Blanka Jezkova is a Christian author and publisher in the Czech Republic.
When did you trust Christ?
I was raised in a religious family, but my decision to follow Jesus didn't come until I was 17. After a period of about two years of defiance toward the church, I began to reconsider life with God based on a conversation with my dad. That day, I gave God a "chance". I prayed and asked God to come into my heart.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
As a teenager, I had been concerned that life with God would be boring. Since my decision to follow Jesus, He has shown me that life with Him is definitely not boring. This led me to start Hisland, a ministry that targets children experiencing the same things I experienced. Hisland's motto is “Life with God is a ride”.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I expect that YRM will better equip me to realise my vision, through study and regular time for reflection. The biggest benefit, and an honor for me, would be joining a creative community. There are not many opportunities to combine art and Christianity in an ideal mix of webinars and in-person meetings.
What is your ministry?
My eldest daughter and I have written four children's books, published by Hisland, designed to bring God closer to the younger generation. My role has primarily been authoring books and producing supporting materials.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
In 2020 I founded the children's Christian publishing house Hisland, in response to the lack of contemporary Christian children's literature and programs in the Czech Republic. I desired to bring God closer to the younger generation in an understandable, compelling way.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Books are just one creative tool for addressing and developing important issues. I feel God guiding me to develop a platform that would bring together young artists, educators and childcare workers in the Czech Republic to create materials for children's ministries. I would like to create a space for interdisciplinary dialogue, and search for new ways of working with children that combine art, contemporary pedagogical approaches and the active involvement of children in the creative process.
