tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81185500972121518552023-11-28T01:43:28.298-08:00Bohall MinistryServing in CroatiaJeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-67032046320281635072023-11-27T02:44:00.000-08:002023-11-28T01:42:55.472-08:00A Big Step Towards a Fulfilled Vision in Zagreb<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are both grateful and excited to share the following news with you! Through conversations or a visit with us, you have likely heard of our vision to open a Center for Faith, Ethics and Culture. The first step to this was purchasing a building. <b><i>To make a long story short, this past June, Pastor Ratko signed the papers and our church has become owners of a property on the most well-known street in Zagreb! </i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM6FCfrtheu3rEr-5AhpPiUP-wYTfH3oS5Npbev1lkhTb8vm42kZ5x6MzywcRYXDvllxTkoN4ge_OddSl9AVHf2wxXFdD2ZX7l2Vp8LNNF4n1wneUMcrfWb-KgJnSjmbUIgYegBJOz9aprHq9oi3KSAeC-IeZqZSxflhuk25v1fYANCxJix-lgcQPaqg1/s1212/171fa551-c9a4-4171-8e2a-d30d0d7b635f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1212" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM6FCfrtheu3rEr-5AhpPiUP-wYTfH3oS5Npbev1lkhTb8vm42kZ5x6MzywcRYXDvllxTkoN4ge_OddSl9AVHf2wxXFdD2ZX7l2Vp8LNNF4n1wneUMcrfWb-KgJnSjmbUIgYegBJOz9aprHq9oi3KSAeC-IeZqZSxflhuk25v1fYANCxJix-lgcQPaqg1/w400-h215/171fa551-c9a4-4171-8e2a-d30d0d7b635f.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilica, the most well-known street in Croatia. Our new facility is the white building on the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the last several years, the Lord has planted a vision in the hearts and minds of the leadership of <i style="font-style: normal;">Stijena Spasenja</i> (Rock of Salvation). In thinking and praying for our local church and our city, we have often been inspired by Timothy Keller. His words:<span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i>Christians should seek to live in the city, not to use the city to build great churches, but to use the church’s resources to seek a great, flourishing city"</i> </span>helped articulate a vision for how our church relates to our location in the largest city in Croatia, right in the heart of the country.<span style="color: #fb0007; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We're excited to grow into a place that serves the city through education, public discourse and various cultural events. Although we are currently planning on using one floor of our new building for our local church needs, we hope to one day expand throughout all four floors of the facility and open the doors of the Center to serve the city of Zagreb. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-WvP8US1kNeJBYVy6GhiWxXGEda3rnacgBMnY6pVIbd8FhBIesNw1qyPLvNz8GojTsBDvJ-Wu4epM0WCUxlBw-sPfHsjGcv-kmI-848ozk-NsZR21g80_MQAD3dfT-gUxGkeY02aEaoxDS9L6dUqPRB1wsJ6kb2KSxZFrnbqFpJgIqu_wRsPu-lnmXs-/s977/0e837928-132c-48f2-b09f-a6377a40a3db.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="977" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-WvP8US1kNeJBYVy6GhiWxXGEda3rnacgBMnY6pVIbd8FhBIesNw1qyPLvNz8GojTsBDvJ-Wu4epM0WCUxlBw-sPfHsjGcv-kmI-848ozk-NsZR21g80_MQAD3dfT-gUxGkeY02aEaoxDS9L6dUqPRB1wsJ6kb2KSxZFrnbqFpJgIqu_wRsPu-lnmXs-/w400-h225/0e837928-132c-48f2-b09f-a6377a40a3db.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the possible arrangements for the new sanctuary</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are so grateful and humbled by the fact that we have come this far and were able to make this purchase. However, the need is still great. Although we had the money from our savings and a</span><span style="color: #fb0007; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">loan to be able to purchase the building, we are now raising funds to help with renovations such as lighting, sound, furniture, flooring etc. </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Would you prayerfully consider joining our efforts?</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Your gift goes towards a sanctuary that will serve the dual purpose of offering the local church a distinguished space to worship the Lord and the community a reputable hall for public lectures, round-table discussions and concerts. </b></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We realize that there are so many projects to give to. With that in mind, our desire is that you would catch a glimpse of the vision, share our joy for this project and join us in expressing God's love for the city of Zagreb.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can partner with us financially by sending donations to NEW EUROPE VISION, PO BOX 9000, Peabody, MA</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">01961 (indicate that your contribution is for Stijena Spasenja).</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now for a bit longer explanation of where we've been and how the Lord sowed this vision in the hearts of the leaders of our church. Stijena spasenja church has been renting a space since we were first founded in 2009. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PBMSrkR0UrxI3i3hf8w1L_ylfrr53rBHY4qAmvyV0HXpOZK_Z9-HPUnD0x_GQBHJEYc5PFyZNg4mGOifZ9FMxLRbWfe5Z-FdNyzTikFwgntyVo9uRasXlNOEPECDk6i4EV1evMKtSIzetxqEa4qvyeM0GCcn0LiSD3pi13z6Ht-akcn7jVKjrLwr8d49/s1600/b346da42-deb9-4d9f-9be8-dcded77ae2b6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PBMSrkR0UrxI3i3hf8w1L_ylfrr53rBHY4qAmvyV0HXpOZK_Z9-HPUnD0x_GQBHJEYc5PFyZNg4mGOifZ9FMxLRbWfe5Z-FdNyzTikFwgntyVo9uRasXlNOEPECDk6i4EV1evMKtSIzetxqEa4qvyeM0GCcn0LiSD3pi13z6Ht-akcn7jVKjrLwr8d49/w400-h300/b346da42-deb9-4d9f-9be8-dcded77ae2b6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the Stijena Spasenja's 10th anniversary in 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2020, we were forced to move out of the building we were renting. Since then we have been using a space only available to us on Sunday mornings. Unfortunately, this has not been not adequate to meet many of our practical needs like a nursery, children's ministry and space to hold weekly prayer meetings and other gatherings. Although we are always grateful to be able to meet in any capacity, we have long known that in order to be able to continue to flourish as a local church with a vision for serving our city, we would need a 'home'. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2019, as a congregation we decided to start putting away money specifically with the goal of one day purchasing property instead of continuing to rent. One large donation towards that goal gave us the push to start looking at land and properties more seriously. The building we purchased in June cost more than what we had saved. But with a lot of prayer and many advisors in the process, we decided to ask for a loan for the amount that we were unable to pay from our savings. One of the amazing components in all of this is that our loan request was granted. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykx-f8rMeeib1Qc3YO0mNAxzBeT-IIVq9qlkNh4lnJd4vnRqCxp8N_XPz-Hz447z6oWXkpQ9uLsmotTMorQC3nLIQt6-Rl_SqyxYP4XhNcOseGLKAengE2O1GYtrcPRQ72kK-JaH3f0fQCnH3SaE61BN84t3L6gfMaZU4EapsCe5DuNucoXJGlJGxnf0n/s1600/bd351d3c-bab2-420c-9366-94e08c464870.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykx-f8rMeeib1Qc3YO0mNAxzBeT-IIVq9qlkNh4lnJd4vnRqCxp8N_XPz-Hz447z6oWXkpQ9uLsmotTMorQC3nLIQt6-Rl_SqyxYP4XhNcOseGLKAengE2O1GYtrcPRQ72kK-JaH3f0fQCnH3SaE61BN84t3L6gfMaZU4EapsCe5DuNucoXJGlJGxnf0n/w294-h640/bd351d3c-bab2-420c-9366-94e08c464870.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The process of renevoating the space we would use for a sanctuary began this fall</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The size of the building means that there are currently three different businesses renting out various floors. Their rent will pay off our monthly loans and we still have plenty of space for a church sanctuary and additional rooms for Sunday school classes and offices. We are so grateful to the Lord for all the advisers He has provided along this journey to help us ensure we were being wise throughout the whole process. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The floor of the building that will be used by our church needs to be renovated and made into a proper sanctuary. The other rooms need to be updated to serve their various purposes. Again, we are working to build a high-quality and long-lasting sanctuary that we will be able to offer the community around us an up-to-date facility for public lectures, round table discussions and concerts. Building the sanctuary is the first step in our long term vision. We hope to move in by Christmas 2023! We are anxious to be in our own space and continue to grow while offering more ministry opportunities. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXajhFsqicckcGbpsCe-H04EcNOaYwcDp_vXTXsDHzjxwsazr0RmW80y0WhGEQfS3S7ykuVWCDe5FMtHbsPtbO5guTGnf6jq71IfCjxOUsjDuP-tUhuIIZLwadv_Y_uQ7WLsejonyC74D9vxB9gyL8ESVVNwxFTLM8GFY_VGDzRbdqucWsiSeHs8WjVZ5/s977/d97ed6e8-347a-4720-90ce-906b7e8ce05d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="977" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXajhFsqicckcGbpsCe-H04EcNOaYwcDp_vXTXsDHzjxwsazr0RmW80y0WhGEQfS3S7ykuVWCDe5FMtHbsPtbO5guTGnf6jq71IfCjxOUsjDuP-tUhuIIZLwadv_Y_uQ7WLsejonyC74D9vxB9gyL8ESVVNwxFTLM8GFY_VGDzRbdqucWsiSeHs8WjVZ5/w400-h225/d97ed6e8-347a-4720-90ce-906b7e8ce05d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the possible designs of the foyer/cafe area outside the sanctuary</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated! Feel free to forward this to people who might share this vision with us. