt feel alone. May she find her comfort and satisfaction in Him alone!

Would you pray with me for this newborn child? 

An unexpected highlight during our second camp with the CB church in Poděbrady was getting to teach an English class with Ryan! We were both very wary of the whole English aspect of camp, but for this camp there was a shortage of teachers and we jumped right in!

And what an incredible experience it turned out to be. Tomáš, Martin 1, Martin 2, Michael, Aneta and Mája were great students. Plus Ryan and I totally feed off each other and have a lot of fun in the process of teaching!

Each morning we spent three hours teaching vocabulary, playing games, and helping the students be more comfortable conversing in the English language. Czech young people learn a lot of grammar in school, but aren't as confident in actually speaking. That's why English Camp is so great!

But a huge highlight for me was our evening discussion group. After listening to stories about different people "colliding" with Jesus, the whole camp would break back up into their English classes and spend an hour talking about the stories and wrestling with issues such as grace, forgiveness, peer pressure, and decisions about Christ. Several nights our discussion time went far beyond the normal time - up to three hours! It was a special time of sharing our lives with each other and proclaiming the gospel.

I really came to love these guys by the end of the week! It was awesome to see God move so powerfully within each one of the students in my class, whether believer of unbeliever. Soon I'll tell you more about how God moved in their hearts!

For as long as I have lived in the Czech Republic, Chuck Norris has been a very important cultural phenomenon. I remember turning on Czech TV to Walker, Texas Ranger, hearing Chuck Norris jokes at school, and more recently seeing Chuck in a special T-Mobile television campaign. His popularity has risen immensely in the past couple years once again as an example of a true man's man. 

What many people don't is that Chuck Norris is a committed evangelical believer, who loves Jesus with all his heart. When Tyndale publishers released a book last year titled The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book, which combines the best of Chuck Norris jokes with Chuck's own testimony, Josiah Venture had it translated into Czech. It is now being distributed at English Camps this summer along with a Norris-style gospel tract, titled The Source of Chuck Norris' Strength.

We begin with a deep chasm which even Chuck Norris can't jump over - sin. This separates us all from God.

Not even Chuck's best intentions at being a good person allow him to come close to God. A successful life, good deeds, and religion are all vain attempts at matching up to God's standards.

But God did not leave Chuck (or us!) in despair - He sent his own son, Jesus Christ, to make a way to God.

Now Chuck - and whoever believes in Jesus Christ - has access to God and eternal life. The price is paid - we can now enjoy fellowship with holy, holy, holy God!

What a great reminder to students that even an all-powerful legend such as Chuck Norris is still under God's authority, and needs a Savior just as much as we do.

While the primary purpose of English Camps is evangelistic, the effectiveness of a camp extends far beyond numbers of conversions. In a country where faith in Jesus is entirely counter-cultural, even small steps toward God are considered huge. For someone to come to camp not believing in God and leaving with questions about Him, that is a success. For someone to come to camp having never read the Bible and leaving with a Bible of their own, that is a success. And of course, for someone to come to camp not knowing Jesus and leaving with a new heart, that is an enormous success.

I want to share with you some of the things the Lord did in my discussion group at our first camp with the CB church in Ostrava!

The first evening talk of the week was titled "A Collision Between Christ and Christianity." The main idea was, "Don't let your preconceived ideas of Christianity keep you from getting to know Christ Himself." We prayed for open doors to talk openly with the five students in our group openly from the first day. He answered!

I was able to share the full gospel the very first night - with guys who were leaned in and fully engaged, asking lots of questions and wrestling with the ideas of grace and justice. I remember T saying completely honestly, "That doesn't make any sense." But as the week progressed, you could see lights coming on and the dots being connected as he finished my thoughts and began understanding what Jesus is really all about. This young man is in the Lord's hands, and I believe that God is not finished with T just yet! Coming to camp not having ever even thought about God, T left seeking. These are huge steps.

L was the one with the most questions. He was always thinking about the evening talks and eager to jump right into spiritual topics. It came from a very soft and sincere heart. L was very touched and struck with the injustice of Jesus' crucifixion and innocent death. Ryan especially poured into this young man, explaining why Jesus had to die and how it affects each one of us personally. I received a note from L at the end of camp: "Tyler, thanks helping me understand God and Jesus." 

At the end of the week, we gave each one of the guys in our small group Bibles. Ryan, Michael and I each wrote a dedication in the front with some passages of Scripture. I feel like the Lord gave me very specific verses for each individual. It was so exciting to see their faces light up with thankfulness as they received their gift! As we rode back to Ostrava in the bus, almost all of them had their Bibles out and read them throughout the trip. 

These seemingly small steps are all apart of God's plan of redemption for these students. Not all will choose to follow Jesus. But many will receive the grace He gives through His blood and go on to be strong men and women of faith. It is through these individuals that God will bring about revival in their home country of the Czech Republic!

I am so astonished that the Lord chooses to use ordinary people to accomplish His purposes. He is powerful enough to work completely on His own, and yet He chooses to allow us to join in the work He is doing. There are three people I would like to highlight from our first camp with Ostrava that I saw the Lord use mightily - in word and deed.

Adam Parma was the Czech leader of the Ostrava camp, and is probably one of the most capable men I have met. He is the Czech Renaissance man! Throughout camp I was astonished at how he was able to switch from making sure details were taken care of, to preparing an evening skit, to caring for his team, to playing any musical instrument you could imagine! He held the whole camp together. My dad worked very closely with Adam during the production of the EXIT 316 TV series, and it was a privilege to work with Adam myself for the first time. He has an enormous heart for Jesus and for the church, which was so evident throughout the week of camp.

