September 2012 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.   Rev. 1: 4b-5a

Make known His deeds among the peoples! 
 
God has been busy amongst us this past month; we will have to hit the highlights of the highlights!

• R., the older woman who had visited twice when we wrote last time, has continued to come faithfully to our Sunday morning worship service, and even to a midweek prayer meeting once.  She is now hopeful that her husband might begin to come to service as well.  Please pray for him to come and hear God's Words of life.

• Two Danish young people are now with us:  Randi (young woman, for the next 9 months) and Anton (young man, for the next 3 months).  They are here to reach out and minister to both university students and high schoolers.  Please pray for them as they settle in, adjust to Montenegrin life, attempt to learn the language, and most importantly, for opportunities and boldness in sharing their faith.

• Wedding in Belgrade.  Earlier this month, Stan was honored to preside over the wedding ceremony of S. and B.  B. grew up in the church here, was one of the first to be baptized, and is very dear to our hearts.  It is a joy to have witnessed in the past year three weddings of Christian young people who are establishing new points of light in their communities, extended families, and work places.  Praise be to God!

• Landlord Concerns  The Landlord for the church is very concerned about the church sign as he believes it makes the building a target of attack and is considering what to do about it.  His fears are not unfounded:  we did have 3 men hanging around the sign/door one evening after a service and they were very hostile to the idea of a "sect" in the area. (Note:  This occurred while Stan was away.  Danijel ended up speaking with these guys and witnessing to them and ending everything on pleasant terms (though they still couldn't understand why we just weren't Serbian Orthodox)).   One EXCITING possibility that the landlord mentioned was selling the entire building/land at cost to us, because then it would be our problem, not his.  Please pray that we would consider this offer wisely, taking ALL possibilities into account.

Upcoming Ministry  and Family News

• Resuming "Normal" Ministries.  With school now started, the weekly student bible studies, teen meetings, one-on-one Bible Study, and Ladies' Coffee Times are all back in action.  Please pray for the unbelievers to be challenged to come to Christ, for all to be encouraged.

• Stan and Josiah had a whirlwind two week trip getting Josiah outfitted for his new life as a university student:  driver's license, bank accounts opened, cell phone stuff, school books bought, and more. Josiah is now settled in at the Rochester Institute of Technology, NY, in the Physician Assistant Program and starting his third week of classes.  Please pray that he would find a good church home.

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 Bulletin Points 

• For R's husband, to come to church, hear the Word of God, and be saved.
• For Randi and Anton, to be effective in their witness and ministry.
• For S+B, that their marriage would grow in love and maturity, and they would glorify God through their union.
• For our church meeting location and landlord, that we would be able to have a sign and building suitable for worshipping the Lord as a growing body of believers.
• For all the regular ministries of the church:  preaching of the Word, prayer meetings, student Bible Study, Ladies' Coffee fellowship, and individual mentoring.
• For all our children:  Anna, Amy, Christian (3rd year university student), Josiah (1st year university student), and Milijana (high school senior): to grow in favor with God and man.

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

August 2012 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.  2 Thess. 3:1

I will tell of all Your marvelous works...

We just finished a very busy month, wrapping up a full season of camp evangelistic outreaches.  Some highlights of the past month include:

• Camp Monty is a sports-oriented evangelistic camp targeted for youth, ages 8-20.  This year's turnout was larger than ever, with more than 200+ children participating in the various programs.  This camp is sponsored by Life Impact for Eternity who organized the 35+ adult volunteers leading the activities.  Our work, as a fellowship, is to follow-up with the young people who gave contact information and want to know more about Christ and His Word.  Please pray for the Bible studies that are being started for these interested youth and for their salvation.

• Saying Good-bye to our short-term summer missionaries, Tanja and Rebekka.  They helped out with several camps, leading Girls' Bible Study, and being general encouragers to the fellowship. Deo volente, we will be seeing them in 2013! 

• New Church Sign is noticed! Not once, but twice.  One older women, R, noticed our sign and has been coming to morning services for the past two weeks.  She had contact with an evangelical church while living in Bosnia but just found out about us.  Later that same week, Stan had a police officer contact him, stating that he noticed the church sign, and wanted to meet with Stan as our location is in his precinct.  Stan spent a pleasant hour with him, and we rejoice in the good relationships we have with city officials. Rejoice with us and may the Lord be pleased to bring many more souls to our doors.

