Scott Jackson

Hi everyone, I hope our latest newsletter finds you well.  Spring is finally here, and I confess it's my favourite season of the year.  It's not too hot, but it is warming up, and new life is everywhere.

This morning as I was spending time with the Lord, I was reading Mark 4:26-29, I sensed the Lord speaking to me about our unknown influence:

"26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”"

We all have people around us in different settings, and as we grow in Christ, our characters change and develop to become more like Him.  Our words change, our actions change.  And we might not necessarily recognise the impact that is having on those around us.  That just like the farmer here, he doesn't know how the seed grows.  But it does.  Just like those around us, who might not necessarily say anything to us, but may act more like sponges, soaking in our words and the changes they see taking place in us.  So be encouraged and reminded today that whether you notice it or not, you have influence.

ICEJ - Macedonia Holocaust Remembrance Day

Whilst International Holocaust Remembrance Day is on the 27th January, here in Macedonia it is on the 11th March. This is because it is the specific anniversary when the Jews of Macedonia were rounded up and held in a temporary transit camp in the Tabacco factory in Skopje before being sent on trains to the Treblinka concentration camp in Poland.

This year, ICEJ Macedonia combined its participation in the official state commemoration with a longer ICEJ gathering over a three day period, where we looked, discussed and prayed into topics such as reconciliation and the increasing antisemitism.

It was a battle to organise this gathering, with multiple speakers and groups cancelling for various reasons.  But we sensed the Lord saying to keep going.  And in the end, even though the gathering was small, up to 20 people, we had people representing multiple nations present, which was so wonderful.  Macedonia, Albania, Turkiye, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Bosnia, Serbia, Mexico, Brazil, the US, and the UK.  There were brothers and sisters who had either come to Macedonia specifically for the event, or who already live here in the country.

The gathering culminated in an event held in one of the national museums, where we had music, traditional folk dancing, an address from a member of the Jewish community on the work of ICEJ in Israel, a video message from the Ambassador of Israel to Macedonia, and a presentation given sharing the story of Rachel Kornberg, a local Macedonian Jew who escaped from being rounded up and managed to survive the war, whilst all her family was killed.  Rachel died earlier this year at her home in the United States.

Young Life....

The ministry at Young Life here in Macedonia has continued to gather momentum, with all three teams, the younger (WyldLife), the older (YoungLife) and the ministry for kids with special needs (Capernaum) regularly meeting and strengthening.  In addition to the clubs and Bible studies, we have created an extra opportunity once a month for kids of all ages who are able and would like to attend.  During this gathering, we show a movie presentation of different theatre productions of Bible stories.  They are excellent, and the kids who have been able to make it, are eager to watch more.  This was wonderful to help visualise what we read about in the Scriptures.  Our first showing was the story of Daniel, with the one next month on the story of Esther.

At the end of April, we also have our Discipleship Retreat, where all of the kids who attend the Bible studies are able to come on camp over a weekend to learn more, to join in worship and prayer, and enjoy their time together.  Please pray for this.

Below are a couple of photos from our latest club 'Food and Fun', where the kids competed against each other in different food related games.  During this club, I shared about sin, saying that we needed to hear about the bad news this time, but inviting them to come back next time to hear about the good news.

24 Hours of Prayer....

During March, the Skopje House of Prayer hosted a 24 hours of prayer, with different churches and ministries able to take part, taking one or two hour slots.  This was a wonderful time of people from all different congregations getting involved in worship and prayer, and at the end passing the batton on to the next team at the end of each session.

During our slot, there was a common theme of building the house upon the rock, and it was fantastic how we had several kids who came to join in with the prayer time as well.

Visits....

It has been wonderful over the last couple of months to firstly welcome Marty Davison, Elim's International Missions Director.  Marty inspired us greatly, jumping in with some of the work that we do, including taking part in a local litter pick, and speaking to the kids at the family Bible study about his time as a missionary in Brazil.

At the end of March, we welcomed a team from Trinity Church, Brentwood.  Again they dived in, joining some of the work that we are involved in, from Bible Studies, to prayer times and evangelism. 

We are expecting another couple of teams to visit from the UK over the next couple of months as well.

Thanksgiving

• For the successful gathering in remembrance of the Holocaust here in Macedonia during World War 2 and looking at the work of ICEJ.
• For the increasing momentum in Young Life, in all three branches, with new team members that have joined.
• For the first 24 hour prayer time of the year with multiple churches and teams taking part.
• For the visits we have received from our IMD, Marty Davison, and the Trinity Church Brenchwood team.

Prayer Requests

• For more openness within the local community to the Gospel.
• For the team visits coming up in April and May.  For God's grace upon everything involved, and that more people are able to hear the Gospel through them.
• For the Bible studies, with one of them potentially moving closer towards multiplying into two later this year due to growth.
• For Young Life as we have our Discipleship Retreat at the end of April for all of the kids who want to go deeper in their walk with Jesus.  We currently have around 50 signed up.
• For my visa process.  I am now in the process of applying for a new visa to remain here in Macedonia.

Thank you for reading my latest newsletter.  May the goodness and hands of the LORD be at work in all that you do in Him.

Much love and every blessing in Christ,
Scott and Hristina

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