In recent years we can see that traditional and more classical approach of Christian churches is considered by most of young people to be closed and is actually limiting knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus. The International Christian Fellowship (ICF) is bringing to people traditional christianity in nontraditional way. ICF started in 1996 in Zurich, Switzerland and spread into other German speaking countries. Three years ago, it came to Prague.

ICF groups are not classical parishes with registered membership. Priests are called pastors and church is open for believers and unbelievers as well.

ICF services are called celebrations with contemporary music and are easy for understanding the messages based on the Bible. Multimedia as video, film, drama and dance are frequently used to illustrate the message. For those who want to go deeper in faith, there are mid-week groups – workshops.

From the beginning of the ICF, the location plays vital part in its ministry. Our first Celebration was held 24th of September 2006 at a go-kart hall and we are there ever since. This place is very appropriate for young urban people. Presently ICF minister to up to 250 people.

And because the importance of the right location is very significant for ministry of ICF, we decided to start the project Church on the boat.

What we are passing through nowadays seems so revolutionary and potentially socially significant that we do not want to keep it for ourselves. We are happy to discover a successful way to bring christian values untraditionally (especially to teenagers). Today, when the relation to the roots is just an empty term for most of the young we offer revelation of an ancient mystique, the way to unite sensibly the bases of one’s personality and become a permanent contribution for others and oneself as well, the way to find one’s own relationship to God, Jesus Christ or the Bible. And at the same time keep oneself ‘cool’.

Untraditional environment also belongs to our genetic code and the go-karts / rock church in a former factory (or before a modern club in the centre of Prague) responds this. And because we do not want to degrade we had been looking for an idea that would enable us to continue in the present style.

Obviously the church on the boat is what not only preserves but also amplifies all the things that hold us together today and attract the others’ attention. We perceive the ship as a symbol of communication, direction, looking for a meaning of life changes, set out on a journey. This solution helps us gain untraditional attractive area in the centre or the wider centre of Prague that we would have just barely gain in a stout building for the same expedience. We are convinced that this vision is worthy this expedience. After a thorough consideration we have decided to make an effort to bring the project into reality. We have a serious resolution, excitement, dynamics and lots of volunteers.

A year ago we had no expedience nor a ship. It is far more wonderful that, although we did not go the way of a loan, we now exclusively own a 62 metres long vessel of historical value (made in 1925)! Several time before the purchase we visited the ship and put it (and will put again) through an engineering investigation. Before it was anchored in Hamburg where it was used as a tranship later as a school ship. We want to preserve its historical elements to the maximum degree.

We have worked out a serious intent of using the ship including the studies of range and approximate price of single arrangements, which were worked out by appreciated specialists in the field. According to the ship engineers the whole price of the reconstruction will be approximately 15-20 mil. CZK.

The basis of the church is a multifunctional hall for approximately 200 people, a stage, a bar and facilities for cast. Moreover, technological facilities and room for a club or a chapel are provided. The multifunctional hall will be, just like our church is now, provided with quality light, sound and visual technology, variable darkening and loosely movable chairs. A summer terrace will also be a part of the ship.

On  the behalf of the long term financial stability (nowadays we cover all the expenses by voluntary collections and gifts only) we count on a secondary usage of the ship for activities like theatre, concerts, films, expositions, fashion shows, marriages, authorial reading and other social events but also company events, training etc. In order to do this we are planning to found our own agency.

Considering the strict rules the church will have to be designed as a floating establishment firmly (with foot bridges and ropes) connected to the shore, however, with which it would be possible to move to different places with the help of a pushing boat (without passengers).

At what point are we now? At the end of September 09 the first stage of the reconstruction was finished by pulling down all the wooden bulkheads, cabins and linings, removing the old lighting, heating and metal plates. The part time jobs proceeded continuously for all the holiday time and Sundays in September, approximately about 30 volunteers took their part in them. Some of them spent tens hours there. Now, even the bottom is cleaned from the inside, and everything is ready for the reconstruction.

The important primary consultations proceeded successfully – with the company that will execute the reconstruction and with the office that permits using of a ship and also with single professional specialists. We have pre-negotiated a very interesting place for anchoring, near a metro station, with the representatives of Vltava Basin and City Part Prague 7. We are planning to meet the magistrate of this city part and discuss the further possibilities of cooperation.