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/ 

June 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. 5: 20, 21

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

This past month, we've been privileged to have many opportunities to be Christ's ambassadors, representing His kingdom here in Nikšić, Montenegro.

• Preaching from Luke 11:1-13 in the morning, Stan encouraged us to embrace and delight in coming to God our Father, the best Father there ever was or ever will be.  In the evening, Stan is in 1 Tim. 3, addressing the offices and structure of the local church as revealed by God’s Word, that we might do all things decently and in order.  We also rejoice that we continue to have unbelievers coming to our services and hearing the Words of Life.

• We enjoyed a full-house this past week as God brought several people, all full-time missionaries in other parts of the world, to Montenegro to see what the Lord has done here and to prayerfully consider a calling to come back for longterm ministry.  It was a delight to be among peers for mutual edification, encouragement, and worship.  Truly,  all nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. Ps. 86:9

God's People from Montenegro, Ukraine, Serbia, United States, and Swaziland. PTL!

• This Lord's Day will mark the start of a new tradition for us:  A regular monthly Fellowship Lunch following after the celebration of the Lord’s Supper in our morning service, with an emphasis on connecting as church family and not as an evangelistic outreach event. Our desire is that this not be construed as an imported Western custom (potlucks are unknown here) but rather as one deeply rooted in Christendom (So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.  Acts 2:46) and as an opportunity to contribute to a contemporary Montenegrin Christian culture.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• At the end of this month, we will be welcoming the UCCF team from the UK, here to meet, befriend, and minister to students with activities and events in town as well as away at English Camp. After their departure in mid-July, camp season will continue with the arrival of Camp Monty folks for their annual evangelistic Sports Camp. Please pray that God would be pleased to touch hearts...

• Following Camp Monty, Rebekka from Denmark, will be returning as a volunteer to work for one year with EUS-CG ministering to students, building on the relationships which have developed over the past five years and making new ones.  She is hoping to quickly settle into a place of her own, that she might be another "point of light" in the community.  Please pray for her move, settling in, and fruit from her ministry.

• While we rejoice that Peter G was granted a one-year visa, please continue to pray for the visa situations of Peter S and Rebekka, especially Peter S as his visa situation is currently ensnared in bureaucratic entanglements.  

• As always, the regular ministry, the lifeblood of the church, continues on with Stan's preaching and teaching, ongoing mentoring, our midweek prayer meeting and fellowship, our visitations (particularly to the elderly and infirm), and an active hospitality ministry which always ramps up in summer time! Please pray that the Lord grant that we not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

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/ 

May 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

    extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.   Ps. 117

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

We've had a packed month of ministry since our last newsletter.  Here are a few highlights:

• Nick Vujicic's visit and ministry surpassed our expectations! As you can imagine, Nick's visit required the coordination and cooperation of lots of people, lots of groups.  We give all glory to God for how well everything came off--God multiplied and blessed everyone's efforts beyond our imaginings.  Truly an answer to prayer as five days before the event, only 500 tickets had been sold.  On the night of the event?  See for yourself:

Nick in MNE speaking to a packed stadium

Over 4500 people heard the Gospel story: from Adam&Eve and the fall, to Jesus Christ our Savior who died for us, finishing with the glorious Resurrection and our sure hope for abundant life--now and for eternity

• We finished April off saying good-bye to the Danish Bible School team and hello to our fellow MNE believers. The All-MNE Believer's Meeting was hosted on the last Saturday of the month by one of the Podgorica churches.  This annual event allows us to connect and reconnect with believers from all over MNE as we enjoy good teaching, the sharing of reports and testimonies, praying together, and singing praises to our God. 

• We began May by celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Our Easter services were a time of sweet fellowship and well-attended, despite not being able to post times of services (as we had hoped to do) on the Nick in MNE FB page.  Stan preached from different portions of I Cor. 15 in both the morning and evening services, highlighting the blessings that are ours because of the Resurrection and the terrible position of those who do not believe.

• The regular ministry continues on with Stan's preaching and teaching from Luke 10 and 1 Tim. 2, midweek prayer meeting and fellowship, our visitations (particularly to the elderly), and an active hospitality ministry.  We also met up with a representative from Samaritan's Purse and confirmed our participation in this year's Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• We are faced with new challenges and opportunities as the needs of the congregation grow, from ministering to the very young (establishing a nursery, Sunday School) to the very old (visitations and practical help for the infirm).  Please pray that we would be quick to discern needs and wisely creative in giving help.

