In the small town of Milovice, about thirty minutes outside Prague, we encounter the thriving congregation Jesus House. In February, I finally had the opportunity to visit this remarkable place.
Milovice may be small, but it is one of the fastest-growing towns in the Czech Republic. During the Cold War, it was home to Central Europe’s largest Soviet military base, housing around 100,000 soldiers and their families. Today, the town is undergoing significant transformation and redevelopment.
Jesus House began as an outpost from Livets Ord in Prague but officially became an independent church in November 2024. The entrepreneurial Obrecht family pioneered the work, and their daughter Janette has increasingly taken over leadership from her parents, Marcel and Stephanie.
Janette is marked by a compassionate love for both church members and seekers. She has a special gift for reaching young people and is frequently invited to speak at major youth conferences. She has also been a speaker at Hennes Helg, Livets Ord’s women’s conference in Uppsala.
The congregation in Milovice strongly identifies with Livets Ord and our mission. Their vision is expressed in the words: “Go – Reach – Baptize – Teach,” based on Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20. Perhaps this is why it feels so natural to run Livets Ord’s Bible School there, with 51 students and visiting teachers from Uppsala. The students come from various churches and denominations across the Czech Republic, as well as a few from neighboring Slovakia. They are motivated, focused, and enthusiastic about the teaching that equips them for ministry and a life of faith.
The congregation in Milovice strongly identifies with Livets Ord and our mission. Their vision is expressed in the words: “Go – Reach – Baptize – Teach,” based on Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20. Perhaps this is why it feels so natural to run Livets Ord’s Bible School there, with 51 students and visiting teachers from Uppsala. The students come from various churches and denominations across the Czech Republic, as well as a few from neighboring Slovakia. They are motivated, focused, and enthusiastic about the teaching that equips them for ministry and a life of faith.
A year ago, around 35 people attended the services. Today, that number has doubled. On the Sunday I preached, 85 people were present, including ten first-time visitors—three of whom chose to receive Jesus.
Janette continues to describe their mission:
“We equip God’s people with His Word and lead them into spiritual and personal growth and a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Through teaching and active involvement in ministry, we help people discover their calling and gifts so they can serve others. We strive to have a positive impact on our community, clearly share the gospel, and be a testimony of living faith. The fruit of this ministry is the planting of new churches.”
The warmth of their vision becomes even more evident as Janette shares about their engagement in the city:
“We are involved in supporting various organizations in town, working with youth, people with disabilities, and Ukrainian refugees. We also persuaded the city council to build a skatepark for young people, which is currently under construction. In addition, an exciting new door has opened for us into the city prison. We believe we will be able to make a real difference there.”
Personally, I left Milovice deeply encouraged after meeting both the congregation and the Bible school students. I believe this could grow into a vibrant youth movement, leading to new church plants. The Czech Republic has experienced powerful revivals in its history—and today there are believers who carry an expectation for a new one.
