There are 54 assemblies in the Czech Republic. The Czechs divide these into two groups: 26 fully-fledged assemblies and 28 preaching points that are dependent on help from the larger assemblies. This stems from regulations under communism, which determined the status of individual companies of believers. The work in the Czech Republic began at the turn of the twentieth century, long before the Czech Republic existed (it came into being in 1993). Czechoslovakia itself did not come into existence until 1918. It was formed as a result of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and included Czechs, Slovaks, the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians).

During the interwar years, while the new country's leaders were preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, a number of outstanding servants of God worked among the different groups with great success. Frantisek Kresina, Jan Zeman and Josef Mrozek (Senior) were involved in powerful gospel efforts which met spiritual needs of many. This led to the foundation being laid for the assembly work in what are now the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. We met with Maria Kresinova (left) in the early years of our ministry and were greatly impressed by all she told us. She was a woman who had an amazing prayer life, who regularly remembered all involved in the Lord's work. After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence.

In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalise Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face". Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. Despite this, the assemblies continued to evangelise and maintain the testimony, through one to one contacts, a regular though prescribed pattern of meetings and conferences. A number of believers, the majority of whom are still in assembly fellowship today, were the mainstay of a very effective clandestine literature work. It was during this period that those associated with what is now the Philadelphia Trust visited the country and worked alongside the believers seeking to help and support wherever they could.

With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution". On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. This has opened up new doors for service and we have sought the Lord’s leading as to the works we should be engaged in. The International Camp work is based in the Czech Republic.