December 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; 
         and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, 
     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6


Glory to God in the highest!

We've have definitely gotten into the Christmas spirit this week with our big outreach to children through a short Christmas program combined with the shoebox gifts from "Operation Christmas Child."  Several thousand packages were handed out as well as hundreds of New Testaments.  There are still several hundred more packages to be handed out, so our work is not over even though the large-scale event is finished.  Thanks be to God; this year was our best year ever for these events.  The planning, training, praying, and team work were incredible.

Most exciting of all is that a dozen+ children have signed up for a 12 week course to learn more about Jesus.    Last year no one signed up, so we are greatly encouraged by the response.  This program will begin in February after the holidays--Christmas is celebrated on Jan. 7 here and schools are out until the end of January.

This newsletter is in a much different format because of the busyness of the holiday season coupled with a hand injury that makes typing difficult.    

Main Prayer Request:  For effective pastoral ministry and balancing family time.  Along with preaching the Word, there is generally a heightened need for pastoral counseling and visitation with those who find the holidays stressful and depressing.

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Enjoy this brief photo essay of our recent outreach as it testifies to the wise counsel that "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." I Peter 4:10

11pm and several thousand gifts unloaded and stored at our meeting place. Thanks, guys!

  Heated facilities this year! Getting ready:  Packages? Check.  Music?  Check.  Bibles?  Check.

A full house!  We had ten programs over two days.

Stan encouraging the children to know Jesus, not merely know about Him.

Scripture reading from Luke 2

Jelena V. inviting the children to the follow-up course.

Teaching and singing Tiha Noc (Silent Night)

 Christmas Shoebox time!

To God be the Glory!

November 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

No one is like you, Lord;
    You are great, and your name is mighty in power.  
Who should not fear you, King of the nations?  This is your due.  
     Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms,
There is no one like you. Jer. 10: 6,7


I will proclaim your righteous deeds...

    

• Stan was recently interviewed by a journalist for the largest Montenegrin newspaper.  This reporter is researching and writing an article on "small" religious groups in Montenegro.  Among many points, Stan shared the truth that evangelical believers  are not a small sect, but rather number in the millions world-wide, even if not (yet) in Montenegro.

• With just a few days to spare, Saša was able to get together and submit all the paperwork (properly stamped!) for his volunteer visa (through the church) which he needs to be able to stay in country legally.

• Vicki had the opportunity to write a brief post on one aspect of our ministry experience here in Montenegro for Nathan Adams, one of the first young people to come to Montenegro for a summer camp ministry many years ago.  You may read it here:  One Perspective

Upcoming Ministry and Family News 
 

• The Samaritan's Purse ministry continues to gain momentum with the Christmas season approaching.  The leadership team met earlier this month. Training for the follow-up children's program (The Greatest Journey) is scheduled for the end of this month as well as logistical paperwork and permits for the receiving of the packages themselves.

• Now that we have more discretionary time available, we are busy establishing a visitation routine to both believers and unbelievers, with a special emphasis on working adults and the elderly as so many of our special events are geared toward university students.  These visits are in addition to our various regularly scheduled discipleship activities.

• We were blessed beyond measure to host and visit with Stan's brother and new sister-in-law as they fit in a day-and-a-half stopover here in Montenegro while on their honeymoon earlier this month.

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro                          

 Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points: 

• Praise that Stan was able to clearly share the gospel and explain that all small religious groups are not equal.  Pray that the reporter understood and will not lump biblical Christians with other non-Christian religious groups.
• Praise for the completion of the visa application process for Saša as well as our ongoing good relationship with the local authorities.  Please pray for a quick approval of this visa and for continued goodwill with those who handle visa and visitor registrations.
• Praise for the good work and visible fruit of the ministry over the years and the privilege of being part of it as well as the joy of continued relationships with brothers and sisters all over the world. Please pray that many more would be eager to come and give of their time, talent, and finances to further God's work here.  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
• Praise for the many hands who make the Christmas package ministry possible, both here in Montenegro as well as abroad.  Pray that the legal logistics would be quickly and professionally handled and that people would make the effort to come for the follow-up training session.
• Praise for the local culture that values and makes time for visits!  Please pray that much good would come from our commitment to maintain and cultivate relationships and conversations.
• Praise for God's faithfulness in providing for our children's education.  With three children attending university this fall, our financial needs have increased.  While all the children have attractive scholarship packages, the additional cost of transatlantic flights at Christmas and summer is not covered.  Please pray and consider donating frequent flyer miles.  If interested, please contact us at stan.surbatovich@gmail.com for more details of how you might help in this practical manner. Thank you so much.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/  

