July 2015 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.  Hebrews 4:12

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

It has been a busy (BUSY!) month here in Nikšić as we've gone from one intensive outreach to another.  Thus, another shorter-than-usual newsletter with more-than-usual photo highlights. Even so, the ongoing work of preaching, teaching, praying, discipling, living, and loving continues on.  How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

• Share our delight in God's answer to prayer regarding employment for not one, but two of the young men in our fellowship.  With skills gained from their help in the Tonewoods business Stan set up to help believers, they are now working full-time with a growing local custom-furniture factory.  Please pray for N. and R. to be both valued employees and lights of truth in their workplace, growing in favor with God and man.

• We just finished up this summer's intensive camp outreaches with the departure of the last of the Camp Monty team.  Many hundreds of young people have heard God's word this past month.  After a brief rest, we will be busy following up on those who are most interested to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Please pray for these young people to heed the Word they heard, that they might build their lives on solid ground, not sinking sand.

• Please continue to pray for the Lord to raise up a gifted individual to oversee and minister to the growing number of young children in our congregation.   Along those same lines, please pray for a larger meeting place, that we might have suitable rooms for a nursery/sunday school classroom.  And why not be bold and pray that we might have our very own facilities, rather than renting, all for the glory of God and His kingdom here in Nikšić.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

As promised, here are some photo highlights of the last month:

The UCCF 2015 Team from the UK

Discussion groups at camp in the mountains

English Camp for (mainly) university students

Follow-up Bible Study in Nikšić 

Plenty of opportunities for practical help!

Enjoying first fruits....

Camp Monty Sports Camp for children

Sports include soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and more!

Evening program includes gospel content

Children attending the evening programs

Camp Monty farewell dinner under the grape arbor

June 2015 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Matt. 28:18-20a

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

One highlight of the busy summer season is our delightful taste of heaven as we join with those (at least in part) "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."  To God be the glory!

Last night with the Italian team and local friends

• The season of summer outreach has officially begun.  No sooner did we say good-bye to our Italian brethren than the Great Danes (Rebekka, Tanja, and Andreas) arrived for their fifth(!) summer to pick up and further student outreach.  This includes meeting up with students, leading bible studies, being a good friend and helping hand with formal events like the upcoming English Language Camp for university students.

• We've had a renewed awareness to be sober-minded, knowing there is one who seeks to devour.  One woman, Ms. S (40ish), has been coming to both our morning and evening services for the past several months.  She's been asking questions, listening carefully to the sermons, and desiring to understand rather than be blindly accepting.  Last week, convinced in her own mind, she gladly offered to host our mid-week prayer/sermon discussion meeting--and has met with fierce (and ongoing) opposition/persecution from both her immediate and extended family and others.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• The UK team arrives this coming week and will be here until July 8 as will two American young women coming from New Jersey.   The camp will be held in a different venue this year for a week beginning June 29 with both pre- and post-camp activities.  Please pray for an abundance of students to sign up.   And before our next newsletter, Camp Monty will be in full swing.
• The normal life of the church continues even as the evangelistic outreaches take place and our household size balloons, so please pray for Stan's faithful sermon preparation as well as our visitation and one-on-one ministries to non-students. 

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

Praise and Prayer Bulletin Points:

• Praise for the many short-term workers God is sending to Montenegro for truly the need is great. Please pray for those leading and organizing the camps, for many unbelieving students to come, for good weather, for tender hearts to receive the word of God, and for fruit-filled follow-up.
• Praise for the love of the saints, our sweet fellowship, and slowly growing congregation.  Please pray for Ms. S, that she would persevere, resist the devil, and stand firm in the faith.  Also pray for wisdom as to how we can best support her as well as productively engage with her resistant family members.
• Praise that one member of the fellowship has found steady work.  Please pray for the many others seeking employment and a means to support their families.
• Praise for the new babies--we had five young children at last Sunday's services.  Please pray for both the still-expectant mothers and for someone gifted to come and oversee ministry to young children both within and without the church.
• And lastly, a minor tribute to Athena who passed away recently.  We miss her.

