UPDATE BY ROBERT JURJEVICH

The Center For Life THE LIGHTHOUSE was founded by Bob and Eileen Pressler in 2001 for the purpose of establishing the first pro-life ministry in former-Yugoslavia. Northriver, a United Kingdom Christian foundation, purchased a building for the ministry.  They added a third floor apartment for Bob and Eileen to live in and oversee the facility. When Eileen passed away in the Fall of 2016, Sandrina was asked to become the new director of the pro-life ministry. In the Spring of 2017, the Northriver owners expressed their desire to transfer ownership of the facility to THE LIGHTHOUSE ministry.

When we first sat with the attorney to discuss the transfer of ownership, she told us the legal process would take 2-3 months. Finally, on July 30, after 18 months of legal work, we sat together with the completed documents in front of us.  After a few laughs, a few minor changes, and a few photos, we signed on the line. The moment we had long waited for, came and went in a matter of seconds. After 18 years, the Christian foundation Northriver officially donated their facility in Sarajevo to the ministry Center For Life THE LIGHTHOUSE.  ”It is highly unusual in Bosnia,” the notary said at the signing, ”for one organization to release a property as a donation to another organization.”

That brings us to where we are today – awaiting the Bosnian tax office to inform us of their appraisal of the facility’s value, which will require us to pay a 5% property appraisal tax up front. Upon completing the payment, we will be issued a new property deed, and the ownership process will be 100% completed!

Presently, Sandrina and Edita, her assistant, are focused on establishing a strong presence of THE LIGHTHOUSE on social media platforms and promoting the website   as a primary source for Bosnian women to find information and answers to their questions concerning pregnancy, abortion and other relevant issues facing women, — see www.svjetionikcentarzazivot.com.

Monthly ads are being run on Facebook to promote a culture of life, the value of life, and the life of the unborn. In a land where abortion is a form of birth control, the opportunities to reach Bosnian women with a pro-life message are challenged by a mindset that is opposite to it.

This week during our daily children’s creative workshop at our church, Sandrina sat with a lady who has been bringing two boys every day for the last three weeks. It turns out she was not their grandmother as we thought, but their nanny. While they sat together, the lady became very talkative and asking Sandrina about herself. Sandrina shared about her work through THE LIGHTHOUSE ministry in helping women, especially in the areas of pregnancy, education, and counseling. The lady immediately opened her heart and shared that, several years prior, she had had an abortion.  During the Bosnian civil war (1992-1995), she became pregnant with her second child after just 6 months of giving birth to her first. With tears in her eyes, she recounted how she chose to have an abortion.  After that, she was never again able to bear children. She encouraged Sandrina and expressed  how important the pro-life ministry of THE LIGHTHOUSE is. ”Abortion is a dark secret in the lives of many Bosnian women which is never  spoken openly about”, she said.

RAFAEL FELLOWSHIP

Our church family, RAFAEL FELLOWSHIP, is located in one of the most densely populated areas of Sarajevo, which is 95% Muslim. Among Bosnia’s population of 4 million, there are only about 400 Protestant evangelicals in the nation. Like most ministries and churches in Bosnia, we have experienced our share of hopes and disappointments in pioneering a new church over the past five years.

While our fellowship meets on Sunday mornings for worship service, our facility is presently used during the week for the following outreaches:

• Monday evenings – a sort of AA group meets that is providing help, not only for alcoholics, but mostly for drug addicts.
• Tuesday and Thursday afternoons – a member of our church family provides a program for children with special needs.
• Monday through Fridays – we provide a daily 2-hour creative workshop for children.

Whenever there are no other activities in the local community, we open the facility for the neighborhood teenagers to get them off the street. We build  personal relationships with them through music and games.

