BALKANS — Every resident of the village lined up in front of Crossworld worker Joel, stretched out in a long train that snaked through many yards. Everyone wanted a chance to welcome Joel and the other visitors. A tin-roofed garage filled with plastic chairs and tables, all set for a panel discussion, waited at the finish line. Today’s topic? Jesus. 

A few days before, prominent leaders of this small village, known for its patriotism and tradition, came to Joel’s church a few towns over and asked for help. “All the other religions we’ve tried have let us down, so we want to be a Protestant church!”

Nothing is this easy, thought Joel. It’s harder to operate my microwave than it seems to be to make these people disciples! Could this be a trap?

Joel and his church prayed and made the decision to go anyway, and so there they were.

Each of the visitors from Joel’s church shared what God had done in their lives, and Joel’s pastor spoke the gospel clearly. No one expected what happened next: Twenty-seven people stood up and prayed to Jesus for salvation! All at once, in a region where there were no Christians or churches, Christ built His church.

That group of new disciples has now grown to 60 and they openly declare their scandalous decision to follow Jesus to anyone who will listen. As Joel’s church disciples these newest members of the body of Christ, they’re being challenged by the new disciples’ boldness and courage.

Italicized names were changed to protect identities.