One year after graduating from university, I was invited to spend a year serving with a mission team in the Czech Republic. I politely told the person offering the invitation I was not interested – although I had been very active in my university Christian group, I had no interest in international missions, and no interest in Central and Eastern Europe - I didn't even know where the Czech Republic was! However, because I did not want to disappoint my friend too much, I gave the “Christian” no – I told her “I will pray about it”.
Twenty years later, I am still serving in the Czech Republic, married to a wonderful Czech lady, helping to lead a Czech church, and serving with a missions organisation called Josiah Venture, which equips churches throughout Central and Eastern Europe to reach out to, and disciple students and young people with the life-saving truth of the Gospel. I had my plan for my life, but God had a much better one.
I work alongside churches throughout Central and Eastern Europe, from Estonia to Albania, the Czech Republic to Ukraine. The international nature of my life has given me a love of God’s global church, and has helped me to see that no matter what culture they come from, young people are searching for the same answers and truth, which can only be found through a relationship with Jesus.
There are many international students in the UK. Many come from cultures or families where they have not had the opportunity to hear the Gospel, and almost all feel lost, lonely and insecure when they first arrive. They would love to integrate into UK life, but do not know how, so generally end up in a loose community of other international students.
There is an untapped missions field on our doorstep. As strangers in a strange land, these students are unusually receptive to the Gospel, especially when shared in the context of a safe and loving community which our churches offer. Reaching out to these students will not only richly bless you as you experience the food and tradition of other cultures, but more importantly give you an international impact as you send these students home as missionaries to their own cultures.
Jesus taught “As you are going, make disciples of all nations”. You’ve got many nations on your doorstep, it’s not as hard as you think!
Terry English is the Director of Training for Josiah Venture. As such, he oversees the creation and rollout of ministry teams and disciple making resources throughout Central and Eastern Europe, and also oversees evangelistic ministries and tools currently being used by over 400 churches in reaching students and young people. Prior to moving to the Czech Republic 21 years ago, he also worked with youth and student outreach ministries in the USA, UK, and Norway. While his focus is now on training local churches, he also continues to work with a local youth ministry in the Czech Republic so that he can keep his finger on the pulse of current trends in youth culture and has recently helped his local church plant a new expression of church in Ostrava.