OUR FAMILY

As full-time missionaries on the field, we are only able to see our own children once or twice a year. In June, we came together in The Netherlands for a very special occassion – the wedding of our youngest son Joshua to his bride Joyce. All our children and their spouses love the Lord, which is a tremendous blessing to our hearts. Here is an update on our kids, with photos from 1995 and 2018:

Johan & Kristen (to the right) live in Virginia Beach, VA.  They volunteer in different capacities in their local church. Johan is a corporate CPA/Auditor; Kristen a corporate lawyer who recently became a partner in the law firm. As young professionals, they are directly influencing the Marketplace.

Lennart & Lydia (right of newlyweds) live in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where they serve on the staff at Crossroads International Church. They are expecting their first baby (our first grandchild!) in January, 2019!

Timothy & Julianne (couple on left) live in Nashville Tennessee, USA. After a number of years as a children’s and youth pastor, Timothy is now working on staff at Gideon’s International as an assistant to the international director. Julianne is a registered nurse, and will be soon finishing up her training as an anesthesiologist.

Joshua and Joyce, the newlyweds, live in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, where they both serve on staff at Thousand Hills International Church as youth pastors and support staff.

PRAYER NEEDS FOR …

• our finances, and the remaining funds for the property appraisal tax, estimated to be a total of $20,000.00.
• for favor to be granted by the authorities for permanent resident visas to replace our present two year visas.
• Sandrina – to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in the further development of THE LIGHTHOUSE, as there are many opportunities available for the pro-life message.

FROM R.K.’s CORNER

Robert and Sandrina Jurjevich need no introduction to our longstanding Bridge friends who have, for nearly thirty years, followed their adventures as missionaries with a call to serving the Lord in the Balkans, specifically among Muslims in the city of Sarajevo.  If you are not familiar with their background and history, I encourage you to take time to check them out on prior pages on this  website.  Please click on the following links:
https://www.bridgeinternational.org/2013/06/
https://www.bridgeinternational.org/2015/08/
https://www.bridgeinternational.org/2018/05/
This issue is a celebration of a long awaited answer to prayer! Their ministry finally owns a building which is housing their home, pro-life ministry, and their church’s many mercy outreach ministries to the community.  This is a dream come true since the 1992-95 Civil War destroyed the first church they had planted, scattered the believers, and bombed their apartment, which burned to the ground with all their belongings.  THE LIGHTHOUSE teems with joyful activities, and reflects the light and hope of the Gospel to the people of Sarajevo through Robert and Sandrina’s labor of love!

NB!  If you want to partner with the Robert and Sandrina and their ministry to reach the Bosnian people with the Gospel – the Good News of  Jesus Christ – please click on the DONATE button above and mark your gift 8345 BOSNIAN WORKERS  Thank you!  R.K. 

EXCERPTS FROM THE OCT. 1994 BRIDGE BALKAN CONFERENCE IN OHRID, MACEDONIA

“Before I share about my country, there is one thing I must do.” The voice of the Turkish pastor trembled as he placed eight chairs in a row and pointed to specific people in the group to take a seat in the row facing the participants of the conference, each one a Christian leader representing his individual Balkan country: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia. Nexhi, the Albanian pastor’s wife, was asked to take seat on the last chair.

“I am in direct lineage of the Ottoman Emperor. On behalf of my Turkish ancestors, the Ottomans, I repent for all the atrocities and devastation my family and my people inflicted upon your people when they swept over the Balkans and conquered, burned, raped, pillaged, and established Islam by force. The present bloodshed and hatred experienced between the Balkan nations is a continuum of a curse that the Ottoman Empire inflicted upon you. Today I ask forgiveness and release your nation from that curse.“

The Turkish pastor then turned to Nexhi and told her with tears, “You represent all the Balkan women who have lived through rape, loss of husbands, fathers, and sons to senseless war; plundering of homes, abduction of children, and oppression by a cruel religion.”

Then, in anticipating silence, the Turkish pastor’s wife carried a basin with water to the line of chairs, and the Turkish pastor and his wife bent down before each one of the others and washed their feet as a sign of the servant+hood of Christ toward the other nations. While tears flowed and warm hugs were exchanged between the pastors, the room erupted in beautiful worship of the Lord – and powerful intercession for the Balkans, and a clear affirmation of forgiveness, reconciliation, and love!

