Macedonia Update April 2026

Hi everyone, here is our latest update from Macedonia.

Mount Vodno

Towering over the city of Skopje is Mount Vodno - a 3,497ft tall mountain peak where from the top you can see across the entire city. In 2002, the Millenium Cross was built at the top to mark 2000 years of Christianity. It is illuminated and can be seen from most places in the city, meaning that the population is always able to “look to the cross” at any time of day or night.

As you can see from the photographs there is a tower being built next to the cross, this has been under construction for many years but is now taller than the cross. This feels a little like a picture of a country that has had a Christian heritage but is turning to man’s ways and making the ways of man more significant than the ways of God. 

In March we led a section of a city-wide 24-hour prayer meeting, where we brought these photographs and a scripture from Psalm 118:8, ‘It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.’ We prayed that the people of Macedonia would look to Jesus for their security, both on this earth and in eternity, and that the country and its people would not put their trust in man’s ways. During this prayer time, we felt God speaking about the parable of the wise and foolish builders where Jesus says,

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

We prayed for the country, the church and the young people here in Macedonia, that we would all build our homes on the rock, trusting in the Lord rather than man. Having already planned to take time to pray for the youth, we were greatly encouraged that some of the young people from our church made the effort to get out of bed and come to pray with us at 2am!

Visitors

In February, we were delighted to welcome Marty Davison, Elim’s International Missions Director. Marty spent time with us, joined in with our work and also ministered in the churches in Skopje and Stip. It was an incredibly encouraging visit.  A particular highlight for us was when Marty talked to our children’s class about his time as a missionary in Brazil, which certainly inspired some of them as to how God could use them in the future.

In March, we were joined by Pastor Steve Crosse and Elder Mark Screeton from Elim Ryedale. They came to ‘scout out the land’ with a view to bringing a team from the church in May. They were a great blessing and were excited to put together some plans for when their team come to visit Macedonia.

Both photos were taken on the aforementioned Mount Vodno!

Currently we have a short-term mission team with us from Trinity Church, Brentwood. They have been providing input into our Sunday school, community bible studies, evangelism and children’s work. We are thankful for their input and investment.

In Brief:

Evangelism: Spring has sprung! This means that people are around and it has created fresh opportunities to connect with people during our litter picking and street evangelism times.

Bible Studies: These are still going strong and we are encouraged by the arrival of new children in the children’s group and how people are growing in leadership in the adult groups.

Capernaum: Katie is continuing to support the work in the school for visually impaired children. In March she has also begun helping with the work in another special needs school.

Prayer:

Thank you for praying for us, please would you pray about the following:

• Please give thanks for new children at the children’s bible study.
• We are also thankful for all those who have visited us and joined in with the work here over the past few months.
• Please pray for the team from Trinity Church Brentwood as they complete their mission trip and for safe travels home.
• In April we have a short-term mission team from Connect Life Church in Caerphilly, and in May we will host a team from Elim Ryedale. We are thankful to those who have given up time and money to come here and contribute to what God is doing in Macedonia. Please pray that the mission trips will be fruitful and for protection and safe travelling for the participants.
• In May Ian will be in the UK for the Elim Leadership Summit, and Katie will be participating in a women’s event in Romania. Please pray these times would be productive and for safe travels.
• As you can see, April and May will be a busy season for us.  While they are for good reasons, please pray for us as a family during times of disruption and change, especially as we will have less time together than usual. 

Thank you so much for reading our news,

Ian, Katie, Kristen and Josiah.