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We would love to hear from you and are more than happy to tell you more about this project and our future plans. Please let us know if you would like any additional information. </span></p><div><br /></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-79927471626102773002023-11-03T05:12:00.005-07:002023-11-10T02:18:55.193-08:00A New Chapter at the Seminary<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most rewarding parts of our ministry in Croatia is the privilege Jeremy has of teaching at the <a href="http://www.evtos.hr/en/">Evangelical Theological Seminary</a> in Osijek. Over the last year or so, the seminary has both celebrated a major milestone and undergone a significant transition. Last December was the 50th anniversary celebration of the seminary which began in Zagreb, moved briefly to Slovenia in the early 90's during the war, and has been in Osijek for the last 40 years. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmP7cjYUxcG2EInCy-tan9iqPRQLcs9PpK8IQZTHGxkbxyqrZXekdTBHK_buoejmgQWhOD3caxy1jP-0ZTTpLgvwKOVq89NRdwX-pyol-YGNb7M5VUdveuWmwqTI66Ydj9m1drHscKIGQMEDj5_07-jusKLmJ3J0SGzq-TzPxRJWnyF1p71P-MsEDCQl5/s2048/387826123_768362431968321_4037784000317055355_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmP7cjYUxcG2EInCy-tan9iqPRQLcs9PpK8IQZTHGxkbxyqrZXekdTBHK_buoejmgQWhOD3caxy1jP-0ZTTpLgvwKOVq89NRdwX-pyol-YGNb7M5VUdveuWmwqTI66Ydj9m1drHscKIGQMEDj5_07-jusKLmJ3J0SGzq-TzPxRJWnyF1p71P-MsEDCQl5/w400-h300/387826123_768362431968321_4037784000317055355_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Beginning of the '23-'24 Academic Year at ETS in Osijek</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">While the seminary is significant to Central Europe, it's also important to our family. Petra's father had a large part in planting the vision and founding the seminary. Peter just retired from his role as the Dean this past summer. Below he's pictured with the new Dean. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmheXcYND4bj7WID8H1M-2HOezcmVFkV6r1WcSpkoSQFZek0CkVBvxmAK5pP-35WkddUJYItLMZGayFtyDvwPKLyaDK_Rm4MVdmWkvq2cKIdviUY2rLKMi5isPYspt07OvZeD8Ix9XpEr_y04peN5NhASVNvYlmqc1Na2YH5JG2JcIcVk4WpIejPC_ez7/s2936/376763200_747986457339252_6937449862307936226_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2936" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmheXcYND4bj7WID8H1M-2HOezcmVFkV6r1WcSpkoSQFZek0CkVBvxmAK5pP-35WkddUJYItLMZGayFtyDvwPKLyaDK_Rm4MVdmWkvq2cKIdviUY2rLKMi5isPYspt07OvZeD8Ix9XpEr_y04peN5NhASVNvYlmqc1Na2YH5JG2JcIcVk4WpIejPC_ez7/w400-h195/376763200_747986457339252_6937449862307936226_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Former Dean Peter Kuzmič with New Dean Dalibor Kraljik</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">ETS houses the largest theological library in the former-Yugoslavia. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiM5QLwnisbCPdVZKIrUCxqVOvZYDUPZ_Vwo7lKWiuaHNNBQiW75edPcfAKRFMlu1sNXcXVN3nF-kYXM-gvNDYDYrbTIU2p4gBwyOYqkQC3MQM7F4DWKJEm74CW48FqfWK7K8nAHcHwdJsLVybJNS2P5sz-Gp8TuVOiPkExzSl97Pob_rtEBRTL7hfnbs/s2016/186515316_148139017324002_8854515342047734091_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiM5QLwnisbCPdVZKIrUCxqVOvZYDUPZ_Vwo7lKWiuaHNNBQiW75edPcfAKRFMlu1sNXcXVN3nF-kYXM-gvNDYDYrbTIU2p4gBwyOYqkQC3MQM7F4DWKJEm74CW48FqfWK7K8nAHcHwdJsLVybJNS2P5sz-Gp8TuVOiPkExzSl97Pob_rtEBRTL7hfnbs/w400-h300/186515316_148139017324002_8854515342047734091_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">ETS Library</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It also shares its campus with the local evangelical church - Joyful News Church which meets in a synagogue. This is a constant reminder to both seminary students and church members of the importance each institution has to the other. Dr. Kraljik's vision is for the seminary to train both church leaders and those in the secular workforce theologically.</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY7tjQ-RL2EtyPNmqW1PGdmEpkCuixHJlYnytr7LQVIeFCj427GirHqUCSiieaBxz9j4jv02shP38QAPoULXfXBTwDNmk9DG-ooy_dsZifzv3rsJLOkJhZduDHtoPl3oHigxzhN0i8rJKyOjTXHP-yJhD1HTPnr74oDiVQVZLI7VN9XV7hYu7Pnm2GxY0/s1944/261439801_284771703660732_3115784122643013924_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1944" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY7tjQ-RL2EtyPNmqW1PGdmEpkCuixHJlYnytr7LQVIeFCj427GirHqUCSiieaBxz9j4jv02shP38QAPoULXfXBTwDNmk9DG-ooy_dsZifzv3rsJLOkJhZduDHtoPl3oHigxzhN0i8rJKyOjTXHP-yJhD1HTPnr74oDiVQVZLI7VN9XV7hYu7Pnm2GxY0/w400-h266/261439801_284771703660732_3115784122643013924_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremy and his Graduating Class </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week, the seminary hosted several book launches, lectures and the premier of a sculpture dedicated to the seminary in Osijek. <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">All of these events, in addition to the new students who have enrolled this academic year, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">point to</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"> a bright future for the Evangelical Theological Seminary.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01cdWhzB-s0azsYJvXigmWDKzowsg3qXlEdX9qzZyHcBLP4NAStCmdQBHBSNQstD5c4XqX_hv7brMvwaezgrYg8RekyTjUbSz8ala32066d2Hm_74XF4iJECnfUoDutX_qSF-kPt4bVnHlmxgK0lII8FvXx1T65HsPTtSZntI83icayS_lh41V28VWJ8L/s2048/397212050_782210467250184_2919660582052910259_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01cdWhzB-s0azsYJvXigmWDKzowsg3qXlEdX9qzZyHcBLP4NAStCmdQBHBSNQstD5c4XqX_hv7brMvwaezgrYg8RekyTjUbSz8ala32066d2Hm_74XF4iJECnfUoDutX_qSF-kPt4bVnHlmxgK0lII8FvXx1T65HsPTtSZntI83icayS_lh41V28VWJ8L/w480-h640/397212050_782210467250184_2919660582052910259_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Romanian Artist Liviu Mocan in front of his Five Alters of Revelation</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehlz7W9QouNOqqK1fa47H6ER5fPK3rbp1xXzPD6n9VovDZ742Hb68_2c8M9MCDhtNTeJ3oMz7-IX_KvKg9-xzDvR0YRM7NRUnz9MOfynpSpvCwOxeq2SDWfCPJWVQtVomQX9OUMbVSxNJ9CJ-YV72P4fBcxdiIVzPd6-Fey8hj44RA6uEBG5iMekTvDQJ/s1121/392928476_777807774357120_4544742883810866890_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1121" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehlz7W9QouNOqqK1fa47H6ER5fPK3rbp1xXzPD6n9VovDZ742Hb68_2c8M9MCDhtNTeJ3oMz7-IX_KvKg9-xzDvR0YRM7NRUnz9MOfynpSpvCwOxeq2SDWfCPJWVQtVomQX9OUMbVSxNJ9CJ-YV72P4fBcxdiIVzPd6-Fey8hj44RA6uEBG5iMekTvDQJ/w400-h261/392928476_777807774357120_4544742883810866890_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Launch of "Discipleship Jesus' Way" by Ervin Budiselić</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vZi142gMyPbxbB-egjd_iikMMmlQ6QyoJ-4xFpnEgh0t-PUO7P9GrjD6Qe9-dPKC8PvwC-EEXisa24ahyjTe5Q1esaMbtoj_iTQZGu8u7fc9u6bXmrZntb1DmdpfVDcC-c6Fu6aKjaDpNTgbqz0TH7g_mVGq41TTv8SbW0C8rtdIR0sbxCXP7H8sK9L8/s2936/395221454_778338004304097_3046502426852641472_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2936" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vZi142gMyPbxbB-egjd_iikMMmlQ6QyoJ-4xFpnEgh0t-PUO7P9GrjD6Qe9-dPKC8PvwC-EEXisa24ahyjTe5Q1esaMbtoj_iTQZGu8u7fc9u6bXmrZntb1DmdpfVDcC-c6Fu6aKjaDpNTgbqz0TH7g_mVGq41TTv8SbW0C8rtdIR0sbxCXP7H8sK9L8/w400-h195/395221454_778338004304097_3046502426852641472_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The New Living Room in the Seminary Library</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0Zagreb, Croatia45.8150108 15.98191917.504776963821158 -19.174331000000002 74.125244636178849 51.138169tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-15225252481558865592023-09-19T14:56:00.004-07:002023-09-25T07:02:49.691-07:00Fifty Years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Camp in Orahovica was the single biggest reason Petra wanted to come back to Croatia when I first met her at Gordon College. She has gone to camp every summer since she was eleven years old with 2020 being the only exception because of the pandemic. Even when she went to high school and college in the States, she came to Croatia every summer to volunteer at camp. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the first camp. Petra's been to the majority of them. </span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr0etrw4kIj7QovGGUyWaG5omVaWxRYeh0ziZ5uz9nScbURilI4_AhbfoNnI2eYB6lbcFprsXqzYMranyPl85v8c5_COMDhCtm96pzz1vpcCyqmboEcT-LsPtQd8qaIS3XoOIQExMLAU9jfX2-lQ-hTGUwyv-iDod9xTFHvxhyzKp3EgScWmDb8rWrhPm_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2009" data-original-width="2658" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr0etrw4kIj7QovGGUyWaG5omVaWxRYeh0ziZ5uz9nScbURilI4_AhbfoNnI2eYB6lbcFprsXqzYMranyPl85v8c5_COMDhCtm96pzz1vpcCyqmboEcT-LsPtQd8qaIS3XoOIQExMLAU9jfX2-lQ-hTGUwyv-iDod9xTFHvxhyzKp3EgScWmDb8rWrhPm_=w400-h302" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our slogan is "a meeting place". "Encounter" would be another way to translate it. Camp in Orahovica is a place where thousands have encountered the Lord. Throughout its 50 year history, God has been faithful. He has used his people in this place to call campers to himself and renew their relationship with him. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's also a place where valuable relationships with others have been fostered. This year we had a couple speak at our family camp from Belgrade, Serbia. While the husband had never been to this part of Croatia, his wife was in one of the pictures of kids camp in the 80's. She had been at kids camp 40 years ago. This sort of story is very common. Camp in Orahovica is a highlight for many Christians in the former-Yugoslavia. </span></p><p>We are thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in this small but significant pocket of eastern Croatia!