bless.

Slavonski Brod is a small Croatian city situated on the border with Bosnia. Separated only by the river Sava, the two countries are still healing from the war that ended less than two decades ago.

The River Sava

The evidence of scars left by the war are still visible in the streets of Slavonksi Brod today. Many buildings are still marked by the rounds shot at them, and people’s lives are marked by the loss of loved ones. While restoration is taking place, buildings are being replastered and painted, the restoration of people’s lives takes so much longer. Resentment and distrust lives on, as many expect a new war to break out in just a matter of time.  It’s the legacy handed down to them from many generations.

It is in this setting that the bless network has had the honour of working with the small Baptist church in Slavonski Brod for almost a decade. The church has had two false starts over the years as they have been persecuted out of existence twice. Established by an American couple in 1998, it now has a small but steady congregation. While still perceived as a sect by many in this Catholic country, their numbers are slowly climbing as people commit their lives to Christ. 

Each summer we return with teams of young people on our go2bless programme to support and serve the church by running Kid’s Clubs, helping with basketball camps, opening up a Youth Space and more. In the winter months we take a smaller group to the city for one of our heart2bless missions. Each mission is steeped in prayer and we’ve seen, time and again, that this is what makes a difference to the connections that we make and the conversations that we have. We not only see a change in the place we’ve come to serve, we go home changed people, more often than not bursting with excitement, wanting to share of God’s goodness with those we love at home.