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.

January 2018 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

    and his kingdom rules over all. Ps. 103:19

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

The scripture above are such words of hope and encouragement!  Whatever the year 2018 brings, we know we are safe in Christ, loved with an everlasting love by the One who rules over all.

• Thankfully, the Samaritan's Purse/OCC Christmas Shoebox distribution went well!  The director of a local small theater gave us free use of the premises for a mega-day of gospel presentations and shoebox giving.  Additionally, over the course of a week,  several surrounding villages were willing to allow a religious presentation (despite opposition, see below) to accompany the shoebox delivery to schoolchildren.

• In our Sunday services, Stan continues preaching from various Psalms and from the Gospel of Luke.  For  Christmas Sunday (1/7), he preached from Matt 1:18-23 with an inspiring look at the coming of Jesus as God, Son, Savior, Immanuel.  Last week, however, we were away on a ministry visit, and Peter S and Saša O took the pulpit--Saša for the first time.  Praise the Lord for faithful young men!

• Along with an outward reach during the holidays, we've also been ministering to fellow missionaries--providing time and space and fellowship in our home-- as well as traveling to encourage one of our own members doing a yearlong internship in London in order to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together... but encouraging one another all the more... 

• The advance of God’s Kingdom does not go unchallenged.  As Jesus says:  In the world you will have trouble.  A local, widely-read FB page denounced the OCC Christmas Shoeboxes, promoting the false idea that we are a dangerous sect.  On Christmas morning, we found our church sign (the one above) defaced and spray painted over.  We rejoice, however, that Jesus continues: But take heart! I have overcome the world.  

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the ongoing ministries of the church:  the teaching, the preaching, the discipling, the various outreaches.  May God be pleased to bring many to salvation through the power of His Word and the love of His people.  And pray that as we are busy about the Kingdom, that we would personally press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  

• Please pray for us as we seek to demystify Protestant/Biblical Christianity.  A longstanding problem we face is the notion and blind prejudice that anyone who is not Eastern Orthodox is a sect (ie, cult).  One reason for this is the complete lack of knowledge of the Reformation.  Our desire is to engage in a broad, public education via newspaper articles, radio, and interviews, following up what we began last October with the Round-table forum on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.  We realize that this is ultimately a heart/moral problem, not merely an educational one, but getting the truth out there is definitely a needed step.

• We will once again be Stateside this coming May to celebrate our son’s college graduation.  And, in the weeks on either side of the great day (May 19), we would love to visit churches—old supporters and new friends—so please contact Stan directly so we can make it happen!

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

December 2017 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.   I Tim 1:15, 17

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

This past month has been a month of quiet progress.  Here are a few highlights:

• We’ve had several repeat visitors to our Sunday services as well as our mid-week prayer meeting.  We see this as a direct answer to prayer as well as confirmation that our recent addition of “get out into the community” activities is a step in the right direction; we’ve had a number of good conversations naturally touching on spiritual truths with new acquaintances.

• Stan continues preaching from Luke, having just wrapped up Ch. 19 covering Jesus and the cleansing of the temple with a particular look at what the the temple was meant to be doing instead of being a "marketplace and den of thieves” and what that tells us about God and about us, the church, as His Temple today.  In the evenings, along with preaching through specific psalms, Stan looked as Jesus Christ, the perfect Psalm Singer, who sings over us, for us, to us, with us.

• The children’s Sunday school continues on despite various challenges due to sick children and stressful schedules.  Our good beginning *is* just a beginning, so please keep praying for Martina as she prepares each week, for the children to listen attentively, for the Holy Spirit to touch hearts, and for the right person/couple called to oversee this important ministry to join us soon!

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Here in Niksic we will be receiving approximately 2000 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to distribute before Orthodox (Jan 7) Christmas. This is an huge undertaking for a small number of volunteers, mainly through EUS-CG (Evangelical University Student group).  An extra challenge this year is that the theatre we had use of in previous years has been sold and renovated as a pub, so there are numerous logistical problems to solve at present.  Please pray that each box handed out would testify to the children and their families the Good News of Jesus Christ.

• During the holiday season, we have several cultural (secular but rooted in religion) days coming up: two Saint Days (St. Nikola, John the Baptist) plus Christmas (Jan 7).   Christmas this year falls on a Sunday which means that people who might not ordinarily go to church on Christmas Day will. Also, we are privileged to be invited to a number of family Slavas (celebrations of the aforementioned Saint Days) which includes enjoying a special meal together.  Please pray for meaningful discourse and for a packed church room on Christmas Day.  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

We are extremely grateful 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

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!

November 2017 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything 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!

