February 2, 2010
By an Alliance worker serving in Bosnia
I just heard a great story that I want to share with you. I was talking to my good friend, Emira,* who leads the women’s handicraft group here. Part of the Bosnian Handicraft Project, its larger vision is to introduce group members to the God who can provide for all of their needs and give them everlasting life.
Stories like the one I’m about to share are a great encouragement to me and a confirmation that our efforts are well spent.
Ladies Knitting Group
Earlier this month, a city in southern Bosnia was hit with snow and ice. This is unusual, and most residents chose to stay indoors rather than brave the elements. Emira had all but decided to cancel the Monday night meeting, since most of the 30 members are seniors and the slick sidewalks would be treacherous.
Although it is a knitting group, two hours are spent in conversation, prayer, singing, and a Bible lesson. That night’s lesson was to be a clear message on how Jesus made a way for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.
J. S.
As the time for the meeting approached, Emira felt the Lord telling her not to cancel the group. Six ladies arrived that night, including a newer member, “J. S.” She is a quiet woman from an atheistic family and has never volunteered to read from the Bible or pray aloud. On this night, with only six women present, she seemed more comfortable with joining in the conversation and volunteered to read almost every Bible passage for the lesson.
At the end of the lesson, Emira asked if any of the women would like to pray and ask Jesus to forgive their sins and give them eternal life. J. S. said, “Oh, that would be wonderful! I would love to do that!”
Celebration!
After she prayed, the other women hugged her and welcomed her into the family of God as their new sister. J. S. was surprised at their enthusiastic response. “Well, my dear, all of heaven is celebrating! Why shouldn’t we?” Emira replied.
This new sister couldn’t wait to go home and tell her husband about her experience. Although he is a professed atheist, he is very curious about the meetings.
A couple of weeks after J. S. began attending, he asked her if it was boring to sit around knitting with a bunch of old women. She explained that they don’t really knit at the group but have Bible lessons. He insisted that she report to him each week on what their lesson was about. Now he is hungry to hear the lesson and waits at the door of their home for her to return from the group.
I saw Emira last weekend and asked her for an update on J. S. and her family. She said J. S.’s husband continues to be delighted with the “second-hand” Bible lessons but that their children were wondering if they have gone off the deep end. Let’s pray the whole family follows them over the edge!
*Name has been changed.
What You Can Do
Please pray for J. S. in her newfound faith and for the rest of her family’s salvation. In your prayers, thank the Lord for Emira’s obedience to hold the meeting as scheduled.
Donate to Alliance Great Commission Ministries; ensure that Alliance workers are able to continue sharing the gospel in the far corners of the world where many have never heard the good news.
Learn More
Read “Sharing the Good News in a Rich Culture,” a recent article about cross-cultural ministry during the holidays among Bosnia’s nonbelievers.
If you would like to host an exhibit of the Bosnian handicrafts, contact Mary Jo Kowalewski at New Life Fellowship in Saratoga, New York, where the stateside inventory is housed. Note: Clicking on this link will take you off of the C&MA Web site.