Man of God

Yesterday we got to visit with Vla'da, a man who was a pastor for some years during Communism. His father was a pastor during this time as well. It was so interesting to talk to him, to learn more about the effects of Communism and post-Communism on the church, and to see his hopes for the future.

If he ever did the wrong thing as a pastor, the police would call him the very next day to talk to him about it. They also had plants that would attend the church just to report things. They knew pastors that were imprisoned and some died.

When religion was allowed without any contraints after 1989, many people flocked to church. Unforunately the churches they chose were often cults or had wrong teaching. They then became disgruntled or dissatisfied with what they found, and decided to have nothing to do with church, or God, whatsoever. That is why nearly two-thirds of the people claim to be atheists.

He hopes to start a seminary, so that men from the Czech Republic have a good school where they can learn how to become pastors. Right now they often attend liberal seminaries where they learn incorrect doctrine, etc. or they learn in the States and never come back. His goal is to begin this fall with seven students. The missionary here is hoping to recruit more students and to recruit men to teach in the school.

This meeting was quite meaningful for us and we certainly learned from this man of God.