• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hesed.com

Mobilizing God's People to Reach the Nations!

  • Home
  • Let’s Get Started!
  • Beyond Our Wildest Dreams
  • We Swear Allegiance
  • Our Hearts Aflame
  • Reshaping Our Wineskins
You are here: Home / Catholic and Orthodox World / Planting Churches Where There Is No Hope

Planting Churches Where There Is No Hope

By Frank Johnson on March 28, 2020 0

North Macedonia
Photo courtesy of Monika Kostyra. Used by permission.

The nation of North Macedonia is located in Southeastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula. Known simply as “Macedonia” until 2019, it gained its independence in 1991 with the breakup of Yugoslavia. It is a picturesque, landlocked country and its geography is characterized by a central valley bordered by two mountainous areas.

According to Joshua Project, nine of North Macedonia’s twenty-two people groups, representing an estimated 638,000 people (30.8% of North Macedonia’s total population), are considered unreached (which, according to Joshua Project’s definition, means there are “few evangelicals and few who identify as Christians” in the group — and that it has “little, if any, history of Christianity”). Four out of those nine unreached people groups are considered “Frontier Peoples” which means they have “0.1% or fewer Christian adherents of any kind.”

One of these Frontier Peoples are Macedonian Albanians, which represent approximately 25% of North Macedonia’s entire population and nearly 82% of North Macedonia’s unreached. The Macedonian Albanians dominate the northwestern part of the country.

The Romani – a chronically poor, oppressed, and unemployed people, most of whom subscribe to a blend of Islam and folk superstitions – are another prominent people group in North Macedonia.

Approximately 62% of the citizens of North Macedonia are members of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, but most Macedonians are nominal in their faith or completely non-religious. Approximately 36% of the population are Muslim.

Church of St. John at Kaneo
Church of St. John at Kaneo, a Macedonian Orthodox Church. Photo courtesy of Vanjagenije. Used by permission.

Historically, North Macedonia has been one of the poorest regions of the former Yugoslavia, although recently there has been some improvement in economic outlook. Still, unemployment is high and the majority of the population experience a low standard of living. Because of this, many have moved to other parts of Europe, North America, and even New Zealand. This exodus includes many young and talented North Macedonians.

North Macedonia
Photo courtesy of Dzvonko Petrovski. Used by permission.

North Macedonia is also part of a region that has been contested by many powers throughout history and has often been immersed in the conflicts which have engulfed the Balkan Peninsula.

Poverty, unemployment, and war all can lead to a lack of hope, and hopelessness is no stranger to North Macedonian society. Abortion, drug abuse, suicide, and human trafficking are some of the evils which unfortunately fill the vacuum.

Tim, Elle, and Bruin Bentley
Tim, Elle, and Bruin Bentley. Photo courtesy of Tim and Elle Bentley. Used by permission (personal correspondence).
But in the words of Assemblies of God missionaries Tim and Elle Bentley, “Macedonian communities desperately need to experience the hope that is found in Christ alone. This can only happen if someone lives among them, explains the Gospel, and introduces these communities to an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s why church planting is so important to us. Every Macedonian, deserves the opportunity to hear the Gospel message.”

Tim and Elle — in collaboration with the Evangelical Church of Macedonia — are following in the footsteps of Paul and the original apostolic band who planted the first churches in the greater region of Macedonia and led the first European believer (Lydia) to Christ (see Acts 16:6-15).

In July of 2018, the Evangelical Church of Macedonia renewed its commitment to plant 100 new churches in North Macedonia within the next 25 years. Tim and Elle are focused on helping with church plants in Aerodrom (a municipality in the capital city of Skopje with a population of 100,000), Bogdanci ( a village on the southern border of Macedonia with a population of 6,011), and Kriva Palenka (a village in northern Macedonia with a population of 14,100).

The Evangelical Church at Aerodrom
Photo courtesy of the Evangelical Church of Aerodrom in North Macedonia. Used by permission (personal correspondence).

Through church planting, compassion ministries, building personal relationships, and the ministry of Kairos Center (a community center which serves coffee and holds classes in English, Spanish, guitar, knitting, and art for the students of Skopje), the Bentleys are working among the Macedonians, Albanian, and Romani peoples.

Kairos Center
Photo of Kairos Center in Aerodrom courtesy of Tim and Elle Bentley. Used by permission (personal correspondence)

The success of church-planting efforts in North Macedonia is encouraging. While only 0.2% of Macedonians are currently evangelical, the evangelical church in North Macedonia is one of the fastest growing churches in Europe. It is encouraging that the evangelical church is growing in unity across denominational lines, has significant church-planting goals, and shares the gospel across ethnic and national boundaries.

Specifically, the church plants in Aerodrom and Bogdanci are each averaging 25+ people in attendance. Tim and Elle are now focusing on the church plant in Kriva Palenka.

How You Can Join The Bentleys’ Team in North Macedonia
If you’ve read our pillar articles (which can be reached through the tabs at the top of the site if you are using a desktop or the three-bar/”hamburger” menu if you are using a mobile device), you know that our conviction is that all believers should be part of a team seeking to reach the unreached. Some will go, some will pray, some will provide financial support, some will provide logistical support.

Here are four ways you can be a part of Tim and Elle’s team in the Balkans!

