Macedonia Update February 2024

Thank you for reading our latest news.

Prayer Walking

Ian has been completing his daily prayer walk for the community. As well as taking the time to pray, it has led to multiple opportunities to connect with new people and people that we already frequently have contact with. When one person asked Ian what he was doing and found out that he was praying for the community, he expressed his thanks and gratitude that someone cared enough to pray for him and his community! In a culture where protestant Christians are seen as belonging to a sect or cult, an expression of thanks for prayer is a significant thing! Doing a daily prayer walk also means we keep up a presence in the community during the quieter winter season and it has helped us to keep relationships going during this period of hibernation!

One of the things we are praying for is that 2024 will be a year of numerical growth. We feel that over the past 12 months we have been able to begin two new missional activities in our community, with the two Bible studies, but now we are hopeful for growth both in depth of intimacy with Jesus, but also in the numbers of people attending. Our prayer is that the numbers will quadruple this year – we will let you know what happens in December!

Community Bible Studies

We have now finished a series studying the Sermon on the Mount during our adults Bible study. We explored together how Jesus focuses not only on outward action but on matters of the heart. A particular highlight was the final few verses from Matthew 7:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:21-27

This scripture drives right into our hearts and convicts us about whether Jesus is truly Lord of our lives or if we are just saying and doing the right things. It is clear that we cannot live by just believing in God or doing a few external actions, but that we must make Jesus Lord by living out his word day by day from a position of relationship with him.

In February we will begin a new series with the adults, while continuing with the miracles series with the children. We are also looking to provide space for creative prayer and to encourage times of listening to God.

A fun highlight!

In December we were privileged to be invited to the wedding of Lupcho and Simona, a young couple from our church. Their desire to place Jesus at the centre of their lives and marriage shone through. This was also our first time attending a Macedonian wedding, which Katie in particular was very excited about! While the basic structure of a ceremony followed by a reception was the same as the UK, nothing else was! We had a very enjoyable evening of traditional Macedonian songs and dances and were blessed by the hospitality offered by the two families. Josiah also made a new friend in one of the family members of the bride! It was fabulous to be able to join in their special day and also to experience something new from the Macedonian culture.

Prayer

• Please give thanks for the Bible study and increase in intimacy with Jesus. Please pray for an increase numbers and depth also.
• Please give thanks for the wedding and pray for Lupcho and Simmona as they take the first steps in married life, walking with Jesus.
• At the end of February, we begin the annual procedure of renewing our residency visas. Please pray for a smooth and straightforward process. We have already been made aware of some potential additional steps that we might need to take in order to secure our visas.

Ian, Katie, Kristen and Josiah.