A changed life

My soul is grieving deeply

And wants to say, “Goodbye.”

It’s shattered into tiny pieces

Only You can make it whole.

All that is left is my faith in You

And it gives me hope in myself.

Heal my heart

Because it is no longer mine.

Valentina Poposka wrote these words the night she gave her life to Jesus. Her life had been tragic—punctuated with loss, suicidal thoughts, abandonment. She did not plan to give her life to Christ that July night. She was just walking home when Jackie Kirkpatrick, missionary in Prilep, Macedonia, invited her into a meeting where Macedonian young people and a team of volunteers First Baptist Church (FBC), Ruston, Louisiana were sharing what God had done in their lives.

“She was passing by when I went to close the door,” Jackie said. “It was a rainy day and I was just looking up and down the street when I saw her. I knew her from English classes and invited her to come in and join us.”

Chris Craig, pastor of FBC Ruston was sharing his testimony that night.  His life before Christ had many similarities with Valentina and she related to his search for meaning. The previous seven years had been particularly difficult. Her husband left her, she considered taking her own life, she had even died once and been resuscitated. After the program, Valentina and Chris talked and prayed together. She accepted Christ right then, which is very unusual.

“We prepare our volunteers that it is rare to have an on-the-spot conversion in this part of the world,” Jackie said. “This is the first time in 14 years I’ve ever seen this happen.”

She had begun reading her bible in October of 2009  through English classes and Jackie believes that is what prepared her for what seemed to be a random encounter. Now she reads her Bible for hours every day, faithfully attends a discipleship class once a week and is seeking baptism.

“Valentina used to come across as hurt–there was a sadness about her, an anger behind her eyes, ” Jackie said. “Now she has such joy that I feel the Lord’s presence in her.”

Valentina has processed the changes in her life through writing poetry.  She has wondered aloud why the bad things in her life happened, but in Christ she has found the answer. “They are the things that led me to Him,” she told Jackie.

Partnering for Christ

Valentina is just one changed life from the ministry of Jackie and her husband Kyle and a partnership they forged three years ago with FBC Ruston. This is the fourth team that came within that time frame.  Their work has been varied, but this year they came during an annual festival in Prilep. The town of 75,000 was overrun as people from all over South Europe came to join the fun. Sunday night at the main-event concert, 200,000 people packed the streets.

Kyle and Jackie have formed a club called “Izgrev” (sunrise) through which they are reaching the people of Prilep with the Gospel. FBC printed coozies (insulated drink holders) with the club logo, filled them with water bottles and passed them out in the early evenings during the festival.

“I don’t think anyone here had ever seen or even heard of coozies, so we had to explain what they were,” Jackie said. “They were a great way to get our logo out there so people will begin learning who we are.”

Along with the free water, several from the team performed short dramas in the town square and passed out fliers inviting people to come to nightly seminars where the Gospel was shared through word and song.

Kyle and Jackie are grateful for long partnerships like the one they have had with FBC Ruston, where seeds are faithfully planted. They trust that the harvest is only just beginning. Many more will soon be able to echo Valentina’s words.

Now my heart

Sings for You,

Hoping in the future

Your victory is mine.

For more information on how you or your church can get involved in reaching Macedonian people for Christ, contact Kyle Kirkpatrick.

Posted by Karen Pearce on Oct 19, 2010

Similar: Balkan Cluster, Kyle Kirkpatrick, Macedonia, Prilep