</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /><br /></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-48785474259781143232022-12-30T12:42:00.004-08:002022-12-30T12:43:17.668-08:00Handing off the Baton<p><br />Despite the fact that it began in the U.S., I hadn't heard of Royal Rangers before I moved to Croatia.</p><p>But as of this writing, I've been serving as the Croatian National Coordinator for 11 years. It was a role I was reluctant to take on at the beginning. In fact, I accepted only becasue it was the only way I could use Royal Rangers as a tool in our local church where there were a number of pre-teen guys I was discipling. </p><p>I also qualified my agreement by expressing my desire to hand it off to someone from Croatia one day. I didn't feel that it made sense for a foreigner to lead this ministry long-term. </p><p>That moment came in early November when my good friend Danijel officially became the National Coordinator of RR. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPvzdDRY8xEm77vL-vGXXN_m7zzet9lEzbD6wBhOb9JYiwJmRvobvHfz4YiWtfTvSeH-vsL9Gu-TjscFW51mbgf_2thaityePsyQNqXKTIyGRFBGfnkQ-OPNQ1LiPjiXrBtahFzpfVA541NlReLbyK4C6yIH-dZePmiCB1kU6ZuI4MyWbikmVm40vWw/s4032/322510668_1197292027828920_1978157145463268981_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPvzdDRY8xEm77vL-vGXXN_m7zzet9lEzbD6wBhOb9JYiwJmRvobvHfz4YiWtfTvSeH-vsL9Gu-TjscFW51mbgf_2thaityePsyQNqXKTIyGRFBGfnkQ-OPNQ1LiPjiXrBtahFzpfVA541NlReLbyK4C6yIH-dZePmiCB1kU6ZuI4MyWbikmVm40vWw/w300-h400/322510668_1197292027828920_1978157145463268981_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Danijel's been working with me from the beginning. Together, we attended our first training camp in western Serbia in 2011. He has been a trusted friend and advisor, always ready to help in whatever way he possible can.<p></p><p>Handing this ministry off to Danijel has been rewarding. With the Lord's guidance and Danijel's and others' help, we have used RR as a tool in our endeavor to make disciples of Jesus Christ. I am excited to see how the Lord continues to use Danijel and RR for his glory. </p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-51553374250470059842022-12-30T12:37:00.001-08:002022-12-30T12:37:07.742-08:00Once in a Lifetime<p style="text-align: left;">August was a once in a lifetime experience. There have been various combinations of Bohalls that have visited the U.S. from Croatia. But this was the first, and perhaps the last time we went as a family of seven. </p><div>We began our trip in the Boston area, visiting Jeremy's family and seeing the Gordon College and Conwell campuses (where we met and were married), among other things.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrRsoJky3PkeuvkrhN_RJ8YQjGNdSoxoHVrU6q4nuMdvaNSlBgZlp7akBJnEKvXLNw1BQnyiOS-gs_bPoL2MJ7OxVrrUVvxCXY5gqUJrFSUgF7sa9ff3qXT7tya0H_SOWFSQsJAxyHdULNp5Y_VumxhtkYHAOOCWfygXp6qCe4t69KXry2fhOSY9AFA/s2114/IMG_0955b.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2114" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrRsoJky3PkeuvkrhN_RJ8YQjGNdSoxoHVrU6q4nuMdvaNSlBgZlp7akBJnEKvXLNw1BQnyiOS-gs_bPoL2MJ7OxVrrUVvxCXY5gqUJrFSUgF7sa9ff3qXT7tya0H_SOWFSQsJAxyHdULNp5Y_VumxhtkYHAOOCWfygXp6qCe4t69KXry2fhOSY9AFA/w400-h225/IMG_0955b.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">In front of Wilson Hall at Gordon College</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We then spent two weekends with Jeremy's relatives in Brooklyn. Experiencing the Big Apple was a highlight for the kids. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyo__SJ-MziqTxcGyvizxbHuJaIhyA6QeSrwe8dT3oSPO5z3l9G2r_-UyBam7ZShcWQcN2YWXxb7MqOOiVcFMxz7ZnhdvYCiplxBi_kRt4SCZxuLHRNNSc9sDYDt9HzAOLQiK9VInM4wqsGwX_JGmIiXUa1E4gdGqbAWx4Cc86CrbOwHGhPfpKX5iCw/s4032/IMG_1228.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyo__SJ-MziqTxcGyvizxbHuJaIhyA6QeSrwe8dT3oSPO5z3l9G2r_-UyBam7ZShcWQcN2YWXxb7MqOOiVcFMxz7ZnhdvYCiplxBi_kRt4SCZxuLHRNNSc9sDYDt9HzAOLQiK9VInM4wqsGwX_JGmIiXUa1E4gdGqbAWx4Cc86CrbOwHGhPfpKX5iCw/w400-h300/IMG_1228.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In between the two weekends we made a quick trip down to Washington D.C. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnVgmY-8yFzuJCa7F1miuajMcYk-bqQ8lQ_QO_2b05yT3cCC7W314VkGi8ilIWzEnmkIxYgjErMLQGs_bE138uc7VF6tsKgtA3kK0QV7wWssNmW4Bgt6Ww5EQ6PFHm1izeWFF5-N38_C3bSmSb1Jm2qreXIPCe_do0Rl8XsRkzBo2aT1GmANQvjqdjw/s1414/c0c42a1e-5218-4fa6-bc14-45464425a489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1414" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnVgmY-8yFzuJCa7F1miuajMcYk-bqQ8lQ_QO_2b05yT3cCC7W314VkGi8ilIWzEnmkIxYgjErMLQGs_bE138uc7VF6tsKgtA3kK0QV7wWssNmW4Bgt6Ww5EQ6PFHm1izeWFF5-N38_C3bSmSb1Jm2qreXIPCe_do0Rl8XsRkzBo2aT1GmANQvjqdjw/w400-h300/c0c42a1e-5218-4fa6-bc14-45464425a489.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">During these first three weeks, we were joined by our pastor and his family - also (and still!) close friends of ours. This was the first time his wife and kids had been to the States. It was quite the adventure for the 11 of us to travel around the northeast. But of course these will be memories we will never forget. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Towards the end of our trip we visited good friends in Buffalo, NY where we experienced Niagra Falls, then went to Cooperstown. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Jeremy has always said family and friends are what he misses most about the States. During this trip we were able to reconnect with many of our friends - some who are not specifically mentioned here while introducing our children to some of the most important places and people in the U.S. We even got to take in a couple MLB ballgames - firsts for all of the kids. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It was certainly a trip to remember!</p></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-16175041643378941822022-07-18T13:20:00.006-07:002022-07-18T14:05:34.658-07:00From One Generation to the Next<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">"</span><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><i>One generation shall commend your works to another</i></b><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">." - Psalm 145:4</span></span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxLX3vpmA1CVDJHnPXx3X3nULCs6OIhFWS66MmAJ8XUPMXSyp5QQ6cTQW9Gdxvxr4jfQQaDX9OGqCHhdJw9oBzjQHOBjEANSJHzGsEir4ZO2_b6WZZQ3ubyRkGMq6SWsBRZ53ITZPevk51MccbcZ-bCHVqpm_OBFsQF4E7g-bmH_DcCjsTKVB9v6YOVw" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxLX3vpmA1CVDJHnPXx3X3nULCs6OIhFWS66MmAJ8XUPMXSyp5QQ6cTQW9Gdxvxr4jfQQaDX9OGqCHhdJw9oBzjQHOBjEANSJHzGsEir4ZO2_b6WZZQ3ubyRkGMq6SWsBRZ53ITZPevk51MccbcZ-bCHVqpm_OBFsQF4E7g-bmH_DcCjsTKVB9v6YOVw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Rangers workshop at Kids Camp Orahovica 2022<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jeremy here. Although I wasn't at Kids Camp this summer, the picture above jumped out at me as I was looking through the highlights on social media. Besides the fact that it was taken in Orahovica, a place we lived for nine years and have spent most of the summers since, the man on the right is a friend of mine and a significant part of the time we spent in Orahovica. His name is Filip and he was six years old when we moved to Croatia. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Filip was one of the first boys in our baseball ministry back in 2007 when I invited whoever wanted to come to the local soccer field to learn how to hit and play catch. He was a young teenager when we began Royal Rangers in Orahovica. And this past week, he led the Royal Rangers workshop at Kids Camp. We're thankful for Filip and his desire to commend the Lord's work to the next generation. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To be clear, this is not our doing. Filip and others like him are the result of his Christian family, local church, camps, other ministries and ultimately the grace of God. But it's these sort of stories that we came to Croatia to be part of. We don't see ourselves as disciple makers, but rather as members of the Body of Christ that makes disciples. And so it's this sort of example that excites and energizes us to continue the work. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Today, as Teen Camp begins, there are 6 leaders from our local church in Zagreb, including our pastor who leads camp. The goal of camps throughout the years has been to provide a place and an opportunity for each person, leaders and participants alike, to have an encounter with God. We invite you to pray with us that this would indeed be the case throughout the next 3 weeks of camps. </span></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-59731604047837760762022-07-07T12:59:00.013-07:002022-07-18T14:07:38.151-07:00A Significant Day<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm convinced that, like masters of any other profession, if we're disciples of Jesus Christ, we need mentors. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Today wouldn't have necessarily seemed that special on the surface level. But going into it, I had made plans to get together with two guys whom the Lord has used in significant ways. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My mentor, Tom Foley, who I've known now for the last 10 years, was visiting Zagreb from the States. Throughout 2020 and 2021 he didn't visit as much as he had in the past so I've begun looking forward to these face-to-face visits even more. There's always the potential that he'll ask a tough question. Tonight it was a softball, "So what are you reading in the Bible these days?" But it could have just as easily been, "How are you and Petra doing?" or "How's your relationship with the Lord?" The questions themselves aren't tough. But he knows how to help me dig into territory that may not be addressed much. Everything's on the table.