Upcoming Ministry

• Guest Preachers  Stan is gone for the remainder of August, equipping our son Josiah with all he needs to begin his university studies.  So, we will have two guest preachers for our morning worship services, and Danijel (involved in student ministries) will lead our evening services.  Please pray for these men as they bring the Word of the Lord before us, and for our sweet fellowship as our numbers will be down all month.

• Welcoming a New Student Helper  Next week we are anticipating the arrival of Randi, a young Danish woman, who will be in Niksic for the next nine months with a mission to participate in  student evangelism and discipleship.  We are thrilled for "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few," especially in light of the much needed follow-up of  young people reached through the summer camps.

With great love and appreciation for all your prayers and ongoing support in this work the Lord has for us,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

Prayer Points:

• Follow-up for the young people reached through camps: by personal visitation, bible studies, social events.
• For our newest visitor, R, that we would get to know her and welcome her into God's family here in Niksic. 
• For Stan and Josiah's travels and packed schedule, plus Josiah's acclimation to life in the US as a univsersity student (aka "culture shock"), that he would find his place and  a good church home.
• For our Sunday services while two key leaders are gone (Stan and Peter Stonelake), and for Danijel who is in charge in their absence.
• For Randi's safe arrival and settling in, that she would find her calling quickly.

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

July 2012 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

       
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,  and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.      Heb.4:12

Many, O LORD my God, are your wonderful works...

We invite you to rejoice and give thanks with us for all the Lord is doing here in Niksic and in Montenegro.

• Ministry of the Word  Stan has been preaching through the book of Daniel in the morning services, emphasizing the truths of God's sovereignty over the nations,  the certainty of God's prophecies, and His ultimate Kingdom victory. In our evening services, Stan is preaching from  I John 2, encouraging us in recognizing and overcoming the love of the world and knowing with assurance that we have eternal life.

• English Student Camp  We've just wrapped up another successful English Student camp, an evangelistic camp targeted for university students.  For the past few weeks, we hosted a great UCCF team from England who led the actual camp, leading the Bible studies and discussion groups from the book of Luke, planning the events and social activities, and generally witnessing as they engaged with the students.  Please pray for continuing fruit from this outreach. 

Upcoming Ministry

• Teen Camp and Camp Monty  These will take place the last week of July.  The teen camp is hosted directly by the church in Podgorica while Camp Monty is a sports-outreach camp right here in Niksic.  We have supporting roles in each but are not the main organizers.

• One-on-One Bible Study  Vicki is starting a one-on-one Bible Study with one of the young ladies in the fellowship, for mutual encouragement and discipleship.  Please pray that we would dig deeply and rightly into the Word of Life.

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 Points:

• For the conversions and further sanctification of the students at the English Camp, particularly A, J, D (males), and A, J, M (females).

• For the Teen and Sports Camp being held at the end of this month.  Many unbelievers will be attending, just for the fun of the activities, but God's Word is a powerful two-edged sword, so pray that God's Word would be boldly proclaimed and that hearts would respond. 

• In God's wonderful providence, a number of young people who've visited in the past are interested in returning for longer periods of time.  Right now, we are in the process of attempting to get a one-year visa for a young Danish woman who would like to come in September and stay for a year.  Please pray that we will be able to smoothly get her a visa through our registration as a local church.

• For our family, as we prepare for Josiah to go off to university next month.  In fact, next time I write, Stan and Josiah will be off to the US to take care of necessities before classes start...

June 2012 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

You make known to me the path of life; 
     in your presence there is fullness of joy;
          at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps. 16:11

**This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.

This past month has been full with the regular ministry of the Word, weekly prayer meeting, and ongoing hospitality plus many new opportunities for witnessing, for encouraging young believers, for meeting with God's people from around the world.  Highlights include:

• Visitations We visited and witnessed to the B family, having them over for a meal, and encouraged them in reading the Bible diligently and prayerfully.  Also, the man (D.), who recently made a gate for us, asked to meet with Stan and to discuss the Bible and other Christian topics; their time together was fruitful.

