Blessing for Croatia

November 15-27 I had the opportunity to visit many churches in England, Wales and Scotland! Many are praying! 2,500 miles, 13 churches and three bible colleges… so much encouragement… & one ECM mission’s conference. The Lord Jesus really does want to change the city of Zagreb and many are praying to this end!

Thank you to all the many brothers and sisters who are praying for the salvation of dear lost folk. Thank you to all those who one day will be willing to serve the Lord in this beautiful country. Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into His field. The corn is white unto harvest.

Zagreb Christians are greatly encouraged that their brothers and sisters abroad are standing with them before the eternal throne of King Jesus. Thank you!

This last week has been quite hectic! Baptisms, 15 preachers training together in Zagreb, praying and preparing for revival and a great youth meeting (our first with double figures!) made us all very happy and very tired!

Here are some pics…

Marina (centre) before she was baptised. Marina gave her life to God just two days after regular services started at the Dubrava (eastern Zagreb).

Exciting days! 15 of us met at the Dubrava church Saturday 11.11.2006 for the first of I hope many sessions on preaching. For 4 hours we were trained in this art. Each of us had to stand up before the others to describe (without notes!) how one item of our clothing felt during our daily life! Not so wierd as it sounds… As preachers we must learn how to describe and relate in an interesting fashion… so as not to bore the pants off our poor listeners! 

Later on we all had to speak another two minutes (on film) on a favourite subject of our choice. The listerners were allowed (even ocasionally encouraged!) to heckle! I gave a deputation talk, asking for plenty of prayer for our mother church, when they discover 30 of their members have left for the new church plant 18.2.07, when we have independent services! Josip Čeh (an elder at the mother church for 35 years and who also will leave the mother church to form part of the new church’s leadership) spoke about the need for finances for our new building, saying in his 2 minute talk that we had just been thrown out of our rented accomodation by the landlord! He just made this up, but he wanted to communicate that they should think how theycan help us!!!

We also were taught by the pastor on the "spiritual life" and how believe that God actually wants to change our listeners, so we should be bold and preach for change, actually believing that the seed of the Word will CHANGE! Dare we say "AMEN, HALLELIJAH!"

Tabita & I felt last May that we had to do something with the young people in our church (Dubrava), That Sunday we had 19 between 0 and 20 years old! We did two meetings with the youth and this Autumn (after having been somewhat inspired by a visit to a youth meeting at St. Thomas’s Kendal, England) we decided to have regular meetings every two weeks. Here we met and we had two new folk Anita (second left) and Silvio (boy 4th left). Pray this would really develop and that faith would be strengthened and those new will give their lives totally to THE LORD!

Just a few days ago we had a great time at the first "Balkan Rendezvous"! (At least till we were reminded by Tihomir that Croatia isn’t in the Balkans!). Radovan and his son Vladimir came from their churchplants in two towns in Bosnia and Gani came from Peja, Kosova. They were joined by locals Tihomir & Ulrike & Stephen & Tabita (Zagreb), led by the enchanting and experienced churchplanter extrodinaire, Johan from Belgium. Much fun was had by all. Here are some pictures!

Here are the boys, resting from numerous discussions

The Team find the Way Ahead (envisioning)

Once we get going, there’s no stopping us!

Pastors Gani and Radovan join in the discussions

Gani getting enthusiastic…

Gani quite proud of His Kosova… (Rroftë Kosova!!! - Albanian for "Kosova forever!")

The team fellowshipping together…

Johan helping us all from his vast experience!

So, you can see that a lot of fun was had! Working in the Balkans (+ in Croatia, Tihomir!) can often be lonely. Pray for these priceless guys that they will see God’s blessing in their ministries. Pray they would have joy and stay faithful, despite the difficult circumstances they work under. 

So, we say farewell to you all…