Fire from Heaven
God in moving among the Roma Gypsy people of Serbia. The city of Leskovac has virtually become a centre for revival.
by Slobodan Krstevski
Many houses and buildings were burned during the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia and people perished from the fiery bombs. But in Southern Serbia, in the central area of the Balkans, particularly in a city called Leskovac, a different fire has been burning within the hearts and souls of the Gypsy people. Like NATO’s fire, so this one came “from above,” but from much higher. This fire is from the throne of God and has been lighting the hearts of the despised community of Roma Gypsy people.
In Leskovac there are about 80,000 people of whom 10,000 are Gypsies. In the last ten years we don't know of any place in the Gypsy community that has not been influenced in some way by the Gypsy church. Many from the homes of Leskovac have attended the church at one time or another.
How it began
Originally some of these Gypsies attended a Serbian church in Leskovac pastored by Mio Stankovich. They responded to the love and hospitality of the people in the church.
Selim Alijevich, a young Gypsy boy who had became a Christian, was soon assisting pastor Mio as a volunteer custodian for the church. As he grew spiritually, he led some of the services and began to preach under Mio’s guidance.
Selim became the spiritual leader for the Gypsy people and the Gypsy believers were now able to have their own services. They experienced the miracles as people were healed. During subsequent years the church increased to 30, and then to 60.
In 1988 Selim honoured his service in the army and then continued on to England for theological training. Meanwhile Mio took direct oversight of the Gypsy church that had grown to 120 believers, including a newly formed music group.
In 1992 Selim was blessed with a wonderful helpmate and wife Gordana. They now have two children: Christian (1994) and Christina (1997). Upon his return to Serbia the same year, Selim preached, led worship and formed a new youth group. He also planned and implemented large open-air meetings, and meetings at the City Hall at special times like Christmas and Easter.
The open-air meetings in 1993 were usually held in a rented tent in an area that the Gypsy people were known to frequent. The people heard the preaching, singing and testimonies, and saw miracles of healing. One older man with a heart condition received prayer and was totally healed. The doctors in Belgrade exclaimed that it looked like God had done by-pass surgery.
Evangelistic teams and visitation programs were organized to visit people within the surrounding areas. Often 20 or more volunteer church members presented the Gospel using instrumental music, drama and songs, many of which were about healing.
Many of the Gypsies who have come to the Lord in this area of Serbia are from Muslim families and backgrounds. A local Muslim boy, Trail (Trajce) Bakich was healed. His dad Serif became a Christian and Trail started to share about his healing through music his father had composed.
By September 1998 the church had grown to about 300 people. A year later it numbered 500 with two services on Sundays. In January 2000 three services were held each Sunday with 700 in attendance. By July 2000, 800 were attending, and since April 2001 as many as 1,000 worship in a tent.
A new church
A few years ago the Gypsies wanted to have their own church property. They erected a collection box at the exit doors of the building. A sign on the box indicated in Yugoslavian and English that everyone should pray for, and give financially toward a new church building.
The results were astounding! Even though the Gypsy people are among the poorest of this country, they raised more than 5,000 DEM – almost $4,000 Canadian. This amount was added to a very generous donation by a group of Swiss people and Canadian Christians. Pastors Selim and Mio finalized negotiations on the purchase of a property.
It has been an interesting journey for Selim from the time he was a 15-year-old church caretaker, to becoming the caretaker and shepherd of this Gypsy church. I asked him, “What would you like to have God do in your life?”
“The miracles of God!” he answered. “To fulfill the purpose of God, so the city of Leskovac...will convert to a full knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That many in the [surrounding] cities, and the city itself, will be able to see what God is doing in the Gypsy church.”
I asked Selim what difficulties they have encountered so far. “The poverty of the church members. The many impoverished people that have no income whatsoever,” he responded. “It is hard to see them struggle and not be able to feed their children and families.”
Children at the garbage dump attempting to find something to eat or wear
I asked how we in Canada might help, or how we should pray. Selim said, “[For us] to have more strength and wisdom from the Lord.”
God answers prayer
The Gypsies are despised in many European communities including the Balkans and Serbia. As a result of being ostracized, they are quite shy as a community of people.
