What is your ministry?
I lead the Slovak Baptist Union. I am chairman of the Union Board, lead our annual conferences, visit churches, and create strategies and partnerships. I am responsible for developing a new social care/mission project, Dobrodina, which was started and is owned by our Baptist Union. I lead the Slovak Union of evangelical churches and am responsible for the leadership of the Department of Evangelical Theology at Matej Bel University, where I also teach.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in a Christian home, and I decided to follow the Lord at the age of 10 at a youth camp. My decision has been challenged many times; by the grace of the Lord, I daily give my life to Him to be used His kingdom.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
After my baptism in early youth, another important time was when I felt the call to the ministry and applied to study theology. Those years at the seminary were a blessing to me. Two U.S. missionaries I worked with as a student influenced my life by believing and investing in me – their encouragement, time, mentoring, and prayers were of great importance. My wife is another blessing and encouragement for my life and ministry. My trips to the U.S. were a gift from God. I always met the right people to help me to move to the next step.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
ELF played a crucial part in finishing my PhD many years ago. Most of my library came from the ELF bookstore. I took part in the first-ever Cambridge Scholars Network. I participated in Year-Round Mentoring with John Stevens on Leading a Christian Organisation. It isn't easy to imagine where I would be without the encouragement and resources of ELF. I am forever thankful.
I look forward to being encouraged in my ministry, meeting old and new friends, networking, sharing, and learning from others. I hope to make new contacts and encourage some younger leaders (from Slovakia and elsewhere). As I have only been teaching at the University for the last couple of years, I hope to grow in this area.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Several years ago, I went through a period where I heard about leadership from every side. I was afraid to listen to all of it, thinking that I would not be able to be the one to take up the call to leadership. But I knew deep down that God wanted me to be a leader. Since then, I have already gained some knowledge and insights into leadership, but I know I must learn more to fulfill what God has called me to. Attending the Forum has helped me fulfill this call because of the people, training, and resources available for me to use and learn from. Through these things, with hard work and perseverance, I believe I can achieve what I am called to do.
