Slovakia 2025 Updates
Our Slovakia 2025 Team - Anna & Jordan Christiansen and Peter Pelto - have arrived in Slovakia and are spending the weekend training. This coming week they'll be working with students in partnership with Josiah Ventures. They'll provide opportunities for students to work on their English language skills, play games, enjoy all the fun of camp, and get to know the incredible story of God's love for them.
Check here for any updates from the team.
Check here for any updates from the team.
Update #2 (July 20)
We’ve arrived at camp! By the time you see this update the students will have arrived and the programs will have begun. We completed training with the teams from other American churches on Saturday and travels to the camp just outside Bardejov in the northeast part of Slovakia. The training was beautiful as we and the other churches prepared for our part in the five camps Joshua Ventures is supporting in Slovakia this week.
We met the team from the Presov church Saturday afternoon and spent the evening and Sunday morning getting to know each other and preparing the camp site. As the students arrive, please pray for:
We’re grateful for your prayers as we continue our mission.
We’ve arrived at camp! By the time you see this update the students will have arrived and the programs will have begun. We completed training with the teams from other American churches on Saturday and travels to the camp just outside Bardejov in the northeast part of Slovakia. The training was beautiful as we and the other churches prepared for our part in the five camps Joshua Ventures is supporting in Slovakia this week.
We met the team from the Presov church Saturday afternoon and spent the evening and Sunday morning getting to know each other and preparing the camp site. As the students arrive, please pray for:
- The four other camps happening in Slovakia this week.
- Unity among the American team (us and Five Oaks) and the team from Slovakia and that our love and care for each other will reflect the love God has for us.
- That God will move among us as we remind each other of the good news and share it with those who have not heard it.
We’re grateful for your prayers as we continue our mission.
local partnerships
together for good
Together For Good is an organization that works to ensure that vulnerable families and children never walk alone. They do this not only by meeting tangible needs of families, but also by providing respite care for children and loving, supportive relationships for moms.
There are several ways that Catalyst partners with Together For Good. You can find out more by clicking here.
There are several ways that Catalyst partners with Together For Good. You can find out more by clicking here.
the hospitality center
The Hospitality Center connects international university students to the local community by offering programs which give a platform for friendships to form, students to find a “home away from home,” and authentic communities to develop.
They also provide opportunities for interested students to discuss life, faith and worldview and offer invitations for students to attend bible studies, various workshops and church services. To read a recap of a Celebration Meal we joined in hosting, click here.
They also provide opportunities for interested students to discuss life, faith and worldview and offer invitations for students to attend bible studies, various workshops and church services. To read a recap of a Celebration Meal we joined in hosting, click here.
Central Park Elementary
Central Park Elementary in Roseville is a neighborhood school rich in cultural and linguistic diversity nestled within the heart of Roseville, Minnesota. Our students join us from a variety of cultures and diverse backgrounds and each child brings a unique and valuable set of skills and talents to school.
Catalyst has opportunities to partner with students and staff in meaningful ways throughout the academic year. If you'd like to know about upcoming opportunities, please contact us.
Catalyst has opportunities to partner with students and staff in meaningful ways throughout the academic year. If you'd like to know about upcoming opportunities, please contact us.
Global Missions
We are fortunate to partner with several different missionaries who are serving God's Kingdom in many different ways. Below you can learn a bit more about some of our missions partners.
Brooke & Cory Jackson
The Jacksons are pursuing a ministry focusing on training and discipleship in Thailand. They arrived in the fall of 2022 and are currently in language school while also helping their girls acclimate to a new culture and building relationships in their community.
Ultimately, their prayerful goal is to see a gospel movement happen in Thailand that would impact not only the Thai people, but the surrounding unreached people groups as well.
For their latest ministry update, click here.
Ultimately, their prayerful goal is to see a gospel movement happen in Thailand that would impact not only the Thai people, but the surrounding unreached people groups as well.
For their latest ministry update, click here.
Heather & Aaron Jones
Aaron and Heather first got involved with Cru as students at St. Cloud State University. God used the ministry to transform their lives. After getting married, God led them to spend a year in the Middle East with Cru. After returning to the US, they spent 10 years ministering on several campuses in Northwest WI. After adopting Liv and Tate, they felt the Lord calling them back overseas, and they moved their family to Brisbane, Australia for two years. Upon returning to the US, they moved to Minneapolis in 2016 and work to care for hundreds of Cru staff in eight US states and several locations overseas, primarily in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
To learn more about the Jones' ministry, click here.
For their latest ministry update, click here.
To learn more about the Jones' ministry, click here.
For their latest ministry update, click here.
In July 2024, we had the privilege of sending a team to Slovakia. During their time there, they partnered with Josiah Ventures to run an English-language camp for Slovak teenagers. Over the course of the camp, Josiah Ventures staff and Catalyst volunteers were able to build relationships with students, help with language lessons, play plenty of games, and engage in many conversations about faith and following Jesus.
Looking ahead, we are planning to continue the partnership by sending another team in July 2025. If you would like to learn more about our continuing partnership with Josiah Ventures and our 2025 trip, please contact us.
Looking ahead, we are planning to continue the partnership by sending another team in July 2025. If you would like to learn more about our continuing partnership with Josiah Ventures and our 2025 trip, please contact us.
church plants
Since the beginning, we’ve committed ourselves to helping launch other new churches. We have enthusiastically initiated and participated in the launch of Renovation Church in Blaine (2009), Ignite Church in Oakdale (2012), Hope Bridge Church in Plymouth (2012), Revision Church in Des Moines, IA (2015), and Catalyst White Bear (2021). These churches have since multiplied into even more church plants! We've also commissioned an area developer for Young Life in the greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.