October 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, 
     O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 
For you are great and do wondrous things;
    You alone are God.  Ps. 86:9-10

May your deeds be shown to your servants...   
   
After a busy summer of teams and evangelistic outreaches, we are all enjoying the rhythm and routines of autumn.  Just a few highlights of God's work here in Nikšič this past month:

• Stan is now preaching a new series through Nehemiah in our morning services and the book of Jude in the evening.  We also regularly read through the Scriptures every service, so that everyone who attends will eventually hear the whole Bible.  This practice gives the young men of the church the opportunity to grow in godly leadership by studying, reading, and giving brief comments on a Bible passage (currently from the books of Jeremiah and the Gospel of Mark).

 

•  The Transit Team (from OM) spent a full week helping our elderly and widows with sawing, chopping, hauling, and stacking firewood for the cold days ahead.  Evenings were spent reaching out to believers and unbelievers including a wonderful informal concert of music, singing, and testimonies. 

• God seems to be bringing new connections and relationships with European evangelical Christians.  Last month, Stan met several Balkan pastors at the Samaritan's Purse conference; this month God gave us the opportunity to meet representatives from the European Christian Political Movement.   Also, Stan has been asked to be one of the representatives for Montenegro in the European Lausanne Network and will be attending, Deo volente, the Lausanne Conference in May.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News 

• Our one-on-one discipleship will be expanding to include meeting with young believers with the dual aim of equipping them to disciple others AND to translate discipleship materials from other languages into the local language.

• As a major ministry, the Christmas Shoebox project always has something to be done.  Currently, plans are being made for the logistics of receiving the gifts as well as brainstorming new ways to continue follow-up after the shoebox distribution.

• Although all five children have been stateside since August, it is only this week that we find ourselves as true "empty-nesters"  with Saša moving into his own flat. 

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro                          

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:

• Praise for the freedom to preach God's mighty word.  Pray, as the Apostle Paul requested, that God might open doors for Stan to clearly declare the mystery of Christ. (Col. 4:3,4)
• Praise for the good fruits of the Transit team.  Pray for their continuing ministry throughout Europe.
• Praise for the connections God has brought about with other European evangelical believers.  Pray that we might all aid one another as brethren united by Christ to bring Him honor and glory in our respective callings.
• Praise for the desire of the young believers to grow as Christians and to be able to disciple others.  Pray for our wisdom in training and mentoring this next generation of Christian leaders, teachers, and servants of the Most High.
• Praise for the generousity of God's people in providing the Christmas shoeboxes.  Pray that this ministry would lead to further ongoing contact with the children to learn more about Christ.
• Praise that God provided a wonderful housing situation for Saša.  Pray that his ministry amongst the teens would grow and mature.  Pray also for us as we enter into a new season of life, that God would show us the best use of our time, talents, and home.
• Praise that Milijana has settled very well into her new life at university, finding a good church home as well as a circle of friends.  
• Please pray and consider donating frequent flyer miles  as we must fly all three of our university students home for the Christmas holidays and some for the summer.  If interested, please contact us at stan.surbatovich@gmail.com for more details of how you might help in this practical manner. Thank you so much.

September 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
       And His greatness is unsearchable.

 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
       And shall declare Your mighty acts. Ps. 145:3, 4

 It is fitting for the upright to praise Him...

• The highlight of the past month: Stan travelled to Serbia to officiate the wedding of two dear young people, B+R.  This is the fifth wedding that Stan has overseen in the past few years. Not only is it a joy to bring together another young couple united in Christ, eager to serve Him, but to participate in the establishment of a Christ-centered wedding ceremony/theology, showing forth the beauty, richness, and joy of wedded love and life founded on Christ and His Word.

