Just over 10 years ago I was working as a Physiotherapist in Nottingham, minding my own business and with no interest in mission. As a result of a specific word someone gave me during a church meeting I went on a 4 week mission trip in 1990. I went to West Africa with a mission group called World Horizons and that trip changed the course of my life. I was challenged by the lifestyles of the people I met and by their faith. I realised there are still 100's of "People Groups" who have still never heard of Jesus. Most of all I was excited about God´s purposes for this world and how he wants ordinary people to be part of fulfilling those purposes - even people like me! After several months of prayer, enquiries and discussion with my church I left my job as a Physiotherapist and joined World Horizons full time in January 1992.

Life in World Horizons

For the last 9 years I've have done things I never dreamed of. There have been good times, bad times but always faith testing times. I have been based in the U.K. but have travelled on many short-term trips from the sun of the Sahara to the snow of Russia. I have worked with student groups, church groups, have run mission awareness courses and been heavily involved with training folks in the U.K. My motivation in all of this has been to see ordinary people "up to their necks in God's purposes". With the result that people, who at the moment have little chance of hearing the gospel, will hear it.

Now Long-Term to Macedonia

It's a dangerous thing to pray! I started praying a few years ago that God would give me his vision for me for the next 5-10 years. First God worked on me so that I was really willing to hear, then things began to become clear. Compton Acres Church had a week of prayer for former Yugoslavia. The result was that our Church Leader (Paul Wells) went on a visit to Macedonia (not something he was in the habit of doing!). I prayed for him while he was away and got very excited about this little country that I'd never heard of! The following summer Paul & I went back with a small team and I've never been able to get Macedonia out of my system since.

"Come over to Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16 v 9)

Click for profile of Macedonia

Macedonia is a small land-locked country. It is to the north of Greece and borders Albania, Bulgaria and Serbia. It became famous recently as it borders that now famous trouble spot of Kosovo. During the Kosovo crisis thousands of refugees fled to Macedonia.

The country has been fought over and divided up throughout it's troubled history although it was the only nation to escape war in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. It is now home to a mixture of peoples: Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Bosnians and a large Gypsy community. (The capital, Skopje, has the largest Gypsy population of any city in Europe). The total population is approximately 2 million, 700,000 of those living in the capital - Skopje.

Religiously Macedonia is two thirds Orthodox (Macedonians) and one third Muslim (Albanians) and there is a lot of hostility towards the Gospel.

Christian Pentecostal Church

This church in Skopje was started in 1992. Most of that early group of believers were students and the church has grown to approx. 200 people, most of whom are young people. This is now one of the larger churches in the whole of the former Yugoslavia. There are now church plants in 7 other towns in Macedonia. They have also set up two pre-schools and a medical clinic.

The Balkans

Macedonia is situated in the area known as the Balkans. This area is most famous for hatred and bloodshed as nation rises against nation. Right now tensions are running high in Kosovo. There is a large Albanian population in Macedonia, which creates tension and uncertainty for the future.

• Pray
  for continued peace here in Macedonia and that the Church will be an example of ethnic unity and not just go along with the spirit of this region.

• Pray
  for a breakthrough amongst Albanians in Macedonia - there are very few Christians amongst them.

• Pray
  for Boris Traikovski, the President of Macedonia, a former Methodist preacher - that he will be "God's man" in all that is going on here.

Summer in Struga

Struga is a small tourist town in the south-west of Macedonia. This summer we plan to have a Youth Camp down there. We have young people coming from many of the countries in this region to join with folks from the churches here in Macedonia as well as people from America, Sweden & Norway.

This will be the largest event of it's kind ever in Macedonia and will include, teaching, concerts and evangelism.

Teenagers

In the next few weeks we will be starting a work amongst 12-16 year olds. Pray for us as we launch cell groups amongst them.