University of Zilina

University of Zilina 

It's pronounced "jah-leena" with a 'J' sound and not a 'Z' sound.  Letters  do not sound sound the same everywhere in the world. Nevertheless the University of Zilina provides tech-nological, economics, management and a limited range of humanities and natural science education at the undergraduate level. Currently, around 13,000 students are enrolled in all forms of study and one of those schools, recently accredited in January 2012, is the Department of Religious Studies, of which the faculty at the Center for Christian Education--where I am serving--are many of the professors and even the Department Chair!

It's amazing. I've never been involved in a place like this community of Lutherans at CCE in Martin, Slovakia. Their education credentials are remarkable: husbands and wives both with full doctorates; brothers and sisters and spouses who are physical therapists,pastors, journalist, computer technologists, orthopedist and surgeons, MBA's,  lawyer, and many, at least 6 couples with children who are infants or less than 7 years old, all share their labors and vision for the sake of shaping a Christian vision in their world.

You can feel the pulse and energy of  a new opportunity. Think of it...most of these young people were the first to go to school and learn English after the Berlin Wall came down.They traveled to America as teenagers and university  students and have a pretty good command of English They created relationships with churches, schools and individuals, and they have nurtured these relationships. The privatization of industry, coupled with electronic communication via the Internet, has allowed this first generation of university graduates to emerge as leaders with special skills. Of course these skills are valued in industry, but their love for Christ leads them to serve in this new venture. Together, they educate children in a loving school, they communicate to skeptical parents the merciful love of Christ, they teach lay members how to serve Christ's people, and they prepare with Bachelor and Master's programs at Zilina, teachers and youth/children leaders for congregations.

Today I visited with two professors and received my assignment, schedule and students as the semester begins. I'm looking forward to the opportunity. The kids--mostly 20-25--are friendly and open, but like any college student, need to be pushed a bit!  I guess instead of reading American Literature in English, they cut the corners and read it in Slovak!