History
The country of Slovakia had formerly been part of Austro-Hungarian empire from 900s AD to 1918, when it became a part of Czechoslovakia following World War I. In 1939, during WWII, it was invaded by Nazi forces and announced as autonomous republic: Slovakia. However, thanks to strong national movement against the Nazi regime, after the end of war Slovakia again belonged to Czechoslovakia. For more than 20 years the Communist Party ruled in the country as it was merely liberated by Red Army and the influence of Russia was significant. In 1989, the Communist Party resigned under pressure from the people protesting in so called "velvet revolution." On January 1, 1993, four years after the revolution, Czechoslovakia broke up into two separate countries, forming the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2004 Slovakia became a member state of the European Union. Slovakia is a landlocked country with beautiful mountains. Currently, ethnic Slovaks make up 80.7% of the population, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma (Gypsy) 2%, Czech 0.6%, Ruthenian 0.6%, Ukrainian 0.1%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1 % and other 7.3%. The government consists of a president who appoints a prime minister, and a one-house parliament called the National Council.
Church History
The majority of Slovak citizens claim to be Christians and that affinity is derived from a long history of Cyril and Methodius enabling people to read Bible in their own Slavic language. In more recent times, the majority claim to be Roman Catholic (62 %), while Evangelical, Greek-Catholic, Reformed Christians, Orthodox, and other churches make up the rest, with 10.6 % choosing not to specify.
Pentecostal churches have been planted all over Slovakia. Though the Evangelical church makes up a small percentage of Slovakians, there has been continuous growth in past 40 years, especially in Roma community where there is great revival happening.
The Movement Today
The Pentecostal movement is known in Slovakia as the Apostolic Church of Slovakia. Believers share the love of Christ through several ministries: street evangelism, campus outreaches, charity projects, Teen Challenge program support, and missions abroad, with activities are focused on both children and adults. The church is steadily growing in Slovakia. It reports the following statistics: 38 churches with about 30 church communities and about 30 additional preaching points, 50 ordained ministers, and one evangelical seminary at the University of Matej Bel in the city of Banska Bystrica, Gateway College in Nitra and Regional Bible School in Kosice.
Additional Facts About Slovakia
- Capital: Bratislava
- Area: 18,932 square miles
- Population: 5,412,008
- Government: Republic
- Languages: Slovak (official), Romany (Gypsy) with some German and Hungarian
- Agriculture: Grains, hops, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, corn, and livestock
- Industry: Metals, ceramics, petroleum products, and chemicals