  • You can pray for the people of North Macedonia, for the pastors and leaders of the evangelical church in North Macedonia, and for Tim and Elle and their ministry among the Macedonian, Albanian, and Romani peoples. To stay abreast of specific needs, sign up for their newsletter at their website. You can also request to join their private Facebook group.
  • You can support their ministry financially. It takes $10,000 to plant each new church (this includes rent, set-up, printed materials equipment, and supplies). In addition, Tim and Elle depend on the monthly financial support of Christians to be able to live and work in North Macedonia. You can set up a recurring monthly gift or contribute a one-time gift at the Bentleys’ giving page. You can also support their ministry by purchasing their line of Balkans coffee and tea.
  • Are you sensing a call to missions? Are you a missions leader in your church or the leader of a college ministry? Consider serving in North Macedonia alongside the Bentleys, either on a short-term trip or for a more extended period of time. Their website includes contact information so you can get in touch to find out more about serving the Lord in Macedonia.
  • Are you a lead pastor of a church. Consider having Tim and Elle speak to your congregation, Sunday school class, women’s group, men’s group, small gathering, etc. about North Macedonia and their ministry. While they are currently in North Macedonia, consider having them speak to your folks via Zoom or other digital communications technology. And consider putting them on your roster of supported missionaries. Again, you can contact them through the information included on their website.

COUNTRIES IN THIS ARTICLE: North Macedonia
WORKERS IN THIS ARTICLE: Tim and Elle Bentley

Related Resources

Church Planting in Europe: Connecting to Society, Learning from Experience helps to answer the question of how churches can become more relevant to the societies in which they exist. From biblical and missiological reflections to case studies and practical examples, the book gives insights into many of the key issues that church planters and those concerned with “missionary” renewal of existing churches are grappling with.


Tweet
Share
Pin
Share
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Join Our Tribe

We invite you to become a part of the Hesed.com community and join us in our passion to reach the unreached.


Get Started Here

About Frank Johnson

Frank is a 1985 graduate of Bethany College in Scotts Valley, California (B.S. Ministerial Studies) and a licensed minister with the Northern California and Nevada District Council of the Assemblies of God. Frank has been an internet strategist for over 15 years, applying principles of digital media strategy to spread the gospel. In addition, he is the author of Find A Job Through A Temporary Service, “Bringing in the Outcast” (under pen name, John Norman) in Issue 43 (January 1, 1988) of Discipleship Journal, and numerous articles in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

First Time Here?

Before you read any articles, watch any videos, etc., we strongly encourage you to read our five pillar articles which can be reached through the tabs at the top of the site (if you are using a desktop) or the three-bar/"hamburger" menu (if you are using a mobile device). These pillar articles provide the foundation for all of our content.

About Us

Frank Johnson and David Arzouni have been friends, brothers in Christ, and ministry partners for over 35 years.

frankjohnson_squareFrank describes himself as an online strategist who advocates for world missions through storytelling to spotlight the work of God throughout the nations.

dfa_squareTogether with his wife Linda, David has brought the message of the gospel to West Africa as an Assemblies of God missionary since 1976.

Read more about Frank and David

Join Our Tribe

We invite you to become a part of the Hesed.com community and join us in our passion to reach the unreached.

Helpful Resources

The old way of raising support means uncomfortable face-to-face meetings, paper newsletters, tons of phone calls, or speaking at churches and hoping people give. But chasing donations and hoping one-time donors become monthly supporters is stressful and unpredictable.

Fully Funded Academy is based around 7 core strategies for long-term support raising success and will help you develop a steady stream of recurring financial support with more stability and less stress so you can have greater impact in your mission to help fulfill the Great Commission.

Learn more ...

Filter Articles By Category

See Articles From All Categories

Come Hang Out With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • In The Footsteps of Gaius
  • He Sets the Lonely in Families
  • Church Planting Along a Japanese Travel Corridor
  • Hope in the Land of the Rising Sun
  • Beauty For Ashes
  • Home
  • What Is Hesed?
  • Who Are We?
  • Be Part of Our Content Team
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy

What Does It Mean to Join a Missionary Team?

There are four basic ways to join a missionary team and participate in God's story of restoring the nations to Himself:

GO: You can physically join a missionary team "on the ground" in their geographical area of service. This can be in the form of a short-term trip (1-4 weeks), a longer stay (1-3 years), or a career commitment.

PRAY: You can subscribe to the missionary team's email or print newsletter, follow them in social media channels, join their private Facebook group, etc. and commit to praying for them and the needs they share on a regular basis.

GIVE: You can financially support the missionary team or their organization (either through cash gifts and/or monthly commitments).

SUPPORT: You can provide logistical support to the missionary team in the form of administrative help, website development, social media channel maintenance, newsletter processing, and a host of other tasks and projects - anything that will allow the missionary team to devote more time to their primary calling.

Join Our Tribe

We invite you to become a part of the Hesed.com community and join us in our passion to reach the unreached.

Hang Out With Us

Hesed.com on Facebook

Hesed.com on Twitter

Affiliate Disclosure

Please Note: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

© 1998 - 2020 Hesed.com

Pray for the Tsukuba Express Church Planting Team

Tsukuba Express Line

  1. Please pray for the areas surrounding these twenty rail stations: Akihabara, Shin-Okachimachi, Asakusa, Minami-Senju, Kita-Senju, Aoi, Rokucho, Yashio, Misato-chuo, Minami-Nagareyama, Nagareyama-centralpark, Nagareyama-otakanomori, Kashiwanoha-campus, Kashiwa-Tanaka, Moriya, Miraidaira, Midorino, Bampaku-kinenkoen, Kenkyu-gakuen, and Tsukuba
  2. Pray that God would raise up church planters and send forth laborers into the harvest fields surrounding these stations (Luke 10:2-4).
  3. Pray that God would help these church planters identify persons of peace in the areas surrounding these stations (Luke 10:5-8).
  4. Pray that God would enable these church planters to speak the word of God with boldness in these areas (Luke 10:9b).
  5. Pray that the proclamation of God’s word in the areas surrounding these stations would be accompanied by demonstrations of God’s compassion and power (Luke 10:9a).