Teaching English and splitting logs for the Gospel in Serbia

Slavko came to English class, but only planned to stay a week. His stated goal for the summer was to travel to Greece to earn money by selling tattoos on the beach. Of course, in order to carry out his plan, he had to have a visa. IMB worker Julie Bannert began praying that he wouldn’t get his visa so that he would be a faithful class member and hear about Jesus for the next five weeks during the English classes that the Bannerts were offering.

Slavko was a self-proclaimed atheist. He’d heard about all the different religions and come to a decision that none of them were genuine. But after a little time with Julie, he wanted to know what, exactly, Baptists believed. He was skeptical but open to discussion. Not surprisingly, Slavko did not get his visa, and he was the only student that attended all five weeks of class. At end of five weeks he said, “Julie, I do believe there is a God, and I want to know more about Him.” Since this time, he has formed a strong friendship with another IMB worker, Chris, and this month he began to attend a small group Bible study. In faith, the Bannerts are believing that salvation is at hand for Slavko.

Slavko is typical of the many searching people in Southern Serbia. Julie and Karl Bannert moved to this region of Serbia two years ago despite everyone telling them that the area was too hardened to the Gospel to reap a harvest. “Even national believers would call and say, ‘Why are you going THERE? It’s too hard. Even we won’t go there!’ ” said Julie. Now all that’s changed. “We’ve had so many people wanting to come and help, we’ve actually had to turn away a few groups.”

The phenomenal interest in Serbia is a natural product of God’s obvious movement there. But why now—what’s changed? “It’s just God’s timing,” said Julie. “When we moved, we had to wait on the Lord and pray, and pray, and pray.” Those prayers have opened the hearts of the Serbians as well as those called to minister among them.

“Now we get up in the morning and say ‘what’s going to happen today?’” said Karl. “We don’t have to direct it—it is being directed for us.”

Another example is a lady named Sofija. She is a recipient of the Bannert’s unique ministry of splitting logs for people with a gas powered log splitter from the States. Sofija had heard about the Bannerts and came looking for some help since her husband had recently died. Her husband had been a believer, and the peace and joy with which he left his earth made a powerful impact on her. Adding to that was the way his church reached out to her after he died. Now she’s open to talking and wanting to find out more about Christianity. While Karl split logs at her house Julie was able to meet many neighbors and hopes that Sofija may host a Bible study in her home.

Serbia has had a tragic past, but there is hope for a glorious future through Jesus Christ. Please pray for Serbia and for the Bannerts as they minister there.

Posted Oct 30, 2006

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