New doors open in Yugoslavia
___By Brittany Jarvis
___SBC International Mission Board
___BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (BP)--Yugoslavia's turbulent change in government has created new opportunities for Christian missionaries among the Serbs and created a need for new missionaries.
___In late September, Yugoslav citizens voted out strongman Slobodan Milosevic as president, replacing him with Vojislav Kostunica. When Milosevic balked at leaving office, the resulting demonstrations left political buildings charred.
___Kostunica's new government has aligned itself with the Orthodox Church, but it also seems to be extending more religious freedom to Baptist work, said Ben Hanna, an International Mission Board missionary.
___"There is an urgent need for missionaries to move to Serbia to share the love of Christ and see churches started," Hanna said.
___Most of the missionaries' work among the Serbs currently takes the form of prayer. Hanna reports prayerwalking teams from Bosnia are interceding for God's work in Serbia. An extensive prayer network also has been established to pray down barriers to the gospel.
___"True change will come when believers cover the land with prayer and love," Hanna said.
___Baptists have been coordinating humanitarian aid in the region for several years, and Texas Baptist Men recently pitched in by providing 10,000 winter coats for children.
___Those acts of love are changing popular opinion about Baptists in the country, Hanna said. The government used to hold a cautious opinion of Baptists, which was fueled by anti-Baptist propaganda produced by the Orthodox Church.
The Baptist Standard
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