The urgent cry for spiritual help for Macedonia recorded in the New Testament, continues to call for a Holy Spirit empowered response.
In addition to SGA’s long-standing support of the Grozdanov family and their fruitful ministry in the capital Skopje, the Mission has more recently undertaken the support of several additional Christian workers. In a recent report they expressed their gratitude, for without that support they could not devote themselves full time to the ministry of the Gospel. Praise God for advance and progress in their Gospel efforts, and for encouragement to them as Christian leaders and to the believers, who are witnessing the church of Christ growing in Macedonia.
In Strumica, a church planted ‘from scratch’ some five years ago has grown steadily. Today there is an average attendance of more than 30 each week. The missionary there is Dimitar, who is described as ‘young and enthusiastic’.
He has two mature elders helping him in the ministry and has completed four years of theological study which have been of great help to him. He has had the joy of seeing a number of people converted and baptized. At a recent conference in Strumica, over 70 people attended for Bible teaching and Christian fellowship.
Dimitar and the Strumica church are not complacent or content with progress already made. They have begun work in a nearby town, Valendovo, initiating a house group with a view to establishing another strong Bible-based, Gospel-preaching church in that community. Pray for this. It is, according to a national church leader, an ‘incredibly difficult’ challenge, given the opposition which is common where the state religion is Eastern Orthodox.
In another town, Prilep, a church-planting effort is in the very early stages. Borche is the missionary there, and one year ago commenced a house church in his family home. On Sundays up to ten people gather, with others showing interest. One couple came along unsureof what to expect, but they left encouraged by the warmth of the fellowship and the welcome they received. Now they attend regularly.
During the week, Borche is active in evangelism, sharing the Gospel ‘one to one’ with fellow citizens and distributing Christian literature. In thinking and planning ahead, several things are highlighted for which he and other leaders desire prayer.
‘We are thinking of renting a place where we could hold our Sunday worship. We believe it will be a significant step forward in our second year here.’
The possibility of such a place operating as a book centre of some sort, is in leaders’ minds. SGA supporters will know that literature and books have played a significant part in Gospel outreach in Macedonia, particularly through the ministry of Ivan Grozdanov reaching out from the church and Bible centre in Skopje.
Pray for God’s powerful blessing to be upon these faithful men in Macedonia as they endeavour to see Christ’s kingdom extended in this needy land.