• Student Outreach In late May, we enjoyed a couple of whirlwind, activity-filled days with a young college team from U of Georgia, reaching out to our local university students.  In the following weeks, we helped host a "Tennis Table Tournament" at our house and 15 young men/students came to participate.  Plenty of fun, good food, and conversation!

• Wedding! In early June, we traveled to Serbia to celebrate the marriage of N and J.  Stan preached on the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19), encouraging the believers to anticipate that wondrous event and calling the unbelievers to Christ himself.

• Summer Friends We gladly welcomed back our Danish daughters, Tanja and Rebekka,  for the summer.  They will be working primarily with our teens and helping out at camps.  

• Mission Accomplished!  We had the joy of seeing God's answered prayer through the McLaughlins:  The primary building tasks were completed (without injury!) and the fellowship greatly encouraged through their loving practical ministry and wise words. Sadly, though, with Mission Accomplished!, we had to say good-bye to Richard, Julie, and Michael this past week.

• Possibilities This week we also met up with Sam. B, a Romanian living in the US, who works with an international missions agency to aid local churches with evangelism and follow-up discipleship, to discuss possibilities in how this organization might help in furthering the gospel here in Niksic. 

**Upcoming Ministry

With the arrival of Tanja and Rebekka, it seems summer has officially begun.  We are looking forward to:

• The English UCCF Team  They will be arriving on June 25 and will be with us here in Niksic until mid-July.  They will be the main leaders of the evangelistic camp for university students, to be held the first week of July.

• The Teen Camp and Sports Camp  These will both be held in late July, one in the local mountains, the other in the city.

• Ministry to the Coast  With the arrival of summer, many of the students are headed to the coast in search of jobs.  We plan to meet up with some of these students, especially JV, to encourage them in the Lord while away from the church body.

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 Bulletin Points

• For D, the gate maker, who has honest questions about Christianity and the bible.
• For N+J,  that their marriage would be a beautiful reflection of God's covenant love.
• For the camps:  that the right young people would come, meet the Lord, and begin a new life in Christ. For those who are believers, to grow closer to the Lord and be encouraged to share their faith boldly.
• For summer time Student Ministry: That the leadership would find just the right ways to encourage, challenge, disciple those still in town as well as those who are away.
• With Josiah with us for only two more months, we are trying to take/make some quality family time and/or a getaway, but find it difficult with the busy camp schedule.

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

May 2012 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Col. 3:17

**Life in the Fellowship

    The past month has seen an increase in Fellowship activity, in no small part due to wonderful spring weather.  Highlights include:

• All-Montenegro Meeting  The All-MNE fellowship gathering for 2012 was held in late April in the capital city of Podgorica.  It is a joy and a privilege to gather together with our fellow Christians to encourage one another, to pray for one another, and to pray for the nation.  God blessed our time together most richly.
• Getting to know some Orthodox Believers  We were finally able to meet up with the Orthodox family (Father, Mother, 3 children--Father works for the Orthodox church) who moved here from Canada.  They had been looking forward to meeting us as much as we were interested in meeting with them.  We are mutually desirous of fostering our friendship and hope to be a light and a testimony of God's grace, mercy, and love.
• New Regulars  It is a joy to recognize that one of the students, JV, is wholeheartedly joining in the fellowship, attending regular meetings, and developing relationships with us all.  She is the first of those reached via student ministries to do so in a long while.  Praise the Lord!
• Babies and Weddings  It is very exciting to see God growing His Church here in Montenegro.  There are two families (V. family, S. family) connected with our fellowship expecting their first babies; however, both pregnancies have been beset with various complications.  Please pray that God would watch over these little ones and their parents.  Also, two of our young people (N+J) are getting married next month; Stan will be presiding over the church ceremony to be held in Belgrade.  Another Christian family in Niksic!  Another Light in a dark place!

**Upcoming Ministry
   
As always, summer is a busy time of extra outreaches, camps, hospitality ministry.