• We're delighted to see several new faces regularly at our weekly meetings, from unbelieving-but-increasingly-interested family members to students blessed by the recent evangelistic events with the Danish Bible School and Nick's ministry.  To God be the glory! Please pray for continued fruit from all the ministries of the church, that God would be pleased to add to His body here in Nikšić and Montenegro.

• We will be hosting several large teams in June and July as the summer camp ministries begin in earnest next month.  Please pray for those coming to minister, for us here as we prepare all the logistics for the camps to take place, and for those who will attend the camps, that their eyes and ears would be open.

• Please continue to pray for the visa situations of Peter S, Peter G, and Rebekka (coming mid-summer to stay for a year).  Changing laws and regulations have complicated the process for both the applicants and the granting offices.

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/    

April 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

    Tell of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

   His marvelous works among all the peoples! Ps. 96:2,3

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

We've been enjoying the burst of new life in the garden as our tulips and other spring bulbs bloom profusely.  May God be pleased to bring new life to the people here as we sing, tell, and declare His life-giving words to the peoples around us.

• Mini-update on two past prayer requests:  1. We rejoice that our evangelistic Sunday in late March brought several never-been-to-church-before visitors, and 2.  The resubmitted application to have the student ministry, EUS-CG, recognized as a legal entity (NGO) was approved for which we are very grateful.

Come Meet the Danes Fellowship Evening

• The Danish Bible School team is here! They're reaching out to the local university students with several events including meeting students on campus, hosting fellowship evenings at our place, student bible studies, and more.  We are enjoying sweet fellowship and mutual edification as we work and live together for the next two weeks.

A Full House!

• Nick Vujicic will be ministering at two major events this Thursday, one in Nikšić, one in Podgorica.  His visit has been widely promoted here in Montenegro, and he'll have a wonderful opportunity for sharing the gospel to thousands.  We're looking forward to following-up with those showing further interest in the good news of Jesus Christ.
  

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the current outreach to university students and Nick's ministry all happening this week.  Continue to pray for both the practical logistics and for those ministering--that Christ might be lifted up and not we ourselves.  Pray for eyes and ears to be open, that the Holy Spirit would illumine hearts for the natural man does not understand.

• We will be celebrating Easter on May 1st.  Cultural religious holidays always present a special opportunity to invite people to come to church. This year, however, Easter conflicts with the more widely-celebrated May First holiday.   

• Please continue to pray for the visa situations of Peter S, Peter G, and Rebekka (who will be coming late summer to stay for a year.)  Changing laws and regulations have complicated the process for both the applicants and the granting offices.

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/    

March 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; 

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matt. 28:19-20

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

Twenty years ago this month, in March 1996, we moved from sunny Southern California to Montenegro with the desire to bring the gospel, the living Word, the Good News of Jesus Christ, to this land.  We concur, with the Apostle Paul, that neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase (I Cor. 3:7).  

Thus, in this month's newsletter, we look back at what the Lord God has done here in Nikšić over the years, to God be the glory!

Dedication Service 1995
Note:  Milijana is not born yet, neither was Montenegro as a nation.
Caption above map on photo:  Mission to Yugoslavia

In the beginning,  for years, we hosted all the Bible studies and meetings at our house--there was nowhere else to have them.  Now, we are able to go from house to house as different families host our mid-week meeting and our Sunday services are held in rented facilities.

Sweet fellowship at Makica's

In the beginning, we were the only Christian family (husband, wife, and children) in the fellowship--all others were divorced, widowed, or married to an unbeliever.  Since then there's been more than half a dozen weddings, and now there are several young families, committed to the Lord, raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

In the beginning, we had one English Language Bible study at our house.  Now, we have Sunday services, morning and evening; a mid-week prayer and sermon discussion, ongoing mentoring and visitations (all in the local language!), plus the university student work, EUS-CG, with its own bible studies and outreach activities in its own rented facilities.

In the beginning, we were one American family with Montenegrin roots (note our last name!)  Since then, we've hosted hundreds of short-term helpers from every habitable continent.  Now, we have ongoing, mutually beneficial relationships with Christians and Christian groups from Serbia, England, the US, Denmark, Italy, and more.

In the beginning, we prayed to meet people, to stay in country, for people to be saved and baptized, for Stan's citizenship to be recognized, for worship music leaders, for unity amongst all the evangelical believers in MNE, for more men to be saved, for the outreaches amongst the young people, and so much more.  Now, we give God glory for He has done all that and abundantly more besides.

What now? What's next? 

We have a good start.  We do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin (Zech. 4:10), but there is so much more to pray for and work towards for we are confident that He who has begun a good work... will go on to perfect it in preparation for the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).

