Mission to Montenegro newsletter

Blog entry for 21 April 2025

April 2025 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

The Lord has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Is. 52:10

Grace and peace to you in the name of God our Father!

Behold, winter is past! And while the rain is not yet gone, we have gorgeous pops of color all over the yard with the spring flowers blooming, just in time to decorate the church for Easter.

In our morning service, Stan most recently preached from Col. 1:24 on Suffering and Service.
This suffering and service is rooted in and sustained by knowing that Christ is preeminent in all things (Col. 1:15-23).

In the evening, Stan wrapped up his 2+ year preaching of the Book of Revelation with a mini-recap of its major themes and that glorious truth:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Rev. 22: 20

Easter Sunday is the same date for both Western and Orthodox churches this year
Stan will be preaching from 1 Cor. 15 on the necessity of Christ, the Cross, and His Resurrection for salvation. We will have an extended post-church coffee time with extra goodies and no evening service.

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Join us in giving thanks for increased repeat visitors and seekers!
The church has been full on Sunday mornings, even when various members have been traveling or away. The mighty hand of God is at work.

Please pray for I and A—recent young believers who are facing family pressures to not participate in church activities.
Please pray for M and her two tween boys who have been coming for the past three weeks.
Pray for K, a young college woman who has been coming with her friend for the past month+ and has a tender heart towards God.
Pray for G, who has come with her (grown) daughter, K, another newer believer.

Please pray for the spiritual growth of all believers here that we fully please our Heavenly Father as faithful servants, enduring our hardships, all while giving thanks and praise to the Father for His great mercies and love.

Please pray for Stan and Peter (co-Elder) as they formalize details of foundational documents relating to church membership and the legal status of the church to own property. This has been hindered by closed offices, people out, holidays, and more--pray for the right officials to be at the right place at the right time.

Please pray for progress in getting our own church building--for land, for (a) building, for finances.

At the beginning of the month we hosted the UK student (UCCF) team joining the local EUS group for a Mission Week outreach on the university campus. During the day, the team set up a ‘British Corner’ on campus, met with students, engaged in good conversations, invited them out for coffee and other fun activities, but particularly invited many to the evening talks given by Michael Ots, (gifted apologetics speaker).

British Corner Mission Week Talks

Each evening included a Q&A session facilitated by a fancy (to us!) program called Slido which allowed for real-time questions to be posted anonymously contributing to a very dynamic Q&A time.

Evening Talk

Please pray for the students who heard the gospel, that the seed sown would bear good fruit, for God’s glory and their good.

Please pray for the local believers and EUS team to follow up with the contacts made.

Happenings and events on the short and long-term horizon for which we are preparing now:

Our Easter Celebration (April 20—Orthodox and Western dates match this year!)
A major Pro-life Conference is scheduled to take place in Nikšić in early June.
Camp Monty Sports Outreach in July
Anticipated arrival of John and Grace Kremer in August, new missionaries here in Nikšić.
Mini-Furlough (to States) in October
Plus all the usual activities of the church and body life.

Please pray for these events—that the seeds planted, sown, and watered would bear fruit unto the Lord. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Ps. 127:1

Please pray that those involved in all these events would stand firm despite hindrances and spiritual attacks.
Please pray for the continued unity of the local churches to advance the gospel and God’s kingdom here in Montenegro.

Join us in giving thanks for all the good things the Lord is doing! May His name be ever more glorified!

We so appreciate your earnest prayers, your sacrificial support, your quick notes and cards, and the blessing of working together for God's name to be exalted here in Montenegro.

One with you in Christ,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Vicki's Snapshot: next month! Now we celebrate! Hristos vaskrse! Christ is Risen!

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