As mentioned in our last newsletter, on Oct. 31st, at a national press center in Podgorica, partnering with the German embassy, Stan organized and participated in a round table discussion regarding the importance and far-reaching influence of the Reformation.

In giving a brief history of the Reformation and the translation of Scriptures into locally understood languages, Stan brought out the fact that the Reformation for Serbian-speaking peoples didn't begin in the 1300s (Wycliffe) or 1500s (Tyndale, Luther);  it was not until the mid-1800s that Vuk Karadžić translated the New Testament into Serbian.

Serbian New Testament first published in mid-1800s

This portion of Vuk Karadžić's introduction to his Serbian New Testament is both moving and sobering:

I hope that this book will be of untold benefit to our people.  From the Gospels people will become acquainted with how Christ came to this earth, what He taught, and how He went from this earth; from the Book of Acts  they will learn what the apostles did after Christ and how Christian truth (law) spread throughout the world; and from the Apostolic Epistles they will learn what the apostles taught so that Christian truth will be better established.

Regarding Christ, that He suffered and rose, our people know something from listening in church and sermons, but about the Acts of the Apostles and of the Epistles they know,  truthfully, nothing.  And how could they know?  Even if there were enough books like this in the Old Slovenian Language, people don’t understand that language; and even if we found people who somehow understand something, there are no books.

I don’t know that amongst all of our people, except for in churches, perhaps at most fifty houses have the New Testament; and except for priests, who read in churches and on various other occasions according to their ministry, I don’t know if even five people could be found who have read through the whole New Testament. 

Between having no books and not being able to understand them, it has come to the point that our people don’t even think that the Gospels and Apostolic books are worth reading or hearing to actually learn something, but they think that they should only be read in church and at other various church services because of ritual.

• We rejoice that in Montenegro there are now many more than fifty homes with New Testaments and more than five people who have read them!  However, many still view the Scriptures as a relic, as something religious, even as a talisman, but not, as Vuk Karadžić notes, worth reading or hearing to actually learn something.  Please pray for God's Word to be a light and sword to those here lost in sin and darkness.

• We rejoice that God's Word is faithfully proclaimed every Lord's Day here in Nikšić.  In the morning, Stan continues to preach through the Gospel of Luke.  In the evening, Stan has finished the Book of Esther and is preaching from selected Psalms, beginning with Psalm 1 and Blessed is the man....  Please pray that we would continue to delight ourselves in the law of the Lord and meditate on it daily.  

• We rejoice that with Martina's commitment to have a simple Sunday School, parents are bringing their children more regularly.  The children range in age from 5-9 and are asking good questions, like "What *was* wrong with Cain's offering?"  Please pray for Martina and other helpers to get a good routine and program in place and for the children to grow in their love and knowledge of God.  

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

We are extremely grateful for all 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

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 2017 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Save us, O God of our salvation,

    and gather and deliver us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

    and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

    from everlasting to everlasting! I Chron. 16:35,36

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

Greetings from Nikšić!  Fall is definitely upon us:  the leaves are turning color and there is snow on the mountains! Truly, He has made everything beautiful in its time.

• We are enjoying the fresh start autumn brings with the renewal of weekly pastoral meetings, visitations, mentoring/discipleship times along with the regular services and prayer meeting.  The EUS Student work has fully started up again as well with the return of university students.   Please pray that we all would be faithful to use the gifts God has given us to serve Him well.

• We are thrilled to have several new regular attendees to our services, including school-aged children.  Thus, for the time being, Martina (one of our own) has begun a simple Sunday School for the children.  Please pray that God would use this humble beginning to bless the children mightily.  Also, please continue to pray for a full-time dedicated worker/couple to oversee this growing area of need.

• In honor of the 500th anniversary of The Reformation, Stan is coordinating a press conference/round table on its importance and influence in conjunction with the German Embassy.  Montenegrins know very little about the Reformation nor that the most popular Bible translation here is based on Martin Luther's work.  We trust this will increase  understanding and give credence to Protestantism/Biblical Christianity here in MNE.  Please pray for good success! (Interestingly, October 31st will be a national holiday in both Germany and Slovenia!)  

We are extremely grateful for all 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, please read past our signature.

One with you in Christ,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro

If you desire to give monetarily, whether for ongoing support or as a special offering, 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

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 2017 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. II Peter 3:9

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

Our assumption that with the busy summer camp season past us, ministry and life would slow down to its "normal" routine was quite misguided!  Here are a few highlights from the past month:

• The privilege of proclaiming of God's Word here in Nikšić every Sunday continues for which we are most thankful.  Stan is currently preaching through Luke 18 in the morning and the Book of Esther in the evening.  In Esther we see God's amazing providence and greatness, not through the working of miracles, but through everyday life (insomnia, for example!), accomplishing *all* His good purposes.

