Last month we celebrated with Tom (Institute Director) and Sandra Sibley two anniversaries: 50 years of their marriage and 15 years of their service in Croatia. About 100 of us gathered at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb for this great event. We were even able to bring all of their children and grandchildren from the USA to join in the celebration. Tom and Sandra have given themselves completely to this work the last 15 years, and to God’s Kingdom in general for most of their lives. It was a privilege and honor to share with them in this celebration.

Tom and Sandra

With all of their children and grandchildren

Prayers from our church leaders

Last Sunday we had a visit at our church in Zagreb by a couple of our Institute graduates (Andrej and Nina Lovše), along with some people from their congregation in Slovenia. Andrej and Nina moved back to their native Slovenia after graduation from the Institute in Zagreb and are now planting a growing church in the city of Maribor, largely from the outreach to youth in which they are involved. This group visited our worship service on Sunday, shared lunch with us afterwards, and then used our baptistry for the baptism of the newest addition to their church. It was a great celebration with God’s family from two different countries!

After spending almost a month in Texas visiting family and supporters, and sending out year-end mailings for both myself and the Institute, I am back at work in Zagreb. We started off the new year in a great way. On January 9 and 10, we invited children from our previous Champs Camps to our building for two days of Bible lessons and fun activities. Our theme was “Frozen,” inspired by last year’s movie. We talked about how the love of Jesus “unfreezes” us, like at the end of that movie. So much joy all around!

The whole camp

Fantastic Arna Bogešić teaching the group

Making “snowmen”

A frozen “statue” on the playground

The fall colors this year on the trees in the park, outside my apartment, were really beautiful…

I was in Osijek, in eastern Croatia, October 9-17. I was at the Evangelical Theological Seminary (ETS) there, teaching my class, “Introduction to Pedagogy” (basically the theory, practice, and strategies of teaching others). ETS is a partner school with Biblijski institut in Zagreb. The photo below is with my class. They were a good class and they look great here. I, however, look a little goofy. Oh well.

On the 11th of October I officially became the owner of a small piece of Croatia, on which I plan to eventually build a house. It is about 1,000 square meters, or about 1/4 of an acre. Thank God with me for this provision, and that God uses this place to draw people to himself. Much thanks also to all those who gave for this purchase. Here’s the address:

Ivanska ulica
Jagnjić dol
Sveta Nedelja

That is…I will eventually live on John street, in the Lamb valley, in the town of Holy Sunday.

Yesterday we had enrollment and orientation for the 2014-2015 academic year at Biblijski institut. The best way I can describe the day is by sharing some words from one of our professors, Ervin Budiselić, which he posted yesterday to his Facebook:

“Today at Biblijski institut we had an introductory orientation session for students, teachers, and school staff, and the atmosphere was excellent. But the most important thing is that I felt a tremendous presence of God (even though I was dead tired). Very encouraging… I think that God will work this semester strongly among us.”

Indeed. Pray along with us for a mighty move of God in these lives.

Last Saturday we hosted an event for our kids from the summer Champs Camp. We invited them and their parents for a day of fun, Bible lessons, and lunch together. The lesson for the day was about God’s creation, and the kids made little fox faces out of Autumn leaves. Enjoy some photos from the day: