A Bittersweet Goodbye and The Long Journey Home – Mark & Rick

Our final day in Serbia was both inspiring and bittersweet. We spent it with the Roma church that had hosted us the night before during their evening service and again today in the field near their new church building. This congregation, located in a nearby village, is the second largest Roma church in Serbia, and their ministry is thriving.

They are leading transformative initiatives that are changing lives and reshaping their community. Families are being strengthened, children are being given safe spaces to play and learn, and people are coming to Christ. Their new building stands as a symbol of hope, more than brick and mortar, it’s a place where the light of the gospel shines brightly in an area long marked by hardship and discrimination.

As we stood among them today, it was impossible not to feel both humbled and encouraged. Their passion for the Lord, their creativity in ministry, and their love for one another testify to the power of God at work. This is what transformation looks like, not just in structures or programs, but in hearts and homes.

A week and a half ago, we set off on this journey to meet missionaries at a conference, to explore new expressions of global missions, and to visit our newest missionary serving here in Serbia. Along the way, the people we’ve met and the stories we’ve heard have formed a larger mosaic of God’s bigger plan, one that stretches far beyond our own borders or understanding. We’ve seen firsthand how He is working even in persecuted areas of the world, where faith comes at a cost but the gospel continues to spread.

It has been deeply moving to witness how Sunrise’s missionaries are part of these front-line efforts, faithfully carrying the good news of Christ into communities where hope is scarce and hearts are hungry for truth.

Our journey home began about seven hours ago with our first flight from Belgrade to Frankfurt. The long travel day ahead gives us plenty of time to reflect, on the faces we’ve met, the worship we’ve shared, and the incredible faith we’ve seen. And, truth be told, it will also give us a little time to catch up on some much-needed sleep. We return home full, grateful for what we’ve experienced and eager to share more in person soon.

Reflection

As our time in Serbia draws to a close, we are reminded that God’s mission is never finished, it simply moves from one place to another, carried forward by willing hearts. The same Spirit that stirred believers in Albania and Serbia is the same Spirit moving in our church back home. We’ve seen the unity of Christ’s body across nations, languages, and cultures, and it fills us with hope for what He will continue to do through His people everywhere.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19