REFLECTION ON THE MOVE OF GOD IN THE BALKANS by Robert Jurjevich

After serving for two years with The Bridge International as the Coordinator for all mission efforts into southeastern Europe, including the nation of Turkey, in October, 1994 I organized the pinnacle event conducted up till that moment. The Bridge Balkan Conference was being held at a hotel in the beautiful lakeside town of Ohrid, located in western Macedonia. We had invited pastors and church leaders, with their spouses, from all the Balkan nations we were serving to attend this unique gathering.  This was an historic, very special event for many of the pastors and their spouses on a personal level.  Many of them had never been away from their children before. None of them had attended a Christian leader’s conference  — even staying in a hotel was a first time experience for some.

It was unique on a ministry level, as many had never met a fellow pastor (much less a fellow believer) from any of the other Balkan nations.  Also, unique on a socio-political level, as everyone attending was challenged to overcoming cultural and historical prejudices and barriers as they came face-to-face with people that they should, in the natural, hate and despise.  This Balkan leadership conference, possibly the first ever in modern history, was an opportunity for either the barriers to be reinforced or for a Kingdom breakthrough to take place for a region of the world that had suffered generational conflicts for hundreds of years. Thankfully, through the mercy and grace of God the Father, those leaders yielded to the move of the Holy Spirit with soul searching repentance on behalf of their respective people groups.

As I reflect both on the significance of that Bridge leadership conference of 1994 and our direct involvement in the Balkans during the last 40 years since God placed this region upon both my and Sandrina’s hearts, I believe the conference of 1994 still remains the deepest fundamental expression of God’s heart for this region which I have personally experienced all through these four decades. The desire for true reconciliation and healing between the various Balkan people groups remains the central heart desire and need in the souls scarred by centuries of tribal bloodshed.  Today, it remains the number one issue in the minds and hearts of national church leaders in the  Balkans; an issue which  must be resolved in order for revival to breakthrough in the region.

I do not propose to know the answers in resolving this central issue – but I do know that when the answer to a simple question is more complicated than the question itself, we may be asking the wrong question.   Why did we experience a breakthrough at the Bridge leadership conference in 1994? My reflections are given not in any particular order of importance, but simply as an attempt to highlight essentials:

FAITH – At the Bridge, we believed in God’s heart full of love for the Balkan nations – His compassion was our passion. We believed that God was able to do the impossible regardless of our lack of abilities and resources. We were able to believe in the potential of Balkan leaders because we believed in our calling from God to be available for his purposes wherever, whenever and with whomever the Lord sent us.  The attendees of the conference knew that the Bridge team believed in them.

FRIENDSHIPS – Sandrina and I first connected with the Bridge because someone took time in 1987 to visit us in Sarajevo, sit down, have a coffee and listen to hearts about the hopes and vision for the city and nation. I spent two years travelling in and out of the Balkan nations drinking a lot of coffee, listening to a lot of concerns and being available in the lead-up to the conference. Relationship is important, but friendship has always been a specialty of the Bridge – no one on the field has ever felt that they ‘work’ for the Bridge, rather are coworkers for the same Kingdom goals. The attendees of the conference knew that the Bridge team members were their friends.

PRAYER – It is said that all ministry that is God-ordained and anointed begins and ends in prayer. One of the blessings within the vision of the Bridge has been to connect the field workers and churches with intercessors from around the world. We kept ministry in the Balkans very simple for our visiting Bridge teams who were instructed to do three things with the local believers – worship the Lord, share the Word and pray for their needs. The attendees of the conference knew that the Bridge team members were intercessors and that they were each individually covered continually in prayer.

