Croatia
Around the World, March 2012
In Croatia, Churches of Christ have a seat at the table
Mladen Jovanovic, minister for the Kuslanova Church of Christ in Zagreb, Croatia, was part of a TV panel discussion, which also included representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Muslim faith, about the role of religion in Croatia as the country prepares to join the European Union in 2013.
Jovanovic also represented his country’s Churches of Christ at a reception for religious constituencies hosted by Croatia’s president, Ivo Josipovic.
“I was on the editorial board of the book about religions in Croatia, which included a whole chapter dedicated to Churches of Christ and the Restoration Movement,” Jovanovic said. The minister asked the president to include the book in government offices and schools.
ANGOLA
HUAMBO — Since moving to this southern African nation last year to serve with a mission team, Danny and Katie Reese have lost two computers, a printer and scanner to theft.
Someone even stole their puppy, Bravo, from their yard.
In addition, the couple has dealt with vehicle repairs, plumbing problems and a malfunctioning generator.
“Quite simply, it feels like we have been under attack,” Katie Reese said. “Yet we can see God working powerfully in providing for us.”
The couple was able to recover one of the computers, and a teammate found Bravo at a veterinarian’s office.
The Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, Texas, supports the Reeses, who seek additional partners to provide funds for their work fund.
For more information, e-mail [email protected].
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
MALABO — This Spanish-speaking nation, composed of a small patch of land in West Africa and five small islands, has proved to be a difficult field for church planters, said Leonardo K. Bueto.
The church member, who lives in the country’s capital, Malabo, said he is aware of five previous attempts to spread the Gospel to his country’s 668,000 people that failed to produce lasting fruit.
Though the work is hard, Bueto and fellow Christians have baptized 28 people in Equatorial Guinea in the past year, he said. A small congregation meets in Malabo and has a hospital visitation program.
The church sponsors a radio evangelism program that has resulted in many Bible studies, he added.
MAURITIUS
PORT LOUIS — Members of the three Churches of Christ on this island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, met for a retreat recently.
Guests included Jeff Fogarty, a member of the Mid-County Church of Christ in Ladue, Mo. The church supports Mauritius missionaries Tony and Caroline Leuteritz and Canden and Stephanie Subarayadu.
MONGOLIA
ULAN BATOR — “This country is ready for the Gospel of Christ,” said William Crossman, a retired minister in Leavenworth, Kan.
Crossman recently spent three months in this nation of 2.7 million souls, teaching English and conducting Bible studies.
He seeks additional workers.
“I have met wonderful people in Mongolia — students interested in learning English and the Bible,” he said. “I have some good contacts to offer for any interested persons.”
For more information, see the website of the Leavenworth Church of Christ, lcofc.org/ministriesmongolia.html.
NIGER
TERA — Since 1979, an estimated 200 million people have watched “The Jesus Film” in countries around the globe — including Niger.
African missionaries in this landlocked, West African nation showed the film — a meticulous retelling of the Gospel of Luke — in two villages near the city of Tera.
More than 80 percent of Niger’s 16.4 million people claim Islam as their faith. Many others practice indigenous beliefs.
The villagers said they appreciated the film “and asked us if we can come back again,” said Harouna Kanguey, a church member who moved to Niger after training for ministry in neighboring Benin.
Kanguey requested Bibles and benches to continue the work.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI — After leading seven people to Christ, a ministry student in this Middle Eastern nation was beaten by a group of attackers and nearly died.
Prasad, a native of India, required more than 60 stitches in his head but survived the assault, said Vaughn Graham, an elder of the Southwest Church of Christ in Pueblo, Colo. The church supports the ministry training school that Prasad attends as he works as an expatriate laborer in Dubai. Authorities arrested the attackers, Graham said.
“Prasad is out of danger and doing well,” the elder said. “Prayers are requested for this dedicated young man and all the work Christians are doing in such a hostile environment.”
Mladen Jovanovic, minister for the Kuslanova Church of Christ in Zagreb, Croatia, was part of a TV panel discussion, which also included representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Muslim faith, about the role of religion in Croatia as the country prepares to join the European Union in 2013.
Jovanovic also represented his country’s Churches of Christ at a reception for religious constituencies hosted by Croatia’s president, Ivo Josipovic.
“I was on the editorial board of the book about religions in Croatia, which included a whole chapter dedicated to Churches of Christ and the Restoration Movement,” Jovanovic said. The minister asked the president to include the book in government offices and schools.
ANGOLA
HUAMBO — Since moving to this southern African nation last year to serve with a mission team, Danny and Katie Reese have lost two computers, a printer and scanner to theft.
Someone even stole their puppy, Bravo, from their yard.
In addition, the couple has dealt with vehicle repairs, plumbing problems and a malfunctioning generator.
“Quite simply, it feels like we have been under attack,” Katie Reese said. “Yet we can see God working powerfully in providing for us.”
The couple was able to recover one of the computers, and a teammate found Bravo at a veterinarian’s office.
The Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, Texas, supports the Reeses, who seek additional partners to provide funds for their work fund.
For more information, e-mail [email protected].
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
MALABO — This Spanish-speaking nation, composed of a small patch of land in West Africa and five small islands, has proved to be a difficult field for church planters, said Leonardo K. Bueto.
The church member, who lives in the country’s capital, Malabo, said he is aware of five previous attempts to spread the Gospel to his country’s 668,000 people that failed to produce lasting fruit.
Though the work is hard, Bueto and fellow Christians have baptized 28 people in Equatorial Guinea in the past year, he said. A small congregation meets in Malabo and has a hospital visitation program.
The church sponsors a radio evangelism program that has resulted in many Bible studies, he added.
MAURITIUS
PORT LOUIS — Members of the three Churches of Christ on this island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, met for a retreat recently.
Guests included Jeff Fogarty, a member of the Mid-County Church of Christ in Ladue, Mo. The church supports Mauritius missionaries Tony and Caroline Leuteritz and Canden and Stephanie Subarayadu.
MONGOLIA
ULAN BATOR — “This country is ready for the Gospel of Christ,” said William Crossman, a retired minister in Leavenworth, Kan.
Crossman recently spent three months in this nation of 2.7 million souls, teaching English and conducting Bible studies.
He seeks additional workers.
“I have met wonderful people in Mongolia — students interested in learning English and the Bible,” he said. “I have some good contacts to offer for any interested persons.”
For more information, see the website of the Leavenworth Church of Christ, lcofc.org/ministriesmongolia.html.
NIGER
TERA — Since 1979, an estimated 200 million people have watched “The Jesus Film” in countries around the globe — including Niger.
African missionaries in this landlocked, West African nation showed the film — a meticulous retelling of the Gospel of Luke — in two villages near the city of Tera.
More than 80 percent of Niger’s 16.4 million people claim Islam as their faith. Many others practice indigenous beliefs.
The villagers said they appreciated the film “and asked us if we can come back again,” said Harouna Kanguey, a church member who moved to Niger after training for ministry in neighboring Benin.
Kanguey requested Bibles and benches to continue the work.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI — After leading seven people to Christ, a ministry student in this Middle Eastern nation was beaten by a group of attackers and nearly died.
Prasad, a native of India, required more than 60 stitches in his head but survived the assault, said Vaughn Graham, an elder of the Southwest Church of Christ in Pueblo, Colo. The church supports the ministry training school that Prasad attends as he works as an expatriate laborer in Dubai. Authorities arrested the attackers, Graham said.
“Prasad is out of danger and doing well,” the elder said. “Prayers are requested for this dedicated young man and all the work Christians are doing in such a hostile environment.”
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