I got it during the Josiah Venture missionary conference (JV) with the topic Search & Rescue. Till that point I had gone through life with the attitude “If I stumble across somebody and think it would be good to tell them the gospel, I will to that. And of course, during the outreach camps, etc.” The shift of my thinking happened…

September 2012 when I understood that The Lord searches and rescues and He wants to use His people (Mt.28, Lk.19:40). People like me, people who are searching and not only waiting whether they stumble across someone or not… It is claimed that we have to repeat certain activity 21 days in a row before it becomes natural to us.
I had decided to try something for one year, at least once a week: 1, To have a spiritual conversation at least with one person. 2, I will tell them the gospel. 3, I will challenge them to make a specific step that would move them closer to the Lord. This is the promise I made to the Lord. Even at the cost that I will have to go to the streets. Oh, how I don’t like these street evangelizations. But the promise is promise. After few weeks of experience with “Search and rescue” I realized that the greatest blessing it brings to me. I can see that God has been acting. I don’t have to wait for the door open to share the good news. He has invited me/us to open them. There are several simplified and shortened stories and experiences for better understanding of this new paradigm. Names were changed on purpose. To search and rescue is the challenge for all of us who belong to Him – Lk.15, Mt.28.19. Will you join?

—– the 2nd part
December 18th – 23rd –I don’t trust women…
Fero is my age, and he got married twice. First time, it wasn’t a good choice; this second time, it’s been a better marriage – they have three kids. I was happy that even people my age are able to have a meaningful conversation during the train ride and not only to stare at nothing. The process of sharing was time consuming. I noticed that when I talk to older people I have tendency to beat around the bush. Finally, in our conversation we got to Ethics, God, the story of my conversion and the change of life direction because of Christ, we also got to talk about hope we and the world have in Him. However, I didn’t manage to challenge him. There was something in me that hindered me from asking my new friend what he thought about all this. I couldn’t agree with his opinion that women can’t be trusted. He agreed with the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. I had a feeling that even though we talked about so many things, I never articulated the challenge of Christ. God, please, help me. Have mercy on Fero as well.

December 11th – 17th –And will I understand that?
On my way to Presov I talked to a law student. She is in her fourth year of study, and she used to go to church but she was disappointed. She never read the Bible. Some time ago she went to a church again, but she doesn’t understand why the priest manipulates people so much. She told me that he was talking about the grapes that when are attached on the wine and when they fall off, they die. The wine (John 15), according to him, was church providing life for a man. She felt it was an unfair accusation from that person (for she left the church). After I told her my story about walking with Christ, I gave her a copy of the New Testament. She told me: “And will I understand that?” I was surprised by her low self-esteem even though she has been studying law for four years now. “Don’t worry, you will!” He reveals His truths to the one who seeks Him (Matt 7:8).

December 3rd – 10th –The challenge to get beyond the horizon
I met Tomáš again (to read about previous meetings see my notes from October 1st-7th). The Lord answered my prayers. Tomáš got a job. He is able to deal with his brokenness better. However, it is still not ideal. God was with us while we were talking, and therefore we got to the core of the matter. I challenged him “to get beyond the horizon”. To explain it intelligibly, I would say that there are moments in our lives when we get stuck in such a way that I cannot move on. Something (some sin, lie we believe in, bondage we unwillingly got into…) keeps our minds busy and overloads our “processors”. This is what happened to Tomáš. My challenge I gave him was to meet again and pray for revealing and knowing of that what drains him, and also pray to know Christ’s perspective and His healing. He agreed. I am waiting for a specific date suggestion from him.

November 26th – December 2nd –The clash of two different planets
After the ice hockey practice, I went with the guys to the pub. What a pity that Rado wasn’t able to go with me, because I have known him for a while and we both are offensive players. There were also three new guys who just recently joined us. Quite good players. I cannot say the same about the level of morality. “I’m so excited about the tournament in January,” said one of them with a smile on his face. “Last time I told my honey that the tournament ends on Sunday. And on Saturday, after the match was over, I found a girl and we spent the whole night together. I was so tired afterwards. And when I came home, my wife was sorry for me that I was so tired…” That night, I wasn’t able to say a word. Clearly, we live in two totally different worlds. What we sow, we will also reap! This is true in both of these worlds even though they are so distant from each other. The time spent with them was a challenge for me. How to react? Please, give me some advice.

