New churches springing up in Czechia -

Editor’s note: The Lottie Moon Christian Offering for International Missions provides a significant portion of the annual budget of Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board (IMB) with 100% of the funds going to mission work on the field. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at IMB.org/lmco, where there are also resources to help promote the offering. This year’s goal is $185 million.

TLUCNA, CZECHIA (IMB) — When Larry and Melissa Lewis and their family moved to Tlučna, Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic), in 2009 as IMB church planters, they knew they had a tough job ahead. Only 29% of the population acknowledges the existence of a god and less than one percent have chosen to follow Jesus.

ENGLISH CAMP — Melinda Williams, a worker with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB), teaches English to children in Tlučna, Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic). English camps have proven to be one of the best ways to introduce the Gospel to the next generation of Czech believers. (Photo credit: IMB)

In fact, Czechia is well known for being the most irreligious country in Europe.

Trusting God’s call, the Lewises began a Bible study in their home in the western Czech city of Plzeň. That Bible study outgrew their home, so they moved to a local community center. On the first Sunday in their new location, Daniel came.

Daniel had been a pastor before but was new to the city and unsure how God wanted him to plug in. He heard about the Lewises’ work and was curious to meet them. “He was a pastor with a beautiful pastor’s heart without a church, and we were a beginning church without a pastor. It was definitely God,” said Melissa.

That Bible study turned into what is today Mozaika (Mosaic), a vibrant Czech-speaking church that is planting other churches.

As Mozaika emerged, God began multiplying the church. As members transitioned through life and moved away, the church didn’t say goodbye but instead sent them out and helped begin Bible studies and churches in their new homes.

CHILD’S PLAY — Pastor Daniel Kuč helps this team of kids win the tug of war during an English camp at Mozaika Church in Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic), as part of the work of Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board in that country. Daniel is helping Vera and Petr Burian start a new church, Moziaka (Mosiac). The English camp is part of their outreach to the community. (Photo credit: (IMB)

For instance, Věra was a teen when she was baptized. A few years later she married and started her family in a smaller city. Daniel and the Lewises helped her and her husband start a work there.

This little group has grown even through COVID-19 shutdowns, and a new IMB worker has been appointed to join them by the end of the year to help with their burgeoning fellowship. “We haven’t had to just pick a new place; God has really picked the places, and we’re just following,” Larry said.

This has happened five times in the last 10 years, and each time Daniel walks alongside those leaving and takes laypeople with him to help build up the new work. The result has been life changing. Mozaika members have caught this vision and are eager to see what God has next for them.

“They’re always saying, ‘What’s next? What can I do? I want to help.’ That’s just a beautiful thing,” Melissa said.

So, what’s next for Mozaika? Larry and Daniel have begun a Bible training center for pastors, and they have 10 church members going through the program. These members will be prepared to pastor in the next few years. They are praying for 10 new places to start churches.

To view a video of IMB work in Czechia, click here.