Progress Report – 2023 – February

„O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things”
(Matt 13:31).

This opening line of the Psalm 98 aptly catches the February vibe in the Center for Christian Education in Martin, Slovakia. The entire school, students, and teachers were singing to the Lord as they practiced for the anniversary worship service on June 29, 2023. As we began it sounded more like a joyful noise but after several rehearsals progress was heard! Our good friend Jan Gilbertson, the former Music and Worship director at the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN, was the key factor behind this progress. For almost two weeks we were blessed to be part of her marvelous music mission in our school. Her passion for Christian music was so contagious that even teenage boys with their broken voices sang hymns like “Amazing Grace” or “Almighty Fortress”. The singing brought much happiness and joy to our school.

In February the Lutheran Academy organized an Open Door Day for prospective high school students. Our peer ministry students chaperoned 77 candidates and their parents who had a chance to experience the atmosphere of our school, see all our facilities, and meet our teachers. Our school also hosted the Martin Model United Nations Conference. Over three days high-school students throughout Slovakia were in role of UN delegates discussing world hot issues like human rights, global warming, and war conflicts. The significance of this Martin conference was endorsed by a visit of Mr. Martin Nesirky, the head of the UN Information Service in Vienna.

Our junior Andrea Bačeová won second place in a writing competition organized by a Member of European Union Parliament. As an award, she visited the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, France, and participated in a discussion about the EU future.

We have continued our ministry for the Ukrainian refugees in Martin supporting the Martin community centers. Natalia Kacianová, one of our student pastors, also continued her ministry teaching Ukrainian children the Bible stories. Her Ukrainian is getting better every week as she shares the gospel with her Ukrainian students. We also plan to increase our help for Ukrainians in Ukraine, especially those in the war zones.

Dear friends and partners, there are many more marvelous happenings at the CCE this month. Every month we have numerous reasons to sing praises to the Lord. Let us continue making a joyful noise to the King so when the 25th Anniversary celebration on June 29, 2023, comes, we will be ready to join our voices in one monumental chorus.

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