Sorry, but it is my problem.

As I walked through a bus station crowded with teenagers today, I came upon a young man who had no interest in talking with me and was quick to let me know.

I asked him why he was so adamant to get rid of me, but he was unclear about his reasons.

Then I told him that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that I cared about his eternal soul and wanted to see him get saved. 

He quickly said, “Ït’s not your problem.”

I said, “Sorry, but it is my problem.”

Obviously puzzled, he asked how that could be.  I pulled out my New Testament and showed him Mark 16:15 which states, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  I said God made it my problem when He put that in the Bible.  Jesus clearly tells me to come and tell you about Him.

The young man realized it was going to take a little more effort to run me off, so he started talking honestly with me.  He did not understand how everyone needed to go only through Jesus to be saved.

He asked, “What about the people in China?”

I said, “We’ve got people in China telling the same truth that I am telling you.”

He asked, “What about the people in Africa?”

I said, “We’ve got people in Africa telling the same truth that I am telling you.”

He asked, “What about the people in the jungle?”

I said, “We’ve got people in the jungle telling the same truth that I am telling you.”

He asked, “Even in the Amazon?”

I said, “We’ve even got people on a boat in the Amazon River stopping and preaching this truth to people along the way.”

Clearly stumped, the young man listened to me a little bit more , but then his bus was about to leave and he had to go (for now).

Thank you Lord! for giving me the answers to give to this young man.  Please grow the seed planted in his heart and save his precious soul.

Thank you Lord for making him my problem!

Great time in Budapest sharing the Word

The arrival of our annual guest speaker, Bro. Bill Smith, presented the opportunity to go to Budapest to pick him up today. Anytime we venture into Hungary we like to go equipped with gospel tracts, ready to distribute them.

We had a great time giving out the Truth today with Kevin Brown and Scott Holcomb. The bus station was packed with people and we gave out several hundred gospel tracts (all that we had).

We were very pleased to see that the response was well above average, with over 75% gladly accepting the tracts.

One lady asked for 10 more so that she could give them to her friends. That's always a blessing.

My heart aches for the millions in Hungary, since most are lost in darkness. But at least several hundred got a fighting chance to learn the Truth about salvation today.

God help us to be busy about spreading your Truth that others might be saved!

One year ago today...

One year ago today a plane landed in Zagreb Croatia with me on it. As I got off the plane I was blessed to discover that all 6 of my suitcases (everything I own) had successfully made the trip with me.
That day was the beginning of a new chapter of life serving my Saviour on this mission field.
Thank you Lord! What a blessing and honor it is to serve you in this way and in this place.
God Save Croatia!

Victory in Jesus

Praise the Lord for another victory.  There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels today!

A man in New Hampshire has a friend (also in New Hampshire) who is Croatian and speaks very little English.

The man has had a burden to share the gospel with this friend for some time and has been praying for a way to do it.  The burden seemed heightened by the fact that the friend has cancer.

So, while searching the internet for some help the man came across my website, http://godsavecroatia.com

and sent a message to see if I could assist in some way.

I put him in touch with Pastor Telebar and they quickly scheduled a phone call appointment with the lady to witness to her.

Last night, Pastor Telebar had the privilege to explain the gospel message to her, and through her tears she asked the Lord Jesus to save her eternal soul.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

Thank God for a man in New Hampshire with a burden for the lost and a pastor in Croatia who is always eager for an opportunity to share the gospel.

Praise the Lord.

Elizabeth Taylor - Heaven or Hell?

Anytime a famous person's death is published in the news, the first thought I have is, Did their eternal soul go to heaven or hell?
Admittedly, I only know that I am saved and going to heaven and I cannot possibly know about anyone else.
However, I do know from the Bible that great acting ability, physical beauty, great wealth and fame can't take anyone to heaven.  Neither can charitable donations and speeches made for good causes.
The only one who can save is Jesus Christ.  By faith in Him you can be saved, guaranteeing you a place in heaven for all eternity, regardless of your popularity, talent, or wealth.
Did Elizabeth Taylor ever place her faith for salvation in Jesus Christ and Him alone?  Only she and God know that. Her beauty faded and all the riches stayed behind.  The only thing that matters to her today is her relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is what the Bible says about how to be saved:

• Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
• Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
• Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
• Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
• Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
• Ac 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ...
• Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
• Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Being idolized by millions doesn't save anyone from Hell.
Having a great fortune doesn't purchase a place in heaven.

God is not impressed with worldly fame. God is not impressed with great riches and acting talent.

God sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for Elizabeth Taylor's sins. God offered Elizabeth Taylor the free gift of eternal life, if only she would believe on Jesus Christ and call out to Him for salvation. God gave Elizabeth Taylor 79 years to accept the free gift of eternal life.

Did she ever accept Him? I certainly hope so.  If not, it is eternally too late for her.

It is not yet too late for you.

What if....

• What if a little church in Čakovec Croatia went to the capitol city of Zagreb to pass out John and Romans and witness in the streets?
• What if twenty-five people scattered out downtown and passed out hundreds of these John and Romans?
• What if every John and Romans had gospel tracts tucked inside?
• What if a man received one of these, but was soon detained by the police for some reason?
• What if that man was kept in jail for hours with that John and Romans and those gospel tracts in his hand?
• What if he decided to read the information he had received? (After all, he had a little time to kill.)
• What if the gospel tracts made perfect sense to him?
• What if he realized he is a sinner who deserves to go to hell for all eternity but Jesus loves him, died for his sins, and wants to save his soul?
• What if he decided to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour right then and there?
• What if he was so excited to have found Jesus that he shared that information with all the others who were detained with him?
• What if he was released in a short while, just after the scheduled time of his planned protest?
• What if he was the well-known, public leader of the protests that are happening all over Croatia?
• What if this man called your pastor on Sunday to rejoice about his salvation and say, Thank You! ?
• What if they had a good conversation and agreed that salvation through Jesus Christ is the answer for all of Croatia?
• What if your pastor told you all about it at church on Sunday evening?

I bet you would be rejoicing just like I am.

My God, How Great Thou Art!

Talk about great timing!

Today, as we were in Varaždin witnessing in the town square we noticed a large number of police on every street, including special police forces in riot gear.
After questioning a few locals about what was going on, we were told that another anti-government protest would be taking place in about 45 minutes.
Thankfully, I had my gospel signs in the car and could retrieve them in time for all the protesters to have an opportunity to read a few verses of Scripture.
My friend, Alen Dubravec, was with me and he was glad to have the opportunity also.
We don't know how many people were there, but we do know they all had a chance to read "Only Jesus Saves. Ye must be born again" and "Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust".
Thank you Lord for giving us such great timing today, and for having the opportunity to publish the Word to so many people.

Amen.

Another great day in Hungary

Ištvan Horvat - A man with a desire to serve the Lord

Pastor Telebar and I went to Nagykanizsa, Hungary again to make a deposit for our Hungarian missionary.   In preparation, we equipped ourselves with hundreds of Hungarian gospel tracts. Last time we were in Nagykanizsa, we were greeted with a receptive spirit from the people, and the same was true once again.  We walked around the town center for a couple of hours trying to get tracts into the hand of everyone we encountered.  With few exceptions, almost everyone there received a tract. 

One very special blessing came when we encountered Ištvan Horvat.  Bro Rajko handed him a tract and after looking at it for a few seconds, he called out to get us to back and talk to him.  Although neither of us can understand Hungarian speech, Ištvan was able to make it clear to us that he already had Jesus in his heart.  He gestured to us, asking if he could have some tracts to pass out himself.  We gladly accommodated him.  What a great joy to encounter this precious man with a desire to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was there, in the perfect spot,at the perfect time, waiting for his opportunity to serve the Lord.  Wow!

Publishing God's Word

We received advance notice of a protest march happening in our city and thought it would be a great opportunity to get God's word out in a big way.
We selected a spot downtown to stand where we knew the protesters would come by and we were amazed at the large number of people that had gathered for the event.
As they made a circle through town we took up another position so they would all have the opportunity to read the verses again. What a great day to stand up for Christ in front of hundreds! Praise the Lord!

Victory in Jesus

As I walked up to the door of our church in Varaždin this evening, I was met by the man in the middle of the photo. His name is Marijan and he was looking for the Baptist church!
It turns out that Marijan had received a gospel tract from Missionary Kevin Brown (on the left) just a few weeks before. Kevin had spoken with him a little bit and invited him to attend. Praise the Lord he showed up.
After the service, Bro Rajko Telebar (on the right) and Bro Kevin teamed up and led Marijan to Christ. That's right! Marijan got gloriously and eternally saved today.
That's Victory in Jesus.
Marijan said he will be back next week AND he wants to join us when we go and pass out gospel tracts.
Somebody stand up and shout AMEN!
Praise the Lord for a great victory such as this.