December 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 

and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

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

This past month has been an Ecclesiastes 3 month with a time for every matter under heaven.

• A Time to Speak: Stan has begun a four-part Advent Series in the run up to Christmas (celebrated here on Jan. 7th) looking at each of the four Songs surrounding Jesus’s birth found in the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke. 

• A Time to Die:  We grieve with one of our members, whose mother passed away, in rather short order from first diagnosis and at a relatively young age (late 50’s).  However, we do not grieve as those without hope, for she willingly heard the gospel and kept a Bible by her side in her very last days.  May the rest of the family embrace the Good News of Jesus Christ.

• A Time to Gather: The Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoeboxes have arrived!  We expect to hand out approx. 2000 boxes.  Please pray for the many details to be worked out in the next two weeks regarding where and when the outreach will take place, and pray especially for the children/families receiving these tokens of God’s love. May these packages be instrumental in encouraging families to come to know The Greatest Gift of all.

• A Time to Build Up:  We made a very quick trip to the US to help Stan’s mother as the possibility mentioned in last month’s newsletter became a reality.  We were able to help her with some practical matters as well as be a brightening influence to her both spiritually and emotionally.  Please pray for us all as we desire to move her to Montenegro in Summer 2019.

• A Time to Laugh: Here in Nikšić we are looking forward to some very joyous occasions in 2019 with not just one, but two weddings to celebrate (including our daughter’s), as well as the anticipated arrival a baby in mid-summer adding to our number! Rejoice with us in giving thanks for God’s abundant goodness to us.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for all the holiday outreaches: That as we meet up with others whether formally at church, through the Christmas Shoebox outreach, or socially at slavas (Patron Saint Day celebrations) and other holiday events, pray that we would use the advantage to speak winsomely of Christ and the reason for the season. Oh, may God open people's eyes, ears and hearts to see, hear, and embrace His Son.

• Please pray for Rafaella.  As of this writing, she does not yet have the funding she needs to stay in Montenegro long-term. Please pray that God would provide for her what is needed, when it is needed.  She remains joyful and hopeful, knowing that God is working all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

As the year draws to a close, we want to say how very much encouraged we are by the love and support shown to us through you all.  Thank you for the notes and cards, for short emails and longer updates, for faithful prayers, and for the finances to do what we do.  We are both humbled and blessed to be surrounded by so great a cloud of modern-day witnesses.  To God be the Glory! 

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

Note:  If you'd like to join our team of financial supporters or adjust the gift you already give, here’s how:

If you live in the U.S., you may mail checks made out to: Mission to Montenegro with appropriate memo and addressed to:

Faith Community Church
Attn:  Mission to Montenegro
723 South D Street
Oxnard, CA 93030

website: Faith Community Church Homepage

If you live outside the U.S. do get in touch (stan.surbatovich@gmail.com) and we will give you bank transfer information.

Thank you for your support! Soli Deo gloria!

November 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, 
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross… 
Heb. 12:1-2

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

Here are some happenings of the past month as we run the race that is set before us:

• In our evening service, Stan is preaching a mini-series from John 3, covering Jesus and Nicodemus, opening up the rich background and presuppositions that Nicodemus should have known as a teacher of Israel.  In our morning services, after much prayer, Stan will be embarking on a preaching series through Exodus, his first sweep through this entire book. 

• We were blessed by Rafaella's return visit to Nikšić.  Last month, we briefly met her and her Brazilian pastors.  This trip, a week was spent introducing Rafaella to the regular life of the church:  our people, our ministries, our joys, and our challenges.  She greatly wants to come back and serve here, but for now is continuing to seek the Lord's guidance and provision.

Rafaella enjoying the mountains near Nikšić

• At our monthly Ladies' Meeting, along with general fellowship and mutual encouragement, we were inspired by Psalm 27, vs. 1&2, noting how David declared a truth about God, and then spoke an “encouragement to his own soul" based on that truth.  We were challenged to do the same in our daily lives, to draw strength for both ourselves and for others from that pure well of "God's diverse excellencies" (Thank you, Jonathon Edwards, for that sublime phrase!)