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B4-yHJeqO6CfuNqQji8VVaqahYjNM2XwYPHqqfLTWFgccJvfASiFTjdlVNC9Om7IyucrAzjrIWBjp2TpVNPFCXVOm1Egs21nUCpsDLFcte3ZvmOARXG0pEDIS214BqkAS5vzwkex2fqWQHejT414_ZqfmZdFn1bET6goZeyLwtFjaxTOLzTiF5wpbA/s960/82692229_10156481054871386_5517692266958815232_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B4-yHJeqO6CfuNqQji8VVaqahYjNM2XwYPHqqfLTWFgccJvfASiFTjdlVNC9Om7IyucrAzjrIWBjp2TpVNPFCXVOm1Egs21nUCpsDLFcte3ZvmOARXG0pEDIS214BqkAS5vzwkex2fqWQHejT414_ZqfmZdFn1bET6goZeyLwtFjaxTOLzTiF5wpbA/w320-h240/82692229_10156481054871386_5517692266958815232_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom and Jeremy in Hungary 2020</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Earlier in the day I got together with Tomislav, a guy who I began mentoring soon after we came to Zagreb. He's become a good friend and a young leader in our church. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: arial;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu_BEb7cnyr-EpvkGzIcU-UDIWT6fN6ArR4tk69DXauEXXh8h6g86Tb0I5NtuIq4O7UvwXh6tH3sx2FR9FMqcHmmuKM57m2VMHMoctw_opejXU0p7HNz-A3HX0krJmpCSoWdLbVrIk1wBV4qViqvCgClpxkA-MJWP87w8s_AGEetwOlclJQeFIUBjLNw" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu_BEb7cnyr-EpvkGzIcU-UDIWT6fN6ArR4tk69DXauEXXh8h6g86Tb0I5NtuIq4O7UvwXh6tH3sx2FR9FMqcHmmuKM57m2VMHMoctw_opejXU0p7HNz-A3HX0krJmpCSoWdLbVrIk1wBV4qViqvCgClpxkA-MJWP87w8s_AGEetwOlclJQeFIUBjLNw" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Jeremy and Tomislav in Croatia 2020</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tomislav is the sort of guy who will come to others who are older and have more experience, pick their brain and ask for advice. He's open, genuine and transparent - characteristics that have helped him grow to be more and more like Christ. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm so grateful to be in the middle of these two generations. It may not seem like a big deal, but it took several years of living in Croatia to find a guy like either of these two. The lack of having a mentor and having someone to share my experience with was a huge motivator in my drive to learn what it means to make disciples of Jesus Christ in Croatia. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the end, that wasn't merely an academic exercise. It's one I've been learning about "on the job". Tom and Tomislav have been a huge part of that. </span></div><p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0Zagreb, Croatia45.8150108 15.981919-29.146405470798349 -124.643081 90 156.606919tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-71773266026324668662021-12-24T02:29:00.000-08:002021-12-24T02:29:03.182-08:00God Keeps His Word<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In contrast to the ways in which we often fail to keep our promises, God keeps his Word. May we be encouraged by first narratives in Luke's Gospel this Christmas season. God indeed keeps his promises!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s34fgn-fYpw" width="320" youtube-src-id="s34fgn-fYpw"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-6515042125313131792021-11-30T07:53:00.002-08:002021-11-30T07:53:19.300-08:00The Gospel Coalition Conference in Croatia<p> In late October we had the privilige of being part of a Gospel Coalition conference in Osijek, Croatia. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPvoR46BUZlj9fA26V9GUMy-xys6ZX1OK0KFLrASd2FA1V4a2S9qsolXuKzeFtMcPWmb1aLFpYMmcUrCYImjAZUB5MQIifmPhpHXIftzwrZ6xpYlMxb8aCJmlQzfV1uccI7qU57xVja7D/s2048/255340913_4485021251573622_8027798649457714429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPvoR46BUZlj9fA26V9GUMy-xys6ZX1OK0KFLrASd2FA1V4a2S9qsolXuKzeFtMcPWmb1aLFpYMmcUrCYImjAZUB5MQIifmPhpHXIftzwrZ6xpYlMxb8aCJmlQzfV1uccI7qU57xVja7D/w400-h266/255340913_4485021251573622_8027798649457714429_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As we've emphasized at various times, one of the things Petra and I are excited about in our work with our local church is its emphasis on the testimony of Scripture being central to our faith. That may sound obvious. But many Catholics (in this predominantly Catholic country) and many Pentecostal evangelicals (the denomination we work most with) have shifted their emphasis to tradition or charisma respectively. </p><p>This is one of main reasons we were eager to support the efforts of various evangelical churches in Croatia as they organized this conference. New Testament theologian D.A. Carson was the main speaker. Musicians from different parts of Croatia joined together to lead the congregation in worship. And participants joined from at least 5 different countries in Europe. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pyp7_EY04gW1wvGYaPxcLzjkJQxdrMk_Of0bW7cM9fgTLvXQXO5paYVhKlxLla_rAj_3fpphfPkCHenyur7tP20KYb8E5wOJgqDWsYqoRaX0eGLb8ahXkeW6GKMHrLiR57PN6n-Rn4dQ/s1680/255856151_4485016944907386_4032289422755902405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1680" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pyp7_EY04gW1wvGYaPxcLzjkJQxdrMk_Of0bW7cM9fgTLvXQXO5paYVhKlxLla_rAj_3fpphfPkCHenyur7tP20KYb8E5wOJgqDWsYqoRaX0eGLb8ahXkeW6GKMHrLiR57PN6n-Rn4dQ/w400-h266/255856151_4485016944907386_4032289422755902405_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Testament Scholar D.A. Carson<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The theme of the conference was <i>Living a Life Worthy of the Calling</i>. Carson preached 6 times on Ephesians chapter 3 through 6. He provided a thorough study of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians while offering a model of expository preaching that preachers in the room could follow. <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WLEgj7DSr_zmHwLazBGhCzxVsaOSGJAgwYtfpMwAB3tgeOpJJ-IK7xp_rcpxth_8TJvyFQZeMSw2p96Fp515MHpEnFEqgMoL39gUKlCBArMdJBXo4lFHdAF05n6X4sct0K8OBgfRm8XO/s2048/255020825_4485017658240648_8929909926254703114_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WLEgj7DSr_zmHwLazBGhCzxVsaOSGJAgwYtfpMwAB3tgeOpJJ-IK7xp_rcpxth_8TJvyFQZeMSw2p96Fp515MHpEnFEqgMoL39gUKlCBArMdJBXo4lFHdAF05n6X4sct0K8OBgfRm8XO/w400-h266/255020825_4485017658240648_8929909926254703114_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Participants of the Gospel Coalition Conference in Osijek<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The conference included exuberant worship in song, breakout sessions led by local leaders and plenty of time for coffee and fellowship. Petra spent a lot of time and energy organizing the conference in the town she grew up in. Her investment was well worth the effort as the conference was regarded a success in every way. I even had the chance to brush off my trombone and join the worship team. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW9iqpVfdDIMSAOSEyFeYOwtRjXGwv0VHenmJn6PFYMI40nWZlRiZp8KLrn3VBomvLgnJGm_RCnK0r7qEDiaiOeBVFbchxtWcn7Bs6s786yBNakyEvLFsNjVOQVZ3VXvrda-jGxhyphenhyphen_f0X/s2048/255387256_4485016804907400_6886557131968017031_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW9iqpVfdDIMSAOSEyFeYOwtRjXGwv0VHenmJn6PFYMI40nWZlRiZp8KLrn3VBomvLgnJGm_RCnK0r7qEDiaiOeBVFbchxtWcn7Bs6s786yBNakyEvLFsNjVOQVZ3VXvrda-jGxhyphenhyphen_f0X/w400-h266/255387256_4485016804907400_6886557131968017031_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Praise the Lord for the opportunity to hear God's word proclaimed and celebrated! Here's a 4 minute summary video of the conference. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IMhhSO6UTpc" width="320" youtube-src-id="IMhhSO6UTpc"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-71142353722983335572021-08-27T01:49:00.007-07:002021-08-27T02:05:57.667-07:00Teen Camp 2021<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Rather than give another report of camps from our perspective, take a look at what some of the teenagers said about this year's Teen Camp:</span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marina (18): "Being at camp was really nice, I'm glad I had the chance to see some friends I hadn't seen in awhile because of Corona. The best part of camp was the worship time, the evening messages and hanging out with my friends. One of the best memories I had was breathing fire and celebrating my 18th birthday. I'd recommend camp to everyone because through small groups and the evening sermon, the leaders were able to bring us closer to the Word of God in fun and creative ways."</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ36jEI-dHBptQkDd_BR-6TYImPSFUcUhiRL0H2V8BrHMaZvT8NPYnqkHApfXe8gjDHAzb0AifH1LYnulbGGE_5zEMeQq2nktq3oj04v0fzFB8vLEiXwh50AHmBpxgLn6KgH2XGPIbAI9D/s960/224472551_2929235410669522_629154425027125767_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="960" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ36jEI-dHBptQkDd_BR-6TYImPSFUcUhiRL0H2V8BrHMaZvT8NPYnqkHApfXe8gjDHAzb0AifH1LYnulbGGE_5zEMeQq2nktq3oj04v0fzFB8vLEiXwh50AHmBpxgLn6KgH2XGPIbAI9D/w400-h268/224472551_2929235410669522_629154425027125767_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Denny (15): "Teen camp this year was amazing! The team, workshops, olympics, food and of course the leaders, service and worship get an A+! My favorite part was the music workshop (an interesting group that was a lot of fun to hang out with). I'll remember playing games at the lake with my good friends." </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPINWTmd5kXv9ZXLDRNse4NDAhQ7zohDYAwnMmTy8uF-7cBYcKcd2ptqdHldXZZAosr2h3XtfXCoBDQ83oIW-k3n4EjWVetdqzN-RVCsN15NCqYo__O0ihVp35gxgW__peSrKVQEJedq4K/s1080/224837430_2929215847338145_1161817843359766170_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="1080" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPINWTmd5kXv9ZXLDRNse4NDAhQ7zohDYAwnMmTy8uF-7cBYcKcd2ptqdHldXZZAosr2h3XtfXCoBDQ83oIW-k3n4EjWVetdqzN-RVCsN15NCqYo__O0ihVp35gxgW__peSrKVQEJedq4K/w400-h185/224837430_2929215847338145_1161817843359766170_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, .SFNSText-Regular, sans-serif"><br /></span><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dora (15): "Being at camp was excellent. One of the better parts of camp was the atmosphere throughout the 6 days, in the sense that it was so easy for everyone to fit in and become friends with the other campers. The best memory from camp, which I will always remember, was talking with new friends by the campfire. I'd recommend this experience to everyone because I believe you will discover a part of yourself you never knew existed."