International Church of Prague

Series part 3: (see part 1 & part 2) The International Church of Prague (ICP) is the church we attend regularly.  We have made the decision to become members and plan to consummate that process in January!

This church made up of english speaking people from many nationalities.  It is also an interdenominational church that is loosely connected to the czech brethren church.  We have found this to be a place where we are fed spiritually.  As missionaries we feel that it is important for us to have one venue where we are being fed rather than doing the feeding.  It is however, a place where we are also able to serve using some of our gifts.  For example: we join the worship team every few weeks.  Additionally, the church supports many other missions efforts in Prague.  It is a blessing to be connected to with what God is doing throughout the city.

For more info about ICP feel free to check out the church webpage- www.icprague.cz

Secondary Retreat

This blog is long overdue because this event happened over a month ago.  However, I thought that I would share about it anyway.

Our school's anual fall secondary retreat is a chance for staff and students to go away for a weekend for a time of fellowship, bonding, crazy games, extra chapels, etc.  Several students grew spiritually through our efforts.  One even accepted Christ!

While there, I had the opportunity to facilitate several hours of teambuilding activities.  Or rather, I facilitated 5 other staff who facilitated the activities.  It was a joy to me to create an atmosphere where both staff and students were able to get to know each other better, be put out of their comfort zones, and to learn about themselves.

Here are a couple pictures from the team building time:

Here is a poster that one of my Digital Graphics Class students made after the retreat:

-Matt

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven

A neat video about an elderly Czech woman being an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven in Prague.

CISP

Series Part 2: CISP (Christian International School of Prague) is our primary ministry in Prague, Czech Republic. As missionaries, Matt teaches IT (information technology) and Kate teaches History & Geography. This summer, the board and administration were able to rework the school's vision statements to add clarity and focus. We are honored to be a part of this ministry opportunity. Here is what CISP stands for:

Vision – a noun
Students who are followers of Jesus among the nations expressing their faith by thinking biblically, and loving and serving their communities for Him.

Mission – a verb of HOW we will achieve the vision
CISP provides, from a biblical perspective, an academically excellent and practically oriented education within a loving community.

Core Values – Beliefs that are shared among the stakeholders of an organization and drive the culture of the school
  -Faith in Christ
  -Walking in Truth
  -Grace in community
  -Biblical in worldview
  -Learning for a lifetime 

__________
CISP has a holistic approach to education. That means that we uphold the typical education subjects like Math & History; AND we also value things like Community, Faith, Service, & Character. In addition to teachers emphasizing these things in the classroom, on Wednesdays we have an alternate schedule that facilitates time for chapel and for students to do service projects in the community. We believe that this is an essential part of education.

On our first wednesday of the school year, we had an assembly. Here are a couple of pictures:

-Matt

Homeroom Adventures

Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich have 6 kids!

No, we are not expecting sextuplets. Sorry to disappoint you.

You may have seen a (more normal-looking) picture similar to this one before, in one of my previous newsletters. This picture from last school year is of this year's eighth grade class. As you can see, they are quite the bunch! Because of some scheduling issues, Matt and I are co-homeroom teachers of these students. I cover homeroom Monday/Thursday, Matt Tuesday/Friday, and both of us on Wednesday.

These kids love:

-drama (they are always begging for drama/skit type projects)

-food (they also have enjoyed culture presentations involving food)

-friends

-music

-history

-purple hair

-their different national backgrounds (New Zealand, Czech, American, Scottish. Oh yeah- and Texan. Oh, those Texans.)

-and more....

In homeroom devotions this year, Matt and I are looking forward to sharing God's greatness with them. Each week, we will focus on one attribute/name of God. We are excited to do this using scripture and music, because things learned through studying God and meditating on his character will never cease to have value, no matter what stage of life these young people are in.

This week's focus:

God as Creator. We meditated on Psalm 104 this morning. Read it for yourself!

Čau!

-Kate

A Verbal Snapshot

"Good morning class..."

Scattered voices: "Good morning Miss Suffern..."

-Teacher raises her eyebrow-

"oh! oh! ......Good morning Mrs. Ulrich..."

-That's more like it-

We are enjoying spending time with our students, inside the classroom and outside of it. Please pray for them with us!

-Kate

Youth Praha

Our ministry begins!  This post is the first of a 3 part series on the kickoff of the CISP (Christian International School of Prague) where we teach, our involvement with ICP (the Christian International Church of Prague), and a youth ministry called Youth Praha, the leadership of which we are joining.  The posts will go in the order that we gain pictures, so today we start with Youth Praha (Praha means Prague in Czech).

