Serving in Serbia: Results of Novi Sad Camp

Friday, July 31, 2015

Results of Novi Sad Camp

Hello there all. I had to return to the states and immediately go to training for my job. I am back from national meeting and training. Though late in sharing, the fruit and blessings from this camp are still the same!

Of the 34 (28 non-believers) students at camp, 7 made professions of faith in Christ while 5 asked for more guidance and information of who God is. Another student who came claiming to be atheist left saying he wanted to talk about Jesus and figure it all out. He said he believed he may choose to follow God soon! One student who was listening to the Gospel being shared, said hold up, grabbed his phone and told his mother and brother to listen to this as he placed his phone out! Another said she felt a weight lifted from her chest as she came from a childhood of abuse and feelings of unwantedness. Praise God for working in this camp!

Many of the students were so sad to see us go. They came to the bus stop with treats and little gifts to send us off with. For many this is the most love they have ever experienced.

One girl told me about her childhood. She felt her parent's divorce was her fault. She was physically abused, locked in closets, forced to kneel on beans (old Serbian punishment), and told she was a mess and troublemaker. All she wanted was someone to listen, to hug her and say you are a treasure. She had never heard there was a father in heaven who created her, love her, adored her, cherished her. Tears streamed down as she heard these things from me. Even after sharing, she didn't understand the concept of surrenderance and a relationship with Christ as she was raised Serbian Orthodox. Pray for her. She loves God but doesn't understand walking burden and guilt free in Christ...yet! I am eager and excited for that day for her! I connected her with the local church to whom she is eager to connect with throughout the year. I pray she shares with me soon the decision she has made to follow Christ.

Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Our Name's Origin

The name Josiah Venture comes from 2 Chronicles 34. "Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem" (vs. 1). Josiah began to seek the Lord at age sixteen. He instructed his people to clear the land of false idols and to repair the Temple of the Lord. It was then that they rediscovered "the book of the Law in the house of the LORD" (vs. 15). Josiah was cut to the heart when he found out what was written in the Law. He realized that his people were not living how God had instructed them to live, so Josiah set out to make a radical change. "Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers" (vs. 33). By the time he was 26, God had used Josiah to bring revival to the land, rebuild the house of God, and restore the Word of God to its central place. (taken from missionary Joe Brooks in Latvia) ----------------------------------- We want to see God raise up young leaders like Josiah all over Eastern Europe; young people who love the Lord and who will lead their nations back to Him! In Serbia, we are seeking to train and equip young leaders who will be the ones to lead their country back to Him as young Josiah did!