• Fall brings the renewal of our regular Church activities:  Student Bible studies, one-on-one studies,and Ladies' Meetings are all starting up again to complement our weekly Sunday services and midweek prayer meeting.  We are very excited that the teen meeting has been resumed after a yearlong hiatus with a new group of young unbelievers.

• Samaritan's Purse hosted a training conference for Balkan national teams, so Stan travelled to Sarajevo with 5 others from Montenegro for the event.  Samaritan's Purse did a good job of outlining their vision and helps regarding distribution.  Another highlight was meeting a pastor from Bosnia whose mother attends our Niksic fellowship.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News

• We are expecting a team from OM this month who will be in Niksic for a bit over a week.  They are planning to help out with physical projects, such as helping our widows with hauling and stacking firewood, as well as participating in our normal outreaches such as English Conversation Club and Bible studies.

• There continues to be an acute need for work opportunities for believers.  Montenegro used to export a significant amount of medicinal and culinary herbs before the wars of the 90's, and that trade has never been resumed.  Milan and Stan will be going on an exploratory trip to a major natural product trade fair to investigate the possibilities.

• The Lord greatly blessed Vicki's trip to see Milijana settled at university and to enjoy spending time with four out of five children. 

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  


Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:  

• Praise God for bringing together B+R, that their marriage ceremony was a testimony of God's love, and for the many people who were encouraged by it.  Pray for their new life as a couple, for wisdom and grace as they begin wedded life.
•  Praise God that there is a season for everything, and that now is the season for the rhythms and routines of weekly and monthly bible studies and fellowship events.  Pray for those of us leading these studies and pray for those who come to hear:  that believers would grow and that the unbelievers would hear and respond to the Word of God.
• Praise for the continued ministry of Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox outreach in MNE and for those people willing to serve on the national team.  Pray particularly for Stan as the main co-ordinator because he will have an increasingly heavy workload regarding the project as the Christmas season draws near.
• Praise for the excitement and energy of the OM team coming.  Pray that they would accomplish the physical projects without injury, and that they would both encourage and be encouraged as they engage in active witnessing.
• Praise for God's leading Milijana to the right university and the ease of her settling in.  Pray for all our children, both those working and those studying, that they would serve God wholeheartedly right where they are.
• Pray for Stan and Milan's trip, for wisdom to evaluate the information they gather, and for the church and their families while they are away. 

• One way to support the ministry is to consider donating frequent flyer miles as we must provide transatlantic flights at Christmas for our three children currently at university.  If interested, please contact us at stan.surbatovich@gmail.com for more details on how you might help in this practical manner. Thank you so much.  

  Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/   

August 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

May God be gracious to us and 

      bless us and make His face shine on us--

So that Your ways may be known on earth,

      Your salvation among all the nations.  Ps. 67:1-2

Praise be to the Lord God... who alone does marvelous deeds

With July past and August half over, the summertime ministries of camp outreaches are finished. Here are a few highlights of the past month:

• Camp Monty 2013 was a great success! Despite major changes and challenges in logistics with the closure of Hotel Onogost, all the activities and sports took place, often even better than originally planned or hoped for.  More importantly, a number of young people seem serious about continuing to learn and grow in God's truth; we've had two follow-up activities since the camp finished at the end of July. To God be the glory! 

• We've welcomed Saša O. from Podgorica into our home and fellowship.  God provided for him the opportunity to coach soccer on an ongoing basis to boys in a local soccer club.  Along with imparting great soccer skills, Saša sees this as the beginning of a sports ministry here in Montenegro.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News: 

• The comings-and-goings of summer are now mostly goings...  Danica, a young woman in our fellowship, is off to Norway for a 10-month bible school. This coming week we will say good-bye to our Danish friends, Tanja and Rebekka, who have been ministering particularly to the college students this summer, along with our own children, Josiah and Milijana, who will be resuming and starting university studies respectively.

• The Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox project will begin in earnest in September with the forming of a national team of which Stan is the head.  This will require co-operation and communication between believers from all the evangelical churches in MNE.