• We hosted a record number of guests (apart from teams) these past four weeks-- from the US, the UK, Greece, Holland, and more--some for a meal, some needing a place to stay for a night, some for a week.  We barely fit under the shade of the grapevines for our last Fellowship Lunch!

• In presenting the gospel in a relationship-based culture, it is important to cultivate and build those relationships, both within the church and without.  Thus, along with the typical ministry activities of preparing sermons, counseling, visitation, mentoring, and midweek meetings--all of which center around fellow believers---we are participating in several new opportunities to get to know people within the wider Nikšić community.  

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine the minds and hearts of those who hear God's word for the natural man does not understand these things.  And please pray for Stan and the other young men given opportunities to preach, that they would be faithful and wise in their teaching and preaching.  And, let's pray that God add mightily to His church here in Nikšić and in Montenegro.

• Please pray for the EUS Student work which begins in earnest at the end of this month as the university students begin their classes:  for favor with the university and student council leaders, for students to participate in the offerings, for the local EUS leadership team to be wise in planning, preparing, and following-up students through weekly meetings as well as one-on-one bible studies.

• Please pray for a dedicated worker/couple to establish and lead an ongoing children's ministry.  We no longer just have babies but little people!  It was quite heartwarming when a set of twin boys eagerly requested their favorite worship song (not the same one, of course!) at a recent evening service.

• Please pray for special wisdom and maturity amongst for the church leaders here in MNE because there are always needs and issues arising amongst the believers (and when one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts).  May God grant grace and wisdom to all for both the giving and receiving of godly counsel.

Special Mention Prayer Request:

As always, we wish to express our great love and appreciation for your ongoing prayers and support in this great work of God.  However, the financial administrator of our monetary support has informed us that contributions to Mission to Montenegro are noticeably underfunded this year to date.  

Our vision is simple: That Christ be preached through all of Montenegro beginning with a biblical local church in Nikšić.  

We are extremely grateful for all those individuals and churches who've supported the work thus far and if you'd like to join our team of financial supporters or adjust the gift you already give, please read past our signature.

One with you in Christ,

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich

Mission to Montenegro

Note: If you desire to give monetarily, whether for ongoing support or as a special offering, 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

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!

August 2017 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong, 

upright and just is he. 

Deut. 32:3,4

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

Another busy month, another successful camp, plus a lovely wedding--God is good!

• Camp Monty 2017, in its 11th year as a summer daytime sports camp, touched hundreds of children, old-timers and newcomers, through various sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis, as well as English lessons.  A large team of international volunteers shared their expertise and their love for the Lord Jesus.  

• We experienced the joy of inviting our neighbor to sit under our vine (Zech 3:10) as we've hosted a dozen+ people in town as helpers for Camp Monty, as guests for the wedding, and as friends.  We've enjoyed many a meal together, dining al fresco, sharing life, joys as well as trials. Being together in these settings provides wonderful opportunities for table-talk ministry. One other highlight: We were treated to a few "mini-concerts" as a number of the Danes, students at the Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, relaxed and amused themselves (to our delight) with the piano and guitars.  

• The big highlight of July, though, was the Pedersen Wedding!  With great satisfaction, we witnessed the vows and union of these two young people as they committed themselves to love one another and to love God and serve Him wholeheartedly together.  The ceremony and celebration afterwards wonderfully weaved together both Montenegrin and Danish traditions in a God-honoring way. Soli Deo Gloria!

Mr. and Mrs. Pedersen enjoying the moment!

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the regular ongoing ministry of the church:  the preaching, the teaching, the discipling, the follow-up to the outreaches, personal growth in sanctification.  Also, please pray specifically for an upcoming visitation to the family of a church member whose father tragically passed away, leaving behind a widow with five children.

• Please pray for the many people, children and adults, who heard and witnessed the gospel in action this summer-through camps, through preaching, through hospitality and other ministry.  We long that the sharing of our faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing... for the sake of Christ.  (Philemon 1:6)

• Please pray for the marriage of the young Pedersen family and for all the marriages of the families in church.  As might be expected in a pioneering work, more than half the marriages in the fellowship are not united in Christ.  May God grant us all much grace and patience in loving and serving our spouses as expressions of our loving and serving the Lord Jesus.

• Please continue to pray for Stan's elderly mother and our role in her ongoing care.  Due to poor health, she was not able to come to Montenegro this summer per original plan, and we need much wisdom in determining next steps.

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

Stan and Vicki Surbatovich
Mission to Montenegro