2026 Czech Republic Mission Trip

FINAL REFLECTIONS (6.4.26)

Where to begin...

Over the past few days, I have reflected on the amazing ways God worked in and through our team during our time in the Czech Republic. It is difficult to know where to start or how to fully encapsulate everything the Lord accomplished. Before sharing, though, I want to say a big thank you to everyone reading this who prayed for our team and financially invested in our mission trip. Words cannot fully express how grateful our team is for you. We believe God answers big prayers, and we felt and witnessed that reality at work before our eyes.

Personally, this trip was especially meaningful to me. I have been at Cedarville for seven years now (crazy!), and I have dreamed of an opportunity like this. I have heard stories about an old coach who is a legend at Cedarville and who took teams to the Philippines each year to use basketball as a platform to share Christ. Story after story motivated me to do the same if God ever opened the door. By God's grace, He did.

Almost a full year went into planning this trip. This was the first time we had ever done something like this at Cedarville with this specific church and in this particular area. I am extremely grateful for the local church, Křesťané Pelhřimov, and the basketball academy, CRBA, who willingly partnered with us to make this happen. Both organizations were a tremendous blessing to work alongside.

From a 30,000 foot view, the trip went exceptionally well. Aside from a few hiccups, including Noah spraining his ankle and "Big" Will missing his flight home, our daily activities were fruitful and effective. Beyond the logistics, our team connected incredibly well. Fortunately, these are young men whom I have had the privilege of knowing for years. As Jaden shared so well, "We were able to connect so well with those in the Czech Republic because our team was already so well connected before the trip." How true that was! It is a blast to go on a trip with guys you already know well and who have demonstrated Christlike maturity in their lives.

Not only that, but it was also so much fun! We laughed, joked around, and smiled A LOT every day. Without a doubt, the light of Christ shone brightly through our group, carrying into every interaction and experience we had with those around us. As the "old guy" of the group, I was beyond blessed by them because they made it easy for me to lead and serve them intentionally. I am proud of them and saw firsthand how God used their unique gifts and abilities to build bridges and be examples of Jesus.

From a ministry perspective, it is impossible to fully express God's impact on my life through this trip. We were able to compete in several games, play sand volleyball, organize an outdoor open gym, share testimonies, visit a local high school twice, and learn more about God and His Word. Each of these ministry opportunities were meaningful and strengthened the church family in the Czech Republic. Our hope is that God used each activity to encourage others to become more devoted in their walk with Christ and to consider what it truly means to follow Jesus.

At the same time, there were countless ways the people there were a tremendous blessing and encouragement to me and our team. Here are a few stories that impacted my life, and I hope they impact yours as well. These are brief versions of their testimonies:

• A girl named Lucy comes from an atheist home that refuses to acknowledge Jesus. She was deeply impacted by a group of Americans who visited for a basketball camp several years ago. At the time, she was working as a waitress and recognized something different about the team. She was invited to an event where she saw Ondra, a Cedarville student and Czech native, get baptized. Two years later, she gave her life to Christ and was baptized herself. Her family did not support her decision, and she was kicked out of her home. She willingly sacrificed what she had for the hope found in Jesus. Eventually, she overcame self harm and now lives free from depression and anxiety. Praise God!

• Ondra's parents have both been saved by Jesus Christ, despite coming from atheistic backgrounds. Ondra's mother's story was especially touching to me because she gave her life to Christ after meeting a Christian friend. During that season of her life, she was growing bitter toward her boss and spoke with her Christian friend about it. Her friend simply challenged her to bless her enemies rather than curse them. A few weeks later, she found herself in a difficult situation and remembered her friend's words. As she put those words into practice, God began changing her heart, which ultimately led her to give her life to Christ and be baptized. Praise God!

• The worship leader of the church shared her testimony of God's redemption through a season of depression as she searched for purpose in life. She had lived a life focused on partying and having fun. Deep down, she felt lost and dissatisfied with both her life and who she had become. After traveling to Canada and spending time alone, God opened her heart to see who He truly is. She left behind her old life and committed herself to Jesus. She was baptized and now uses her gifts to serve others through her coffee shop and by leading worship in her church. Praise God!

• Two CRBA players, Martin and Jakub, recently gave their lives to Christ. Both come from non Christian homes but encountered the love of Jesus through basketball camps hosted by a church from North Carolina. They are young men boldly living for the Lord. Jakub shared that his coach laughed at our team as we huddled together after games to pray. Responses like that are common in their environment. Yet God is helping both of them remain faithful and courageous in their walk with Him.

• Another young man named Teo grew up in a Christian home. He spent a lot of time with us and helped lead worship. He was a joy to be around, and we connected through conversations about biblical leadership and personal development. I am especially proud of Teo because, at only 17 years old, he is leading faithfully in his current context.

• Pastor Vlada's father smuggled Bibles during the communist regime, risking his life so others could have access to God's Word. His boldness is truly inspirational, and it reminded me of the value of Scripture. It is not something that should sit on a nightstand collecting dust. Rather, it is the living Word of God that can transform the life of anyone willing to read it.

Story after story and testimony after testimony, God revealed the work He is doing throughout the Czech Republic through faithful individuals. There is so much more I could share, but I would have to write a short novel to include everything.

At the end of the day, I was changed, our team was changed, and we are praying that God will continue to create gospel-centered ripple effects because of the week we spent there. Although we do not fully know how God will use what happened during that week, we trust the One who is sovereignly working all things for His glory and our good.

I will end with this...

During our team Bible studies, Jaden led us through 1 John. It is a short but rich book filled with powerful truths about God and how we are called to love others. Several verses stood out to me and connect directly to our experience in the Czech Republic:

• 1 John 3:16: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

• 1 John 4:7 to 8: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

• 1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us."