• All in God's timing....   Jesus instructs us: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Along with Saša, several people who've helped out this summer are giving serious consideration to coming back for a longer period: a month, a season, a year.

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:  

• Praise God for the best Camp Monty yet.  Pray for both the young people who heard the gospel and for the many people who are following-up, whether in person or by internet.  Pray that many would bridge from special activities and social media to actual attendance at worship services and Bible studies.
• Praise for Saša's outreach via soccer and sports.  Pray for a more steady financial foundation, for a quick integration into the life of our fellowship and home, and for many opportunities to witness to these boys via word and deed.
• Praise for God giving our young people, Danica, Josiah, and Milijana, studies abroad this fall.  Pray for them to grow in grace and knowledge, and to use their time and talents wisely.
• Praise for the growing Samaritan's Purse outreach here in Montenegro.  Pray for the development of the national team, for the individual members each with unique responsibilities, and for the vision of reaching Montenegrin children effectively with the good news of Jesus Christ this coming Christmas season.
• Praise for those believers who gave up time and money this summer to come minister via outreach camps and personal evangelism.  Pray that God would enable them to continue to do so with enthusiasm in their own everyday circumstances, and that He would clearly lead those who want to come back.
• Praise for God's faithfulness in providing for our children's education.  With three children attending university this fall, our financial needs have increased.  While all the children have attractive scholarship packages, the additional cost of transatlantic flights at Christmas and summer is not covered.  Please pray and consider donating frequent flyer miles.  If interested, please contact us at stan.surbatovich@gmail.com for more details of how you might help in this practical manner. Thank you so much.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/   

July 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will 
      believe in me  through their message,    
that all of them may be one, Father, 
       just as you are in me and I am in you.  John 17:20, 21a

Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds...

Highlights of the mighty deeds of the Lord this past month include:

• Another baptism!   Miss O.S, a middle-aged lady, was baptized at the local lake in late June.  It is wonderful to see the Lord adding both younger and older people to His body here in Niksic.

• A much-blessed Student Outreach English Camp with a record turnout. This is a three-week event for us, with one week devoted to preparation with the UCCF team, one week for camp, and one week for intense follow-up. We are especially excited that many of the young people at the camp were just as eager to receive and study God's Word as they were to participate in all the fun activities. We are also delighted that a number of students came to our Sunday services after the camp finished.

•  The preaching of God's Word  continues to be a mainstay of the ministry as "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom 10:17.  Stan has just finished two sermon series, one covering the book of  I John, the other on I Cor. 13.  For the upcoming morning worship services, he will be preaching through the book of Jonah, and in the evening, through II John.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News:

• Camp Monty, the sports-centered outreach camp to the youth of Niksic, begins July 22.  While we are not the main organizers of this evangelistic endeavor, our fellowship plays a supporting role through prayer, and most importantly, through follow-up.

•  Our hospitality house ministry continues. When the UCCF team was here, we were 24 people living, working, and fellowshipping together. While that was the biggest expected group this summer, the comings and goings of believers and helpers continues; we were 14 at the Sunday lunch table this past Lord's Day...

 With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:    

• Praise God for the work He is doing in Miss O.S's life.  Please pray for her continued growth and for God's light and grace to shine to her unbelieving, hostile-to-the-faith, family.

• Praise God for the His blessings on the student outreach camp.  Please pray for those who sincerely desire to continue to study God's word and are experiencing, like the Ethopian eunuch, difficulty in understanding what they read.  Pray for our continuing efforts to reach out and guide these young people, that we would not grow weary or caught up in everyday cares.

•  Praise God for the freedom we have here to openly preach His word. Pray for Stan and his preparations each week as he proclaims God's truth to us from His holy word.

• Praise for the faithful efforts of Life Impact for Eternity and the many believers who make Camp Monty possible.  Pray for the young people attending to be stirred and pricked in their hearts, that they might ask "How can we be saved?"

