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New International exists to proclaim Christ and make disciples globally. Let us join with God as He continues to make all things new; He gives us new vision of new ways to reach new communities with the Good News of Christ, bringing new light to hearts that have previously been lost.
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- 02/01/2014
- new international
Leaders trained in Macedonia
She grew up following the traditions of her family who had been part of the Orthodox church for generations
Suzanna* grew up following the traditions of her family who had been part of the Orthodox church for generations. As an adult, she found herself in a deep depression, feeling she had now purpose in her life and believing no one would care or miss her if she were gone.
One day, she took a bottle of pills to end her life and woke up in the hospital. She heard a nagging voice saying, “You really are not worth anything. You couldn't even kill yourself right." After she got out of the hospital, she decided to try again. She went to a roof top and was about to jump to her death when she heard a loving voice, “Suzanna, don't jump." She didn't. She heard God's voice and understood that God was real. It wasn't long before she started going to church and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Suzanna has been transformed by the Gospel and now lives out her new faith.
In January 2006, Suzanna was selected by her church pastor to be one of the first 25 women trained for leadership by Brenda Aderholdt, NMSI missionary in Macedonia. Leadership training classes require women to commit to study throughout the month, travel across the country to meet together one weekend a month, and to pass on what they were learning to other women.
According to the last census, 0.37% of Macedonia's population reported to be Protestant Christians. This brave, small number of people are viewed as a cult. Few of these men and women have been discipled, and even fewer have been trained for ministry. These realities caused Brenda to focus on ministering to women in Macedonia who are passionate about their faith and want to learn how to pass it on to others.
Suzanna is just one of the servant leaders that God is raising up in Macedonia. Brenda is living out the teaching of Paul to Timothy in Macedonia, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:2) Through discipleship and training, Suzanna is carrying on the ministry to her community and training up another group of committed Godly women, devoted to bringing Macedonia to Jesus Christ.
*name changed for privacy and security
