Coffeehouse ministry reaches lost in Macedonia
Journeyman Melanie Van Laningham prepares a drink at a coffeehouse. Melanie works at such an establishment in Macedonia where she met Gordana, who has been asking questions about God's Word.
Gordana was excited to find a Christian coffee shop in her small city of Ohrid, Macedonia, and stopped by one day in search of a Bible. There she met Melanie Van Laningham, an International Mission Board (IMB) Journeyman, who was happy to give her a New Testament and two Christian books.
“It seemed like for the first time there was someone who was really searching,” said Melanie, who, after living in Macedonia for a year, was amazed and grateful. “Where we are it is a lot of pioneer work,” she explained. “We are still casting rocks out of the soil before we can get it ready to produce a harvest.”
In fact, evangelical believers in Macedonia are often considered part of a sect referred to as “new faith-ers,” in contrast to the centuries-old Orthodox Church that dominates cultural life. So when Gordana’s interest continued to grow, along with her desire for friendship, Melanie was encouraged God was answering her prayers.
The two girls have met a few times and always talk about Gordana’s new spiritual hunger. By her own admission, something was missing in her life until this past summer, when she found it in the Bible.
“She’s telling me things like, ‘I just love the Bible,’” Melanie said. “She’s excited to share about what parts of the Bible she is reading and she is saying, ‘I can’t go a day without at least reading a little part of the Bible.’ That’s been really encouraging.”
This newfound love for God’s Word came as a surprise to Gordana’s parents, who always taught her the Bible was just a book of Jewish history.
“No its not—it’s more than that,” she told Melanie.
Although Gordana believes she has found the answers she was seeking, Melanie knows she is only beginning to understand the truth of the Gospel. Every time they meet, she goes through the plan of salvation hoping to help Gordana understand salvation by grace through faith, a hard concept for someone raised in an Orthodox environment. Still Gordana is not sure where she will go when she dies, but she is asking the right questions, like how faith influences daily decisions and what the difference is between Orthodoxy and Protestantism.
Melanie hopes their talks will turn into Bible studies, and Gordana will give herself completely to God. Ultimately the goal of IMB missionaries is for nationals to reach other nationals, so Melanie’s prayer is Gordana’s hunger for God will impact her family, friends and community.
Brian and Mandy Davis established Ima Vreme, the coffee house in Ohrid, and handed it on to Melanie and her fellow Journeyman Karen Knowles. It is a non-profit coffee shop/bookstore that works as a tool to provide people access to Gospel; a place people can come to talk and learn about God. In addition to serving coffee, the missionaries provide other Christian reading materials, offer English classes and hold events every Friday night to attract young people.
“The main focus at the coffeehouse is to engage people with conversation and friendship, an opportunity to study the Bible and a chance to hear the Gospel clearly presented,” said Melanie, who loves her unique ministry. “I didn’t know I could serve the Lord while serving lattes.”
Find out how you can volunteer at the coffeehouse in Macedonia by contacting the Davis’ at BrianandMandy@gmail.com.
Posted by Karen Pearce on Dec 19, 2008
Similar: Macedonia