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for our faithfulness to our daily callings, services, and ministries.  
• Please pray that God would touch the hearts of the unsaved:  unsaved family members (spouses and children), unsaved neighbors and co-workers, unsaved friends.  We love our church body here but we long for us to grow--both in numbers and maturity.  
• Please pray that God would especially stir up university students to pursue Truth along with their studies as the university ministry events have seen fewer attendees than in past years. 
• Please pray for Rafaella, that God would open the door for her to work here this next year.
• Please pray for us as we once again have some growing concerns for Stan's mother and may be making an unplanned trip shortly.
• Please pray for provision of the financial needs of this Mission to Montenegro ministry.  In the fall of the year, our sending church (who handles all the finances), sends us a report which highlights the discrepancy between annual budget and annual giving, which spurs us to ask you to pray and consider giving or increasing your support.  God is building His church, His family here in Montenegro, and we appreciate your partnering with us to that end.  

With great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

Note: We are extremely thankful for those individuals and churches who support this work through prayer, encouragement, and material giving.  If you'd like to join our team of financial supporters or adjust the gift you already give, here’s how:

If you live in the U.S., you may mail checks made out to: Mission to Montenegro with appropriate memo and addressed to:

Faith Community Church

Attn:  Mission to Montenegro

723 South D Street

Oxnard, CA 93030

website: Faith Community Church Home Page

If you live outside the U.S. do get in touch (stan.surbatovich@gmail.com) and we will give you bank transfer information.

Thank you for your support! To God be the glory!

October 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Praise the Lord, all nations!

Extol him, all peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

May grace and peace be multiplied to you!

Yes, great is His steadfast love toward us!  We rejoice in the privilege to share that love here in Montenegro.  Here are a few highlights from the past month:

• We are back in the full swing of everyday activities (as opposed to the many special events during summer).   Stan finished his (4 years in the making!) series through the Gospel of Luke with an excellent review of the Good News found in Luke, focusing on that book's unique themes and passages as well as how it continues to speak to us today. Also, both our monthly Ladies’ meeting and University student bible studies are underway; there have been new faces this fall, let us pray for more!

• We were delighted to meet Rafaella and her pastor, both from Brazil.  With a God-given desire and call to serve in Montenegro, she came to visit and see for herself the needs (and realities) of serving here. She is currently beginning language studies while in Serbia for the next few months, prayerfully seeking the best way to come to Montenegro as she desires to be a tent-making missionary.

• Stan participated in the first Southeast Europe GC meet-up held in Albania earlier this month.  Out of the 40 or so attendees, a full 30 were Albanian pastors.  Praise be to God! What a blessing as Albania was declared the world’s first atheist state, totally closed to the gospel, a mere 30 years ago.   Oh, may the Lord be pleased to pour out His spirit here in Montenegro!  

Southeast Europe TGC Meeting (Albania)

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the Lord to bless His people here in Niksic and in Montenegro, that we might reflect His radiance and glory in a dark land.  Please pray for steadfast faith, for increasing sanctification, and much joy.

• Please pray for the Lord to send more workers to Montenegro to share the gospel and make disciples.  We see a direct connection between the hundreds of missionaries pouring into Albania (a country bordering Montenegro!) when it finally opened its doors to the outside world thirty years ago and those 30+ Albanian pastors at the above-mentioned meet-up just one generation later.  Please pray for the current missionaries (especially us!) and all those the Lord is drawing, particularly Rafaella who recently visited as well as James, a young man prayerfully considering it.  Truly, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

• Please pray for the Lord to stir the hearts of His people (yours?) to support our Mission to Montenegro work here in Niksic, both prayerfully and materially.  Even as the global economy ticks up, giving is down.  Oh, may ever more of God’s people invest in His worldwide work!  We are humbly grateful for how the Lord has provided, yet there is so much more good that could be done!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