Todd Roughton was so clearly God's man for this camp. The youth pastor at University Fellowship church in Eugene, OR, Todd led his team of high schoolers with strength and humility. God used Todd to reach the students through the evening talks. Each day we walked through a story of people in the Bible "colliding" with Jesus. From Zaccheus to Pilate to the two thieves on the cross, the students sat captivated and engaged. It was so fun to see certain young people getting "front row seats" as the week progressed. Todd was God's man. His boldness and love for Jesus made an eternal impact.

Michael Novotný grew up as the son of a pastor and Bible translator, and has been in the CB Ostrava church since his early teenage years. At 25, he just finished his studies to be a lawyer, and brought so much wisdom to our evening discussion group when talking about God's justice and righteousness. The way he engaged with the guys in his cabin was awesome to see. They really respect him - and rightly should! He is a man after God's own heart. I personally loved hearing about his heart for discipleship and commitment to the Word. The Lord is going to use this man in incredible ways to bring this nation back to Himself.

These are three men that I would love to serve with in the future again. No joke! Such studs for God's kingdom. What got me the most excited was how God used them in the lives of the young men at camp. We need solid men in the church who are passionate and bold for the gospel. Praying that God would raise up more and more men like Adam, Todd, and Michael!

This past month has been FULL!

Full of travelling.

Full of camps.

Full of fun.

Full of new relationships.

Full of the Gospel being boldly proclaimed.

Full of changed lives.

I will take the next week to give one update a day to catch up on everything that the Lord has been doing in the month of July. I hope it will be an encouragement to you and give you an even greater fervency to pray for the last two and a half weeks of my ministry here!

What a privilege it was to be able to speak to the youth group in Poděbrady last Thursday. I spoke out of a well-known passage, Ephesians 2:8-10. We were pleasantly surprised to see the room fairly evenly split between believers and non-believers - posing a challenge for me as the speaker! How do you communicate something that is applicable to both those who know Christ as well as those who are still under God's wrath?

The answer was simple - preach the Gospel! Preach Christ crucified and risen. Preach grace.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

This was also a very important sermon for me - it was the first time preaching in the Czech language! 

Pray for these students, and all the students that we come into contact with - that they would see the grace of God and have no choice but to respond. 

Speaking on grace revealed to me how little I do understand grace. I suppose I never will comprehend it fully - but I will continue to seek for my eyes to opened so I may love my Lord more. Praise Jesus that the power of grace does not rest upon my own comprehension of it! 

Our first camp of the summer is with the Církev Bratrská church in Ostrava. Ostrava was known for its industry under communism and is one of the most densely populated cities in the Czech Republic. A "heavy spiritual cloud" still hangs over the population from the days of hard labor. We definitely felt the darkness and the spiritual need as we walked the streets and looked into the eyes of people.

However, God is moving. As we interacted with students from the youth group and attended church on Sunday, we were so encouraged by the hearts of the Christians and their burden for their city. Jesus is being glorified!

One cool thing - When my family moved to the Czech Republic almost 18 years ago, this church was one of the first that my dad partnered with. It's fun to be back and be serving with them! This is a picture of my family (minus dad) in downtown Ostrava many years ago!

Our team was able to spend three days interacting with students in Ostrava last weekend - what an encouraging time! Especially exciting was our meeting with Adam - the Czech camp leader, and Přemek - the current youth pastor at the church. These are two very gifted and passionate men of God. It will be such a joy to serve with them!

Camp starts on July 2nd, and will go till July 9th. Pray that the Lord uses this week to bring joy, hope, and salvation to the lives of many young people!

During our intern leader retreat at the end of May, we began to study the book of Colossians together. Our Czech intern teams will reunite three more times throughout the summer, and we will eventually make our way through the entire book. It is a great way for us leaders to refocus on Christ, as well an opportunity for us to bond and encourage one another amidst the frenzy of the summer. It's also great to just let loose and have fun together!

While going through chapter 1 at this leader retreat, a particular passage especially stood out to me, and has become my prayer for the summer.

Colossians 1:28-29 - "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

My three points of prayer are as follows:

1. That we would "proclaim" Christ with boldness - "warning" unbelievers and "teaching" believers, that both may see the glory and fulness of the gospel.

2. That our goal would be the building up of the church - to "present everyone mature in Christ." 

3. That we would "toil" and "struggle" this summer, but that it would not be in our own strength. Rather, that we would serve sacrificially "with all his energy" so that Christ would be glorified and we might be vessels of his grace.

The town of Poděbrady through the artistic lens.

Allow me to introduce you to my team!

Ryan Rayburn is my co-leader. I am so blessed to serve alongside him! We actually attend the same church in Warrenville, IL, and serve together as volunteers in the youth group. What a joy it has been to carry over that relationship to this summer! Ryan has a huge heart for evangelism, and is also a (very talented!) rapper.

Sean Smith is a returning intern from last summer, and a student at Grace College in IN. It is such a joy to have a kindred spirit like Sean on my team. We are both far more introverted than our other team members, and love to think hard. Whenever Sean speaks, I listen - he has incredible discernment and wisdom.

Kelli Fleck is a recent graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL! Growing up in a non-Christian family, the Lord drew Kelli to Himself about six years ago. She is able to relate to just about anyone - and does it really well too! Her unashamedness of the Gospel and commitment to the Word encourages and spurs us all on.

Nicole Khal, a resident of Oregon, has dual citizenship in Syria and the USA! Her parents are full-blooded Syrians, and Nicole speaks fluent Arabic. After coming to Czech on a short-term church trip last summer, the Lord called her back again this summer. Nicole constantly pours herself out for others with a very genuine servant's heart. It has been so cool to see her reunited with students that she formed relationships with and faithfully cultivated even across the distance since last year.