    

May 2015 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and 
     admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
         singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  
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: 3:16-17

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

Along with the beauty of spring flowers, we've been enjoying sweet times of fellowship and outreach this past month.

• Lord's Day preaching continues through the gospel of Luke, ch. 6:27ff (Radical Love) in the morning and Habakkuk, ch 2 (The Just Shall Live by Faith) in the evening.  Mid-week discussion and prayer meetings have been lively as we seek to understand and live in a manner worthy of our high calling.

• Stan's quick trip to the US was very productive!  Not only was he able to procure his C-Pap machine, he also preached Sunday morning at a sister church and served as handyman about the house for his mother.

• The first Italian Missions Week at the university is currently taking place this week.  We again rejoice in the favor granted us in being able to have a visible presence and outreach at the university.  Six energetic Italian young people who love the Lord are meeting and engaging with local students via various formal activities and impromptu conversations.  Many new students are just finding out about our ongoing student bible studies and other opportunities to learn about the Bible, Jesus Christ, and His gift of salvation. 

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• The Summer season of short-term missions and teams is coming!  When our Italian brethren leave at the end of this week, we'll have ten days before the arrival of the first of the summer missionaries.  We expect a packed summer with visitors, outreaches, camps, and more straight through to mid-August.  Please pray that God would guide us to use our time, talents, and resources wisely, and that the Lord would add to His people here in Nikšić.

• Please pray specifically for the new students who are showing an interest to learn more about the Bible and Christianity.  Pray that the seed sown has fallen on good soil and will bear much fruit.  Pray that all would learn and take advantage of the opportunities to grow in faith and knowledge via the various camps and meetings this summer.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

Prayer and Praise Bulletin Points:

• Praise God for the richness and wonder of the ordinary Christian life, for His powerful word, and for His faithfulness which is new every morning.  Praise God for the local body and hearts knitted together.   Please pray that God would use the preaching of His word to change hearts and to grow His Church here in Nikšić.
• Praise God for putting Montenegro on the heart of our Italian brethren across the Adriatic, and for their willingness to come share their faith and testimonies.  Please pray that they would continue to meet new people and engage in deep discussions about those things in life that matter most.  Please pray for students to have ears that hear and hearts open to receive and treasure the Word.
• Praise God for Stan's recent trip.  Please pray for continued health improvements and proper pacing during this busy season of ministry this summer.
• Praise God for all the upcoming summer events and God's evident hand as logistical details fall into place for both the English Student Camp and for the Camp Monty Sports camp.  Pray for good attendance at these camps and for the workers to stay healthy, active, and winsome for the gospel.  Also, pray for our Danish, English, and American friends who will be here before and after the camp outreaches.

April 2015 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to 
      you. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:  
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was 
          buried, and that he was raised on the third day 
according to the Scriptures.     I Cor. 15:2-4

Glory to God in the Highest!

Due to Vicki's recent arrival from Seattle (and consequent jet lag) and a full schedule of ministry and outreach, this will be a short and sweet update.

• The four babies that we have been praying for safely arrived this past month (three girls: Mirjam, Hana, and Andrea;  plus one boy: Nikola) for which we are most grateful. However, we were reminded that even as natural and normal as babies are, we cannot and should not take it all for granted as one of the moms experienced post-delivery life-threatening complications.  Praise God for her slow return to good health. Pray for all these families, that they would love, train, and nurture their children with God-given grace and wisdom.

• We just finished another intense Mission Week Outreach at the local university following last year's model of a British Corner during the day, talks/discussions at night, with plenty of opportunities for fun, food, and fellowship.  Praise God for all the interested students and the opportunity to meet many new young people.  Even more importantly, please pray as we continue to reach out and follow-up one-on-one with these precious people.

Prayer Points:   Please pray for:

• The ongoing ministry of the Word from the books of Habakkuk and Luke on Sunday,  as well as through other weekly events:   the midweek prayer meeting, the student bible study,  and one-on-one mentoring.

