Macedonia Update September 2026

Hi everyone, here is our latest update from Macedonia 

New email address.

mr.ianmoore@protonmail.com

Please add this to your contacts list and use for all future communication. Unfortunately we had some ‘technical difficulties’ with the previous email and it is now blocked. If you have sent us anything during September and not received a response, please accept our apologies, and feel free to resend it to the new one.  

Hospitality 

For the duration of our time here in Skopje, a key focus has been to make sure that we open our home to others, for ministry activities and day-to-day life such as shared meals and time with people. We have lived in the same apartment throughout this time but, as we detailed in our last update, as our apartment was being sold. In our final week in our old home, with our apartment almost completely cleared of our belongings, we held our final few Bible studies there. Over this week, we heard wonderful stories from people about how God had used our home to impact their lives and how they had experienced God’s love and Him moving in their lives. As we reflected on this, what really struck us was how much of their stories were about what God had done. It was less about the ‘things’ we did but about how God was working.

Hospitality is about opening up space for God to work. We may need to provide a meal or a bed for the night, but it is always about making space, in our homes and our lives, for Jesus. Mark’s Gospel describes this,

‘…they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons,…’

Mark 1:29-34

Simon and Andrew opened the home, Simon’s mother-in-law served, but it was about what Jesus did. Often we may think we are not able to provide hospitality, but the reality is that isn’t about us, but about creating space for Jesus.

Transitions 

Our new home is a 30 minute drive from where a lot of our work takes place.  In this season of transition, we have enjoyed seeing how others have opened their home in new ways. One particular highlight was when we had our first week of the children’s class, hosted by the family of one of the children. To walk into their home and see the children ready, food prepared and the space prepared for us to use was such a joy! And just like with our home, Jesus did his work! 

Short Term Mission 

In September we welcomed Josh from APA Church, Belfast, who came out to join us for a week. Josh threw himself into the work with enthusiasm and energy, taking initiative and allowing God to work through him. He led our children’s class on the theme of ‘Jesus walks on the water’ and he also supported other youth and children’s ministries in the city. He joined us for our missional activities in the community, giving his all into the street evangelism and litter picking.  It was such a joy to have him with us and we hope one day he will return. 

Capernaum  

The Capernaum Ministry has restarted for the new academic year and Katie has been part of the team leading activities in a school for children with special needs. Overtly declaring the gospel message is not allowed in Macedonian schools, but the team are allowed to share life lessons based upon biblical values. During the September session, the team used games and art activities to communicate how we are all people of value and purpose in life. Katie shared a short message about the value of every child there and how each child has something special and significant to contribute.  

Prayer:

• Please give thanks for all that God has done over the past few months as we have moved home and relocated some of the ministry.  
• Please give thanks that the Capernaum team have been able to begin work in a new school.  
• In October we have a team from Cornerstone Elim Church who will be joining us for mission and also hosting a youth event. Please pray for the team as they prepare to come and also for a fruitful time with us.  

Thank you for your prayers and for reading our update! 

Ian, Katie, Kristen and Josiah.