We are extremely thankful for those individuals and churches who support this work through prayer, encouragement, and material giving.  If you'd like to join our team of financial supporters or adjust the gift you already give, here’s how:

If you live in the U.S., you may mail checks made out to: Mission to Montenegro with appropriate memo and addressed to:

Faith Community Church

Attn:  Mission to Montenegro

723 South D Street

Oxnard, CA 93030

website: Faith Community Church Home Page

If you live outside the U.S. do get in touch (stan.surbatovich@gmail.com) and we will give you bank transfer information.

Thank you for your support! To God be the glory!

September 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. 

The entirety of Your word is truth,

And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Ps. 119: 89,160

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you!

Hello, Friends!  After the busyness of summer activities and outreaches, we've appreciated taking care of the little (but no less important) things of life and ministry here in Nikšić for we do not despise the day of small things.

Highlights from our month of Little Things,

• Stan is wrapping up his preaching through the Gospel of Luke in the morning as well as his series through the Psalms in the evening. Through faithful exegesis of Scripture in both the Old and New Testament, Stan has clearly shown us the mercy and love of God to reveal Himself to us by His Word, a precious gift indeed.  I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. Ps. 119:162

• We had one Skype call, and numerous email interchanges to four different interested individuals and groups for possible future ministry here in MNE and/or Nikšić.  

•  We hosted a small team from Albania for one night who were here for an outreach to local young people.  

Speaking Gospel Truths before Event

• We also hosted a visit with a delightful young couple who are fairly new-to-Montenegro missionaries (currently in the capital city of Podgorica) and enjoyed finding out more about God’s working in Uruguay and Paraguay (their home countries) as well as how they’d like to serve God here in MNE.

• We've also met up with various individuals for one-on-one visits, counseling, and mentoring; hosted the annual meeting of the EUS-CG board; and kept up with all the usual church activities such as prayer meetings and fellowship lunches. It has been a good month!

EUS-CG Board 

 Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please continue to pray for us as we move (slowly!) towards a more comprehensive Children's Ministry-for logistics in a small space and limited manpower as well as good materials to present.  We are still hopeful that God will be bringing the right person(s) to head up this growing part of our church life.

• Please pray for Stan as he determines the next books of the Bible to preach to God's people as well as for new people to join us; there are always interested folks but the peer pressure to not associate with a "sect" is very strong and difficult for many to overcome.  

• Please pray for those meetings and events that are starting up again in the fall; namely, the student Bible Study, English Conversation Club, and the monthly women's meetings.  It always takes awhile for new routines to settle in.

• Please continue to pray for the Steering Committee of the South-Eastern European Gospel Coalition who meet monthly via teleconferencing and will have their first in-person event in a few weeks in Albania.  They know that setting a proper foundation is vitally important for any future growth/fruit of this work which is to be a network to encourage us and others to a Christ-Centered gospel.

We also thank you so much for your special prayers regarding our physical health and are glad to be well on the mend.  

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

August 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

I am the Lord, and there is no other.  

I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’

I the Lord speak the truth;  I declare what is right. Is. 45:18,19

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

The summer season of camps and outreaches is coming to an end, but God's Word continues to go forth here in Montenegro.  Our God, the Alpha and the Omega, is faithful and true!

• Camp Monty, the sports outreach to children aged 8-18, wrapped up the last week of July.   Excitingly, there were quite a few new children participating this year, hearing about the love of God and seeing it in action.  Additionally, with Camp Monty running for 12+ years, a number of former campers are now local helpers and translators, so seeds are continuing to be sown.  This long-term faithful witnessing is very important in a region where Protestants are still oft deemed a cult and a sect. 

