What did your parents do when you put your faith in Christ?

Dear Friends,

What did your parents do when you put your faith in Christ?

My parents told all their friends and wrote letters to relatives sharing the joyful news. From my birth they had hoped and prayed that I would become a follower of Christ. When I was born the second time they were thrilled, and immediately began to dream about how I might serve God and touch others with his love.

When 18 year old Miso put his faith in Christ his father told him he had to choose between his family and church. In his anger over Miso's decisions, his dad has threatened to kick him out of the house, asked him to burn his bible, and even been abusive to his mom.

Andrej was kicked out of his home for refusing to go to a party with strippers - he has become too "religious". Twenty one year old Metka has become the object of gossip in her village - rumors are being spread that she is a witch casting spells on people after her conversion to Christ.

Tanja has been forbidden to have any contact with Christians, and Naja is under great pressure from her friends at school. In the country of Slovenia, with less than 1000 evangelical believers in a population of 2 million, these new believers pay a high price for their faith.

How would you respond in their shoes?

Some don't make it, buckling under the pressure and returning to their former ways. But for those who do, all point to the encouragement and support given them by other believers as a key factor in their ability to endure. You are part of that support system for these new believers.

Many trusted Christ this summer because of evangelistic camps that JV led in Slovenia and nine other Eastern European countries - almost all return to parents who do not share their new found faith. Many are facing powerful and painful opposition from those who are closest to them. Would you pray for them in a special way during this month?

Because Andrej's family is bigger than just those who share his last name.

For the youth of Eastern Europe,

Dave Patty
President, Josiah Venture