The work of building Christ's body here in Nikšić and in Montenegro is still a pioneering work.  

• Montenegro remains among the least evangelized of European countries--even if a few thousand souls nationwide have heard the gospel, there are still hundreds of thousands that have not.  

• All pastoral leaders of the evangelical churches are from outside the country--in our own fellowship, they are American, Serbian, and English.  We look forward to the day when well-trained, well-equipped Montenegrins are pastoring churches in every city!

• Evangelicals are still widely considered a "sect" which has very negative connotations.

• No evangelical church in Montenegro is entirely self-supporting although we rejoice that the tithes and offerings in our fellowship currently cover the rent and utilities, plus a benevolence fund as well as a tiny but growing nest egg for a future building of our own.

A good next step is church facilities of our own.

• While we know that a building doesn't make the church, in the eyes of this culture the lack of a building that looks like a church equals a lack of legitimacy.  This perception contributes to the "You're just a sect" mentality as well as "You must have something to hide, meeting in homes and small store fronts."

• We believe that having our own church facilities will be an important part of reaching unbelievers in the community more effectively with both increased activities and outreaches but also a better set-up to visit and fellowship after any event, including normal Sunday services.

• Additionally, we've been reworking our current facilities to better accommodate young families and a Sunday School class, but as renters, we are rather limited in what we can accomplish.

• Lastly, over the past five years, the congregation has gained and demonstrated the mindset that Biblijska Hrišćanska Zajednica (Christian Bible Fellowship) is not "The missionary's church" but rather "our church" with a real sense of ownership and proactive care.

Please pray for and consider donating funds towards establishing Biblijska Hrišćanska Zajednica in its own premises.  We are looking for possible locations and outlining next steps to take.

One young father,  looking down at his infant daughter in his arms, shared with tears in his eyes his hope that when she is school-aged, she could walk down the street with her friends and point and say:  "That is my church. Want to come with me this week?"

Will you help make that hope, that dream, a reality?


In conclusion, as befitting such a time as this, we express our most heartfelt thanks to God for all that He has accomplished in these years which could not have been done without you.  With that in mind, we especially want to thank:

• The elders and saints at Faith Community Church  for embracing the original vision more than 22 years ago and for their ongoing support, through oversight, finances, and faithful prayer.  
• The churches and individuals who've given to the ministry over the years. Some of you have been part of Mission to Montenegro (M2M) for more than 20 years, others for just a few months.  The "History of the Evangelical Church in Montenegro" would be far, far different without your love, prayers, and support.
• The hundreds of guests who've passed through our home.  We've been blessed with a  bigger, better understanding of the greatness of our God, and we've enjoyed a taste of heaven, worshipping our God with those from every tongue, tribe, and nation.
• The saints of Biblijska Hrišćanska Zajednica, past, present and future. Truly, God has done wondrous things in bringing us all together here, in the fullness of time.
• Our family who faces special challenges for the sake of the gospel.  Be encouraged, it has not been in vain for the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Is. 40:8).  You've been a blessing to so many; we love you all so much!

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 desire to give monetarily, whether for ongoing support or as a special offering for new facilities, 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!

February 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night. Ps. 1:1,2

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

This past month we've been enjoying our mild winter weather as well as several visitors from the Ukraine, England, and the States regarding possible future ministry.

• Our midweek prayer and sermon discussion, which is hosted by different families, continues to be a big blessing to all who come as we reflect, discuss, and challenge one another with the truths of Scriptures, followed by unity in prayer.

• Last week, the EUS-CG (Crna Gora = Montenegro in the local language) student work kicked off the second semester with a standing-room only concert.  Talented musicians from Serbia came down to join our guys for a delightful evening of music, a devotional on our true source of hope,  and a promo video for Nick Vujicic's upcoming event in April.

• We've had several visitors, particularly family members of believers, for Sunday services as well as special events.  This is always encouraging as there are so few intact families coming to church regularly.  In this pioneering gospel work, many spouses of believers are unsaved and often antagonistic to the faith.

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests:

• Things move slowly here in the Balkans, so please continue to pray for the granting of visas and residency for Peter S. and others, as well as for the needed improvements to our facilities for the intercom system to benefit families with young children.  

• Please pray for our upcoming mid-March evangelistic outreach--for both the message and for hearers to come hear the words of life.  For those wondering about our Easter services, we follow local custom regarding dates and will celebrate Christ's resurrection on May 1st.