Youth Praha is one of the outreach ministries of ICP.  The ministry demographics are youth from a variety of churches, schools, and cultural backgrounds, including Czech, grades 6-12 and leaders from a variety of churches and cultural backgrounds.  We both feel that being involved in this ministry will greatly enhance our ministry at the school since at least half of our school students come out on Friday nights to Youth Praha.  We are excited to be able to connect with our students outside the classroom!  This Friday night, Matt enjoyed supporting the ministry by leading the game time.

Crazy Game:

Please pray that our involvement will enhance our ministry at the school and vice-versa.  Also, pray for the youth and the leadership as we mourn the loss of a very influential youth leader who returned to the States.

Hearing the Word of God:

Settling In

We have now been in Prague for 2 weeks!  Our time has been spent settling in and working to prepare the school for classes.  Here are some pictures of our work at the school and a Birthday Party for Kate which we hosted at our new place.

Painting: Kate is excited to have a blue geography classroom thanks to Matt and Garrett! ...we considered painting continents on the walls!  (Just kidding, though that would be cool)

Moving Books: ...lots of books...

Kate's B-Day: Mission Accomplished- buy a whole cake from the "cukrárna" (sugar shop) using broken Czech and hand signals.  Yeah!

Update: We successfully applied for Kate's visa renewal!

Prayer:
-that Kate's visa application would be received & processed favorably
-Our support raising.  We are only at 78% of our Budget for the next 2 years.  Please join our team if you are able!
-Other new and returning teacher's transportation, visas, & support

Leaving Early!

Prague, here we come!

We?

-Matt & Kate were finally married on July 16!

Early?

-The Lord has miraculously worked out the details for us to leave for Prague several weeks early!  We are now departing on Tuesday, August 2- tickets booked.  This was not our plan, but it is clear to us that it is God's plan.

Prayer?

-Please pray for us as we make this transition.

Support?

-We are still in need of financial support- especially monthly pledges.

Getting Oriented

This week, TeachBeyond orientation has been a blessing to us (Matt & Kate) as we prepare to teach at CISP:

-Amazing fellowship
-Testimonies of God's work
-Cross-cultural preparation
-Personal Growth
-Connecting with CISP teachers
-Understanding third culture kids
-Joining a team dedicated to changing the world
-Prayer

Here is a powerful testimony of Christian discipleship works that was shared by a fellow missionary:

A pastor, speaking at an event, gave 2 elderly gentlemen the challenge of physically touching as many people in the crowd of 2,500 as they could within 30 seconds.  Stopwatch starts.  Nobody has ever seen these men move so fast.  Time's up.  "Stand up if you were touched."  Impressive.  Many stand; mostly on the sides and isles, no one in the balcony.

A second time the 2 men were given the task.  This time they were instructed to only touch 4 people each within the 30sec time frame.  But, everyone they touch is allowed to touch 4 more people, who can each touch 4 more, and so on.  Off they go with some strategy; one makes a b-line for the balcony. Time's up.  "Stand if you were touched."  Everyone stands- every stadium seat in the entire place making the "tha-thump" sound.  Hearts are inspired as the realize the significance of the analogy.

This is how Christian discipleship works according to Matthew 28:18-20.  It is about investing in a few and giving them the same Biblical charge to disciple others.  This is one way we plan to make disciples in Prague; inside and outside the classroom.  This is how we can fulfill God's purposes wherever we are located, whatever we are doing.  Who are your 4 people?

Prague-ress

New letter update on my preparation for the mission field.

click here to view and download

Time Czech!

The below article was written for the church newsletter outlining our upcoming mission work.  For a downloadable version click here.  To support us financially please fill out and mail in this form.  To join our prayer team, email mulrich@teachbeyond.org.

The Perfect Universe

Job perks.  About a month ago I had the privilege of meeting and filming Dr. Hugh Ross, astronomer, pastor, and founder of Reasons to Believe.  In his lecture at GCC, Hugh highlights how his research proves that God is a personal God who created the universe exactly the way it needed to be for us to exist and be prepared for heaven.  I have been intrigued by Ross since studying him in my Science, Faith, and Technology class as a GCC student.  Note, that I don't necessarily agree with every theological statement in this video, but don't strongly disagree either- his evidence is compelling.  My point in posting this is simply to show those who have time to watch that God is amazing!!!

Why the Universe is the Way it Is- Dr. Hugh Ross

The Next Step

My life is currently in the midst of many big transitions.  Throughout the process, God has been working to draw me closer to him, help me grow to be a better leader, and to prepare for a life of ministry.