</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eijmxNcoL1hEAZhnwdX1PGcK1aJYgN2F4SrSnyvvcFkhWwAxfPzyGOFpRERhxM-GIjssS10RjxE-wOYCyyQsZ018OL5-UfQczEnTaEIrgsUF7u3VNuaVZCVoAJobwgXvhJ2ykE6wLIGQ/s960/224617099_2929212980671765_6567020967454392804_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eijmxNcoL1hEAZhnwdX1PGcK1aJYgN2F4SrSnyvvcFkhWwAxfPzyGOFpRERhxM-GIjssS10RjxE-wOYCyyQsZ018OL5-UfQczEnTaEIrgsUF7u3VNuaVZCVoAJobwgXvhJ2ykE6wLIGQ/w400-h300/224617099_2929212980671765_6567020967454392804_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHTRNozm8cMyltWKr5VMu78Xb5-tuMyzMYnkdZhhXkl46IM0TieD84T8ibfG2w7AI_0tYfts174KE_R9F9xHaPxOt-fy-hSkeJSF91YuRInN6OUrLxJLZI8d_-fLYmki2IkTgYaxh-caZ/s960/223909159_2929212500671813_6094425177130949606_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHTRNozm8cMyltWKr5VMu78Xb5-tuMyzMYnkdZhhXkl46IM0TieD84T8ibfG2w7AI_0tYfts174KE_R9F9xHaPxOt-fy-hSkeJSF91YuRInN6OUrLxJLZI8d_-fLYmki2IkTgYaxh-caZ/w400-h300/223909159_2929212500671813_6094425177130949606_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-1725698968923527902021-07-23T01:56:00.007-07:002021-07-24T01:34:16.578-07:00Kids Camp 2021<p>Due to Covid restrictions, this summer's plans were up in the air until as recently as mid-May. Should we host camps even if cafes (a European and Croatian staple) aren't open inside? Will we be able to meet all the requirements for social distancing? But on the other side, we were already way past our normal deadline for finding volunteers and speakers to be at the camps. </p><p>In the end, we decided to hold Teen Camp and a modified version of Kids Camp - Royal Rangers Kids Camp. This would mean that Petra would work at Teen Camp and both of us would be 100% involved in the RR Kids Camp.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7UgDfKFGx_x0F2V7dXZ1JYwpgQZl2apmwzLjEBjYgq-tW5tjvVZbFGVOIBe8JX5gmKCarH91i_GIVRiFAJfAJ1yvRrlWB9S-sW45ITvBD2YVFdtk9C4b9Sih0i45fWx3jfGhZZXMPJN2/s1936/218185908_2919292094997187_4386499311917607516_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="1296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7UgDfKFGx_x0F2V7dXZ1JYwpgQZl2apmwzLjEBjYgq-tW5tjvVZbFGVOIBe8JX5gmKCarH91i_GIVRiFAJfAJ1yvRrlWB9S-sW45ITvBD2YVFdtk9C4b9Sih0i45fWx3jfGhZZXMPJN2/w268-h400/218185908_2919292094997187_4386499311917607516_n.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In fact, it meant that 5 of the 7 Bohalls would be at camp while our oldest - Enoh - and youngest - Mihej - stayed with their <i>baka </i>(grandmother) for the week. We had a fantastic team of volunteers who led small groups, planned various events and prepared various scouting activities like setting up tents, preparing bonfires and workshops. The theme for this camp was "Serving God, the local church and our neighbors".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In just about every aspect, the camp was a success: Each child heard the gospel, had a small group leader they could look up to and ask questions and was challenged to serve the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. We are so grateful to the Lord for his provision. Here's what camp looked like. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbBjusHQa554pR_RIDhLhvcnYL4mFbU6UmQtwqTSCCvXFRVEfprDxO0r-AVtJ6xvcnEIhIvU5ivt4597lnympay2uGti2XAzsVtD6wdKp6zVDcpNcLmfL2mRVB5SRcoKhpifbVTnyT8lX/s960/216675680_3757614451004645_5299505720209204591_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbBjusHQa554pR_RIDhLhvcnYL4mFbU6UmQtwqTSCCvXFRVEfprDxO0r-AVtJ6xvcnEIhIvU5ivt4597lnympay2uGti2XAzsVtD6wdKp6zVDcpNcLmfL2mRVB5SRcoKhpifbVTnyT8lX/w400-h300/216675680_3757614451004645_5299505720209204591_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsigCKXpztckexGsr1APWH2lVnJfpIFVfH3nvGfPcOWa1mEK2V-LD9_nLKGhRSdeUwO5HGxyHGlI359OdvWr1CkVxahc86tkmPrtrmAn3xNkluXeeEvSgSe9GrgWwL-IWRWIodamoI_vmA/s1936/218036415_2919293864997010_5608206174375355465_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="1296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsigCKXpztckexGsr1APWH2lVnJfpIFVfH3nvGfPcOWa1mEK2V-LD9_nLKGhRSdeUwO5HGxyHGlI359OdvWr1CkVxahc86tkmPrtrmAn3xNkluXeeEvSgSe9GrgWwL-IWRWIodamoI_vmA/w268-h400/218036415_2919293864997010_5608206174375355465_n.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLuEsbPs3R20Nz8L5DChVjO_n7XFUPJIXfsRIw1RYT4JmML70KX6GPx6fAUCpRHAvCUnd8czYwGlWTyd2pecEFpLWkzzmCF44OnVJ4b-pk3IVyVSbG9Q5pY_n5AAQSeRdVFIvxMsfiOwG/s1936/218653677_2919293111663752_2894215574733733399_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1936" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLuEsbPs3R20Nz8L5DChVjO_n7XFUPJIXfsRIw1RYT4JmML70KX6GPx6fAUCpRHAvCUnd8czYwGlWTyd2pecEFpLWkzzmCF44OnVJ4b-pk3IVyVSbG9Q5pY_n5AAQSeRdVFIvxMsfiOwG/w400-h268/218653677_2919293111663752_2894215574733733399_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB08Gt6N5XoIL6-9mltZyGf959La6zwQDoPdTlfYekOArrbn7GaH-wLCRp_G1rwJWCR2N5g1ApW3BsccanlJKQrqS2qs2UA5h8USSylDNDsTulGWnp7iRDLpJmifseKgtrt_Nbia5UW2l/s1936/218844632_2919293701663693_7462116033527373274_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1936" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB08Gt6N5XoIL6-9mltZyGf959La6zwQDoPdTlfYekOArrbn7GaH-wLCRp_G1rwJWCR2N5g1ApW3BsccanlJKQrqS2qs2UA5h8USSylDNDsTulGWnp7iRDLpJmifseKgtrt_Nbia5UW2l/w400-h268/218844632_2919293701663693_7462116033527373274_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZLNEqu8ax7skk2K2Ebxwqv9WSZMCJjUH87yuz7n51oQL8cRISybPvLfVFZaYGZy2I1VqEsGAGt0TmZMPvmcr97JIO99g4VBDM0P5zBoN1YkKMckHsQUIDOypBIz6ewfJeB8keb2TbqwH/s1705/BE60B3CF-499D-449B-B315-E9BB48548D14_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1705" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZLNEqu8ax7skk2K2Ebxwqv9WSZMCJjUH87yuz7n51oQL8cRISybPvLfVFZaYGZy2I1VqEsGAGt0TmZMPvmcr97JIO99g4VBDM0P5zBoN1YkKMckHsQUIDOypBIz6ewfJeB8keb2TbqwH/w400-h225/BE60B3CF-499D-449B-B315-E9BB48548D14_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-53956475225138775612020-12-31T09:01:00.000-08:002020-12-31T09:01:44.533-08:00The Earth Quakes Again<p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Tuesday at 12:19 pm, while most of our family was in the living room, our apartment started rocking. We've experienced aftershocks from the <a href="http://bohallministry.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-and-earthquakes.html">quake in March</a> for months now. But the one on Tuesday lasted longer and gained strength until it ended. The only feeling I can compare it to is like turbulence on an airplane. The obvious difference is that you don't expect the floor beneath you to move when you're in your own house. Some of our cupboards opened and spilled their contents. Thankfully, that was the extent of the physical damage in our apartment. None of us were hurt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We would soon learn though that we were on the outskirts of a much stronger quake than the one in March. Several towns and villages about an hours drive from us experienced the full brunt of the earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale. As of this writing seven people have died and many more are injured. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYh4axO0Rb_4MGjftdUW3C0tILquu2_zXa_xnl1LhU3ciFW_LV62ljeGBZn2_ylmGOFl02PRedEeg3XgiOSNtVwSQCJnKc4J8ErvA4HOMzeNYxITWvj7swmVC84UG3mYcAOWTf302Adxf//" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1920" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYh4axO0Rb_4MGjftdUW3C0tILquu2_zXa_xnl1LhU3ciFW_LV62ljeGBZn2_ylmGOFl02PRedEeg3XgiOSNtVwSQCJnKc4J8ErvA4HOMzeNYxITWvj7swmVC84UG3mYcAOWTf302Adxf/w400-h286/134440838_10224592672462073_7994822860557572826_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Josip Škof</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Though there is damage in Zagreb, it's not nearly as severe as what the capital of Croatia sustained in March. All eyes have instead focused on Petrinja, Glina and Sisak, the larger towns near the epicenter. There has been an incredible response from citizens all over the country, many coming immediately to help search for those trapped under rubble, clean up, lend a helping hand or even build makeship roofs to cover residents who refuse to leave their land. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8m3s1PNNns3djm9Il1d5LBucgOVsm0RUszNDTqn_rl49Q60yVg-2SjXaj7rhtL0ryH97Ezl2hSq5fuJTzW6h9ddIz_pWeBG6LSLoKZEahafSfNNIX2XwEw_n27p1rJwqc_TUsS8EwHyg//" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8m3s1PNNns3djm9Il1d5LBucgOVsm0RUszNDTqn_rl49Q60yVg-2SjXaj7rhtL0ryH97Ezl2hSq5fuJTzW6h9ddIz_pWeBG6LSLoKZEahafSfNNIX2XwEw_n27p1rJwqc_TUsS8EwHyg/w400-h266/134051856_10224592692382571_6413978615384741210_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Josip Škof<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><p></p><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The response has been so strong, in fact, that authorities have told people to stop coming so that emergency aid can arrive unhindered. Humanitarian organizations and churches have gathered and sent whatever food and other necessities. Hotels have offered to house those who are displaced, Hospitals throughout the country have opened space for patients having to be moved from Petrinja. Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Italy have all offered to help in any way they can. There has been an overwhelming response by people all around us. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NTXAOPLNqU62ykVfECcLqMcFNYKWrOGV9reWaCxyzxbwKAAVAoAfH1-yqlhS3uZugV6rOjyZvmv9PdzxDCE2hMrsjA3C9ioDr0XDk6Ev3n7E5fO2hH2zujAiZKrf3SWX3Zi_I43YAnWW//" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NTXAOPLNqU62ykVfECcLqMcFNYKWrOGV9reWaCxyzxbwKAAVAoAfH1-yqlhS3uZugV6rOjyZvmv9PdzxDCE2hMrsjA3C9ioDr0XDk6Ev3n7E5fO2hH2zujAiZKrf3SWX3Zi_I43YAnWW/w400-h266/134272446_10224592658821732_1787660030106460738_o.jpg" title="Josip Škof: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224592658781731&set=pcb.10224592716663178" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Josip Škof</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So we would ask you to pray for those who have been affected. Pray for those grieving, and for those who are in need. There are several small Baptist churches in the area who are receiving and distributing aid. Pray that the Lord would shine through their words and efforts. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We'd ask you also to pray specifically for our family. With the ground shaking so frequently, it's constantly on our minds. It's an added layer of stress on top of the pandemic and now being at home constantly throughout the holiday break. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On the other hand, we are reminded of all we have to be thankful for: health throughout the year, all we need and more. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thank you to all who have checked in with us. We're so thankful that you are thinking of us and praying for us. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here are some related links if you're interested:</div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aw68aniOCQ">Video</a> of the mayor of Petrinja giving an interview when Tuesday's earthquake struck. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=1167157863&set=a.10224592716543175">Photos</a> taken by Croatian photographer Josip Škof just hours after the earthquake. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/voiceofcroatia/videos/2811218499134497">News</a> coverage of the quake from Croatia in English.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HRTvijesti/videos/437085400664652">Video</a> of mobile homes arriving from Austria.</div></div><br /><br /></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-73754520681709646462020-12-25T00:38:00.000-08:002020-12-30T00:38:45.203-08:00Merry Christmas!<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">This has been a sobering year for many of us. It's a year in which the significance of a Savior who understands and sympathizes with us brings us more comfort, perhaps, than in other years. Our prayer is that you would be surrounded by peace as you celebrate the birth of Emmanuel. May the news of Christ's birth fill your heart with joy.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Merry Christmas!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6fOcLtIadQnvf12OTi02K_zKNGEpVei_7SLshrBwChj3fFVloqaoAlawnAqLr-ngKqkTYTiokSQFSAY82ZKQi0cUNRd0Tv6AcGRlwv82NAFaXgOZucu-OEdBahrxbWxEPZcuODZpkQgk/s838/Bohall+final+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="838" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6fOcLtIadQnvf12OTi02K_zKNGEpVei_7SLshrBwChj3fFVloqaoAlawnAqLr-ngKqkTYTiokSQFSAY82ZKQi0cUNRd0Tv6AcGRlwv82NAFaXgOZucu-OEdBahrxbWxEPZcuODZpkQgk/w400-h284/Bohall+final+.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span><p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-36276213411131794512020-12-24T14:28:00.009-08:002020-12-24T14:29:30.955-08:00Angels We Have Heard on High<p> Seeing one kid after another take up an instrument has been a joy for us as parents. This year we put together a simple arrangement for our unique instrumentation and played Angels We Have Heard on High. Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NMCSxYeGLhE" width="481" youtube-src-id="NMCSxYeGLhE"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-68729554820000297022020-11-26T02:08:00.005-08:002020-11-26T02:10:31.659-08:00The Fullness of God in the Church<p>I've long been drawn to the incredible promise in Ephesians 3:20-21. Abundantly more than we can ask or imagine? How can that be?</p><p>When I use Paul's beautiful hymn of praise as a benediction at the end of our church services, I fear some may feel it's just a nice way to leave. But can these words really be true? Are they true?</p><p>In this sermon, I try to get at the heart of what Paul is saying in this lofty text. I <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPOFkJQvnA&t=1194s">preached it in Croatian</a> a couple weeks ago. But I also practiced it in English ahead of time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xYr7TkqDYdU" width="320" youtube-src-id="xYr7TkqDYdU"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-2552231215400132020-11-19T00:09:00.002-08:002020-11-19T05:40:18.093-08:00Royal Rangers and Covid-19<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As is true of so many segments of life, our scout ministry has been affected by the pandemic. We've had fewer and shorter meetings since the virus came to Croatia in February. Last Monday was the third day of a three-day weekend and a beautiful day for a hike. We took advantage of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLFw_XtHrb-mm48MAlKKW2DeFlm5Wk4K1G-moAGgRv03sn-aC5NRmi5psz1TH0g3E2llUn1R3M50yZ9qHzErYESj9v0ES70rXpvn4fl6RVvs5gGVol9eQak8V0mmy_SlxQMllMABve1wB//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLFw_XtHrb-mm48MAlKKW2DeFlm5Wk4K1G-moAGgRv03sn-aC5NRmi5psz1TH0g3E2llUn1R3M50yZ9qHzErYESj9v0ES70rXpvn4fl6RVvs5gGVol9eQak8V0mmy_SlxQMllMABve1wB/w400-h300/IMG_3419.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I (Jeremy) have the pleasure of leading Royal Rangers with one of my good friends, Danijel K. His two oldest boys (middle) are pictured here with our two oldest boys. I am so thankful for the friendship our two families have. <p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-39201376865397513862020-10-27T02:42:00.005-07:002020-10-28T01:08:58.768-07:00God Creates Order out of Chaos: Genesis 1:1-5<div>I had the pleasure of digging into Genesis over the summer. This is a sermon I prepared for our local church in Zagreb in July. By way of preparation, I recorded it in English ahead of time. </div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EPiPsv1so4s" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EPiPsv1so4s/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-91318083974374624402020-10-27T02:30:00.004-07:002020-10-27T04:30:17.235-07:00Summer Without Camps<p> This was the first summer since we moved to Croatia that we haven't been involved in camps. They were cancelled due to Covid-19. Although it was disappointing to not be able to serve in one of the most exciting parts of our ministry, the break came at a good time. We took the extra time to be with friends and family at the coast. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04TVLcrthJvUHPJ_7kITfCWjSrk1Wq8q-zb2e4JdsWA5LhIo_nvZ94oQgxrkQZ-PAbL-8Cj9UXLTFP3cpINZHH6LAfUA9zVztNt2BY75FjDPIpqjohRZuRpivRN7mvMKkSidneb6sW8Dg//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04TVLcrthJvUHPJ_7kITfCWjSrk1Wq8q-zb2e4JdsWA5LhIo_nvZ94oQgxrkQZ-PAbL-8Cj9UXLTFP3cpINZHH6LAfUA9zVztNt2BY75FjDPIpqjohRZuRpivRN7mvMKkSidneb6sW8Dg/w400-h300/IMG_2871.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-90112064898438318622020-10-26T16:52:00.003-07:002020-10-27T04:29:56.506-07:00Is it Worth it?<div>On most occassions when I (Jeremy) preach these days, I preach in Croatian. But there are times when I practice the sermon ahead of time in English. I've found it's important to feel what it's like to preach the sermon in my native language before preaching in my second language. <div><br /></div><div>This is a sermon I preached earlier this year on the value of Jesus Christ as Lord. </div></div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYXPTo_sX4w" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYXPTo_sX4w/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-48404422034595837142020-03-15T02:03:00.010-07:002020-10-27T04:28:51.871-07:00Covid-19 and Earthquakes<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span face="Poppins, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px;">Two weeks ago, Petra traveled from Croatia across the border to Hungary for the weekend without a hitch. She went to a women’s gathering while I (Jeremy) stayed at home with our five children. My parents and my mother-in-law helped me manage the whole situation. Our life was completely normal. There were 12 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Croatia.</span></span><span face="Poppins, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"> </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One week ago, Petra and I went out for breakfast in Zagreb to plan for the upcoming change in our schedule. The government had just announced that there would be no school for at least the next two weeks. With four of our children affected, we had to plan ahead. Thankfully Croatian officials were on the ball. They had already begun recording classes for pupils to watch on television and over the internet. There were 49 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Croatia.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4bvpoQ4mQT4S4y_7tZT9zik9hIcXuOXkoWC2_wFAF3dq5ziPrGoTRlC3BVz8IWR6z5VIgJCvgVcm9hj1OiIdiLRCezLq0_g52J5eb87c53uoBTyVscoImTv3LBMeMp1uaklgO2khsfIm//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4bvpoQ4mQT4S4y_7tZT9zik9hIcXuOXkoWC2_wFAF3dq5ziPrGoTRlC3BVz8IWR6z5VIgJCvgVcm9hj1OiIdiLRCezLq0_g52J5eb87c53uoBTyVscoImTv3LBMeMp1uaklgO2khsfIm/w400-h300/img_1070.