Happy New Year, everyone. The first week of this year, we held our Winter Youth Camp. We enjoyed three days of worship, games, fun, my famous lasagna, and teaching on identity, belonging, and purpose, all in the mountains west of Zagreb. We had 33 teenagers with us. Dima and Yulia Grishchuk, who I got to know and worked with in Ukraine back in the early 2000s, came to help us with worship and some of the teaching. It was a great time together, and everyone is eager for the first Youth Meeting of the year, and also looking forward to the Summer Youth Camp. Enjoy the video below that Yulia took while we were there, for a taste of what our time was like.

On December 28 and 29, I hosted at my house for two days and nights several of the boys with whom I work closely. We enjoyed great fellowship, food, a fire in the firepit, and a day at a local indoor water park. I introduced them to the card game, “Spoons” (in Croatian, “Žlice”). I also introduced them to the old (for them) film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and made some spiritual application from it about respecting the power of God. It was a great time of deepening relationships, and they even let the old man sleep!

At this time of year, and as we are approaching “Giving Tuesday,” would you partner with us in ministry in Croatia? It has been an especially challenging time financially this year in Croatia. Read below about why, and about ways you can help.

This fall we need to raise $15,000 toward these expenses for next year:

Camps, Youth Meetings, Youth Magazine, Ministry Website, and Personal Discipling

Please also contact me if you or your church would become a regular, monthly financial partner with us. Some additional regular ministry partners now would be a great help. Read about why at the end of this post.

We also have a significant need for funding for our co-worker, Iva Matijević.

Iva is in the photo above, with the group of Ukrainian orphans who we have hosted here, and whom Iva has faithfully served, over the last 3 1/2 years. Iva not only serves the house of orphans as a care-giver, she has also been of invaluable help, and often in sacrificial ways, to the other Ukrainian women and their children whom we have been serving. In all these ways, and because she is fluent in Croatian, Ukrainian, and English:

Iva is invaluable in helping us serve our Ukrainian friends.

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, almost four years ago now, we were given a significant amount of money to help Ukrainians. In total we have helped 27 individuals since then. That money is now gone. This fall we used the last of that funding to pay Iva for her hard work.

Now we need to come up with about $2,400 monthly to keep employing Iva.

This gives Iva the average Croatian, monthly take-home wage of about $1,700, after taxes. We already have $360 of this amount pledged, and the organization where the Ukrainian orphans come from, Jeremiah’s Hope, is also working to raise some of these funds. Would you also be part of the answer to this need?

It has been a challenging year financially in Croatia, especially for those of us whose funding comes in US Dollars. This is largely because of three factors:

1) Since Croatia started using the Euro in 2023, prices have ticked up a bit in general.

2) Since the beginning of this year, Croatia has often been either #1 or #2 (depending on the month) among all the Eurozone countries for the highest inflation rates.

3) We also are currently dealing with a very unfavorable exchange rate between the Euro and the US Dollar. That rate has been gradually getting worse. At the beginning of the year it was about 1 Euro = $1.07. As of today, it is 1 Euro = $1.20.

The basic net effect of all this is that the US Dollar now goes only about 20% as far in Croatia as it did at this time last year.

Would you help us overcome this challenge, as well as help with the other needs mentioned above? Click the “Give” button in the sidebar at right, or scan this QR code:

Thank you and blessings to you!

Steve

Of all the various ministries in which I am involved, this is the one I know is my highest calling here, and the most important thing I can do.

I am currently discipling five young men. We talk about life, read the Bible together, and discuss it. Adam (15) and I have finished the books of John, Acts, and Romans. We continued meeting through the summer, by Adam’s request and initiative. Adam was baptized two years ago and is developing a deep love for Jesus. Adam’s family are dear to me, and we live close together. Noa (13) is Adam’s brother. We are about to finish the book of John. Noa this summer began to talk more seriously about following Jesus. Yura (16) is one of the Ukrainian orphans we have been helping the last 3 1/2 years. Ever since the camps this summer, his faith has been growing. This fall he gave his life to Jesus an was baptized. Petar (17) and I started meeting together this spring. He also has a growing heart for God. Ivan (14), is Petar’s brother. I also work with Ivan in the same way as the other boys. I often also give them affirmaton, as well as Bible study. I recently told Ivan, “You’re a good man and you have what it takes.” He responded, “I know, but it feels good for someone to tell me.” Amen.