• The upcoming visit of the team from Italy (a first!) in May.

• Stan's quick trip to get a prescribed CPAP machine for his sleep apnea.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

 

March 2015 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
     If any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,
If any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by
     Being like-minded, having the same love, being one
In spirit and of one mind.   Phil. 2:1,2

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

Rejoice with us in all the good things the Lord has done this past month:

• The All-Montenegro Believers' Meeting was a blessed time for God's people.  With the theme "Ujedinjeni Djelujemo" ("Walking United in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel"), there were no outside speakers, but rather the main sessions were headed by Stan and two other local evangelical pastors with opportunities for other ministries to share how the Lord is working in Montenegro.  While we were greatly encouraged to see growth and maturing in God's church here, it was most telling that the number of "Born in Montenegro" believers comprised fewer than 50% of those present.  There is still much more for us all to do with God's help and blessing! 

All-Montenegro Believers' Meeting 2015, Nikšić

• Lord's Day preaching continues with the gospel of Luke in the morning, but having finished Philippians, Stan has begun a new series through Habbakuk in the evening.  Habbakuk is short, profound, and timely even though written thousands of years ago. Truly, with mankind, there is nothing new under the sun; but thank God, He, too, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• For the next month, Stan will be in the unusual position of holding down the fort while Vicki is the one who is away.  She'll be gone four weeks, helping out one of own who is expecting a baby in the States, and none of her Montenegrin family can make it.  During this time, we'll have guests coming and going, including a largish UK team in April, so please remember Stan in your prayers as the hospitality aspects fall on his shoulders.  

• We rejoice that God has granted us favor in the eyes of those in charge at the university, and the coming UK team will be helping with a Mission Week outreach right on campus, the week after Orthodox Easter (April 12th).  Like last year, this outreach targets university students and encourages them to seek to know more about God, both through direct witnessing and discussion of the book What Kind of God?  Please pray that God would bring even more students to hear the Word and turn from their own way to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

• Please remember all the expectant mothers (we are eagerly awaiting one due last Saturday), for safe deliveries and healthy babies.  Also, please pray that God would send someone with the desire, time, and resources to minister regularly to our growing congregation of little ones.   We long for the day when the All-Montenegro Believers' Meeting is made up primarily of Montenegrins.

With great love and heartfelt 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 encouraging All-Montenegro Believers' Meeting and for working out all the details.  In true Balkan fashion, the hotel didn't sign the contract until Friday morning for Saturday's event.  Please pray that we all would work together in unity of spirit and brotherhood for the building of God's kingdom here, and that laborers for the gospel will go into the cities and towns where there is currently no ongoing evangelical witness.
• Praise God for His living Word and the freedom to preach it.  Thank God as well for the visitors who have been coming and hearing the truth about God, people, sin, and salvation.  Pray that God would move in all our hearts as we receive His Word.
• Praise God for the bonds of fellowship that transcend years and continents and truly join us all as God's one Body.  Pray for Vicki as she practically encourages "the young women to love their husbands, love their children" and for Stan while he does without his helpmeet for the month.
• Praise God for the opportunity to go on campus and minister to the students.  Please pray for Danijel P., the growing EUS-Montenegro student ministry, and for the UK team coming that they might be fervent, effective witnesses in the upcoming Mission Week outreach.  Please pray, too, for the students who hear--that the seed would fall on fruitful ground.
• Praise God for the blessing of children and particularly for those granted to believers here.  Please pray for the children and their parents, that God would enable and equip them to raise their children with love, grace, and joy; that their family lives would be a witness to neighbors and extended family.

Note:  If you would like to receive this newsletter directly, please subscribe at: Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

February 2015 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

May God be gracious to us and bless us and 
      make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power 
     among all nations.   Let the peoples praise you, O God; 
Let all the peoples praise you!  Ps. 67:1-3

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

It is good to be back in Nikšić; we are excited to share the following highlights with you:

• Stan has been able to pick right up with preaching through the Gospel of Luke, ch. 6 (morning service) and Philippians, ch. 4 (evening service) This time around the men leading the services during our absence continued the practice of preaching consecutively through Scriptures rather than from individually chosen texts. They found that preaching through the Scriptures was a different, but good, challenge for them all, as well as a blessing to the congregation.

