Newsletter from Josip and Biljana
JANUARY 2026 BITOLA, NORTH MACEDONIA
Dear Friends
Thank you for faithfully praying for Bitola’s Evangelical church and town. At the beginning of this year, looking back, we see, by God’s grace, lives saved and people determined to love and follow Christ. We see Christ’s loving Spirit leading people to have a desire to know Him better and live according to His word. We also see the challenges and hardships different lives are going through. We see how God is giving His grace in difficult circumstances, and we see bondages that are hard to break. Here are some of the events that took place among us.
Women’s conference in Ana in November. As the years go by, we see God bringing together in service to the event more and more women from different denominations. They enjoyed using their God-given gifts when praying, playing, singing, drama, dancing, preaching, organising, decorating and more, and the attendees enjoyed, we believe, God’s presence in many ways. Some women made a decision to belong to Christ, some received encouragement, freedom, a needed word from God, and who can tell all that God was working in the hearts of each person. There was a special event for the younger generation, and we believe and pray for God’s continual hand on their lives. We pray that some of them, many of them will feel the desire to serve among women, children and much more.
Thanksgiving day, the church from Bitola and Resen got together to say thanks for life and the different blessings the Lord has given. As we are to practise a life of thankfulness, this was a beautiful time to be thanking together and be thankful for family and church family. As every year, people brought food we enjoyed together, shared words and recipes. It is always a special time to eat together and remember how the disciples ate in the presence of the Lord, talked and laughed together, and remember the hope of being at His table one day.
Celebration of the day of the Reformation. The church celebrated this day at the city library with a short programme, and also invited friends to join; sadly, not many came. As you probably know, it is not easy to look at the empty chairs knowing that this city has a lot of people who still need to hear the gospel and see God’s mercy for us, but we continue to pray and trust that God is in control.
The Samaritan Purse packages arrived, and who does not want a gift? The children and the parents who came with could hear of the greatest gift of all and were invited to the “Greatest Journey”, which starts this month. Praying that the parents will see this opportunity as good for their children and allow them to attend.
Helping people in need is also a practise that is a part of church life. Sometimes we visit them at home, and sometimes they come to us at the church. In both cases, we get to talk, share the truth of God’s love for them and leave a seed we hope and pray will grow someday.
The church is also preparing for the Alpha course starting on the 21st of January, and is in a time of prayer for the people God placed in our hearts to be invited. Soon, the invitations will be given out, and we are praying for all to come. Thanks for praying for bible classes. It has been encouraging to study the Gospel of John, the truth we find there, discuss and learn from one another. It’s also great to see a few people from the past Alpha coming.
From,
Josip and Biljana
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