January 2017 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

For you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.  

Ps. 25:4-6

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

Greetings once again from Nikšić, Montenegro! We were blessed with a very smooth trip home--all four flights on time or early, plus our baggage arrived and made it through without any fuss at customs.  While we are not quite yet over jet lag, we are full-speed ahead with life and ministry, including readjusting to REAL winter weather!

• Stan is back in the pulpit (and the brethren here are glad to have him back!), and he looks forward to finishing up 1 Timothy in the evening services this month.  He is currently prayerfully considering which Old Testament book to work through for our morning services.  Because the Christmas/winter holidays are still in progress here,  we are still debriefing with respect to all that has been taught in our absence as people return from their holidays/visiting with family.  

• Due to Stan's injuries, we curtailed travel and visiting other churches for the most part.  However, we capped our time in the States with a wonderful visit to the San Diego area, meeting up with numerous old friends and ministering at a church in Vista.  All in all, by God’s good kindness, we accomplished pretty much everything we hoped to during our mini-furlough and have been much refreshed in spirit.

• Meanwhile, the Nikšić church participated in distributing hundreds of OCC/Samaritan's Purse Christmas shoeboxes to children, both in town and in the surrounding villages.  A simple dramatized presentation of the Christmas story preceded the distribution of the packages along with the booklet The Greatest Gift and a New Testament.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• Please pray for us as we pick up with visitations, the regular ministry of the Word, hosting the fellowship meals, and all the ordinary aspects of life after an extended time away.  We confess our need that God would show us His ways,  teach us His paths, guide us in His truth as we seek to serve Him faithfully.

• Please pray that the number of those coming to the services would increase and that hearts would be open to truly knowing and loving Jesus Christ for salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. 

• Please pray for the follow-up to those children and their families touched via the OCC packages who are interested in knowing more about Jesus, the Greatest Gift.  And please join us as we continue to beseech the Lord in bringing a gifted individual to head up an ongoing children's ministry within the body.

• Please pray for the Bojovic Family, one of the families that visited us last year, who will be moving to Montenegro in autumn to serve the Lord here after a decade of ministry in Swaziland.  They are still working out the details of where in the country they will serve.

• Please pray that Stan might find a suitable physical therapist to continue his recovery.  He is sorely disappointed that in this year of abundant snow, he won't be able to go skiing even once this season.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

December 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Is. 9:6

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

We are amazed at how quickly our schedule filled up and time is passing.... Only 3 more Sundays until we are back in Nikšić!  With the wonderfully busy holiday season upon us, this newsletter will be short highlights of God's goodness to us.

• Stan's recovery is going smoothly; he is now out of the sling, has begun physical therapy, and expects to be ready for normal activities in another five weeks or so.  Thank you for your concerns and prayers.

• We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving, with all our children present (and no bad weather delays!) and other relatives as well.  It was a time full of feasting: 2 turkeys!  3 kinds of stuffing!  3 kinds of pie!  4 types of Cranberry sauce! Along with plenty of laughter, games, and visiting. God was most kind to us.

• We've been blessed to share what the Lord has being doing both in our lives and with the ministry in Nikšić with many, many families, both long-term supporters and those just finding out about the work. We enjoy these smaller, more intimate gatherings and greatly appreciate those saints who've generously hosted us and others over many a delicious meal.

• In our remaining time, we will be spending Christmas with most of our family, celebrating two birthdays, helping Stan's mother as she needs to move and downsize,  finishing up with our medical needs,  and getting together with more families, both here at Faith Community Church and in the San Diego area.

• Please remember the brethren in Nikšić:  for the services and preaching, for the upcoming OCC Christmas Shoebox distribution ministry, for health and stamina as there has been a wave of chicken pox along with the usual flu bugs of the season.

And, as we wrap up the year, we are exceedingly grateful for all of you, for the living truth and testimony you bear, fulfilling God's command:

Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 1:6b-8

Thank you, fellow workers for the truth.  With much love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

November 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  Rev. 7:9,10

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

Greetings from Southern California! This past month has been a whirlwind of activity, with many blessings and challenges.

• In October, we hosted David and Sally Ivaska (associated with InterVarsity) who spoke at an EUS-CG meeting,  freely donating translated copies of his bible study guide,  Be Not Afraid,  which is rather timely given recent world affairs.  Please pray that God's people everywhere would be heartened by the promises, power, and faithfulness of our God that we might be all the more ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us.

• At the end of October, while away at a conference in NYC,  Stan slipped down a staircase and sustained several fractured ribs and scapula.  We thank God that he was spared cranial and spinal injuries.  However, since his fall, he's had to travel thousands of miles by plane which is hard enough even when one is well.   Please pray that his healing would be rapid and complete.

• We rejoice that back in Nikšić, the fellowship continues to enjoy excellent preaching, with local men in the congregation leading the services. Praise God for the younger generation He is raising up!  Plus, God has abundantly answered our prayers and granted Peter S. a permanent visa (to the surprise of the local clerk).  Please do keep the Nikšić brethren in your prayers, for those stepping into the pulpit, for the upcoming Samaritan's Purse OCC shoebox distribution, and for the Lord to watch over and grow His church there.

Our home away from home

• We hit the ground running here in California for our mini-furlough, attending the wedding of a dear young woman; meeting up with friends, family, brethren; checking off doctor's appointments and more.  Next week, we are thrilled to be spending the Thanksgiving Holidays with the grandparents and all five of our children. Praise the Lord for His kindnesses to us through the generosity of so many.  And please pray for our family time, safe travels for those children who are flying in, and for a good family photo--we desperately need a new one!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

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

October 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

But we urge you, brothers, to do this [love one another] more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. I Thess. 4:10-12

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

This past month has been one of living a gloriously ordinary Christian life--taking heed of our gifts and callings, walking the path set before us, enjoying each day given to us, and praising God.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Montenegro, a land of wild beauty

• God has put Montenegro on the hearts of other believers as evidenced by the fact that we had meet-ups, in person and via Skype, with no less than 5 different organizations/groups this past month.  These are not the "regulars" who come every summer for the Student and Sports outreach camps, but rather both individuals and larger Christian organizations looking to establish long-term ministries here in Montenegro.  Please pray for wisdom and for the unity of all God's people,  and particularly in seeing new areas of Montenegro reached with the gospel.

• While our nursery intercom has been a big help, we long to see a proper children's ministry develop--the needs are great, the workers are few.  Please pray that God would send the right person to oversee this ministry to our growing numbers of little ones, that they may be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  And, may we all come boldly before His throne, asking that He would provide a bigger facility of our own, that His name might be better proclaimed to all in Nikšić.

• Our upcoming mini-furlough begins in three weeks!  We praise the Lord that we have several good men able to lead the services and preach God's word in our absence.  Please pray for them as they prepare their messages, for the well-being of the saints, and for the growth of the church--both in maturity and in numbers.  We long to see every service packed every time, not just in the mornings. And please pray for us: for traveling mercies, for taking care of our family responsibilities, for sharing the work the Lord is doing here, and for rest and refreshment.

• Additionally, we still have some open days for meeting up with supporting churches in December--both midweek and Sunday; we'd love to see as many of you as we can.  Please contact Stan directly to schedule a visit.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

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

September 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

    nor are there any works like yours.

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. 86:8-10

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

We thank God daily for the many, many freedoms we have in Christ--freedom from sin, freedom to worship, freedom to proclaim His name!

• In our Sunday morning service, Stan most recently preached from Luke 12:10 and we were all encouraged at the great mercy and forgiveness offered by the Son of Man.  In the evening, Stan preached from 1Tim 4, especially highlighting the call (and privilege) to be a good servant of our Lord Jesus.  Please pray for Stan as he prayerfully plans and prepares to proclaim God's Word faithfully week after week.

• We are enjoying the fresh start autumn brings with the renewal of weekly pastoral meetings, visitations, mentoring/discipleship times.  Groundwork for university outreach is being laid with kickoff activities for the new academic year beginning next week.  Additionally, we are strategizing ways to reach out on an ongoing basis to a broader spectrum of society.  Please pray that we would be faithful to use the gifts God has given us to serve Him well.

• The pastors of the five main evangelical churches/fellowships here in Montenegro have begun meeting regularly, to support and encourage one another as ministers of local churches, to discuss joint projects such as the annual All-Montenegro Believer's Meeting, and to develop a united Evangelical voice/presence in public life.  Please pray that God would grant these leaders wisdom and humility to fulfill the appeal to all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (I Cor. 1:10b)

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• Our end-of-the-month Fellowship Lunches are still new enough to be exciting, not commonplace.  We will finish off the warm weather season with a much anticipated "Roštilj" (BBQ/Grill) feast this month.  These gatherings have been very well received and proven to be a great ministry especially to those families where only one spouse is a believer.  We have (happily!) seen a cross-over increase in church participation these past few months. Please pray for the salvation of these dear souls, that God would bring them to Himself and build His church with entire families loving and serving the Lord.

• Brief Items of Note: 
• The  intercom system has been set up and proving quite helpful to parents with young children.  Prayer Alert:  If every family came every week (as we are praying for), we would not have enough room in our meeting facitility.  Please join us in praying for and contributing to a larger (and more permanent) facility.
• Please continue to pray for satisfactory outcomes for both Peter S and Rebekka’s residency applications.