November 19th – 25th –If I will be good enough, I will get to heaven. At least I hope so…
Today, I gave a lift to my neighbor to the city center. It’s not that I like him so much, but he somehow got into my car, so what I was supposed to do. He is a little bit weird, he criticizes our apartment building keeper (and that’s me), especially when some things break, and someone needs to take the screwdriver into their hands and start fixing them. I will cut the long story short. The older gentleman is talkative, and therefore it is so easy to talk about spiritual things. He doesn’t go to church, but he is a great, true Catholic. When I asked him about what he thinks about how one can get into heaven, he answered: “When I do good things! If I will be good enough, I will get to heaven. At least I hope so…” What a great opportunity to continue in the conversation using the authority of the Scripture. But this will be done during the next meeting.

November 12th – 18th –Too busy with too earthly matters
This week something hindered me. Even though I prayed for the opportunity, it didn’t come, and I too was passive – I didn’t get up and didn’t go out to search for it. The week was short because our family travelled to Selah for a vacation. Yet I think that I wasn’t consistent enough to go out and share the good news. I miss it a lot, and I know it was a waste also because of some other person who could have heard the gospel. A week without sharing about the hope in Him was empty for me.

—– the 1st part
Nov 5 – Nov 11, 2012 –He was supposed to know, but he did not
Yesterday I talked to a restaurant owner. He has pretty interested story to share. He used to study at the Catholic seminary. After one year he came to the understanding he does not want to continue. Then he was among the monks. The same story. Today he is the businessman. He did not have an answer to my question: “What will happened with you after you die?” It is pretty difficult question for sure. Then I opened the Scripture and I tried to find the answer for him. My challenge for him was – Confess that you are the sinner, believe that Jesus died for your sins and invite Jesus into your life as your personal Saviour and the Lord. This, maybe next week I will learn what is going on in his life.

Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2012 –Negotiations with the road co-owner
The day before yesterday a neighbor visited me. Two years ago we sold him a part of the road (several square meters) right next to the TCK property. It cost a lot of money (we weren’t interested in selling that, so we asked for a really high amount of money because it was a strategic road, but we found the agreement with the buyer. At the end we sold him just a share, it means that we are co-owners). At that time the buyer told me that he looked up on the internet what we do, and he liked it and that was why he was willing to pay so much for that small property. It was a kind of support raising. On Monday, we dealt with some business issues (taking care of the leaves on the road), we also talked about the state of our society and possible solutions to that. It was a great opportunity to share the gospel with him and share my story with him. And because we were in my office, I felt I was free to say whatever I wanted. While I was sharing the gospel, I realized that the bridge illustration is too schematic for adult people who grew up without the Scripture. I also felt that I got a little bit nervous and during the gospel presentation I didn’t give enough space to Mr. doctor (a pharmacist). But anyway, I’m glad that I was able to explain him the gospel and I’ve been thinking what the next step is. Maybe LOOK (evangelistic study)? The other thing I also realized is that there is a great need to have ongoing connection with the Holy Spirit. Without Him the conversation has tendencies to stop or fade out, or become unnatural. I pray for what I should do next with our neighbor.

Oct 22-28, 2012 –Hooray home, or my journey to Paris
A 36-year old lawyer called Filis from Hamburg sat down next to me. She looks at least a ten years younger than she was. Her roots are in Turkey. Her parents moved to Germany to find a job and because children of emigrants can go to German schools, Filip got a really good education and she has been enjoying her life. Originally she was an atheist, but today she believes in some non-personal energy/power. Even though her roots are in Islam, her parents never practiced the religion. I had the feeling my explanation of the gospel and a challenge to get to know the personal God, Jesus Christ was for Filip the most understandable and most powerful so far in my gospel sharing experience. She heard not only my story but also the gospel. I challenged her to respond to Jesus today and ask Him to reveal Himself to her as a personal God who is the God of the Bible. I pray that she has courage to do that. What I learned from this meeting is that having enough time for God’s things, everything is better, especially if it is connected with the practical side of help, ministry, service or getting to know someone.