• This year, for the first time, we had a special Ladies' event, entitled "Coffee and Canvas.”  Last year, Vicki and a few of the Camp Monty volunteers thought it might be nice to do something for women (a forgotten demographic here), and this year, it came to fruition. Along with the hands-on activity, there was time to chat and Marilyn (from the States) gave a short testimony and directed our attention to Christ.  The event went off extremely well and we hope to do something yearly!

• Stan is participating on the Steering Committee for the formation of a “Balkan Gospel Coalition” (ultimate name TBD)  and appreciated the modern technology of video conferencing for their first meeting.  May the Lord guide the committee as it outlines its vision and reach in the region, wisely discerning between essentials of the reformed faith and charitable differences.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the regular ministry of the Word.  As Stan begins wrapping up the Gospel of Luke (AM service) and his series through Psalms (PM service), please pray that God would give clarity on the next book(s) to proclaim in His name.  Please pray, too, that believers here in MNE would rightly esteem the Word and put it above feelings and experiences.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

• Please pray for the men, women, and children who were touched by the various camps and outreaches these past two months--both the volunteers and those who attended.   May God work in the hearts of all, encouraging and strengthening those who believe, and convicting and converting those who have not yet turned to Jesus Christ,  who is the way, the truth, and the life.

• Please pray for the ongoing life of the church especially as we transition into our fall schedule and add back in the suspended-for-summer weekly (Student Bible Study, English Conversation Club) and monthly (Ladies' Devotional) meetings.  Also, pray that we might have wisdom as we seek to encourage the children (and their families at home) to grow in love and knowledge of their faith; we are contemplating the translation of a suitable catechism as one such means.

• Please pray for good progress on the formation of the Balkan Gospel Coalition (international) as well as continued unity and establishment of a Montenegrin-wide evangelical alliance.  

• As is often the case after an intense season, we are both physically drained and can identify (in a small way) with Paul's thorn as we each have our own manifested weaknesses (migraines, shingles).  Join us in praying that we would know (and delight in) God's promise: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

July 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, 

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:5,7

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

Our summer ministry season certainly highlights the above truths!  We are busy, busy, busy proclaiming the message, walking in the light, and enjoying fellowship with one another, all because of the blood of Jesus. Amen and Amen!

• Stan is glad to be back in the pulpit here in Niksic.  In our morning services, he's been in Luke 23, covering Jesus's arrest and trial before both the religious and civic leaders. This travesty of justice is in complete accordance with the will of the Father  (even as Pilate handed over Jesus to "the will of the people") for "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem with the certain knowledge that The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. Luke 9:51,44  What love Christ has shown for us!

• The UCCF/EUS Student English Camp two-week outreach wrapped up last week.  We very much appreciate the faithful service and commitment of the students (and leaders) to share gospel truths from both Scripture and their lives.  They brought good encouragement to young believers and penetrating (biblical) discussions to those not walking in the light.  Excitingly, a number of the UCCF team members have expressed the desire to come back, whether over Christmas holidays with OCC package distribution, or for a month,  or even a summer.  Please pray for continued fruit to bear in the lives of the saved and unsaved from this camp.

 

UCCF/EUS CG English Camp 2018

•  Stan was present and gave input at a public Round Table Meeting  on proposed laws regarding Homosexual issues in light of Montenegro's desired entrance into the EU.  Please pray for the government's leaders to be wise with a wisdom from above.  He is able!

• We will very much miss Rebekka who finished up two (2!) years of ministry here in Niksic and is now back in Denmark.  Although primarily involved in reaching out and discipling young women,  she was also an active member of our fellowship and our chief keyboard pianist.  Happily, this was not a final good-bye as she has plans to visit us here again!

Fellowship and Good-bye Lunch for Rebekka

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for Stan's preparations and faithful preaching of God's Word in season and out for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

•  Please pray for the young people who attended the Student English Camp outreach, for renewed hearts and a commitment to grow in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Please pray that God will bless all the events of the upcoming Camp Monty Sports Camp which begins July 23.  Upwards of 300 children participate in the various day camp activities.  Please pray for the leaders to rightly point children to a living relationship with the Living God. And, for the first time, in conjunction with some of the Camp Monty women volunteers, we will be having a Ladies' Outreach evening on Weds. the 25th.  Exciting times ahead!

