Monday, March 22, 2010

As one travels from Podgorica, Montenegro to Nis, Serbia the journey will take you through several spectacular canyons, some of the bluest rivers you will ever see, snow capped mountains, and millions of pot-holes in the road! Finally you arrive at your destination, but you arrived tired, your car brakes hot, and your right arm sore and stiff from all of the downshifting you will have done on the trip.

You will have also noticed how sparsely populated and rocky this vast area (known as the Sandzak or Raska)of SW Europe is. Even worse is how sparse the numbers are in terms of true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though you may see an occasional church edifice as well as many mosques, there are, literally, only a handful of believers among millions. One can, at times, sense the oppression and the grip the destroyer of the soul has had on this territory. In fact it is not unreasonable to be fairly certain that the Light of the Gospel has not penetrated this area for 1,000 years! But, God has His litttle group of followers living in one town of the Sandzak. They are lonely yet determined that God's light should shine.

They have many strikes against them: history, culture, religion, fear, among them. But they also have the God of the universe with them, carrying them in His strong arms. Pray that these friends would not be discouraged or afraid, but would be that little candle shining in the darkness and that many, including our friends' families, would soon come to know the love and mercy of our gracious God; and that He and His word are not an evil lie.