Progress Report – 2026 – March

March was the month of Lent, during which we accompanied Jesus in his Passion. In this story Jesus gives us an example of obedience to God’s will. In the Garden of Gethsemane we find Jesus struggling with his fate, asking God to remove the suffering and death on the cross from him (Mark 14:32–42). However, after three prayers Jesus not only accepts his destiny but also is able to face it with courage, knowing that accepting God’s will is best for him and for the world. Our prayers might not change the circumstances that trouble our hearts, but they can help us find God’s will, accept it, and face it with courage and creativity. “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31b)

Seeking and accepting God’s will is important for all our activities, but it is especially important for teachers. We are grateful for teachers who see their vocation not merely as a profession but as God’s call. Two members of our staff, Ivana Čermáková and Monika Krystýnková, were recognized by the bishop’s office as outstanding teachers from our Lutheran Christian schools in Slovakia. We are glad to have such creative and extraordinary colleagues and wish them God’s blessing for their future careers.

In March we were blessed by a visit from our general bishop, Ivan Eľko, accompanied by two representatives of ELCA Global Mission, Pauliny Dasse and Rachel Eskesen. During the morning of their visit, they participated in one of our school worship services and toured the school. In the afternoon we reflected on our partnership in helping Ukrainians during the refugee crisis (2022–2025) and explored new ways and activities to bring the gospel effectively to people.

This month our school choir had a very fruitful and intensive retreat, rehearsing hymns and songs for the school’s Easter services. For three days, over 40 teenagers not only improved their performance but also built stronger relationships with God and with one another.

Natalia Kacianová, one of our student pastors, launched an equivalent of the Stephen Ministry study program in March. Fourteen new adult students from various professional backgrounds from all over Slovakia will meet monthly for three years to study aspects of pastoral care so they can better minister to needy people in their churches and communities.

In March we held entrance exams for our bilingual high school. Over two days we hosted 168 applicants who completed tests in Slovak, mathematics, and general intellectual ability. They all did their best: Unfortunately lack of extra classrooms and district school policy for this year allows us to admit only 57 students (two classes) to the first grade of our high school in September 2026.

Dear friends and partners, every day God reveals his will to us, and our task is to seek it and fulfill it in our daily lives. At our school we teach this message to students not only through classroom instruction but also through our personal life stories. Over 750 students are introduced to God’s will daily as we carry out our mission. We thank you for your support and prayers and wish you perseverance on your personal journey in finding and fulfilling God’s will.

in His service,