We are so glad that Yura committed his life to Jesus and decided to be baptized last Sunday. He is one of the eight Ukrainian orphans with whom we have been working closely the last 3½ years. Ever since his participation in the camps this summer, Yura has been requesting this. He has not let go of that desire, and has kept asking me about it. He and I studied the Bible together leading up to his baptism, and he sometimes talked about God with my co-worker, Mateja. We love Yura and are grateful to call him a brother in Christ!

Last weekend we presented a seminar, Teenagers and the Challenges of the Modern Age: Communication, Encouragement, and Discipleship, in cooperation with the Zagreb Bible Institute (I still serve on the Management Board). We had about 45 people in attendance. We heard research both from the USA and out of Poland, the findings of which were the same: The main issue of teens in this age is high anxiety, brought on by the barrage of information coming at them through technology, combined with the high pressure on them through constant exposure to social media at too early an age. Solutions presented are highly relational, especially with trusted adults in their world, both including, and in addition to their parents. We talked about the importance of mentoring and discipling teens, encouraging them about their identity in Christ, their belonging with His people, and God’s purpose for them. We had special guests who helped present the seminar. The Southside Church of Christ, in Lexington, Kentucky supports us and they sent Joshua and Susan Samples, and Jeremy and Suzanna Stewart. Joshua and Susan are their missions committee’s Croatia liaisons, and Susan is one of their children’s ministers. Jeremy is their youth minister. We also had our friend, Andrej Lovše, who is a church planter and leads a country-wide network of youth ministers in neighboring Slovenia. And Johann Go, the youth pastor at the Baptist church in downtown Zagreb also joined us a presenter.

Last week I attended the Family Bible Camp of the Churches of Christ in Croatia (the 4th camp of my summer, whew!), along with others from our church in Zagreb. For me there were three highlights. One was Tesa’s baptism. I have know Tesa all her life and over the last year she has been involved in our youth ministry activities. Another highlight was that our church hosted at the camp all eight of the Ukrainian orphans we have been helping. They are in the photo above, in front of their cabin at the camp, along with our co-worker Iva, who has been working closely with them. These kids got to see and experience life inside a Christian community that week, in addition to receiving great teaching, such as: “You are worth the life of Jesus.” Some of these kids came away from the experience wanting to know more about what that means, and what it means to follow Jesus. Another (unexpected) blessing for me was the two young men who came from Kansas with the guest speaker for the camp. They are with me in the last photo above. Micah is 20, Daniel is 25. I spent quite a bit of time with them throughout the week. They both told me they came that week expecting to give and to serve, but that they did not expect to grow spiritually so much themselves. They said the time spent with me during the week resulted in a large part of that growth. Praise the Lord for unexpected opportunities like this.

Earlier this month we had our Youth Camp. A lot of preparations went into the camp, along with God’s help, prayers, and volunteers. We had 36 teens and 14 volunteers. Steve’s friend, Joel Butts from Tennessee, brought a team of four Ukrainian ladies from his Twelve3One ministry in Ukraine. They also do work in mentoring and discipling young people. Steve’s “sisters from another mother,” Jan, Jayne, and Jill, also came from Abilene, Texas to help out in the kitchen. We are proud of our younger camp volunteers, Lana, Ivana, and Danijel. They were campers before and now they are college students. They all asked if they could come to the camp and help as volunteers.

