Called to mobilize new nations

Roman Lacho and Jozef Brenkus are pioneers in a growing movement that recruits and trains missionaries and tentmakers from the eastern parts of Europe.

“People from Eastern Europe can go to places where others cannot,” says Roman Lacho and Jozef Brenkus. Tentmaking and business as mission are key strategies when Slovakian churches now mobilize for missions.

Three years ago, Brenkus and Lacho returned to Slovakia from long-term ministries abroad. They belong to the same denomination, but the calling form God brought them in different directions. Brenkus went east to Asia, whereas Lacho went west to America.

Similar re-entry challenges knit them close together after they both returned to Slovakia with their families in 2018. In the weeks and months following their return they both also sensed a new calling from God: They were to mobilize new missionaries from Slovakia.

“We did a Kairos course in November the same year as we returned. The course made us understand that God wanted us in a new role as mobilizers and that he would use us to stir something in the hearts of people here,” says Josef Brenkus.

Unknown term

Eastern Europe has for decades been a target area for Christian missions. The nations in the region have been seen as receivers rather than senders of missionaries.

“The word “mobilizer” that we started to use about ourselves, was totally unknown. Some people thought we were talking about a car part,” smiles Brenkus.

The two of them have already seen fruits of their work. One couple has left Slovakia to serve God elsewhere. Others are in the “pipeline”.

Tentmaking Today meets the two during a GO Equipped tentmaking course a 40 minutes’ drive outside of Slovakia’s capital, Bratislavia. Due to covid-restrictions some people had to cancel their participation last minute. Still 10 persons are taking the course on-site. An equal number of people follow the course online.

“Several of the families at this course are considering moving abroad as well,” shares Roman Lacho.

Movement birthed in prayer

He points out that many Christians in Slovakia have been praying for missionaries to be sent from the churches there.

“We can harvest from the hard work that many people have done in prayer,” says Lacho.

Similar missions’ movement to the one in Slovakia are emerging also in other East European nations.

“It looks like God is creating a movement that does not recognize national or denominational borders. God brings together people from different nations and churches,” says Brenkus.

“We will most likely not see thousands of people going from the region. Our dream is to mobilize 300. We do however believe that people from here can take the gospel to places where others cannot go. Eastern Europe has good connections to nations that not so many others are friends with. People from here can be spearheads that bring Jesus to these countries,” believes Lacho.

The collaboration with other Eastern European nations is also a clear answer to prayer.

“After the first Kairos-course we prayed that Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia would send missionaries together. Now we can see that it is already starting to happen,” rejoice the two.

Key strategies

They both believe that tentmaking and business as mission will be key strategies when people from this region engage in missions.

“Slovakia has traditionally not been a sending nation. Thus, we should also not try to send in traditional ways. Sending businesspeople and professionals has not been in focus in traditional missions. The concept is however deeply rooted in the bible and very useful in today’s world,” says Roman Lacho.

The GO Equipped course held in the beginning of November was the first of its kind in Slovakia. The two mobilizers believe that there will be a need for several such courses in the years to come. They both have a strong desire not only mobilize, but to leave Slovakia again to bring the gospel to new places.

“I believe this is an inner fight for nearly everyone who are engaged in sending others. My wife and I crave for being on the field again, but for now I am sure that God want sus to be here to mobilize, train and send others. It does not matter where you are, but that you are in the center of God’s will and really doing what he asks you to do right now,” says Brenkus.

“I battle with God every day about this,” continues Roman Lacho.

“My wife and I did not want to return to Slovakia but still experienced that he sent us here. We do however have the nations in our hearts. For now, this is a passion that we need to pass on to others. We trust that God is in control, and at the same time we hope that he will send us out again sometime in the future.”