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Zagreb on March 14</div><br /></div><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Today, we’re not allowed to cross the border to any other country. We can’t go to a restaurant because they’re all closed. In fact, we’re not allowed to leave our apartment if we’re not getting necessities for my parents or ourselves. Today, or rather right now, there are 206 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Croatia – 78 more than yesterday at this time.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve kept our eye on what’s going on in Italy for awhile now. They are, after all, a ferry ride or highway away from us. The Croatian minister of health has been incredible. He’s been one step ahead the whole time. Yesterday they filled an arena with beds to supplement the hospitals if this situation gets bad fast. Officials have been calm, but strict. Even today, with the high spike in confirmed cases, I feel confident I am in a country where the politicians and health officials are leading wisely.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m not sure I can say the same about myself. At home, with five kids between eleven months and eleven years, it has gotten chaotic at times. Sure, it’s nice not driving all over Zagreb to baseball practices, swimming lessons and parent-teaching conferences. But having 5 less-than-mature personalities around me all the time can be draining. So it has been nice having my parents around to help with the kids. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week, they enjoyed time with our 11 month old Mihej in the park on a daily basis</span><span style="font-family: Poppins, sans-serif;">.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkvqwGa5zuxw539y6CUBaBXdsV8Q1QTubziKZeaB3El2_pmXleRW9OW66eq1Ev3Fs0Ha0JDebcXT2NCFP-olzNa5NHNgK9pfTlQyvjehb4Y_UoUYhk3xPC8U7msGJ5T4qv079uckyp0ur//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkvqwGa5zuxw539y6CUBaBXdsV8Q1QTubziKZeaB3El2_pmXleRW9OW66eq1Ev3Fs0Ha0JDebcXT2NCFP-olzNa5NHNgK9pfTlQyvjehb4Y_UoUYhk3xPC8U7msGJ5T4qv079uckyp0ur/w300-h400/ad3554db-f0b8-4308-9587-f2b9b94bb2bf.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But parks around the city were closed on Thursday. And my parents have been told to self-quarantine. So they are no longer able to spend time with their grandkids – one of the main reasons they decided to come to Croatia.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took the kids out to play baseball a couple times this week. But these sort of outings are also no longer allowed. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So we are at home together for the next 4 weeks at least. This is our new reality. It’s going to take some getting used to. Yet, as I write, I realise that if we are all at home together for the next 4 weeks, we’re going to be just fine. It’ll be challenging. But it’s a lot better than the alternative of one or more of us being hospitalized. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I’m thankful; thankful for those whose authority we are under; thankful for a wife who has been so very patient during this time; thankful that my parents are close; thankful to more closely observe and interact with my children as they grow and learn.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I edit this and get ready to post, Zagreb has been shaken by several <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/03/22/world/europe/ap-eu-croatia-earthquake.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">earthquakes</a> this morning. Among other damage, the first quake broke one of the spires on the cathedral.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFaLChgUrMLfgZPMs4ZVbf2w-KbGmSiaN1HGQcdmiO_iiU0Wp5WVm4Gzh4BlcJjLWJQ7pAvliTVwMtD3xWwKrQU6RTINtWaTy4Fv1giPsNEryO6KDg2RBsiU7t0XFw5iLeHdEHHHuW7Yf//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFaLChgUrMLfgZPMs4ZVbf2w-KbGmSiaN1HGQcdmiO_iiU0Wp5WVm4Gzh4BlcJjLWJQ7pAvliTVwMtD3xWwKrQU6RTINtWaTy4Fv1giPsNEryO6KDg2RBsiU7t0XFw5iLeHdEHHHuW7Yf/w400-h268/hn20200322505087-scaled-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A pandemic and earthquakes; it seems like a lot. But we’re still far away from many around the world who are dealing with wars, famines and other catastrophes. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s not to say we’re not affected as a family. We are. But Psalm 46 is an incredible help during this time:</span></p><blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1.6em 1.6em; padding: 0px; quotes: "" ""; text-align: start;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px;">God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.</p></blockquote><blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1.6em 1.6em; padding: 0px; quotes: "" ""; text-align: start;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px;">The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.</p></blockquote><blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1.6em 1.6em; padding: 0px; quotes: "" ""; text-align: start;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px;">Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px;"></p></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the events of this week have made this command more relevant and important to me. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May I, may we, Lord, learn to be still and know that you are God.</span></p></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0.8em 0px;"><br /><br /></p>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-75647404840740020552020-01-19T06:53:00.002-08:002020-10-27T04:31:36.552-07:00A Quick Look at our Ministry in Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-20662795495735094372020-01-19T06:30:00.002-08:002020-01-19T06:33:46.349-08:00Home Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jeremy here. I am headed back to Croatia. My trip to the Northeast was incredible. Just about everything went as planned - something I'm not accustomed to experiencing with five kids. Petra dealt with the unpredictable in Zagreb, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-strike-teachers/croatian-teachers-begin-nationwide-strike-to-win-6-wage-hike-idUSKBN1WP0PE&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNE_rjc758uRAXTEU2vX2gbT3zaIiw" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-strike-teachers/croatian-teachers-begin-nationwide-strike-to-win-6-wage-hike-idUSKBN1WP0PE" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">school strikes</a> and all, while I traveled through the News: England and York. </div>
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Of course, pleasure was not the reason I visited the States. Still, I've always said that family and friends were the #1 thing I miss about the U.S., just ahead of baseball. I got both on this trip. </div>
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What I loved most about this particular journey was meeting many people who are excited about advancing the Kingdom of God. Between churches, pastors and friends and family, there were at least 15 various gatherings in which I was able to share our story and talk about what's going on in Croatia. </div>
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So much of that was because many of our long time supporters graciously hosted me, arranged gatherings, and spoke on our behalf. We are so grateful for you!</div>
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We don't know whether the specific dollar figure we set out to raise will be met. But throughout the trip I was struck by how the Lord guided the various conversations I had. I love the way Nehemiah says it at the end of chapter two; "...for the good hand of my God was upon me". That's how I can summarize my trip. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>What We're Doing</b><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I am leading a Bible Study on Thursday the 31st on the Spiritual Disciplines. Dallas Willard has a tremendous definition of the disciplines which will help me as I teach why they are so important. He says the Spiritual Disciplines are "<i>a</i></span><span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";"><i>n activity within our power—something we can do—that brings us to a point where we can do what we at present cannot do by direct effort</i>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";">We also have a Royal Rangers meeting on Saturday and Petra has a couple quarterly camp meetings this month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";">We're especially excited to be promoting <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.biblija365.com/en/&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNF2Dvhc_I4kE48A3Ch3AMJzjM50YA" href="https://www.biblija365.com/en/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Biblija365</a> (the first Croatian daily reading app) at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.zv.hr/en&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNF6K07StkQDnZOWdEKjOLEt5Ntb9g" href="https://www.zv.hr/en" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">the largest book fair</a> in Croatia. There are expected to be 200,000+ visitors between November 12-17. