Apartment Renovation and New Academic Program

As you read this issue of Proclaim, a builders’ group is in Martin, Slovakia, May 26 to June 10. The project this year is the reconstruction of the custodian’s apartment which is connected to the parsonage of the Martin Lutheran congregation.

Last summer when several of us were in Martin for the 10th Anniversary of the Bible School, it was discovered that the apartment had created severe health concerns which were reflected in the health of the family. The apartment has a wood floor constructed over a dirt base which has created an unhealthy mold and mildew situation.

The creation of a safe environment through reconstruction of the apartment is a joint project with the builders’ group and members of the Martin Lutheran congregation. The builders’ group is composed of members from four congregations: Hosanna Lutheran in Forest Lake, Roseville Lutheran, Prince of Peace Lutheran in Palatine, Illinois, and St. Andrew’s.

Accompanying the builders’ group are three members of the staff and faculty of Globe University/Minnesota School of Business. An exciting aspect of their visit will be consultation on a new program sponsored by the European Union. This program offers the opportunity for creating bi-lateral cooperation between Globe University/Minnesota School of Business in the United States and the Bible School and University of Zilina in Slovakia. Together these schools work together to provide educational opportunities for students and faculty from both countries to participate in the transfer of academic credit, dual degrees and graduate student and faculty exchange programs.

Other members from Globe University will be filming the construction project and also the daily schedule of students and teachers of the Lutheran elementary school and the Bible School. This filming will result in the creation of a DVD that will tell the story of the educational programs of the two schools, inviting individuals and congregations to become acquainted with the story of the rebirth of Christian education in Slovakia.