Interestingly, however, during the NATO bombings in 1999 Selim’s Gypsy church was invited to spearhead a demonstration of worship against these attacks. The Gypsy people prayed and fasted asking the Lord to spare the city. Even though Leskovac was supposed to be bombed, the city center itself was not bombed. God clearly had His hand of protection around these people. I believe God wanted His work of revival to continue among the Gypsies.
The church has also initiated many other works and outreaches. Twelve surrounding cities now hold meeting with up to 30 in attendance.
It has been a privilege for me to travel to Leskovac and minister there since 1993. Occasionally Craig Pitts, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) Eurasia coordinator, has accompanied me resulting in great blessing for the people of Leskovac. I contribute through preaching, conducting marriage seminars, interpreting and occasionally helping with humanitarian aid for both the hungry Christians and the needy refugees that live in the area.
Selim is a man of God, and the people who submit to his leadership are very attentive to him. During the last three years that our outreach – Shining Light Ministries – has assisted with humanitarian aid, we were amazed at how well organized Selim’s church was. I have not met another group of Balkan people who were so well organized at distributing aid.
According to Mio, spiritually there is more “fire from heaven” to come. He says, “The Lord through His prophecies has promised wonderful things for the Gypsy church. One of the things is a new prayer house – a house for healing and miracles. God promised that in the next five years even the [most] godless person would fall on his or her knees and admit that God is alive. My vision is that we will open many new churches and mission stations, so that the Gypsy church will be a mother to them.”
Slobodan Krstevski is the founder of Shining Light Ministries based in Burlington, Ontario.
Originally published on the website, Shining Light Ministries.
Used with permission. Copyright © 2008 Christianity.ca.
by Slobodan Krstevski
Many houses and buildings were burned during the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia and people perished from the fiery bombs. But in Southern Serbia, in the central area of the Balkans, particularly in a city called Leskovac, a different fire has been burning within the hearts and souls of the Gypsy people. Like NATO’s fire, so this one came “from above,” but from much higher. This fire is from the throne of God and has been lighting the hearts of the despised community of Roma Gypsy people.
In Leskovac there are about 80,000 people of whom 10,000 are Gypsies. In the last ten years we don't know of any place in the Gypsy community that has not been influenced in some way by the Gypsy church. Many from the homes of Leskovac have attended the church at one time or another.
How it began
Originally some of these Gypsies attended a Serbian church in Leskovac pastored by Mio Stankovich. They responded to the love and hospitality of the people in the church.
Selim Alijevich, a young Gypsy boy who had became a Christian, was soon assisting pastor Mio as a volunteer custodian for the church. As he grew spiritually, he led some of the services and began to preach under Mio’s guidance.
Selim became the spiritual leader for the Gypsy people and the Gypsy believers were now able to have their own services. They experienced the miracles as people were healed. During subsequent years the church increased to 30, and then to 60.
In 1988 Selim honoured his service in the army and then continued on to England for theological training. Meanwhile Mio took direct oversight of the Gypsy church that had grown to 120 believers, including a newly formed music group.
In 1992 Selim was blessed with a wonderful helpmate and wife Gordana. They now have two children: Christian (1994) and Christina (1997). Upon his return to Serbia the same year, Selim preached, led worship and formed a new youth group. He also planned and implemented large open-air meetings, and meetings at the City Hall at special times like Christmas and Easter.
The open-air meetings in 1993 were usually held in a rented tent in an area that the Gypsy people were known to frequent. The people heard the preaching, singing and testimonies, and saw miracles of healing. One older man with a heart condition received prayer and was totally healed. The doctors in Belgrade exclaimed that it looked like God had done by-pass surgery.
Evangelistic teams and visitation programs were organized to visit people within the surrounding areas. Often 20 or more volunteer church members presented the Gospel using instrumental music, drama and songs, many of which were about healing.
Many of the Gypsies who have come to the Lord in this area of Serbia are from Muslim families and backgrounds. A local Muslim boy, Trail (Trajce) Bakich was healed. His dad Serif became a Christian and Trail started to share about his healing through music his father had composed.