Oct 15-21, 2012 –Towards Josiah Venture Board Meeting
The leadership of Josiah Venture had invited me for the Josiah Venture board meeting (I’ve been a member of the board for two years), and that is the reason why I wasn’t able to participate at very fruitful Poprad Exit Tour. Sitting on a plane heading to Chicago, I was sitting between two women (both of them over 50 years old). It is always good to sit between two people because if one of them is not interested in the conversation, you can always talk to the other person next to you. Another advantage of travelling by plane is that the person you are talking to, cannot run anywhere, and also that during the taking off and landing people cannot use their electronic devices, or headphone, etc. And you have a plenty of time. So, now let’s get to the point. On my left, there was a woman who didn’t speak English. On my right, there was an American, a religious woman, but I hadn’t known that at that point. Milica is from Serbia and is a university teacher in Zagreb, and was travelling to visit her son and his family. She believes in everything and nothing at the same time, in energy and positive inner power of a person, maybe even re-incarnation; it’s difficult to say. I took my Ipad and draw the story of the salvation. We were talking in our mother tongues, and the atmosphere got more relaxed. I challenged her to search for Him because it matters what happens with the person after they die. It was very kind and warm-hearted eight-hour travelling. We also had fun by filling in entrance applications to the USA. The journey is merrier, more comfortable and makes more sense this way.
The taxi driver in Chicago was a Muslim, he believed in the good inside a man. I explained him the story of salvation the best I could. Because it was an older man, soon to be retired, it is difficult to change the direction of his life especially when he is in the context of a different religion. I pray that God has mercy over Him. I need to study more about Muslims.

Oct 8 – 14, 2012 –Exit Tour – Fall 2012
This week was full of getting new contacts and sharing the gospel. We organized Exit Tour in Bardejov. I was interpreting the lecture of our brother Thomas Graumann (81 years old gentleman). He shared the gospel with the students daily, and usually he had one more lecture in the afternoon for local churches. It was called A Twice-Rescued Child. On the first day, I was talking to Maťo. It happened in the dining room. First I tried to talked to a few other guys, but then a guy on a wheel-chair came there, and I told myself that at least he wasn’t going to run from me. After hearing his story (when he was eight, a car ran over him when he was riding his bike), I told him my story with the gospel presentation. When I asked him where he thought where he was in his relationship with God, he pointed to the border closer to God. He understood what he needed to do in order to get to Him. I challenged him not to wait and before he even goes to sleep, to invite Jesus into his life. Later I told to myself that I should have challenged him right there in the dining room. However, I believe that God has his plan and invitation for Maťo as well.
During the first day of Exit Tour, 35 students stayed in the classroom during the break when we asked them whether they are interested in spiritual things. They heard the gospel and I supposed they prayed the prayer of salvation in their hearts. At the end of the week, there were 185 of them. Poor David (the youth leader in Bardejov), what is he going to do with them now? On the third day of Exit Tour, Ed (my colleague from TCK and a missionary) came to me with a guy called Martin. He thought it would be better if someone would explain him the gospel in Slovak (Ed is from the USA). Martin came with a question and a desire to get closer to God. There is no better desire than this! I shared the gospel with him, and we went through several Bible passages concerning the eternal life, forgiveness of sins and acceptance of God’s grace. He repeated the prayer of salvation after me and personally asked the Lord Jesus to come into his life. He continued in the prayer himself and said this: “Good God, please, help me to earn the eternal life.” Well, after hearing that, I had to take the Scripture into my hands again and point to him that the Bible says that salvation is the free gift – Rom 6.23, John 1.12, Rom 10.13, 1 John 5.24, John 20.31. We prayed for the second time. Martin later asked me: “Is it really that simple? No one at our school knows about this. We have to work to earn it…” Bardejov was awesome. One high school director came to ask us to come to their school as well. Unfortunately, we were fully booked for that week. So he cancelled the lessons for two classes, and their students came to the lectures were providing at a different school. I could have written down much more but I am standing while travelling by a train and it is quite uncomfortable after a long ride from Rockford. I will explain that later.

