Mission to Montenegro newsletter
Blog entry for 21 January 2014
Jan 2014 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come! Rev. 4:8b
Worthy are you, our Lord and God!
January is always such an exciting month: a new year, new plans, new projects. But our aim remains the same:
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
Rev. 4:11
Highlights since our last newsletter include:
- We finished the last of our Christmas Shoebox distribution between a small-scale presentation at our own meeting facilities and visiting families with children too ill to come. We now have 20+ children signed up for a 12 week series beginning in February to learn more about Jesus and the Christian life.
- Stan prepared and preached several Christmas sermons in the weeks before January 7th, and we were encouraged with the good attendance including some first time visitors.
- It is a special joy that we now regularly see the extended family of one of our regulars (V., a young Christian businessman) at our services whether V. is in town or not. They've been coming for several months, so not just for the Christmas goodies, and show earnest interest and participation.
- The children's outreach will begin in February, and we will be greatly aided by Jelena V., a young woman in the fellowship gifted in working with children. This is our first attempt at a long-term (12 weeks vs. one week VBS) outreach.
- We are expecting a couple of Brazilian Christian students at the end of this week. They are currently in Serbia as part of an international Christian Student exchange program and will be spending the next month with us here in Montenegro.
- We enjoyed a restful and springlike, not white, Christmas with three (the college students!) of our five children home for the holidays.
Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro
Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:
- Praise for the relatively smooth and effective Christmas Shoebox distribution. Pray for all the children who received packages, but especially those children who signed up for the 12 week follow-up course, that neither weather, nor illness, nor family pressure would prevent them from coming to learn more about Jesus.
- Praise for the good Christmas turnout even with many families away for the holidays. Pray that those who heard would come back to learn more from the Bible.
- Praise to God for all the people who make up our fellowship--truly we are one body united in Christ. Pray especially for V. and his family members, that all would could to a saving knowledge and living relationship with Jesus Christ. And pray for Jelena V. as she gives of her time and energy to ministry to the children for the next few months.
- Praise for the children's safe (even if somewhat delayed) arrivals, for our good family times, and good health while all were here. Stan has been ill for the past week plus and is now mending slowly, but it appears that Vicki may have gotten the bug and is trying to fight it off. Please pray for our quick recovery and that our college kids may be spared.