• Praise to God for the many people who come to Montenegro and Niksic to sow and water seeds of faith.  Pray that God would give the increase.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/   

June 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
    Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
          Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
   They are more than can be numbered. Ps. 40:5

Here are a few of the wonderful works God has done amongst us this past month:

• Mr. Lindsay Brown spent two days with us, encouraging and challenging believers to live as light and salt in a dark, decaying world at the All-Montenegro Believers Meeting.  In a different ministry setting including a number of university students, he outlined how to have true joy in the Christian life which was well-received and stimulated some heartfelt conversations.

• With great joy, we celebrated the baptism of Andjela, a young lady who grew up in the fellowship, at our local lake.  Friends and relatives joined us for an outdoor Lord's Day worship service followed by a BBQ and fellowship at our place.

• With sadness we said good-bye to Randi Pedersen as she returned to Denmark after 10 months with us here in Niksic.  We were all encouraged by her cheerful ministry amongst us and trust the Lord will continue to bring forth good fruit from her labors.

• Summer ministry is in full swing with the arrival of Tanja and Rebekka, our Danish friends here for their third summer of ministry, and the anticipated coming of the UCCF team from the UK for our student outreach English camp.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News:

• We're having another baptism this Lord's Day! A woman, Miss O.S., who was introduced to our fellowship by our previous landlady, has been steadily growing in her faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation. She is eager to get baptized, especially after hearing and reading about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in the bible.

• Next week the UCCF team arrives for early preparations and relationship building before the Student English Camp officially begins on July 1.  Pre-registration has been brisker than ever, thanks be to God.

• By God's good providence, we enjoyed a wonderful family vacation in the beautiful city of Prague, unhindered by the recent flooding.  Thus the reason this newsletter is a bit later than usual. The Lord also blessed us with a good new friend, Peter G., who kindly watched over the house in our absence and is using his special welding skills in completing some finishing fence work around the property and instructing Josiah.

 With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:   

• Praise God for the growing fellowship with two new baptisms.  Please pray for Andjela and Miss O.S., that they would continue to grow in their love and relationship with Jesus Christ as well as grow in their involvement with the community of believers.

• Praise for the high level of interest and commitment of young people in attending the summer English Student evangelistic camp.  Pray for the UCCF team, our local participants, and especially for the seeking unbelievers, that God would orchestrate all plans, conversations, witnessing for His glory.

• Praise for the longer short-term workers here with us:  Peter G., Tanja, and Rebekka.  Pray for their strength, zeal, and wise use of gifts, practical and spiritual, during their time in Niksic.   

• Praise for the good family vacation we were able to take before the busyness of summer ministry began in earnest.  Pray for us, especially in regard to our hospitality ministry, as we will be hosting dozens of people for varying lengths of time all summer.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/    

May 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.  Is. 53:6

With everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you...

Rejoice with us in the good things the Lord is doing amongst us.

• Our Easter services celebrated the wonderful truths elaborated in Isaiah 53, which by God's serendipitous providence, was the read-through-the-Bible passage that day.  We had a packed morning service including some first-time visitors hearing the glorious news of God's everlasting kindness and mercy.

• We thank God for His good care of Stan, Milijana, and the church while Stan was away in April.  Stan greatly enjoyed both conferences; Milijana will be studying International Relations/Russian at the University of Rochester this fall; the church ministries continued on, blessed by the Lord, for we are His people.

• God brought about an interview with a newspaper reporter who remembered Stan from a public forum meeting over a decade ago.  We actively seek involvement with the local community and this is one reason why--God uses these relationships in unexpected ways.  This reporter asked about the church, our relationship with other faiths, and visited one of our meetings.  The article should be published in the coming week.

 

 

•  We are enjoying a week of music, worship, fellowship, and outreach. The Cranes, gifted musicians and worship leaders, along with two men who are the head organizers for Camp Monty (the evangelistic sports camp held every summer) are here for an intense week of ministry.  We started things off with a night of Christian fellowship (pictured above) but there will be several evangelistic concerts and get togethers.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News:

• We're having a Baptism!  This Sunday, we will be baptizing Andjela, a young woman whose family has been long involved with the church.  She had the privilege of growing up hearing gospel truths and has now fully embraced Christ as her Lord and Savior. Rejoice with us!  Also, it is our hope to be having  another baptism before the year is over as a relative newcomer to the fellowship is growing in faith and knowledge and has a desire to be baptized.