• Danish Friends  We are expecting our Danish friends, Tanja and Rebekka, to be with us for two months starting in June.  They will be reaching out to the teens and university students and helping with the various camps that are scheduled.
• Camp Outreaches  There will be three major outreaches this summer:  English camp for university students, an evangelistic and discipling camp for teens, and Camp Monty which is a sports outreach camp for mixed ages.
• Ongoing Follow-up  All these camps generate a number of contacts which need to be maintained and followed up.  This can be taxing on a small fellowship like ours.   Stan has been meeting with the Leadership team to discuss possible, effective ways to reach interested people including teaching a  "Basics of Christianity" course, ongoing Bible studies, one-on-one discipling, and general hospitality.

**Family News
    
     Stan and Josiah were away for a whirlwind 10 day trip to visit several of the universities to which Josiah was accepted.  Not having lived in the US for most of his life, Josiah enjoyed seeing and experiencing the differences and similarities of various American universities, especially in light of European ones.  We are pleased that he has chosen to attend Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) and has been accepted into their Physician's Assistant Program.

Also, the McLaughlin family is (unbelievably) now in the countdown phase of their time with us.  We are most grateful for the practical help rendered by both Richard and Julie as well as their sweet communion in fellowship with all the saints here.

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 Bulletin Points  

1. For our "new" regulars attending the fellowship:  JV, and D's family.  That they would grow in their love and knowledge of God and their place in His Kingdom.
2. For the babies, the first generation to be born to Christian parents here, that they would be strong and healthy, nurtured in the love and fear of the Lord.
3. For the upcoming wedding of N+J, that the ceremony would be a testimony and witness of God's goodness and gospel truth to the many unbelievers who will be attending.  And for their marriage:  the wedding is just the beginning!
4. For the many preparations needed in light of the camps this summer.  As an example, we will be hosting a team of 11 in the next few days who are here in advance planning for the teen camp in July.  
5. That God would draw the right young people to attend these camps and for a concerted follow-up by our own people.
6. For the ongoing construction projects headed by Richard.  We thank the Lord that the work has been progressing smoothly and without injuries.  Please pray that we would determine the best projects/priorities for the remaining few weeks.

Mission to Montenegro April 2012 Newsletter:

 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  Phil. 1:3-5.

**Easter Celebration

            This past Sunday, April 15^th, we were blessed with a joyful service commemorating our Lord’s triumph over sin and death.  We are also thrilled that J., a college student, seems to have crossed over from just attending student meetings to joining us wholeheartedly in worshipping the Lord and learning from His Word at our regularly scheduled church meetings. 

** New Contacts via book promotion

            Last week, a well-respected, local politician who is also a believer, held a promotional event for his recently published book Metanoja (which comes from the Greek word meaning “forgiveness”).  In a show of solidarity, Stan and a few other believers from our fellowship went, and Stan was able to meet and renew acquaintances with unbelievers genuinely interested in the book and the Christian ideas inherent.  Please pray for follow-up contacts and opportunities to share the gospel with these searching souls.

**Ladies’ Coffee Fellowship

We have been able to meet quite regularly this past month.  Again, the purpose is to foster relationships and encourage one another as well as to model Christian living, thinking, and joyfulness to all who come.  It is also a time of informal “older women teaching the younger women” because we are adding young mothers and wives to our mix of older ladies.  Please pray that the Lord would increase our wisdom as these young wives and mothers are the first generation here to marry and raise children in the Lord.

**Family News

Although the beginning of month saw us all plagued with colds and viruses, we’ve recovered and are now enjoying having Nemanja with us. We had the privilege of meeting his family over Easter weekend.  Nemanja is Richard McLaughlin’s right hand man during their stay with us.  To see what they are all up to, check out    http://familyblog.bldrmcl.com/ .

Stan and Josiah are currently stateside for a whirlwind tour of the most likely universities that Josiah might attend.  Please pray for traveling mercies and confirmation of the best place for Josiah, academically, spiritually, and emotionally.  Also, please pray for Peter and Danijel who will be leading our services while Stan is gone.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent?  Rom. 10:14ff

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

Prayer Bullet Points:

1.  For the many unbelievers who have been ministered to this past month:  the students, friends, family members, neighbors attending the book promotion.

2.  For the  Ladies’ Coffee time and the Girls’ Bible study targeted for unbelieving high school students.  This is especially needful as a local high school student recently committed suicide and thoughts of life, death, and ultimate purpose are on many hearts.

