DECEMBER 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015
from SARAJEVO!

First of all, we want to thank each of you who responded to our recent call to prayer for Sandrina’s health as she dealt with a case of vertigo – she has felt the grace of God released through your faith and prayer support for her quick recovery, and she can report that she is fully recovered from it. To God be the glory!

In looking back over 2014, it is evident that the Lord has manifested His presence and faithfulness in so many ways for the church planting work we are doing – especially through the prayer and financial support of so many friends and partners like yourself. We feel very honored for the opportunity to be serving in the harvest fields of this beautiful city of Sarajevo and the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – thank you for making it a reality. As we close out 2014, our thoughts are now focused on the coming year of 2015, to which we can attest to Paul’s message in I Corinthians 16:9, “For a great and effective door has opened for me, and there are many adversaries.”

Here are a few highlights from the last month. As you read, know that your investment into the church planting ministry the Lord has called us to is changing lives and making a real difference.

Robert & Sandrina

Our first women’s event, the Women’s Christmas Night, took place on December 19th at the Dobrinja Campus – each lady from both locations was given a personalized invitation and challenged to bring one (non-Christian) guest with her. One of the ladies felt led by the Lord to invite a specific contact she had met while selling honey at a local farmer’s market last year. She found her at the market and invited her for the women’s gathering. The 64 year old lady was at first very hesitant but agreed to attend only after being encouraged by all the other women at the market (they themselves were very curious to know what it was about and wanted her to go in order to hear about it afterwards!). Although culturally a Muslim, she had been an atheist all her life. At the meeting, her first time to be among Christians, she was overwhelmed by the friendliness and love she felt from everyone – it was also her first time to hear Christmas carols and to hear the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus the Savior. Please pray with us that she will open her heart totally to Jesus, as we feel she is very near to that decision.

Christmas services at both Dobrinja (Sunday mornings) and Pofalici (Sunday afternoons) locations were great times of fellowship and celebration – yes, having special meals together are important to our spiritual growth as a church – a wonderful dynamic!

We set aside a day recently to take a prayer team to the town of Fojnica, located about an hour’s drive NW of Sarajevo. With a population of around 13,000 the community is evenly split between Roman Catholics and Muslims. There is only one Bosnian couple who have come to salvation and remained after many years of spiritual plowing and sowing. The local church planting team we have built a friendship and partnership with are believing for a spiritual awakening and breakthrough in 2015 for the town of Fojnica – please pray with us and them to see that vision established in 2015.

A bitter sweet event took place this month as we said goodbye to one of our own, Dita, who left for the USA where she will soon marry her Dutch-American fiancé. Dita, from a Muslim background, came to the Lord in the spring and is now beginning a new chapter in her life. Please pray for her as she continues to grown in her Biblical faith.