When I think about how KAM should serve the Kingdom of God in the Czech Republic, the image of a vineyard comes to mind. The Lord Jesus used the image of a vineyard or a field in His parables several times. In fact, He primarily used examples from agriculture.

I really wish for KAM not to be like a factory, producing trained youth leaders who produce other leaders. Instead, I imagine that the role of KAM in cooperation with denominations is to prepare the environment for healthy youth growth. “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building” (1. Cor. 3:9 ESV). We are to plow, fertilize, and water. We check to see if any pests or mold are endangering the crop. The vineyard does not belong to KAM, it belongs to our Father; we are to be good stewards and fellow workers. We accomplish this especially (though not only) by regional relationships.

There are various useful tools for work in the vineyard: the evangelism programs like Fusion, EDGE, Camps, EXIT Tour, and others. In addition to these programs, there are related trainings on how to use these tools and how to care for the vineyard. We must never forget that it is “only God, who makes things grow” (1. Cor. 3:7 ESV).

Let us pray together that the vineyard of the youth in our country will be healthy and fertile, and the churches will grow inward and outward. 

We take the above-mentioned image of the vineyard as a broad framework in which we think about the KAM ministry and in which we want to move when setting more definite objectives and priorities. We discussed these with each of the KAM leaders in the six-month ministry evaluations with the ExTeam (December 2021 – January 2022).

In the document Main Priorities for KAM 2022, you may find an overview of the main goals which we want to use to make the described image of the vineyard a reality this year. The goals are structured according to the 4 main objectives of KAM ministry, which we defined a year ago for the 2021-2023 period.

New KAM staff:

• Lucie Holden (Justin’s wife) joined the KAM team. Welcome!
• Vítek Maňásek (before now a Kamak lite) became a full time Kamak. Yeah!
• Jana Martiníková returned to the accounting team for part-time cooperation. We are happy to see her back!
• In February, Dominik Mendrek joined KAM. He will take over Communications management. We wish you a good start!

Leaving KAM staff:

• By the end of February, Jirka Hoffmann is leaving KAM. Wishing you the best as you start in your new role.
• From July 2022, Milan Michalko will continue his work with new churches/“fresh wineskins” outside of KAM.
• Matt and Amy Hartman and Jess Wurzel will return to the United States during May and June. May God be with you in the new season of your life and ministry!

Changes:

• The Rosens left the Camps ministry at the end of January and are now looking for new vision in their ministry.
• Jessica Wurzel also left the Camps ministry at the end of January and is now preparing for her return to the US.
• Pája Bujoková is moving from managing Communications to managing Trainings on March 1st.

For more information about the team, please see the updated Organizational Structure March 2022.

Our missionaries in the USA

• Tyrel Good, Brian Bothwell and Geoff Hammond completed home assignments/exile in the fall. Welcome back to the Czech Republic, everybody!

• August 2021 – February 2022, the Zegans will be in the US (exile).

• The Dicksons are leaving for home assignment in February.

New HR rules and documents

We would like to remind you all that there are newly defined expectations for 2nd culture staff on Home Assignment and Exile:

• Home Assignment (HA): During your HA you may suspend your ministry. If possible, please stay in touch with KAM. Focus on maintaining the main ideas/concepts of ministry, but do not get lost in the details.
  
  
• Exile: During your Exile, devote (ideally) 20+ hours a week to your KAM ministry in the Czech Republic (using online resources).
  
  
• In both cases provide a realistic plan for approval to your uplink and your 2nd culture HR rep (Kevin D.), to whom you’ll also be accountable.

KAM care and support

One of the areas we have been paying attention to lately, and want to keep in mind for the future, is the care and support for the KAM staff. In this next season, we would like to work on harmonizing the KAM and JV systems. We have noticed a difference in expectations on both sides.

At the same time, within the ExTeam, we are dealing with the current HR challenges and suggestions that we get from you. If you have any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to contact Kača Kabut at hr@kam.cz.

This is an overview of all events until the end of the school year that all of the KAM core staff are expected to participate in.

• Dobrá rána/Good morning Family (locally): February 15, April 12, May 24 (or at the time and date agreed upon within the group)
• Dobrá rána/Good morning Info (Zoom): March 1, March 29, May 10, June 7
• KAM Training day: March 15 (Moravia), March 17 (Bohemia)
• KAM Annual Conference (Malenovice): April 26
• JV webinars: March 16, May 18
• JV Spring Conference for 2nd culture: May 4-8
• KAM Leaders retreat in Herrnhut (participation recommended): May 16-18
• Garden Party for KAM staff with families (Malenovice): June 21
• Prayer Watch: February 21-27, May 9-15, July 18-24