•  The All-Montenegro Believer's Meeting is this weekend, followed by a visit from Lindsay Brown, a long-time evangelist to university students, accompanied by a BBQ bash for both believers and  unbelievers.  Summer ministry has begun!

•  Saying Good-bye is so hard to do.  By the time the next regular newsletter is published, we will have said good-bye to Randi from Denmark who has been with us since last August on a short-term mission assignment.  We will surely miss her as she has become a member of our Christian family here (and has been chief photographer for this newsletter).

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:   

• Praise for God's never-failing mercies which are new every morning.  Pray that God would use our efforts and ministries:  preaching, teaching, counseling, one-on-one studies,  Ladies' Mtg, Girls' Mtg, College Study, and special events for the building up of His People and the advance of His Kingdom.
• Praise that while we sow seeds, God is faithful to the harvest.  Pray for Andjela as she makes a public profession of faith, that God would watch over her, guide her, lead her, strengthen her as His beloved daughter and disciple in this hardhearted world.
• Praise for the many outreach opportunities in the next few months.  Our freedom to proclaim Christ here is a true blessing and window of opportunity.  Pray that the newspaper article would point interested people to come to our services and hear the gospel; pray that the concerts this week would touch the hearers; pray for the unbelievers who heard the eternal message of the Resurrection this past Easter.
• Praise God for workers like Randi and others who come and give of their lives to give life to others.  Pray for the ongoing fruit of her ministry and contact with the young people here, both believers and unbelievers.  Pray for us as we prepare a SPECIAL EDITION newsletter outlining the wonderful opportunities, experiences, and blessings of becoming a short-term missionary here in Niksic, Montenegro.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/    

April 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

My beloved spoke, and said to me;
     "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For lo, winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
      The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come..."
  Song 2:10-12a

There is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven

• It has been a quiet, pensive month for us believers here in Niksic.  We've had many opportunities to "Trust in the Lord with all our hearts, and lean not unto our own understandings," as we've experienced yet another death of a loved one, continued serious illness, challenging economic situations, and personal struggles.  We've been blessed with some good sermons on death in light of the hope of the gospel, plus a call to walk in unity as the body of Christ.

•  Stan is away for the month of April, attending two conferences falling at the beginning and end of the month.  In between, he is aiding Milijana as she decides which university she will attend this fall and with setting up such mundane things as a bank account.  Praise God that we now have several men who can and are ably leading the Sunday and mid-week meetings.

• What about Easter? While we celebrated the Lord's Supper this past March 31st, we will celebrate the Lord's Resurrection on May 5, Orthodox Easter according to local custom.  For many, the May 1st holidays will be combined with Easter holidays to make one big holiday week.  We are expecting and praying for visitors that Sunday.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News:

•  While April has been a quiet month, May is shaping up to be the start of a very busy season:  Easter celebration, a series of concerts given by a very talented musical couple from the States, all capped with our All-Montenegro Believer's Meeting.  Beginning in early June, we will be hosting short-term mission teams and engaging in our annual evangelistic outreach camps.

•  We thank God for the several universities that accepted Milijana and are continuing to pray for His leading. She will decide by May 1st which school she will attend.

•  Many thanks to all who send the lovely cards of encouragement as well as to all our faithful prayer warriors.  Truly, we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the principalities of evil in the heavens.

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:   

• Praise to our God for His peace that passes understanding.  Please pray for those facing loss of loved ones, awaiting medical tests and biopsies, and economic difficulties.
• Praise for the excellent Samaritan's Purse conference that Stan was able to attend and for God's watching over all of us here still in Niksic.  Please pray for the men leading here and for Stan and Milijana's travels.
• Praise for the wonderful opportunities to reach out and share the Good News of Jesus Christ and for those coming to help us do that.  Pray for the Holy Spirit's leading and touching of people's hearts.  And please pray and consider coming to join us.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 
• Praise for God's faithful leading of all our children as they approached their university years and moving away from home and country.  Pray for Milijana's final decision that as she makes her plans that the Lord will lead her steps.