• Lastly, the regular ministry continues on with preaching and teaching, ongoing mentoring, our midweek prayer meeting and fellowship,  an active hospitality ministry, and our visitations in the community.  Please pray for all these good works, and especially for the growing need of a dedicated children's worker.  And, may we ask that you pray for us in particular, as we are seeking to meet the needs of an aging (stateside) family member.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

June 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, 

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord 

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; 

They shall be fresh and flourishing. Ps. 92

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

We are now back in Nikšić enjoying sweet reunion with the saints, getting over jet lag, and looking forward to a busy season of camp outreaches.

While our time away was a bit physically taxing, we were wonderfully refreshed by all our visits: we greatly appreciated the keen interest, intelligent questions, fervent prayers, and practical help everywhere we went.

The past six weeks of our mini-furlough are well-summarized with this fun graphic:

A Few Other Highlights Include:

• For the first time ever, all of us missionaries overseen by Faith Community Church were together!

Oxnard, Montenegro, Mozambique, India

• Much to our amazement and delight, despite our intense travels (during the last half, we were never in the same time zone more than 3 days straight), we stayed well and healthy—Thank you, Lord! 

• Yesterday, at our evening service, Stan preached from Ps. 92, and at the conclusion of our service, we had a time for all to look back over the past 6 weeks to give thanks to the Lord and declare His great works.  (Ps. 92: 2, 5).

Sharing highlights after service

A great part of the blessing of our furlough was seeing Ps. 92: 12-14 in action:  

• We were privileged to spend time with enthusiastic new-believers awashed in the wonders of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice (v. 12), 
• We were encouraged by faithful fellow sojourners and pastors to continue on steadfastly (vs. 13), 
• We said good-bye to dear saints we don’t expect to see again in this life as they see the finish line to their lives on earth and yet are still running their race well (vs 14).

Soli Deo gloria!  Join us in giving thanks for God's wonderful care of us, the fellowship here in Nikšić, and His working in the hearts of His people all over the world.  Please pray for the upcoming summer outreaches. The first team arrives next week!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

May 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness,

I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.

Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! 

For I am God, and there is no other.

Is. 45: 6b, 7, 22

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

God: The maker of light, darkness, peace, and calamity;  the one and only one who saves. What a mighty God we serve!  Soli Deo Gloria!  Due to our stateside travels, this newsletter will be a bit different, but God's hand is no less evident.  Here are a few highlights of the past month:

• At the end of April, Vicki was privileged to speak at a Ladies' Tea held in Podgorica (the capital city).  Given the topic of Cross-Generational Discipleship, she focused on Biblical insights and helps for modern women to disciple in a godly manner. Please pray that we all would press in and encourage one another to love and good works.

• We began our stateside time participating in the national FIRE conference hosted by our sending church, Faith Community Church.  With the great teaching and the great fellowship, we found ourselves wonderfully refreshed; a nice start & tank up before our jet set life began.  Please pray for us as we are commencing a very busy visitation schedule over the next few weeks.

• Just this past weekend, we celebrated our son's graduation from university with a BS degree in Computer Science.   We feel humbled by God's kindness in His provision that all five of our children were able to attain a university education.  Christian is currently in the applying and interviewing process for a full-time job, so your prayers are much appreciated!