• Our plans for our mini West Coast furlough are shaping up! We will be in California from mid-Nov through early Jan. and our basic housing/transportation needs have been met.  We thank both God and FCC friends!  Although our time is limited, we look forward to seeing many of you.   If your church or family would like us to visit, please contact Stan ASAP; we've already begun scheduling our days.   Please pray for wise balancing of all that we hope to accomplish:  enjoying family times, caring for an aging parent,  connecting with friends and supporters, taking care of medical needs, and squeezing in some actual R&R. (East Coast friends take note:  We will be back East around May 2017 to celebrate our children's graduations and plan to catch up with you all then.)

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

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

August 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:23-25

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

With September fast approaching, we are wrapping up a busy, busy summer season of evangelistic outreach and Christian hospitality.

• The 10th Camp Monty sports outreach was a great success with many returnees of both campers and volunteers.   Sports and English lessons occurred throughout the day, but the highlight and main focus of the camp was the evening presentations featuring worship music, testimonies, devotions, and more.  Please pray for us as a church in our continued follow-up with the children and for the volunteers who stay connected from afar.  And especially pray for those young people who heard the Word, that they may truly embrace, love, and serve the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, and delight to gather with His people.

Team from Ohio with cool USA/MNE shirts!

Out on the soccer field

Evening program--note the full house!

• While we've welcomed various friends and other guests to our home (sometimes with just an hour's notice!), we are particularly delighted to have Rebekka from Denmark with us, even if just for a short three weeks.  The Lord has blessed all our prayers with quick provision of a terrific flat to rent for the year as she is here helping out with the university student work, EUS-CG.  So join us in giving thanks to the Lord for His mercy in this important need.  Please continue to pray for the granting of the visa which will allow her to stay past three months (and for Peter S's visa which continues to be bogged down in the bowels of bureaucracy).

Rebekka from Denmark

• Our monthly fellowship lunch has proven to be especially refreshing and helpful for new people to the church to quickly build relationships with all the brethren and see themselves as part of the local body/church family. Please pray particularly for the unbelieving spouses and family members who also come, that they would be drawn by the love of the Father as seen in the lives of His children.

• Mini-Furlough Alert!  This November/December 2016! Since it has been two years already(!), we will once again be visiting Southern California this November and December to reconnect with family, friends, and supporters.  Please contact us directly to schedule get-togethers and visitations. Also, we will be in need of transportation, so if anyone has a free automobile during that time period, we could put it to good use! (East coast friends take note:  We will be back East around May 2017 to celebrate our children's graduations and plan to catch up with you all then...)

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

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

July 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

You must continue in the things which you have learned…

 the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2Tim. 3:14, 16

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

We've enjoyed expanded opportunities to share and live God's Word this past month. Here are some highlights:

• In the regular ministry of preaching, Stan recently taught in the morning services on true blessedness from Luke 11:28, where Jesus says Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it! In the evening, continuing in 1Tim. 3, we are looking in some detail at the many, namely character-based, qualifications of overseers and deacons, knowing they apply to all believers.  

• The UCCF English team arrived at the tail end of June, a total of 8 people, including 3 returnees from last year.  We are always glad to see the familiar faces again and meet new ones.  By God's good providence, the English Student Camp was a great success -- great weather, great people, great fun, and great Bible teaching going through the Gospel of Mark.  The highlight of the camp, though, is the many great discussions about the things that matter (God, Jesus, Truth, Life) all the while enjoying the beauty of God's creation, far away from daily pressures of life.  Please pray for the young people who heard the Words of Truth, that they would embrace the Lord Jesus and commit to following Him.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Although we've said good-bye to our English friends, we are saying hello to all the Camp Monty folks who are arriving this week for the Camp Monty sports outreach which begins on Monday, July 25th.  This event is for the youth of Nikšić, ages 8-18, and reaches several hundred children, who participate in sports events all over the city.  May the love of Jesus shine brightly as the volunteers work with and coach and share their lives with these children.  Please pray for the coaches and volunteers to discern rightly and speak words of wisdom at opportune moments.  

• We look forward to enjoying our second monthly fellowship lunch the last Sunday of this month, not letting the busyness of camp season distract us from breaking bread together, as we seek to establish this new (but ancient) practice of celebrating love feasts, as Jude 12 puts it.  Please pray that this simple means would be blessed by God for the uplifting of His people here as we seek to love one another and grow as a fellowship.

A foretaste of Micah 4:4!

• As always, summer is a time of coming and going.  We've welcomed back several of our college students and look forward to visitors from afar (US, England, and South Africa).  But most excitingly, this month we'll welcome Rebekka from Denmark who will be staying in Nikšić  working as a volunteer for EUS-CG for the next 12 months.   Please pray for her as she settles into the community and works out her responsibilities and ministries for the upcoming year.

• And again,  the regular ministry continues on with preaching and teaching, ongoing mentoring, our midweek prayer meeting and fellowship,  an active hospitality ministry, and our visitations (particularly to the elderly and infirm).  Please pray for all these good works, but especially that we might have wisdom in best meeting the needs of the very young and the old as this is a new and growing area of ministry.  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 support in this great work of God,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

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