Hope.
We use that word quite casually in our daily conversations.
“Hope you have a good day.”
“I hope the rush hour traffic isn’t bad this morning.”
“Man, I sure hope the Vols don’t lose to Georgia again this year.”
Now that I hope I have your attention, I’ll remind myself and those of you still reading that “hope” appears around 150 times in the Bible. It is a foundational component of how we live our lives as followers of Jesus. We don’t hold our breath, cross our fingers and “hope things work out.” We place our complete faith and trust in Jesus because he is our everlasting hope, no matter the current circumstances of our lives. For those who live in parts of the world where employment, housing, family life, and political freedom are expected, it is easy to forget how powerful “hope” is for many who struggle without those blessings.
Fellowship has been privileged to partner with Pastor Darko and Gorana Mikulic for the last 16 years in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. Darko leads a small, faithful congregation in an area of the world still recovering from the political, spiritual, and financial bondage of communism. After decades of stagnant growth and state-sponsored religion, both young and old in the Balkan regions struggle to have hope. Young people lack future career possibilities. Working-aged people see few employment opportunities. The older generation sees centuries of tradition fading away as many of the younger generations leave their homeland to find work in other countries, never to return. Croatia is one of the few countries in the world with a declining population.
Bringing a message of eternal hope through Jesus has been one of the foundational pieces of Pastor Darko’s work in Slavonski Brod. Another critical piece of the Mikulics’ ministry is bringing help and healing to their community. It is exciting to see these focuses unite in their vision for the “House of Hope.” The House of Hope’s mission is to be a facility that will minister to single-parent households and foster families in Slavonski Brod. The divorce rate in Croatia is very high, and for those who remain married, many are physically separated as one spouse/parent leaves the country to find work in other parts of Europe. This new space aims to be a haven for children and parents in the community needing support navigating such challenging circumstances.
Two floors are currently under construction, to be occupied by 2024. Eventually, the building will have three stories, with the 3rd-floor housing college students who will pay a modest rent to help make this community outreach self-sustainable. The generous people who give through Fellowship’s Global Christmas have funded this project—a dream and desire for the church in Slavonski Brod for many years. We look forward to sharing personal stories of how the Lord will use this building to bring glory and honor to his name and an unperishable hope to the people of Slavonski Brod.
