Mission Project & Church Planting Among Migrants, Refugees, and Serbian Neighbours

What a great joy it is to see how the Lord is opening doors to expand His Kingdom! We are deeply grateful to witness how God is using this time to support mission projects and make church planting possible. We sincerely thank the leadership of the Baptist Union of Serbia North for their love for the Gospel and their generous hearts in welcoming the foreigner—both in their churches and in their homes—becoming true channels of God’s blessing.

With great joy, we share the testimony of our dear pastoral couple, Emna and Julio, along with their two children. They are being salt and light in Serbia, as the Lord uses them powerfully to reflect His love among their neighbours and in the local church, bringing hope, comfort, and the message of salvation in Christ Jesus.

“Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Rom 15:7)

---

Pastors Emna & Julio.

Serbia / “Cubans Mission Project”

Baptist Church Ebenezer Luz y Camino

Pastors Emna & Julio Testimonies:

…Truly, the Lord is drawing people to Himself—and adding to His Church those who are being saved.

Last Sunday, our neighbour joined us for church, and we had the opportunity to pray with her. We are now interceding for her salvation. We are beginning to see fruit from these times of prayer. Just a month ago, a young woman from Africa came to our church, and this past Sunday, a young woman from Iran joined us. Truly, the Lord is drawing people to Himself—and adding to His Church those who are being saved.

Our hope is that every person who walks through our doors will be deeply impacted and transformed by the love of God flowing through our lives. We long to see healthy, Spirit-led growth within the church—growth that isn’t just in numbers but in hearts that are fully awakened to the beauty of God’s Kingdom. We are praying for a true revival to ignite in the hearts of the people—a revival so deep that it shifts their priorities. That they would no longer live driven solely by the pursuit of money or material things, but rather by a holy passion for the Kingdom of God. That they would embrace His righteousness and trust in the Father’s promise to provide all they need.

Our desire is to see this move of God expand and multiply across this nation. We are working toward building a committed and faithful team, and from that foundation, we plan to establish small groups—spaces where friends, neighbours, and families can gather, grow, and realise that they are valued, useful, and fully equipped for God’s purposes.

…cleaning and maintaining our neighbourhood. Through these small acts of service, we have been able to build relationships, introduce ourselves, and reveal Christ through our actions.

At our church, we have witnessed the powerful hand of God restoring broken families and homes that once had no hope. We have seen Him give direction and purpose to children and set people free from the chains of addiction. God has brought healing—both physically and emotionally—and He has touched the hearts of broken children, drawing them into personal encounters with the Creator and Saviour of our souls.

As a family, we seek to reflect Christ's love in tangible ways by engaging with our local community. We do this by simply being present and showing genuine care to those in need. My youngest son and I, for example, participate in cleaning and maintaining our neighbourhood. Through these small acts of service, we have been able to build relationships, introduce ourselves, and reveal Christ through our actions.

…We are walking the streets, claiming spiritual territory, and inviting the presence of God into every corner of our neighbourhood.

Although our church gatherings are currently limited to Sundays, and we haven’t yet established other regular weekly activities, the Lord has stirred our hearts for a deeper connection with our surroundings. As a church body, we have committed to intercession and spiritual warfare for our community every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Families go out to walk and pray, depending on their availability and willingness to serve. By God’s grace, most have been involved—and this time has become a powerful blessing. We are walking the streets, claiming spiritual territory, and inviting the presence of God into every corner of our neighbourhood.

…Yet, we know that God is our strength and that His grace is sufficient for every task He places in our hands.

Yes, the challenges are constant. For me personally, the language barrier continues to be a significant hurdle. On top of that, carrying responsibilities not only for myself but also for my husband is often very challenging, especially when we are called to find solutions for church members while we ourselves are seeking God for answers in our own lives. Ministering effectively with the limited time we have is also a challenge. Yet, we know that God is our strength and that His grace is sufficient for every task He places in our hands.

…It is a God-given dream!

As a family and as pastors, we are also pursuing the vision of launching a Coffee Shop—one that is multifaceted and birthed in prayer. This endeavour will allow us to take responsibility for our immigration status and provide for our family's needs. But more than that, we see it as a platform for Kingdom impact: it will open doors for us to employ members of the church, offer support to others, and create a space for gatherings beyond our Sunday services, such as times of fasting, leadership meetings, and moments of deeper fellowship. It is a God-given dream! Though it feels daunting at times, we trust that if He has placed this vision in our hearts, He will also provide the way to bring it to life.

Prayer requests:

We humbly ask for your prayers as we continue to walk this journey. We long to move forward in obedience and faith, doing all that God has called us to do, right where He has planted us.

• Visa and Employment Situation

  Please pray for our sons, Anthony and Alexis, as they face challenges renewing their visas. Our employment situation is unstable—salaries are delayed, and the company may be on the verge of collapse, which puts our visas and future at risk. We are asking God for His favor, provision, and peace in this time of great uncertainty.

• Political Unrest and Ministry Opportunities Pray for Serbia, where growing political unrest and protests are affecting daily life. In the midst of instability, we trust in Christ’s sovereignty. Praise God that even now He is working—a young Iranian woman staying with us has started joining our fellowship. We see this as a beautiful sign of His goodness and calling.