• Sadly, the vandalism of our church sign continues to escalate; now there is damage not only to our sign but the building (property of another) that we rent.  Please pray for wisdom in dealing with the police as we report the damage and ultimately the culprit(s) when found.  On a happier note, the brethren in Niksic are doing well; we are hearing reports of good teaching and good fellowship. Please continue to pray for unity of the spirit, for protection from enemies, and for a joy and peace that passes understanding.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

April 2018 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. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  

John 17:20, 21

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

There is a time for everything under heaven, and spring is the time for Easter celebrations and the start of team outreaches.  Here are a few highlights from the past month:

• For our Easter Service (April 8th), Stan preached from Luke 23:32ff, on Jesus and the two criminals on the cross, highlighting the truth that both criminals wanted to be saved: one, however, to get his old (sinful) life back, the other to be with Christ.  And rather than have an evening service, we encouraged our people to enjoy an Easter dinner with family and friends which many did.  We ourselves had full table, with folks from the church along with our Danish guests.

Good Food, Good Fellowship on Easter Sunday!

• The Danish Bible School outreach to university students was much blessed!  The week's events (Concert, Danish Corner, Danish Culture Night) led up to a Bible study and weekend retreat, all of which were well-attended.  We especially rejoice over the many new people who are showing a serious interest in spiritual things. 

Danish Corner at University

Farewell Night and Sharing the Good News

• On a less than glorious note, our church sign (repeatedly repaired/remade) continues to be vandalized, with a slight escalation in severity of damage.  Even as we take comfort from Jesus's words In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world, we are contemplating next steps such as informing the police and/or installing a security camera.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the regular ministries of the church:  the preaching, teaching, visitations, mid-week prayer meeting, budding children's Sunday school, university student outreach&Bible study, and monthly Women's Meeting, as we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

• Please pray for those who will be ministering in May during our mini-furlough,  especially for Peter S, Danijel P, and Sasa O as they will lead and preach most Sundays.

• Please pray for much fruit from these past two weeks of university outreach with the Danish Bible School team, that students would continue to come and take advantage of the ongoing Bible Studies, the English Conversation Club, and even Sunday Worship services.

• Please pray for us as we prepare to be away, for timely completion of our responsibilities on this side of the Atlantic, for traveling mercies, and for good visits with churches, family, and friends. Soli Deo Gloria!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

March 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise 

to spring forth before all the nations. 

Is. 61:11

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

For behold, the winter is past...The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come.   Oh, the joy of spring! The promise of God's triumphal reign! The privilege of serving our awesome Lord God!  We are eager to share a few highlights since our last update:

• Our new monthly Women's Meeting continues to be blessed by the Lord. This past month we saw an increase with 8 women (ages 21-74!) attending for a morning of fellowship and encouragement along with a devotional on cultivating godly contentment.  Please continue to pray for this ongoing event especially as we move into the busy season of Easter (April 8 here) and teams!

• A Confession of Faith with strong reformed and evangelical tenets has now been translated into Montenegrin.  This Statement of Faith completes the first step in the formation of a Balkan Gospel Coalition.  Please pray for the next step which is for the national leaders/pastors to work out and agree to the broader Confession of Faith to define the Balkan Gospel Coalition.

• On Sunday mornings, Stan is finishing up in Luke 21 with the Coming of the Son of Man. Also, in keeping with our commitment to develop the teaching&preaching gifts within the congregation, Saša recently took the pulpit and expounded from Phil. 2:18ff on how believers ought to live with one another, with Christ, and with the world.  We were all much encouraged.

• Thank you to all who contacted us for an in-person update on the Mission to Montenegro work!  We are happy to report that we are fully booked this spring.  (However, if you do contact Stan now, we will add you to the already-begun "Churches and People To See" list for our next mini-furlough!) We are greatly looking forward to our face-to-face visits,  that we might encourage one another and build one another up. I Thess. 5:11

• Sadly, our church sign has been vandalized (and repaired) three times now since Jan. 7 (Orthodox Christmas).  Please join us in praying for wisdom in taking proper measures of protection of property as well as for the opportunity to do good to the perpetrators.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• April promises to be a whirlwind month with our Easter Celebration and Outreach on the 8th, the two-week visit of the Danish Bible School seeking to minister to university students,  the normal weekly/monthly life of the church, all happening amidst preparations for our upcoming Spring 2018 Mini-Furlough.  Please pray that we would seek the Lord in all that we do (else we work in vain), and that God would grant much fruit from all our labors and rest as needed! 