• We are seeing new people come to our services.  We've welcomed one new brother (R.) who became a believer in Bosnia but now lives in Nikšić.  He has regularly been attending both services for the past several months.  We've also had several young people (late teens/early 20s) visit Sunday services recently.

Ps. 67: The Nations (Denmark, Montenegro, USA, Serbia) gathered to praise and make known God's saving power

• We celebrated the grand opening of the Student Center and the formal launching of EUS Montenegro this past week! From the outset of our time here in MNE, we've reached out to university students. That small beginning, built upon by many, has blossomed into the establishment of EUS-Montenegro, an independent member of IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students).  Like the apostle Paul, we are not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.  To God be the glory!

Danijel addressing the crowd at the Grand Opening of the Student Center

Stan highlighting the importance of God's Word and place of the local church in Student Ministry

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• We will be hosting the All-Montenegro Believer's Meeting this coming March 14th.  This is an annual event that confirms and testifies what a blessing it is when believers dwell together in unity.  As the hosts this year, we have made arrangements with the local hotel to use their facilities, but nothing is truly confirmed as the hotel is in bankruptcy proceedings with ever-changing authorities in charge. Please pray that as we make our plans, the Lord would direct our steps.

• We are in the delightful position of needing to outfit a church nursery! We have two families expecting a baby in the next few months, plus a couple of preschoolers and toddlers. Along with prayers for safe deliveries, please pray that God would send someone with the heart, time, and resources to minister regularly to our growing congregation of little ones, both within the church and without.

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 men who ably preached God's Word in our absence, and for the freedom we have to proclaim God's truth.  Please pray that God would use His Word to pierce the hearts of many unto repentance.
• Praise God for the new faces we've seen on Sunday.  Pray for R. as he misses his old congregation, that we would continue to warmly welcome him and help him find his place here.  Pray for the young people who are searching for the truth, that God would open their hearts and minds to receive Him by faith.
• Praise God for the new phase on ongoing student ministry via EUS-Montenegro and the multi-national partnering from which it grew.  Please pray that this new organization, its leaders, and the new Student Center all be used for the glory of God, seeing His kingdom grow both here in Nikšić and in all Montenegro.
• Praise God for the opportunity to gather as brothers and sisters united in Christ. Pray that our time together in March would be pleasing to God, an encouragement to us believers, and a witness to the community of our awesome God.
• Praise God for the little ones He is knitting together in our local congregation as well as others here in Montenegro and the former Yugoslavia.  This is the first generation here in a long while to be consciously raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Please pray for the hearts of these children and for their parents to diligently love, teach, and train them.  Also, please pray for someone to minister to the children via nursery, Sunday School, and other outreaches.

January 2015 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

For just as the body is one and has many members, 

     and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, 

so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized 

     into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—

and all were made to drink of one Spirit.     I Cor. 12:12-13

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

Greetings from Nikšić, Montenegro!  Our mini-furlough is over, and we are pleased to report that we were able to accomplish all our major goals for our time stateside:

• We had a packed but productive time with family, visits, medical appointments, and more.  God kept us healthy and active the whole time.

• God watched over our Nikšić brethren who enjoyed good teaching and preaching, new visitors, reunions with believers back in town for the holidays, and a successful outreach into two public schools for the Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child Shoebox project.

• We are so blessed to experience these truths firsthand and hope we shared the joy with you, that we all are God's one body:

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.  Eph 2: 19-22

Soli Deo Gloria!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

This month: A pictorial bonus from our last week.  Next Month:  Back to our regular newsletter format.

Enjoying Food and Fellowship

With Old Friends and New

From All Over the World

Packed Auditorium for Christmas Presentation

Christmas Goodies PLUS the Good News of Christ--The Greatest Gift

Warm Days for Heart and Body

The Snow We Missed!!!