HUMILITY – If we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up on high.  As seen everywhere else, Balkan church leaders face the challenges of life and ministry, and it is always a danger and risk of becoming hurt and offended, becoming territorial and controlling, becoming isolated and lonely. Remaining humble, forgiving and transparent can be very difficult in the Balkan cultures which can very barbaric at times. The hardening of the heart is perhaps the greatest obstacle of all. At the Orhid conference of 1994, church leaders yielded themselves, humbled themselves and laid broken before God and their peers. Greece and Turkey as nations are historically bitter enemies – yet after the conference the Greek pastor and Turkish pastor became best of friends, with each inviting the other to be guests in each other’s home. The attendees of the conference knew that the Bridge was giving them a safe environment where they could ‘unwind’, laugh and cry, forgive and be forgiven.

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

At the time of publishing this issue, we are watching deadly clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces at the Gaza/Israeli border, due to protest against the relocation of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – a declaration that Jerusalem is the official Capital of Israel. The animosity between Arabs and Jews runs deep. It goes back more than 3000 years, when conflict arose between two half brothers Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 16-18, 21).

In other parts of the world we find seething hatred between various ethnic groups. The Balkans has for centuries experienced conflict and wars between its peoples. No one knows that better than Robert and Sandrina Jurjevich who have carried the call to serve the Balkans with the Gospel for forty years, while living in several Balkan countries for large periods of that time.  Read more about the Robert and Sandrina by clicking on the link:

https://www.bridgeinternational.org/category/bosnia/

In October 1994, Robert, at the time The Bridge’s Balkan Coordinator, hosted a Bridge sponsored conference for pastors from eight different Balkan countries of fellowship, prayer, and reconciliation between their peoples .

It  proved to be an unforgettable historic event with relevance today!  At the top, I have copied part of my 1994 report. Following, Robert reflects in retrospect on the significance of that time, and how we can help bring healing and love where there are hurts and hatred! The transforming love of God is still the best remedy!! 

As I sit writing this update, I am listening to sounds coming from outside. It’s the noise from the workmen removing the scaffolding from the newly built mosque here in Dobrinja, right beside our apartment. Soon, five times a day, the loud speakers on the minaret will call out to the residents of our neighborhood to come and pray for guidance from the Islamic god that they will not walk in the ‘deceitful’ path of the Jews and Christians. In other words, the mosque is a physical structure established as a spiritual ‘stronghold’ from where the god of the Qur’an makes war against the God of the Bible. This is our world – the battle for the souls of the Bosnian people.

Two years ago we arrived in Sarajevo with the vision of establishing an effective church-planting ministry that would eventually bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every individual in the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even before our plane touched down on Bosnian soil on August 1st, 2013, the resistance was rising and the spiritual warfare hasn’t let up since. We are very thankful to everyone who has stood faithfully with us in prayer and financial support as we have sought to fulfill in obedience our calling according to God’s will. We want you to know that we have no plan B – we are all in – and we intend to complete the mission.

We are excited to share with you the opportunity at hand for us to have a stronger presence in Sarajevo with two new developments in our area of the city, Dobrinja:

The first is that our present ministry location will serve a dual purpose: 1) serve as the office for our ministry Healing The Nations, newly registered as a non-profit ministry in Bosnia, and 2) become the new Center of Hope for Women, from where Sandrina will be providing Biblical training and prayer counseling for women.

The second development is the new location (1895 sq. ft  of a former furniture store) for  our  Dobrinja Ministry Center, which will house all our other church and ministry activities. It will be where our Sunday worship services, seminars, leadership training and classes for the Focus Business School will be held. We will have space for up to 100 chairs, a Cafe & Resource Corner, and much needed space for children’s ministry with direct access to a city park located behind the building.Our expenses for moving into the new facility is a minimum budget of US$30,000 (= 27,400 EURO), which will cover expenses for initial renovations, technical equipment/furnishings and provide a 12 month buffer on the lease. Work begins as soon as we receive the keys to the building on September 1st. The slide presentation below hopefully will give you a sufficient overview to understand clearly this development. At the end of the month, the building will be emptied out and we will be able to show pictures of the interior.