• 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

• 1 John 5:14: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

This entire week points to one incredible truth: Jesus Christ laid down His life for you, for me, for those in the Czech Republic, and for the entire world. He died because of love, and His love enables us to love others. If we confess our sins and trust in His righteousness, He promises to forgive us completely and purify us so that we can confidently approach Him one day.

This is not merely a religious practice. It is a relationship that calls us to know God and love God. If you have never asked God to enter your life and have not committed yourself to knowing the God who first loved you by giving His Son to die for you, then I would suggest that this is far more important than anything else I have shared in this reflection.

Give your life to Jesus. He has transformed my life, and you have heard how He has transformed the lives of many others. He can and will do the same for you.

It is worth it!

*To view a recap post featuring photos and videos from the trip, visit our Instagram by clicking HERE.

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UPDATE (5.19.26)

Dear Friends and Family,

Our team is only three days away from flying across the world to the Czech Republic. The Lord has been incredibly kind to our team leading up to this trip. Here are a few updates regarding the trip:

• We depart on Friday, May 22nd, at 5 PM from Cincinnati for Paris. Lord willing, we will arrive in the Czech Republic on Saturday around 10:50 AM CEST (4:50 AM ET... yes, there is a six-hour time difference).

• A few of our main schedule items include:

  • Visiting the local church, with a barbecue to follow

  • Two official basketball games against local teams

  • Teaching English at local high schools

  • Evangelism night with an outreach focus

  • Outdoor open gym with a short devotional

  • Traveling to Prague and Jindřichův Hradec for sightseeing

  • Team devotionals

  • Visiting a local church youth group

  • A lot of outdoor games, basketball, and competition!!!

  • Most importantly... sharing the gospel, building relationships, and being the hands and feet of Jesus

Our team goal for support raising is VERY close! Collectively, we are only a few hundred dollars away from meeting our goal. We are grateful to the Lord for those who have financially invested in our mission trip to make this possible. If you feel led and want to help us finish this goal, please give by going to this LINK.

Ridgeline Wealth Planning has agreed to sponsor our basketball team. This sponsorship includes a financial donation that purchased jerseys, shooting shirts, t-shirts, and hoodies. We are grateful for like-minded, mission-driven organizations like Ridgeline.

Lastly, as we head into this trip, I personally ask that you would pray for our team. Prayer is so important. All that we do is not for ourselves, but truly for God and His glory. This trip will be a blast, but it is in vain if Jesus Christ is not the center of it.

My prayer is that Jesus would change our lives through this trip, the lives we come into contact with, and yours. If you do not have a personal relationship with Christ, this is my deepest desire for you and for those in the Czech Republic. My whole purpose is to shine the light of Christ and give hope to those who are searching through the forgiveness and hope offered at the cross.

Thank you for walking alongside me and our team during this special opportunity. If you would like to follow our team and what we do each day, please follow us on Instagram by clicking HERE.

God sent His only Son to die for you, me, and the whole world so that we may have a right relationship with Him. There is no greater love than this.

In Christ,

Cam

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Dear Friends and Family,

I am excited to share the opportunity God has given me. Before I do, I want to briefly update you on our basketball ministry at Cedarville University.

We are now in our second official year, and it has been encouraging to see how the Lord continues to grow it. Each Sunday, we host open gyms that average more than thirty players, including both Cedarville students and men from the community. At halftime, we share the gospel. What started as basketball has become consistent opportunities for real conversations and new relationships that extend beyond the court.

Throughout the year, we host three major events, including two tournaments and an All-Star game. These events help us expand our outreach and connect with more players. We are also planning to participate in a jail ministry game and meet together regularly in a Life Group to make sure our own spiritual growth stays central. Our mission is to leverage basketball as a platform to know and share Christ with others through evangelism, relationships, and competition.

Because of how God has been working locally, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve internationally, as well. This spring, I will serve on a mission trip through Cedarville University’s Global Outreach office. Our team will travel to the Czech Republic from May 22 to May 30, 2026.

Our Ministry Focus in the Czech Republic

We will serve alongside Křesťané Pelhřimov, a church committed to sharing the gospel in its region. Our goal is to be ready to compete for God’s glory, boldly share the Good News in a predominantly atheist culture, and serve the local church that God is already establishing.

During the week, we plan to:

• Serve alongside the local church in Pelhřimov by participating in worship gatherings and sharing testimonies.

• Partner with the Christian Basketball Academy to support their mission and disciple young athletes through practices, games, and intentional relationships.

• Visit local high schools to assist in English classes and build relationships with students.

• Compete against players across the region in basketball open gyms to support outreach.

• Serve the community by helping lead and support a student worship service.

Through basketball, we hope to share the hope of Christ and encourage both believers and those who may not yet know Him, while supporting the local church in its ongoing work.

How You Can Partner With Me

I would be grateful for your partnership in two ways:

• Prayer

  • Please pray for unity within our team, boldness as we share, open hearts among those we meet, and lasting fruit from this trip.

• Financial Support

  • Each team member is responsible for raising the full cost of the trip. My fundraising goal is $2,700, which covers travel and ministry expenses.

  • If you would like to give, you may do so through my personal giving link: Personal Giving Link

Financial support to Cedarville University for Global Outreach teams is tax-deductible when given with the understanding that it supports the missionary outreach of the participants and, therefore, is nonrefundable. Contributions are under the complete discretion and control of Cedarville University and are used only to accomplish the ministry goals of the program. Excess funds will be used for Global Outreach ministry teams.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering how you might partner with me. I am grateful for your support and look forward to sharing how God works through this opportunity.

Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions regarding our trip or ministry.

In Christ,

Cam