Biography:

Peter Čuřík was born 7.9.1971 in Banská Bystrica, and spent his youth in the town Sliač, in central Slovakia. After graduating from high school Zvolen came to Bratislava, where he graduated from Faculty of Civil Engineering Slovak Technical University. Here is the first time he met with people who were born again Christians. After several months of seeking the truth he turned to God in 1990, accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and became a Christian (more on that in his latest book: Get born again!, Word of Life Publishing int. Bratislava, 2004). It was happening during the Velvet Revolution and the Holy Spirit was bringing salvation to many young people. Prayer groups were gradually established and evangelistic activities were organized at the university campus. Peter Čuřík became a pastor of the newly established Christian community. After graduating from the university he went, along with several other brothers and sisters to study into the Word of Life Bible Center in Brno (years 1994/1995) for year and a half. More than 260 students from ten countries in the world attended in the first year. Next semester, which was designed for those who sensed calling into preaching service, attended 200 students. It was a very important period of growth and training. During this period, from 1994-1997, the church in Bratislava was led by German missionary Christian Heim.

After returning from Brno, Peter married Katka Belajová, who led praise&worship team and also attended Bible school. They settled in Bratislava, and now they have two sons: Peter and Michael. After completing military service and more than 1 year work experience as a business manager in a small company he began to work in the Word of Life Church as a preacher and second pastor. Since 2002, he is the main pastor of the Word of Life Church in Bratislava, while traveling to other cities of Slovakia to preach and teach God's Word. Powerful messages of faith also are being spread through Life in Victory (Víťazný život) magazine, of which he is the chief editor, which has already been published for more than 7 years in 1800 pieces in print. Thousands of audio and video cassettes have already been sent in Slovakia and abroad during many years of the work of Word of Life church. The Lord is blessing the project "Audio of the month”, which is a selected sermon, sent monthly to many people who expressed their interest. Pastor Peter's vision is "To build and train believers to impact and change the world." His priority remains building of the local church in Bratislava and then preach the Gospel and starting new Christian churches to the end of the earth.

Part of an interview with pastor Peter Čuřík, which was published in the bulletin of the Christian community Devleskero Kher in Košice:

Peťo, brothers and sisters from our church already know you a little bit, but still, could you at least tell at a glance what was your life before you became a pastor?

I grew up in central Slovakia, in a family where I was surrounded by love and care. I’ve just never been led to God. Gradually I built up a worldly belief in which religion didn’t have any place. The main reason was almost certainly my pride and then people who although called themselves Christians, very poorly represented the Lord. I went to Bratislava to study at the faculty of Civil Engineering and here I’ve "suddenly” got saved. My salvation was a shock to all my friends and acquaintances. But God saves as he pleases, and he’s not asking for the human opinion. Immediately we started to evangelize and experienced many miracles among students at the university campus. Gradually, a church was born and I became a very young pastor (year 1992/1993). Then I went to the Word of Life Bible School in Brno. It was one of the most beautiful periods of my life, during which God has built a solid foundation in me. After completing military service I worked for year and a half as a sales manager, but never ceased to preach the word of God and love the Church. Since 1999, I started working full time as a preacher and year and a half before I became a pastor of the Word of Life Church in Bratislava. My wife is a great gift from the Lord and my support for more than twelve years.

What is your desire for the church in Slovakia. What do you dream about?

I am as Nehemiah, who walked around the walls of Jerusalem which were ruined and burned down with fire. Once glorious and proud, but now dishonored and disgraced. But God has placed a vision of the reformation in our hearts. The question is not how much the walls are destroyed, the question is how much we trust the Lord and whether we stand in place he predestined for us. We’re repairing gate after gate. Firstly, in the lives of the servants of the Gospel, then in local churches and movements, and finally in the whole Body of Christ. God gathers together those who hear the sound of His trumpet.

What do you think is the biggest hindrance for effective spreading of the Gospel in Slovakia?

Usually it's more factors, but the answer is the same. If the Church will always look to why it doesn’t work it will lose motivation and determination: "He who observes the wind will not sow and he who regards the clouds will not reap" (Eccles. 11:4). Jesus told us to preach the gospel to every creature. He didn’t say that we should preach only when people will get saved. He even predicted that "those who will believe will be saved and who will not believe will be condemned." Let’s prepare the soil in prayer, but then preach the Word and the Lord will cooperate by performing wonders.

What is your challenge/call for Christians of the 21st century in Slovakia?

Coming back to first love. We have made Christianity too complicated. Let us love God in a first place and love your neighbors! Let the people feel the love of Christ out of us. Slovakia Christians need to re-submit to God and their local churches, so that they together with Nehemiah will restore ruined walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah alone will never make it and neither was he called to it. The answer to his vision was: "We will arise and build." Let us pray for leaders in churches to have a fresh anointing and God's guidance and then we will join the reformation calling and will make a way for the coming of our Lord and Savior.