Next month, September 2015, marks the beginning of the Biblical Year of Jubilee – the purpose of which is to bring liberty to the nation of Israel, breaking the oppression and poverty off the people, and restoring the land to it’s heirs. Bosnia and Herzegovina is my ‘Israel’ and Sarajevo is my ‘Jerusalem’. It’s only been 700 years – time to redeem my inheritance. My ancestors of the Jurjevich clan were part of the Bosnian nobility before the Ottoman Turks conquered the land by the oppressive sword of Islam.

My prayer before our Savior, Jesus Christ, King of kings, Lord of lords, is that I would stand on behalf of an oppressed nation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an intercessor, watchman and rightful heir to a stolen inheritance – may this Year of Jubilee begin the harvest of Bosnian souls to be brought into the Kingdom of God, and may this nation be set free from the wages of it’s sins through the blood of the Lamb.

We would ask you to help us today on two levels:

1) Prayerfully partner with us financially in helping make PROJECT ‘JUBILEE’: TIME FOR REDEMPTIVE EXPANSION a reality in Sarajevo – our goal is to raise $30,000 in the month of August. We are expanding our faith for a financial miracle in August so that the new Dobrinja Ministry Center will be completed without delay in September.

2) Please consider sharing this information, only as the Lord would lead you, with someone whom you feel might be interested in being involved with supporting PROJECT ‘JUBILEE’ and ministry here in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

 

 

 

 

 

The highlights during a visit to the neighboring country of Croatia was spending time with a young, single mom in Zagreb whom we had helped a little just over a year and a half ago when she was abandoned by her family because she would not abort her baby. Eventually, after some months, she was reconciled with her parents and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. It was encouraging to see that she is growing strong in her Christian faith and pursuing her university degree.

PLEASE PRAY for our friend Cristóbal Krusen, director of SABINA K. – first ever Bosnian Christian film. SABINA K. will be presented at the Sarajevo Film Festival (14-22 August). PRAY that Cris will have tremendous favor in his interactions with the Festival committee, media interviews and public contacts. PRAY for open hearts to the love of Jesus with all those who will be present for the screening of the film at the Festival. For more information about Cris and how to financially support his film ministry, and especially about SABINA K., please visit: www.messengerfilms.com

ON THE PERSONAL FRONT

From May 26 to July 15, we visited friends, supporters, and partners in the States.  We are now back in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and wish to express our appreciation to everyone who provided in one or another way for our seven weeks in the USA. Special thanks to very special friends who made available the perfect vehicle for our 5,800 mile road trip! And to everyone along the way who hosted us, fed us and took time from your busy schedules to fellowship with us, a huge THANK YOU!

The highlight of the trip for us was the wedding of our son Timothy and his Julianne on July 5, held at the beautiful Eden Gardens State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It was the first time in 2 1/2 years that we had been together with all our children in one place at the same time – definitely an extra blessing!  Right now we are all reunited  again in Amsterdam, Holland, celebrating our daughter, Lydia’s wedding to her Lennart which took place on August 22.

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

28 years ago, in 1987, Robert and Sandrina Jurjevich arrived in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia, where they settled and pioneered a church with Robert as pastor.  Five years later, In 1992, while they were on a visit to the States, the war broke out  in Bosnia, and Sarajevo was closed off to all outsiders.  They were not able to return.  They had all their belongings in their apartment in Sarajevo.  When a bomb hit their building, they lost everything they had.  In spite of that, they never lost sight of their call to serve Bosnia with the Gospel!

In the ensuing years, they raised four children, worked for The Bridge, Holland, and pastored churches, both in the States and Holland. In 2013, they finally returned to their beloved Sarajevo, settled and pioneered a new church anew in the city.  You can find more background information about them at:  https://www.bridgeinternational.org/2013/06/

Steve and I highly recommend Robert and Sandrina to you as people of faith and integrity, close friends, and partners who need your prayers and financial support. Please mark your gifts 8345 Balkan Workers.THANKS!