 

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/    

March 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.
    From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
    Lead me to the Rock which is higher than I.  Ps. 61:1,2

Trust in Him at all times, you people!

• Our midweek meeting is moving!  For the first time in a long time, we are now holding our midweek sermon discussion/prayer meeting in people's homes.  The impetus was the unpleasant coldness of our meeting room during the week, but our times together have been so wonderfully blessed, that we will continue to meet in homes when the weather improves.  Each week a different family or member offers to host the group--this is a wonderful answer to prayer because in the first years of ministry, our home was the only home available!

• The Lord is our strength.  It has been a trying time for our small fellowship because of some hard providences.  Amongst our regular members and semi-attenders, we have experienced a death in the family, the impending death of a loved one in another family, serious illness requiring extended and ongoing hospitalization in a third family, severe depression in yet another, and other less serious illnesses all requiring a doctor's care.  Adding to our weariness are the current storm warnings, landslide warnings, and water potability issues as we are expecting (and currently experiencing) heavy precipitation these next few days.  Please pray for us all.

Upcoming Ministry and Family News:

•  The mid-March concert has been postponed due to the above mentioned circumstances.  We make our plans, but God directs our paths.

• The All-Montenegro Believer's Meeting will be held in mid-May.  While we are not hosting it this year, it is a blessed time as we all (approximately 200 believers) gather as one body in Christ. 

• Summer will be once again packed with ministry:  student camps, visitors, short-term teams, plus our own preparations for Milijana's move to university.  Now is the time that plans are laid and made, so please pray that we would be making wise decisions in all these things.

• Stan will be gone much of April due to two Christian conferences and a college-visiting trip with Milijana.  

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  
 
Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:    

•  Praise for the increased fellowship and knitting of our hearts as we've moved the midweek meeting into people's homes.  Please pray that none would grow weary of ministry and that our times would cause us all to grow in Christlikeness.
• Praise that God is our foundation and our strong arm.  Please pray for the believers here, for healing, for salvation, for renewed hope and waiting on the Lord.  Please pray particularly for Stan and his increased counseling load during these times.
• Praise for all the eager workers and upcoming ministry opportunities. Pray that God would be working in people's hearts that they might come and hear and receive His word.
• Pray for our time while Stan and Milijana are away:  that all their purposes and aims would be accomplished in the States, for the men preaching and leading while he is away, for protection from our enemy Satan.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/    

  

February 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, 
     And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 
‘I am the First and I am the Last;  
       Besides Me there is no God.'  Is. 44:6

Sing to the Lord a new song!

• This year, Stan will be the National Coordinator for the Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox project.  We've met with the International Assistant Manager to discuss this new responsibility and ways to make the outreach even better here in MNE.  Stan will also be attending an international conference in early April.

• We have a new church sign!  The sign indicates our name, the times of our Sunday services, and a contact number.  While sedate, it is very visible from the street, so it is getting noticed, praise God.

 

•  Stan has been preaching through I Cor. 13 and I John, ch. 3-4 on Sundays.  Our midweek prayer and sermon discussion times have been quite lively as we seek to encourage one another to love as God loves.

•  We rejoice that B. and her young son who recently moved from Croatia to Niksic have become active participants in all our regular meetings:  Sunday services, prayer meeting, children's outreach, and Ladies' Fellowship. 

 Upcoming Ministry and Family News:

• With spring approaching and Deo volente, nicer weather, we have several outreach events scheduled.  First up will be a concert held in town mid-March by our own talented musicians, Danijel, Peter, and Friends.  We are expecting a good turn-out.  Details of other events will be forthcoming in future newsletters.  The whole series of events will be finished off by a strong evangelistic presentation in May, right after Orthodox Easter.

• In April, Stan leaves ahead of Milijana because of the Samaritan's Purse Conference.  Mili will be flying in a week later for college visits.  We welcome suggestions of good places for her to stay in Orlando, FL for possibly two days while Stan finishes up his conference activities.

