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October 11, 2016

The Road to Croatia - A New Missionary Story

Walking Forward

“I had been floundering, trying to figure out what to do with my life. I had finished my first year of college and had never considered ministry as an option. But I had been pushed by a JV team leader to come back as an intern, and everything about it made sense and was exciting to me.”

Bronwen Crowley first went to Croatia with a short-term team from a Phoenix church in 2009 at age 19. After connecting with people there, she returned the next two summers as a JV intern.

Meanwhile, her future husband, Evan, was working with Habitat for Humanity in Seattle when he checked out Josiah Venture on a mentor’s recommendation. “All I could sense from the Spirit was be available, be obedient, and walk in the direction I have for you.”

At the time, our greatest need for interns was in Slovenia, so in the summer of 2011, Evan interned there while Bronwen served across the border in Croatia. The two met during intern training, which they now jokingly call, “that romantic Amazing Race.”

Fully Surrendering

After getting married in 2014, the Crowleys are now JV missionaries in training (MITs), raising support and getting ready to serve full-time in Croatia, where two other families are already heading up ministry in Split.

When asked what they love about Josiah Venture, Bronwen says, “Prioritizing the local church. Prioritizing spiritual health among missionaries –we saw that big time even in the care we received before being accepted as full-time JV missionaries. And being gospel-centered and excited about what God is doing in these countries.”

Evan goes on to describe why they are heading to Croatia. “God brought us to a place of full surrender. We both had different backgrounds. We didn’t know: ‘God do you want us to head to Slovenia? Do you want us to go to Croatia? Do you want us to go to either?’ So he brought us in a very kind way to surrender. ‘Anywhere you are leading us, God, we want to go. As a couple, unified, together. We understand that you have put these experiences in our past, we’re desperate for your vision for the future.’”

During a trip to Europe in 2015, God spoke through His word in a way that Evan describes as “powerful, direct, and clear.” On Christmas eve, the Crowleys were officially accepted by the organization and were able to start the process of getting overseas.

croatia couple

Anticipating the Future

The road to Croatia has taken a lot of preparation.

In February, the couple attended JV’s new missionary orientation at the office in Wheaton, IL. Taking place twice a year, every February and October, the 3-4 days are designed to help our new staff with financial and HR logistics while also communicating more of the vision and mission of JV.

Bronwen says, “The overarching thing that stood out about orientation was meeting other missionaries going with Josiah Venture. I think we were all eager to make friends so it was a really good platform for that. It was also a good opportunity to get to know the people who are serving with JV full-time in the States, because we have so much online communication with them now it’s just good to know their hearts.”

Since completing orientation, the couple has raised over 70% of their support, resigned from their jobs, and are currently in Colorado for a month-long program at Missionary Training International, a required time of language acquisition and cross-cultural training that all our American JV missionaries attend before moving to Europe.

While training is obviously part of becoming equipped for their position in ministry, the MITs say that everything else about the process is preparing them as well.

Evan says he was reading a devotional book the other day and “it talked about how God is ultimately our great supporter. It meant that you can lean into Him, but it came at just the right time. God is our great supporter as we are seeking all these other supporters.”

Bronwen adds, “Support raising is teaching us bold faith. With the same boldness we are asking people to support us, we’ll be proclaiming the gospel in Croatia. It’s the same, asking people to change their lives and reorder their priorities, with support raising or with following Jesus.”

The couple is also learning to trust God in the letting go process. Evan explains, “It’s been, in a sense, this consistent level of stress doing the work of support raising, but now that stress has turned to an underlying level of grief, because we’ve been working towards this goal and now we’re beginning to say goodbyes. Not only goodbyes to people, but we’re saying goodbye to our apartment and our city.”

Even with the personal sacrifice and challenges, the Crowleys know the process is worth it. Bronwen says, “We believe so heavily in this vision and in discipling young people in Croatia.” Moving to a country of 4.5 million people where only .4 percent identify themselves as evangelicals, these new missionaries will surely have plenty of opportunities to share the hope of the gospel.

The MITs look forward to the day when they arrive on the field and are able to invest in the people of Croatia. Evan says, “Our perspective right now is in general terms. We don’t really know Croatians. So the idea of learning about them, learning from them, learning with them is really exciting because that’s going to help us discover avenues for the gospel that are going to be effective.”

Please join us as we pray God would continue to lead and provide for Evan and Bronwen, and all our missionaries in training, as they work towards serving with JV full-time.

Amy Nickerson

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Home

Sajmir just wanted to belong. As the youngest son in a Muslim family of eight children, he was expected to serve everyone. Sajmir’s family was oppressed in Albania because they were dark skinned Gypsies. On top of that, during the difficult time after the revolution, his father began drinking and beating his mother. “My father never beat me,” Sajmir said, “but he never showed me love. He never hugged me or kissed me. I never saw a father figure. I was afraid of him. Also, outside in the city, people were not very close to me. I spent most of my time alone, playing soccer alone, or basketball alone.” There was only one soccer field in his village, and when Sajmir tried to join a game, the other kids would kick him out. One day, a group came toward the field and Sajmir began to back away, sure they would ask him to leave. “Will you play with us?” they asked. “You want to play with me?” Sajmir replied. For the first time in his life, someone invited him in. After the game, they invited him to church. “What is a church?” he said. Running home, he asked his parents if he could go. “Don’t go to church,” they answered sternly, “you will shame us.” But the next day was Sunday, and he snuck out when no one was looking. “When I stepped into the church, at the door, someone gave me a hug for the first time in my life,” Sajmir said. “They put me in the first row. I felt like a celebrity. Then I heard the story that someone loves you just as you are, that is, Jesus—as I was, dark skinned, rejected. But still, there is someone who died for me.” “I ran and told my family, but their response was: ’If you go one more time, we will tell your brother to beat you up.’ I went again. My brother beat me up. For three months, I was beaten every week. I was loved and accepted in church, while suffering and being beaten in my family. Then my mom said, ‘Let him go.’” Filled with joy, Sajmir fell on his knees and said, “God, I will serve you wherever you want me to.” That was 25 years ago, and today Sajmir and his family are part of our Josiah Venture team in Albania. Through youth ministry, he recently planted a church called “Mosaic,” which has grown to over 100 people. Every day, young people come after school and in the evening for tutoring, children’s meetings, youth meetings, small groups, discipleship groups, and a very lively Fusion choir. The church is open every day, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, and there is always something happening. “Our building is a daily home for everyone; it’s a family,” says Sajmir. “I always remember what God did for me in my youth. My heart is burning to see more young people come to Christ and find that they are loved and belong.” During this Advent season, we remember how Jesus left his home to make a home for us. He was sent to find us, where we play our games alone, and to invite us into his family. He found Sajmir, and you, and me. Thanks for helping us share this good news with young people who are still without a home. Dave Patty President, Josiah Venture