Transition #1: I'm getting married!  A surprise to trip to Praha ended in an engaged Matt and Kate.  We have big plans in the works for many to celebrate with us on July 16th, 2011.

Transition #2: I'm going into full-time ministry!  God has opened the door for me to teach school at the Christian International School of Prague.  I will join their staff as the Information Technology teacher starting this fall.  This process begins now as a move forward to raise an additional $1600 per month in pledged support.  Online donations can be made here.  Inquire for other methods.

I would love to meet with you to share more about the school and my vision for ministry!

Commitment

part 3... the third C of ministry...

Commitment- continually acting on conviction that is greater than circumstances.

Daniel 6:10 ESV
"When Daniel knew that the document had been signed he went up to his house where he had windows in his upper changer open toward Jerusalem.  He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously."

Daniel set a pattern with his life that modeled a committed relationship to God from his youth.  Nothing was going to deter him from acting on this conviction- even the threat of a violent death (see context).  This should be our first priority of commitment- to be a committed follower of Christ.

Other things that a Christian is called to be committed to:

Marriage, family, a church, and community; prayer, worship, and reading God's word; purity, love, a job, and friendships; etc.

Courage

part 2...the second C of ministry...

Courage- experiencing genuine fear and pressing forward anyway.  Godly leadership requires courage.

Most fears are related to a desire to be comfortable, certain, or in control.  We run from physical and emotional pain to try to stay comfortable.  We always want to know everything so that we can be certain about a decision or the world around us.  We are not satisfied with contributing, but desire to control things so that they are just the way we like them.  Objective attention to advertising shows that most ads attempt to increase ones desire for these things so that people buy their product to help satisfy their desire.  This is our world.  To be courageous is not just for warriors on the battlefield.  It is for those who want to live a purposeful everyday life in modern western culture.

To be successful requires having courage in the face of failure, opposition, pain, and criticism.  Becoming a Christian does not alleviate these challenges, but enhances them.  Moreover, being a Christian provides purpose, meaning, and motivation for overcoming.  To top it off, God himself lives inside us to empower us to step forward in faith.  This takes place in everyday interaction and major life decisions. 

"Be on your guard;

stand firm in the faith;

be men of courage;

be strong.

Do everything in love."   (1Cor 16:13-14)

Confidence

This blog is the first of a 3-part series on the 3 C's of my calling in ministry.  Through my various ministry engagements, these things have proven to be the backbone of how I encourage youth.  I've found this simplification to be a helpful way to categorize the vast web of ministry.

Confidence- complete trust in what is true.  I am confident in my identity in Christ Jesus.

My inspiration for this C comes from Daniel 3:16-18.  These men are so confident in God that they trust God with their lives (literally) as they take a stand for truth in face of ultimate opposition.  Mature faith is marked by a confidence in Godly identity. 

My experience has been that most people really don't know who they are.  Thus, their life is devoted to jumping from one idea, philosophy, religion, job, sport, style of clothing, image, etc to another in hopes of discovering meaning.  God is the objective standard of truth.  We cannot hope to alter that with a whim of the moment or our best reasoning.  God's truth is found in the Bible.  It says of God's people,"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2Cor 5:17)  "I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil 1:6)  Do you believe this?  If you don't know Christ, who are you?

Generation iY

There are good books, great books, and then there's the best book I've read to date on how to assess, lead, motivate, and minister to today's youth culture: Generation iY by Tim Elmore.  I put this book in the must read category for parents, educators, youth pastors, and employers.

theological confusion gone public- my comments

Key word- public.  As long there are people, there will be confusion.

I have been loosely following the 'Rob Bell debate' since it started.  For awhile it felt like speculative Bell bashing.  While many good points have been made, things have reached a new level of honesty now that his book, Love Wins, has actually been released.  Here is an adequate book review.  Between this review and Bell's statements in this interview it seems to me that Bell is making a lot of assumptions about the character of God that he hopes to be true based on past hurt and a shallow understanding of the Bible.  I do not recommend this book.

I'm thankful that God will always be bigger than whoever happens to be in the spotlight.  I've been blown away recently by reading through the gospels about how Jesus never feels the need to defend himself, even in the face of his biggest critiques.  He was not reactionary, but intentionally answered honest questions.  While He allowed other people to make assumptions, He only spoke the truth.

I'm also thankful that God Wins b/c God Won when Jesus rose from the dead.  Love is one of many attributes of God.  God is Love; he is also Just, Righteous, Holy, True, etc.  These are not in contradiction, but show us an all-powerful God.  He deserves our worship.

If you want to know the truth, READ THE BIBLE first before reading what other people say about it!!!