Sydney Anglicans have the chance today to hear how they sparked a revolution in the former Yugoslavia, as campus ministry in Slovenia rockets forward.
Seven years after the first Sydney Anglican missionary opened his Bible, believers registered the Slovene Christian student group ZVESh, opening the door for greater public exposure on campus.
But now an even bigger milestone has passed with the appointment of a Slovene national as the group’s General Secretary.
Fresh from a decade of pioneering student ministry, that first CMS missionary couple Leon and Lee (surname deleted for security) will tell the story first-hand at CMS City Missionary Connection (CMC) later today.
Nenad Hardi-Vitorovic began Bible study with Leon in 1998, and now as ZVESh's first General Secretary is financially supported through the generosity of IFES and especially its Australian affiliate, AFES.
Howard Spencer, AFES Administrator, says, "We heard Slovenia was trying to support a General Secretary, and have provided in a practical way. The majority of financial support comes from students at our Nationals Training Event, nearly $11,000 was raised!"
Student ministry in Slovenia is proving to be critical to the spread of the Gospel.
Since independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Slovenia moved away from its communist roots.
CMS says the nation’s new-found religious freedom has resulted in Slovenes deserting Roman Catholicism for other religions or simply adopting a materialist life-style.
In partnership with IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students), the mission organisation seized the opportunity to begin work in Slovenia in 1996, with Leon and Lee (surname deleted for security) becoming the first CMS missionaries.
“Our goal was to pioneer university student ministry,” Leon says.
“The strategy is, in fellowship with Slovene Christians, to look for opportunities to train nationals, and pass increasing responsibility on to them.”
Leon and Lee (surname deleted for security) will be speaking at City Missionary Connection from 1.10 - 1.50 pm today at CMS-NSW, Level 5, 51 Druitt Street Sydney.
For more information contact Kristine, 9284 6798 or email CMS.