• Please pray for the next Balkan Gospel Coalition meeting which will be held in May.  Unfortunately, Stan will not be able to attend. However, Danijel P. will be able to go in his stead.  As the various nations are represented, please pray that God's will be done.

• Please pray for the ongoing ministry with young children.  It is a delight to see how eager the children are to participate, and we long for them to fully know and grow in favor with God and man.  Do continue to pray for Martina (and others), but also for a long-term, gifted individual/family with a heart to minister to children (within both the church and in our wider Nikšić community).

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

February 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!

Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

For the Lord Most High is awesome;

He is a great King over all the earth. Ps. 47:1-2

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

After our busy transition to a new year (two Christmases, two Slavas, two ministry trips, followed by (no surprise) two weeks of illness, we are back to normal mode (like there ever really is normal!) with one new addition.

• We've started a monthly Women's Meeting!  This provides an opportunity for our singles, young mothers, and older women to gather together for mutual encouragement, a devotional, prayer, and fellowship.    While we've had special Women's gatherings over the years, this will be an ongoing part of our church life.  Our first one was this past Saturday and the Lord blessed us with a very good start.

• In our morning services, Stan took two Sundays to preach from Luke 20:26-40, emphasizing the centrality and necessity of the Resurrection. For as Paul wrote:  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  I Cor 15: 13-14

• As part of ongoing pastoral ministry training and mentoring, Stan is having some of the young men preach *while* he is here for encouragement, guidance, and feedback (and not merely be pinch-hitting, so to speak).  Most recently, Danijel P. preached from Luke 22, and at the end of this month, Peter S will be preaching, and then in mid-March, Saša will be preaching--he is just finishing up a long-distance preaching course which will give him a chance to put into practice what he has learned.  

• In late January, Stan attended a Balkan Pastors gathering with the purpose of discerning the need of and establishing a Balkan Gospel Coalition to defend the true gospel because, sadly, some of our pastoral brethren are being sidetracked into preaching over social and political issues, which is no gospel at all (Gal. 1:7).  One reason we emphasize Preaching-with-a-capital P in our updates is that it is not a given in Christian/Missions ministry despite its centrality in Scripture and the phenomenal growth of the church seen in the New Testament.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• Please pray for Stan and all the men as they prayerfully prepare sermons.  We are blessed that we have so many willing to diligently study the Word with humility and reverence in order to present the Living Christ and His gospel.  For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 

• Please pray for our newly established Women's Meeting, that women would grow in love and good works pleasing to our Lord,  as well as in preparing (and receiving) devotionals based on God's word (which will be a first for many).  Also, pray for regular participation, particularly for those with unbelieving spouses/families who are apt to hinder their involvement.

• Please pray for Step One of forming the Balkan Coalition which is preparing a Statement of Faith on a national basis which will then be used to hammer out an acceptable Statement for the Coalition as a whole.  

• Please pray for the ongoing ministry with young children, both for Martina and other locals who are seeking to minister in Sunday-School fashion each week, but also for a long-term, gifted individual/family with a heart to minister to children (within both the church and in our wider Nikšić community).

• Please pray for wisdom and endurance to run our race well as March will be spent in preparation for the upcoming Camp/Team/Outreach season (April-July) beginning with Easter, the Danish Team, our Stateside trip in May,  the June UCCF team, the July Camp Monty, plus the many individuals/families coming and going all while the normal life of the church continues.

• We will once again be in the US from early May through early June.  Along with celebrating a graduation (May 19), we want to see some of you in person! With family on both coasts, we will be traveling nationwide. Churches, please contact Stan ASAP as we are putting together our itinerary.  Friends, please contact Vicki to set up a get-together--no need to be formal! 

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

Note:  Opening photo of gorgeous Montenegrin mountains courtesy of Peter Stonelake.