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";">Please pray for my reentry back into Croatia. I want to be with the kids as much as possible so Petra can get a break. But I will be battling jet-lag and preparing for Thursday evening and Saturday morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";">Also continue to pray for the Lord to provide the necessary finances for us to continue. As I mentioned above, we have no way of knowing yet whether we have reached our goal. We would ask you to prayerfully consider supporting our ministry financially. You can do so <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://app.easytithe.com/App/Giving/ceo&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNEuTyrp0NM19jCI562fy7duAx7rpw" href="https://app.easytithe.com/App/Giving/ceo" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";">Please pray for our relationship with the Lord and our marriage. We believe that what we do flows out of who we are. Pray that we would continue to grow in our love of Jesus and each other. </span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Discipling-Multicultural-World-Ajith-Fernando/dp/1433562855/ref%3Dsr_1_1?crid%3D8XAYWA67T0JM%26keywords%3Ddiscipling%2Bin%2Ba%2Bmulticultural%2Bworld%26qid%3D1572308610%26sprefix%3Ddiscipling%2Bin%2Ba%2Bm%252Caps%252C127%26sr%3D8-1&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNHhIWaNOUSFNp-vU4s9F2cUn0PR_A" href="https://www.amazon.com/Discipling-Multicultural-World-Ajith-Fernando/dp/1433562855/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XAYWA67T0JM&keywords=discipling+in+a+multicultural+world&qid=1572308610&sprefix=discipling+in+a+m%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Discipling in a Multicutural World</a><i> </i>by Ajith Fernando. Fernando has a lot of experience discipling in various contexts. This book is practical advice built upon a sound biblical foundation. </span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Christian-LIfe-Doctrinal-Introduction/dp/1848712596/ref%3Dsr_1_1?crid%3D30U5FAUVMV9FU%26keywords%3Dthe%2Bchristian%2Blife%2Bsinclair%2Bferguson%26qid%3D1572308789%26sprefix%3DThe%2BChristian%2Blife%2Bsincl%252Caps%252C146%26sr%3D8-1&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNFKO5-eUTw1cNhpaVlvuhR6HAMPVw" href="https://www.amazon.com/Christian-LIfe-Doctrinal-Introduction/dp/1848712596/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30U5FAUVMV9FU&keywords=the+christian+life+sinclair+ferguson&qid=1572308789&sprefix=The+Christian+life+sincl%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction</a> by Sinclair Ferguson. I'm reading this in Croatian. Ferguson wrote a new introduction for this republished Croatian 2019 edition. It's a classic, and a very handy resource for the Croatian church. </span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2019/october/european-students-unite-in-prayer-for-revival.html&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNH8g1dCFxnQGbwFdnZwVGYLCB0Lcg" href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2019/october/european-students-unite-in-prayer-for-revival.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Revive Europe</a>: This Christianity Today article talks about an initiative connecting European students in prayer and a conference at the end of the year. We attended Urbana 2003 before we were married. It sounds like the gathering in Germany ringing in 2020 will be a lot like that. One of our close friends is involved in organizing the Croatian chapter. </span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://glashrvatske.hrt.hr/en/news/foreign/us-sees-croatia-as-a-stabilizing-factor-in-the-region/&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNGtt17uffRYy6QzD3EvSsSbnt4oGw" href="https://glashrvatske.hrt.hr/en/news/foreign/us-sees-croatia-as-a-stabilizing-factor-in-the-region/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Croatia: A Stabilizing Factor in Europe</a> Despite ongoing corruption which <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://medium.com/@LeadersSummit/croatia-a-member-of-nato-and-the-eu-ranked-as-most-corrupt-country-in-eastern-europe-vladimir-df564ecd547f&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNGa1XiEkGt02hozE8w5fM3cpS2Tig" href="https://medium.com/@LeadersSummit/croatia-a-member-of-nato-and-the-eu-ranked-as-most-corrupt-country-in-eastern-europe-vladimir-df564ecd547f" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">reportedly</a> is amongst the highest in Europe, Croatia brings some stability to the region. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">We love to hear from you. Please feel free to respond with any questions, comments or prayer requests you have. It is a pleasure to partner with you in ministry. For more information about our family and ministry click</span> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://bohallministry.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNG2p-qpbY2e9ntJRjEb5fFCxdtPgw" href="http://bohallministry.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We love our missions organization, Christian Educators Outreach. Go <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ceokids.org/&source=gmail&ust=1579530166618000&usg=AFQjCNGKHpnUqBW8eQM7ojDm1yW1xPRmxw" href="https://www.ceokids.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a> to check out what they're doing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Grace and Peace, </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Jeremy on behalf of Petra and the kids</span></div>
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-78531674616330067832019-10-11T11:38:00.002-07:002019-10-11T11:38:54.826-07:00A Fall Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Throughout the next month or so I will be endeavoring to do something that is quite foreign to us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the Spring of 2007, Petra and I were already involved in ministry, working with youth in the local church and teaching English at a nearby seminary. That local church extended an invitation to serve full-time. We decided to take a leap of faith to see if the Lord would confirm the decision through the response of our family and friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Since then and throughout the growth of our family and a move to Zagreb, the Lord has provided. We have never made a trip to the States for the sole purpose of fund-raising and have never been in need. It is honestly awe-inspiring to consider how the Lord has taken care of us. We believe He will continue to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For various reasons, our support has decreased over the past year or so. Therefore, I am traveling to the Northeast U.S. from October 8th to 28th for the purpose of fund-raising. Our ministry at this point is more established. Petra leads camps throughout the summer and is involved in various church projects throughout the rest of the year. I teach and preach in our local church and lecture occassionally at the same seminary where I taught English 12 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In coming to the States, my hope is to meet with many who know us and thank them for their support. I also look forward to sharing what God is doing through us with others in hope that they may consider partnering with us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So we come to you first of all to ask for your prayers. I hope to see those I interact with come away with a clear understanding of the need in Croatia. And I would love to know that I have effectively communicated our vision and how the Lord is using us here. Would you please pray to that end?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thank you for partnering with us. We are well aware of the fact that the Lord provides through your thoughtful and prayerful support. If there is any way we can keep you better informed, please let us know!</span></div>
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-33396569749415523212019-10-11T11:34:00.002-07:002019-10-11T11:35:18.703-07:00Prayer and Making Disciples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I’m convinced that it is impossible to make disciples of Jesus Christ without prayer. Let me put it in even stronger terms:</div>
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<b>If we’re not praying for those we’re discipling, we’re not discipling.</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/I1Voe0IO9tg">Image Source</a></td></tr>
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For those who are serious about a biblical vision of disciple making, it ought to be evident that prayer is an essential ingredient. </div>
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The reason I post this though is because it’s probably the thing I am worst at. I need a reminder.</div>
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So, if you and I are serious about making disciples of Jesus Christ, let’s stop what we’re doing.</div>
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Go for a prayer walk. Turn down the music in your car and pray. Put a half hour of time in your calendar to pray. Do whatever it takes to devote time to pray for those you are discipling. </div>
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If we can’t make time to pray, we’re not actually making disciples.</div>
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118550097212151855.post-1001069211343990252019-07-25T07:59:00.000-07:002019-07-25T07:59:31.715-07:00An Update from Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>We would appreciate your prayers</b> as we are right in the middle of our summer ministry. Petra is continuing her active role in camps, leading and coordinating all four sessions in Orahovica. We’re serving together, balancing caring for a new baby while watching over several hundred energetic campers throughout July.</span></div>
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195572180857424144noreply@blogger.com0