The theme for this camp was UNO (The One). We were talking about how Jesus as our Savior is the one. Our friend Joel presented the first evening’s lesson and talked about fearless Jehosheba from the Old Testament. The ladies from Ukraine presented the second evening’s lesson and talked about Queen Esther. Jehosheba and Esther were presented as two individuals whom God used in significant ways. They were both only “one,” but as a result of their obedience, God used them in mighty ways to save their people. Mateja presented the third evening’s lesson, about how Jesus is “the one.” Mateja invited the teens to follow Jesus more, and for the kids who were new to us at this camp to study with us more about Him. I presented the last evening’s lesson, about how You are the One. I was talking about how the teens as individuals have a place in God’s story, and how Jesus died for each one of them. I shared photos of each teen on the screen and addressed each one individually about how they are the one for whom Jesus came. I also talked about how Jesus waits for each one to open the door of their hearts and let him in.

The Abilene “sisters” (photo above left, with Joel) were a tremendous help in the kitchen, and more. At one point during the week, they shared their testimony of God working in their family. They also spent time praying with various groups of the kids at different times. The group of ladies from Ukraine were invaluable in interacting with and ministering to the 16 Ukrainian kids who were at the camp. They also brought a unique and interesting aspect to the camp. They are from a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ukraine. They recognize, trust, and worship Jesus as messiah and savior, but with a Jewish/Hebrew style and flavor. They showed us what their times of worship sound and look like. Our teens enjoyed this very much. In the photo above right, with Mateja and myself, are these ladies, Zina, Liza, and Karina, in their traditional Jewish costumes.

Every morning, we had “Experience” Time, in which we gave our youth time to think and reflect, and also gave them a special task. One of the tasks was to create videos showing where they see God. They did this in groups. We then enjoyed watching their videos. One morning they wrote their life story and then they shared it with each other. The most special time was when we asked the teens to write their prayers, and for what they are grateful for. We then took two hours and with each of them we went to a private place and we prayed with and for them. Joel and Danijel are praying for Lovro in the photo at left. We were amazed how they opened their hearts and wanted to share even more than what they had written on their papers. Some even wanted to have further discussions with some of us after this time.

Our emphasis at camp was spiritual things, but we also had a lot of fun in games, sports, nature, sharing our meals, a talent show, a campfire, and in talking and fellowship together. Praise God for this great week together!

Last week the Srcokret Christian Youth Festival was held on the Croatian coast, near the town of Primošten. This is an event that happens every few years and involves youth not just from Croatia, but from all over the region. “Srcokret” is a play on words that means, “turning of the heart.” And that is what we did. For six days, over 1,200 young people gathered from all over the former Yugoslavia to turn their hearts toward God together. It was a great time of camping, fellowship, learning, worship, and prayer. There were daily morning and evening times of worship; afternoon small group workshops; and a prayer tent was kept going 24 hours a day. My friend, Andrea Gelemanović, and her band led worship one evening, using some of her original worship music. I took and shepherded seven teens at the festival.

Last week we held our first camp of the summer. Champs Camp is a day camp for children 6-12 years old. We also have a number of teenagers who help with the camp. Most of them were campers in the past. Many of these teens also come to our youth camps, and some hang out with us throughout the school year. The Saturday before Champs Camp we had training for the teen volunteers. We had a blessed and joyful week with the kids, and we are proud of the 13 teens who were serving every day with us. We also had with us Mike Donahoo, from Pond Springs Church, my sponsoring church in Austin, Texas. Mike did a great job with both kids and teens.

The theme of the camp this year was, Created by God, Built with a Purpose. The main memory verse was:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that very well.
Psalm 139:14

Each day we had a Bible lesson, crafts, sports, games, food, and we watched a short Christian children’s video. That was very special for most of the kids, and they asked if they can watch something like that next year. We are grateful to our Lord that the kids responded well to Mateja’s Bible lessons. Some of the kids next year will be teens and they already asked us if they can join us in our youth camp next summer.

After the week with kids, we took our teen volunteers to Terme Tuhelj, a water park about an hour’s drive from Zagreb. We spent there a nice two days with them. The first evening Mateja had a short lesson just for the girls, and Steve and Mike had a lesson for the boys. The second evening Mike shared a brief lesson and testimony. We finished our evening with some social games.