Oct 1 – 7, 2012 –The Town Square in Zilina
At the square I met Tomáš. He returned back from England approximately two months ago. Totally disappointed and broken. His girlfriend had broken up with him. Even though they had promised him to, they hadn’t promoted him at his work. And that’s why he was searching for a job in Slovakia. He got very little sleep and didn’t know what to do with life. I asked him (knowing that he comes from a Christian family) whether he had already given these things and his life to the Lord. He said yes, so I tried to lead him through specific key questions and a decision for Christ. The result of that said a lot about his deep disappointment about life, life with the Lord included. We didn’t have enough time, but it would be good to explore the issue of Christ’s lordship in his life, and then seven basic areas where Satan tends to get into in the life of a Christian, and maybe even do some more serious counseling. What a pity that Tomáš wasn’t able to go to Exit Tour with us, even though he wanted to. But on the other hand, it was good that he was able to find a job. It is very good for one’s psychological hygiene. I’ve been thinking it would be good to continue in meeting him; I think it’s quite a good idea. I still have Tomáš’ contact info.

Sept 24 – 30, 2012 –Search and Rescue – Looking for
I went to the city center on purpose. As I already mentioned, I tried to find Miloš, but I didn’t succeed. I hoped that his colleague would be interested in conversation but he had to define prices for around a thousand books, so he wasn’t able to concentrate on me/the conversation. Then I met car dealers at Aupark. What they told me is that it is difficult to stand there whole day long and have no idea what’s the difference between the cars they have in offer (diesel vs. petrol engines). I had a conversation with a Hyundai seller. It was going fine until he asked me what I was doing. I was slow in my response and I wasted the opportunity. I didn’t know how to get back to the spiritual stuff. From one point of view it seems that it was wasted time but it wasn’t so. I learned not to wait and go straight to the topic. Maybe next time I will be wiser, faster and more sensitive to the voice of His Spirit.
While I was at the doctor’s waiting room, I met a friend I knew at the university, Janon. He is a businessman, a Christian, a nominal Lutheran with the philosophy: “I will not give anything to this government, because the government will not give anything to me. In practice it means that I have a house, a few cars and I pay no taxes.” I managed to tell him my testimony. He called it the restart, something that is given only to a few. I wish I had more time to explain to him that God wants to restart (find) also him and all of those who care about that. Maybe next time. Our city is a small one.

Sept 17-23, 2012 –The Week I Started
I met Miloš at a book story. At that time he was a shop assistant at Panta Rhei in Aupark Mall in Zilina. When I was praying for where to go, I understood that a good place to talk is a part of the bookstore with religious literature. I started the conversation by asking the shop assistant what young people read about concerning spiritual things. After approximately 15 minutes the two of us were sitting on the carpet. Miloš and I talked about life, his break up with his fiancé, situation at home, his Buddhist activities, etc. Christians and Christianity had disappointed him. I shared the gospel with him during the conversation, and he kind of liked it, it made sense to him, he didn’t oppose those ideas. But unfortunately, I had not enough strength in myself to be personal enough to share with him what would happen if the Lord Jesus will not become His Lord. This conversation took about an hour or so. I invited him to study with me a four-lesson study called “LOOK” about spiritual things, but he told me that he was about to quit the job and he didn’t know what he would do, but maybe his colleague would be interested. I told him I would come before he quitted the job in the bookstore when I would be in Zilina again. So I went there after I returned from JV conference and finished some tasks in my office, but he wasn’t there. He had probably left sooner. I gave my phone number to his former colleague and asking him to give it to Miloš. He hasn’t responded yet. What a pity. I hope that sooner or later there will be some Christian who would reflect Christ for Miloš. I have to faster in follow up next time.

If you read it all, congratulations! Search and rescue! He still has power to save.
Blessings
Peter Hrubo