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There
are 32 assemblies in the Slovak Republic. They divide into two
groups: 22 fully-fledged assemblies and 10 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 Slovakia began at the turn of the twentieth century, long
before Slovakia existed as an independent nation. Czechoslovakia,
which was divided to form Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 1993,
did not itself 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). |
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Camp at Nitianske Rudno 2006 |
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. Fredrick Butcher from
the UK, Michael Sadlo and Jan Siracky were greatly used in Slovakia. This was alongside Frantisek Kresina, Jan Zeman and Josef Mrozek
(Senior), who were more widely used in the whole of pre-war Czechoslovakia
and among Czech, Slovak and Polish speaking minorities in many
parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. |
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This led to the foundation
being laid for the assembly work in what are now the Czech Republic,
Poland and Slovakia. 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 liberalize 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. |
 Discussion group at the camp led
by Michael Lauko |
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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 Slovakia, particularly
the Tatra Region and worked alongside the believers seeking to
help and support wherever they could. |
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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.
New doors for service have been opened 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 Slovak and Czech Republic. |
 Discussion group at the camp led
by Karol Szocs |
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Czech Republic |
Hungary |
Poland |
Romania |
Ukraine |
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