What is your ministry?
As a president of the Baptist Union, I often visit local Baptist churches, preach, encourage and support pastors and elders, and organise and lead denominational meetings. I am responsible for educational programs for church leaders. I represent our denomination at national and international meetings.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in a Christian family. My parents and grandparents were devoted Christians. I learned about God from them. But I knew that I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God was distant from me and certainly, I could not call him my Father. When I was 13 years old I attended Christian children's camp one summer. One evening the Gospel message was given to us. We were challenged to repent and give our lives to Jesus. That evening the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins and spoke to me about Christ's love and forgiveness through His sacrifice on the cross. I remember being on my knees and praying to Jesus to forgive me of my sins and make me God's child. That night Jesus became my Savior and Lord.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
I must say that as far as my Christian growth I was influenced very much by my grandparents and parents. They were my spiritual heroes. My grandfather was a pastor. My father was a lay pastor. This was during the time of the Communist regime in our country, which was strongly against Christians. But my grandparents and parents stayed faithful and joyful in the midst of many difficulties, always communicating to us that serving Jesus is the highest calling in life. There was also a very hard and sorrowful time in my life when my father became ill with cancer. He fought this illness for about one and a half years. For most of that time, I was very close to him, caring and helping him in his pain. I think that God used this difficult and painful experience to teach me how much we are dependent on Him. My faith had to grow deeper in order to stay strong.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
ELF has equipped me to lead Christian leaders, pastors, elders, theology students, and church planters. I grew in my leadership, teaching, and mentoring skills. I am returning to grow in my ministry leadership skills, be a better servant of the Lord, be encouraged in my faith, and build relationships with other Christian leaders internationally.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I started as a children’s Sunday school teacher when I was 15 years old. Then I was a youth leader. Later I became an elder, with pastoral and preaching responsibilities. I have been serving as a pastor for the last 18 years. For the past 12 years, I have been the national representative of the TCM International Institute, based in Austria, for the Czech Republic (which includes leading and organising a cohort of 30 students).
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
I believe it will be a good investment. I learned in my life that investment in the personal and spiritual development of leaders is worth it because the leaders influence many other people. So I believe that this training will lead to my further spiritual development and growth in knowledge and understanding, which will positively influence my ministry inside and outside of our church. My desire is to be built up and equipped so I might better serve God and His Kingdom.
