One frigid winter day in 2011, three Christian brothers set off to a small Eastern European town to begin doing full-time ministry. After living and working among the people they spent years praying for, the brothers quickly immersed themselves in the community and began meeting the needs of the people there as they shared the Gospel at every turn.

To engage the younger generation, they spoke to high school students, launched a Christian children’s book club, and began summer camps. To support those battling addiction, they offered friendship and made connections to a Christian rehab facility, where once addicts exchanged the bondage of substance abuse for belief and freedom in Christ. Within two years, God softened many hearts to see the light of Christ, and they began their congregation. Not long after, ICM joined forces with the community to fund a church building and Hope Center to help them accomplish their evangelistic and ministry goals — building upon the work the brothers had already begun.

With their new resources, they expanded their outreach efforts by strategically putting on Christmas events and intentionally creating spaces to meet with nonbelievers. One of the new spaces they are using to prompt Gospel conversations is their playground, which was constructed alongside the church building. “It draws so many families and children that we otherwise wouldn’t come into contact with, and we’ve seen attitudes about the church be shifted greatly,” said the local partner. “Thanks to this simple, yet effective ministry tool, there were many new kids at our Christmas outreach event,” he said.

This European church family continues to witness God work in mighty ways as they steward the gifts He’s entrusted to them. “The Hope Center has been a catalyst for bringing the community together — it’s a place of good works, great atmosphere, and wonderful meetings that bear much fruit,” said a church member. “We keep praying that God would use the small things we have to make all of His big plans for this town come to life!”

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