• Also, April will be packed with the arrival of the Danish Bible School students for two weeks of ministry, plus the events surrounding Nick Vujicic's work.  Pray for both the practical groundwork (the event with Nick requires the cooperation of various civic and religious groups) and for those ministering--that Christ might be lifted up and not we ourselves.

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 His good Word!  We long,  as the psalmist writes, to meditate on His precepts, contemplate His ways, delight ourselves in His statutes, and forget not His word.(Ps. 119:15,16)  Please pray for the preaching of His word and for Stan as he prepares two sermons weekly.  Also, please pray for the church here to love God's Word more and more, that we might live out its truths in words and deeds.
• Praise God for the various midweek meetings, including the work with university and high school students.  Pray for the activities of EUS-CG, that God would bless the efforts of Danijel P and many others in reaching the young people of Nikšić and Montenegro.
• Praise God for those family members who've recently attended services and heard the Word of God.  Please pray for those believers witnessing to unsaved family members, and for God to bring whole families and clans (yes, there are still family clans here in Montenegro!) into His Body.
• Praise God that Vicki's expired Montenegrin ID card was renewed with no problems whatsoever.  Pray for those still seeking visas and residency permit, as well as our continued good relations with the local government in seeking volunteer visas for those coming to help.
• Praise God for the freedom to proclaim His name, a freedom not to be taken for granted in these trying times. Pray for all the upcoming events that will take place both in and out of the local church: the evangelistic Sunday service in March, the Danish team reaching out to university students, and Nick Vujicic's ministry in both Nikšić and Podgorica (the capital city) in April.

January 2016 Mission to Montenegro Newsletter

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

He is the King of glory. 

Ps. 24: 9,10

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

Even though Orthodox Christmas is over, there is still a sense of holiday in the air as John the Baptist Day (a major Slava celebration) is celebrated January 20th plus the schools are not back into regular session yet.  

• We had fewer guests than we hoped for at our Christmas outreach on Jan. 3 although we were thrilled that amongst those who did come, some hadn't been in a church for years and appeared to be attending to the words of truth preached.  The low turnout is due, in great part, to family/guest/holiday obligations, so we are planning another evangelistic meeting, with refreshments and fellowship following, in early March.  However, our turnout on Jan. 7, the Christmas celebration for believers, was larger than expected and a sweet time for all.

• Stan has begun a new series on 1 Timothy in the evening; having given an overview of the whole book last week, he is starting at the beginning of chapter 1.  In the morning services, we are currently in chapter 9 of Luke's gospel, challenged with the weight and meaning of "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."  (v. 23)

• Recent changes in law are affecting the granting and renewals of visas.  This has affected both short-termers (who are now registered differently and must pay a daily tourist tax) as well as long-termers (Peter S. whose visa expires in early Feb and was hoping to qualify for permanent residency may have to start the counting of 5 years of continuing residence all over again--for the second time.  Please pray that a miracle occurs instead!). 

Upcoming Ministry and Prayer Requests

• We now have the intercom equipment necessary to allow those in the nursery area to hear the sermon.  We currently need to have some stands and accessories made to house the equipment and then install it.  Please pray that this be done in a timely, cost-effective manner for the benefit of all the families with young children.

• Now that the holiday season is ending, the regular ministries of mentoring, bible studies, and visitations have begun.  Please pray for us as we prioritize our time spent on these good works.  Also please pray especially for those who are elderly and experiencing physical ailments as the current extreme cold (highs still below zero) exacerbates any problems.

• It is not too early to begin praying for the outreach ministries of spring.  Please pray for the evangelistic meeting our local church will host in early March, the nationwide outreach with Nick Vujicic in April, and the visiting Danish Bible School team activities, also in April.  It is so important to pray for the ministers (team leaders/members and the local church), for the ministry (outreach and follow-up programs and activities), as well as for the ministered-to (the unbelievers, the sympathetic-but-not-yet-committeds).  "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Ps. 127:1a

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 His love in sending His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  Please pray that we would clearly and gladly spread that love through our words and deeds and the His church, His body would grow here.
• Praise God for those workers of the gospel that He has brought to Montenegro and to Nikšić in particular.  Please pray that necessary paperwork and visas be granted to those desiring to come and particularly for Peter S.
• Praise God for those who contributed to the purchasing and obtaining of the intercom system.  Please pray that God sends us a gifted children's worker, so that our ministry to families and young children may increase. 
• Praise God for the freedom, time, and energy to engage in Kingdom work.  Please pray that we would maintain a God-honoring schedule and commitment to all our responsibilities.
• Praise God for the upcoming events and outreaches.  May these events quicken and prick the hearts of all--those helping, those receiving.