By September 1998 the church had grown to about 300 people. A year later it numbered 500 with two services on Sundays. In January 2000 three services were held each Sunday with 700 in attendance. By July 2000, 800 were attending, and since April 2001 as many as 1,000 worship in a tent.
A new church
A few years ago the Gypsies wanted to have their own church property. They erected a collection box at the exit doors of the building. A sign on the box indicated in Yugoslavian and English that everyone should pray for, and give financially toward a new church building.
The results were astounding! Even though the Gypsy people are among the poorest of this country, they raised more than 5,000 DEM – almost $4,000 Canadian. This amount was added to a very generous donation by a group of Swiss people and Canadian Christians. Pastors Selim and Mio finalized negotiations on the purchase of a property.
It has been an interesting journey for Selim from the time he was a 15-year-old church caretaker, to becoming the caretaker and shepherd of this Gypsy church. I asked him, “What would you like to have God do in your life?”
“The miracles of God!” he answered. “To fulfill the purpose of God, so the city of Leskovac...will convert to a full knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That many in the [surrounding] cities, and the city itself, will be able to see what God is doing in the Gypsy church.”
I asked Selim what difficulties they have encountered so far. “The poverty of the church members. The many impoverished people that have no income whatsoever,” he responded. “It is hard to see them struggle and not be able to feed their children and families.”
Children at the garbage dump attempting to find something to eat or wear
I asked how we in Canada might help, or how we should pray. Selim said, “[For us] to have more strength and wisdom from the Lord.”
God answers prayer
The Gypsies are despised in many European communities including the Balkans and Serbia. As a result of being ostracized, they are quite shy as a community of people.
Interestingly, however, during the NATO bombings in 1999 Selim’s Gypsy church was invited to spearhead a demonstration of worship against these attacks. The Gypsy people prayed and fasted asking the Lord to spare the city. Even though Leskovac was supposed to be bombed, the city center itself was not bombed. God clearly had His hand of protection around these people. I believe God wanted His work of revival to continue among the Gypsies.
The church has also initiated many other works and outreaches. Twelve surrounding cities now hold meeting with up to 30 in attendance.
It has been a privilege for me to travel to Leskovac and minister there since 1993. Occasionally Craig Pitts, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) Eurasia coordinator, has accompanied me resulting in great blessing for the people of Leskovac. I contribute through preaching, conducting marriage seminars, interpreting and occasionally helping with humanitarian aid for both the hungry Christians and the needy refugees that live in the area.
Selim is a man of God, and the people who submit to his leadership are very attentive to him. During the last three years that our outreach – Shining Light Ministries – has assisted with humanitarian aid, we were amazed at how well organized Selim’s church was. I have not met another group of Balkan people who were so well organized at distributing aid.
According to Mio, spiritually there is more “fire from heaven” to come. He says, “The Lord through His prophecies has promised wonderful things for the Gypsy church. One of the things is a new prayer house – a house for healing and miracles. God promised that in the next five years even the [most] godless person would fall on his or her knees and admit that God is alive. My vision is that we will open many new churches and mission stations, so that the Gypsy church will be a mother to them.”
Slobodan Krstevski is the founder of Shining Light Ministries based in Burlington, Ontario.
Originally published on the website, Shining Light Ministries.
Used with permission. Copyright © 2008 Christianity.ca.
Labels: Balkans, Gypsy, Gypsy Culture, Roma, Yugoslavia
posted by Allie @ 8:31 PM
1 Comments:
At July 12, 2008 9:27 AM ,
eu4hell said...
The inaccuracies and the often childish references to "God's hand" in the scope of things make this article nearly anti-Roma. The tone and repetitious use of "gypsies" throughout the text give it a most unwelcome spin.
To refute the major errors:
The UN-mandated bombings of Serb territories by NATO forces were concentrated on military and industrial installations, never on city centres (one exception was Belgrade, with very low civilian casualties). Therefore, the town which the author described was not spared by some miracle, but a consequence of the surgical attacks against the brutal regime of the Serb leaders at the time.
Roma dwellings have been catastrophically impacted by decades of brutal communist rule and vendettas from Serbs and Kosovars. Many of the Roma areas today have to be protected by multi-national forces against Serb attacks and daily intimitations.
Sadly, the message of the author has to be dismissed and disregarded for large parts.
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