 With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:    

• Praise for the continuation of the Samaritan's Purse ministry here in Montenegro.  Pray for the transition of leadership as Stan takes on this new duty and that many people, even now, will be blessed hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ by seeing love in action.
• Praise for the new Church sign and no complaints yet.  Pray for our church building situation; we left off with the owner considering selling it come the new year.  Pray that at just the right time God will provide us with a building of our own.
• Praise for the ongoing ministries of the church:  Worship services, midweek meetings (prayer, College Student Bible Study, Conversation Club), hospitality ministry, one-on-one studies, Ladies' Fellowship, and the new Samaritan's Purse follow-up ministry for children.  These are the lifeblood of our life together in Christ.  Pray that we would rejoice in the good work the Lord has given us and that none would grow weary with well-doing.
• Praise for B. and her son--that God brought them from a very dark place into His light and salvation.  Pray for their settling down and hearing God's voice as He leads them. 
• Praise that Milijana's university is in God's hands and we are resting in His providence.  Please pray for her upcoming trip, that she would wisely decide amongst her options.  

 

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter update directly, please subscribe at:  http://christianitymontenegro.blogspot.com/    

January 2013 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

You crown the year with Your goodness,
         And Your paths drip with abundance.  Ps. 65:11

Remember His marvelous works! 

• We successfully distributed all 5000 Samaritan's Purse Christmas boxes.  Along with the shoebox, each child received a New Testament, a colorful booklet entitled "The Greatest Gift on Earth", our church contact info, and a presentation of the gospel along with singing "Silent Night."  Additionally, many children were accompanied by an adult or two who also heard the gospel proclaimed.  Please pray that all these families would look past the gift and long to know the Giver.

• It was a great time of ministry for our fellowship, with everyone participating, young and old (ages 15-60+).  Because the project is so large, we also had the opportunity to work alongside other members of our local community, and this opens the door for Christian follow-up and ministry amongst them as well.  Please pray for our continued ministry amongst unbelieving students.

• We enjoyed good times and opportunities for witnessing as we visited and shared meals together with the B. family, the M. family, the J. family, and the P. family during the holidays, a traditional time for such get-togethers.  Since we usually have people over to our house, it is an extra-special treat to be invited to other homes.  Please pray for our continued ministry and witnessing among these families.

• Christmas Eve (Jan. 6) found us hosting three unexpected visitors from the Ukraine. To be honest, we were a little leery (being contacted out of the blue), and weary (having had an emotionally-exhausting day when Josiah missed his return flight due to an unanticipated 5 hour delay at the border, necessitating working out a new itinerary involving an overnight stay in Frankfurt) at the prospect of hosting guests.  But God's ways are marvelous, for these three young people from a large church in Kiev truly refreshed our souls with their love and enthusiasm for God and His gospel.  We look forward to an ongoing relationship with them and their church this year.    Please pray that God would continue to bear fruit out of this relationship as we admired their church's organized and enthusiastic outreach in their local Ukranian community.

               

Family News:  

• We greatly enjoyed our time with our sons home from university.  The Lord did bless us all with good health for which we are truly thankful.
• Milijana has completed all her applications and supplements for university.  By God's grace, she has received one acceptance letter (so far).  Please continue to pray that God would lead in the way she should go.
• Stan and Milijana anticipate a trip to the US in April in a combined Samaritan's Purse Conference/college check visit.

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro  

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:    

• Praise God for another successful Christmas Shoebox project.  Please pray that we would continue to improve in the logistics, but even more importantly, that the families receiving would seek out Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
• Praise God for the participation by all the members of the fellowship in the outreach, for the knitting of our hearts together.  Pray for those interested-but-still-on-the-periphery souls.
• Praise for the many friendships and  relationships God has given us here.  Pray that we would be wise blessings to all.
• Praise for God's mysterious ways in bringing three brothers and sisters in Christ all the way from the Ukraine for our mutual encouragement and edification.  Please pray that God would lead us in fostering this relationship.
• Praise for God's continued care over us.  Pray for those men in the fellowship seeking stable employment, and for Stan's continuing chronic health concerns.