3.  For Stan and Josiah as they travel and visit universities:  for safety, wisdom, good fellowship, too!  Josiah’s decision will need to be made by May 1^st.

4.  For upcoming planned ministries and teams:  summer camp for teens, university outreach camp, longer term ministry visits in Niksic from amongst our Danish brethren.

5.  For the construction projects spearheaded by Richard M.  That wise decisions would be made and that everyone would keep safe and whole.

Mission to Montenegro March 2012 Newsletter:

Recent Church/Ministry Highlights:

**Extreme Weather:  Because of the heavy snowfall in February, we canceled meetings for two weeks.  However, we are happily back in action after a week of springlike weather—only vestiges of snow remain.

**Arrival of the McLaughlin Family:  We joyfully welcomed the McLaughlin family on March 8 who arrived tired but in one piece after many hours of travel.  Since they are posting their perceptions and experiences on a family blog:  http://familyblog.bldrmcl.com/ , we won’t duplicate their efforts.  They are updating their blog several times a week, so we suggest you bookmark it and check in often!  (And if you do head over there, compare the picture against the fence with the one from the Big Snow!)

**Postponed Get-togethers: 

--This past week, Danica gathered her unbelieving friends for bible study.  Please pray for wisdom as Danica seeks to share the good news with her classmates:  some are searching, others are avowed atheists.

--We enjoyed our first Ladies Coffee Fellowship of the new year, which is currently scheduled for every Wednesday afternoon.  Julie and I met with Rada (a believer) and M. (an unbeliever).  The purpose is to foster relationships and encourage one another as well as to model Christian living, thinking, and joyfulness for M  Although we rejoice that M now comes fairly regularly to our Sunday services and participates in special events, we long for her to know sweet communion with Christ as her Lord and Savior.

**College Ministry:  After a month of holidays and inactivity due to the weather, this past month has seen a flurry of activity with the coming of a small team from Norway and a large group from Denmark.  The Norwegians came expressly for the purpose of producing a video to show Christian students in Norway the state of the Christian student ministry here in Montenegro. The desired outcome is  to encourage Norwegian students and recent graduates to pray for the young people here and to consider coming themselves for short/long term ministry amongst them

We hosted 12 Danish Bible school students and their teachers for 10 days this last month.  Their efforts focused on activities such as a Danish Cultural Night and Acoustic Café night to bring non-Christian students into contact with believing students, providing an opportunity to build relationships and witness about Christ.  We now have 8 new names to follow-up on.  Please pray for Danijel and Peter as well as all the believers to keep on reaching out to these eight people.

**Saved from Death:  We all are thanking the Lord that the father (N.) of one of our members not only survived a severe heart attack (and follow-up bypass surgery, neither of which the doctors thought he would live through), but he (N.) has since indicated that he knows he has Jesus to thank and honor for his new life.  N. has heard the gospel many times—both from his daughter and son-in-law and from visiting the church several times.  Please pray that his love for Christ will grow and that his new life (physically speaking) will be blessed with new spiritual life as well.  We all have great hope in what the Lord is doing and can accomplish!

Family News:

Soon after saying good-bye to Rebekka and her family, we welcomed and hosted the Danish team.  With 18-19 people in the house, things were hopping on the home front.  Now that the McLaughlins are here, we are still hopping!  We have already been blessed both practically (Richard and Julie are gifted artists and craftsmen) as well as spiritually in everyday discussions around the table and at family devotions.

We are expecting Nemanja, a young Christian man engaged to one of the young ladies in our fellowship, this weekend.  He will be staying with us for the next few months, becoming Richard’s right hand man with the construction projects and enjoying time with his fiancee.

Josiah should finish hearing from the schools that he applied to this month.  Please pray that he (and we) would prayerfully consider his options and sense the Lord’s direction and peace.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

Prayer Bullet Points:

1.  For the many unbelievers who have been ministered to this past month:  the students, friends, family members, especially M. (of the Coffee time) and N. (saved from death).

2.  For the  Ladies’ Coffee time and the Girls’ Bible study targeted for unbelieving high school students. 

3.  For the construction projects spearheaded by Richard.  That wise decisions would be made and that everyone would keep safe and whole.

4.  For an improved financial situation for Mission to Montenegro. And many thanks to you who have already responded; it is a great encouragement to us.