By Eprex Balucay
Being a missionary in certain parts of Eastern Europe is a challenge - even to a family native to the land itself. A couple gladly took up the challenge and gave their report to us. They informed CABC of the religious demographics of Serbia and Slovakia and included the reality of Gospel sharing in these two countries.
Serbia is predominantly Orthodox with mysticism, occultism and witchcraft being openly practiced. Their first planned move is to the northern part of Serbia where exist most of Baptist Churches. Some months later, they will move down to the central and south Serbia, where there are just a few tiny Churches present.
They introduced their two main methods of evangelism: Street Literature Evangelism and Media Ministry. Street Evangelism would involve the distribution of Christian literature (books, booklets, flyers), including Bibles that are approved by the Orthodox Church with the Orthodox shape of cross on them - not the Catholic cross. Orthodox Church for the centuries is resisting to recognize the Pope as Christ’s successor. Distributions are to be done by way of pop up stalls in the sidewalks of the Serbian cities. The aim of this method is to spark interest in the passers-by and strike up a conversation of the gospel. The additional ministry to the Street Literature Evangelism is going to be video/animation ministry. These up to 5 min. long video- clips will evangelize people through their website and on YouTube.
The main goal of the mission to Serbia is to plant churches and to build up people in Christ, whereby they requested our prayer partnership in following areas: firstly, that the family will have good health to be effective in serving Christ and that their son will be able to adjust and be a blessing to the Serbian and Slovak people. Finally, Serbian translations of literature are desperately needed and that the people in the country will be open to the Gospel.
The missionary couple is already involved in the work of Christian Logos Radio in the country of Slovakia. This includes pre-recording sermons and devotionals. The radio ministry has been successfully re-established in September of 2018-- after two years long hiatus due to lack of funding-- and needs capable people to join in the cause. Eastern European country of Slovakia is predominantly Roman-Catholic, but with a much high percentage of Protestants then Serbia.
Church planting is a warfare unseen in the present world, where the enemies are the forces of evil themselves and the battlefield is within hearts. Just as they requested for our prayers and support, so do the other missionaries fulfilling the Great Commission and fighting the same battles as them. May we be diligent in our prayers and support for the missionaries situated around the world to the glory of God our Father.
*Names have been omitted for confidentiality purposes