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Novimost International is one of the mission organiastions that St Thomas' supports.
Novimost is a Christian charitable organisation which works with young people in Bosnia Herzegovina to:
- help them overcome the effects of their trauma
- equip them to enter their futures with hope and confidence
- empower them to become instruments of transformation in their communities
These are updates on the work of Novimost International and St Thomas' involvement. Taken from the Church Magazine.
1994 Quest Club Raises Money for Bosnia
1996 Quest Club Open Afternoon for Bosnia
1996 Quest Club Helps Novimost
1996 News from Bosnia
1996 What is Novimost International?
1997 Progress in 1996
1997 Novimost International -Sign of Hope
1998 Quest Club Needs Your Help to Help the Children in Bosnia
1998 A Big Thank You from Novimost International
1998 Novi Most International -update by the Director, Paul Brooks
2001 Why Pray Day and Night for Bosnia?
2001 Klub Novi Most
2003 Turning Bosnia into a
Good News Story
2003 Bridge of Hope
2005 Novimost Advances!
2007 Novimost Continues to Advance!
2007 Novimost Mission Sunday
2009 Novimost Mission Sunday
Quest Club Raises money for Bosnia (June 1994 edition of magazine)
Our Quest open afternoon was held at the end of March. In addition to meeting the parents and friends of the Quest children, the afternoon had a very special focus. The children were raising money for a young Croatian couple, Nikola and Sandra who are the only Christian youth workers in Bosnia. We had an excellent response to our request for books, toys and games for our bring and buy, and also a delicious array of cakes. The children had already been filling Smartie tubes with money. The total amount raised for Nikola and Sandra was £210. Well done and many thanks to everyone for their generosity.
During the Easter holiday a group from St Thomas' went to Spring Harvest at Pwllheli. Two very special visitors one day were a Croatian pastor and his wife; who are encouraging Nikola and Sandra in their work in Mostar. Three of our Quest Club members, Gemma and Ian Hoare and Simon Calow were able to present the cheque for £210 to the Croatian pastor. The money has gone to the Novimost project which has been set up to help Sandra and Nikola as they share the love and the good news of Jesus with the war stricken inhabitants of Mostar. It is amazing to hear how the Lord has already united in Christ Serbs, Croatians and Moslems.
Barbara Goodacre
Quest Club Open Afternoon for Bosnia (April 1996 edition of magazine)
Many of you will have seen the colourful wall display "Jesus is for Everyone" which was put together by guest Club children and leaders in St Thomas' Meeting Room. It is just one example of the kind of activities the children get up to each Thursday afternoon. If you would like to see more, why not join us at our Open Afternoon on Thursday 16 May? It's a little later in the year than usual, but don't let that put you off!
At the Open Afternoon this year, as a follow-on to the project supported two years ago, Quest Club will again be raising awareness and funds for Novimost, the young people's Christian organisation started in Mostar, Bosnia during the darkest days of the war there.
A lot of effort is always put into the Open Afternoon, and parents, friends and other visitors are invited to come along at 3.45pm prompt and enjoy a happy hour or so in the company of guest Club. So please remember the date -Thursday 16 May.
Barbera Goodacre
Quest Club Helps Bosnia (August 1996 edition of magazine)
A very big thank you to everyone who has supported Quest Club's project to help the work of Novimost International. Extracts from a letter from Paul Brooks the director of Novimost read as follows:
"Thank you very much indeed for sending the kind donation of £250 from the children of St Thomas' Quest Club. Your support is greatly valued particularly at this time of transition from war to peace in Bosnia. We are finding that there are increasing demands upon our resources and greater opportunities for taking Good News to the Bosnian people now, but also a drop in our income, due to the disappearance of Bosnia from the headlines in the newspapers and broadcast media.
An exciting building project in East Mostar is currently under construction. I believe this venture will, in time affect the whole of Bosnia, by supplying a new brand of trained and highly motivated Christian workers for mission and compassion ministry throughout the country.
Please convey our appreciation to all the children and adults involved in making the gift."
News from Bosnia (October 1996 edition of magazine)
Building work is progressing well at the Evangelical Centre in predominantly Muslim East Mostar. Please pray that further funds and labour will be available to complete this centre which will serve the local community as well as providing Bosnia’s first ever training for Christian workers.
Elections Thank God that after all the fighting the ballot box is being given a chance. Please pray for a willingness by all the parties to accept the results of the elections.
Bereaved people Please continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones; that they will be able to let go of tire bitterness that demands revenge and be supported in their bid to rebuild their lives. Pray for the Baptist anti Pentecostal churches in Sarajevo as they seek to support the suffering people.
Workers for the Harvest Thank God for those who are working for God's Kingdom in Bosnia. Pray for local and overseas workers in Mostar and Bihac; and for wisdom and clarity for those offering themselves for service in Bosnia. Please ask God for workers for Jajce arid Drvar.
Peace Centre in Croatia Thank God for this unique ministry for traumatrised children from Croatia arid Bosnia. Thank God for funds for two more groups of Mostar children to attend.
Nikola and Sandra Skrinjaric the Novi Most Bosnia Field Directors are visiting Britain in November. Pray that they will have a well earned holiday, and that many more Christians in Britain will support their work, practically. financially and prayerfully.
Barbara Goodacre
What is Novimost International? (December 1996 edition of magazine)
Novimost International is a Christian charity, which was established at the height of the war in Bosnia when a newly married Christian couple, Nikola and Sandra Skrinjaric, moved into Mostar. Since 1993 their work of bringing hope,love, reconciliation, healing and church planting has developed in a miraculous way.
Novimost is now involved in supporting and resourcing the work of Nikola and Sandra not only in Mostar but in many other Bosnian cities and towns.
As well as sending humanitarian aid Novimost:
- is fully behind Nikola and Sandra's church-planting ministry.
- is involved in the construction of Bosnia's only Christian training centre.
- has a developing role with the long-term treatment of traumatised children in Bosnia
- is involved in evangelism and Christian sports ministry
- is seeking to mobilise prayer in Britain and around the world for God's Kingdom to reign in Bosnia.
As we busily prepare for Christmas, please can we spare time to pray for these specific prayer needs.
1. Traumatised children:
Pray for people and funding for long-term work with damaged children throughout Bosnia.
2. Bosnia's first ever Christian training centre:
This was due to open in Mostar in mid-November. Pray for the students (potential leaders nominated by churches in Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla) who are undertaking practical studies in Christian Leadership and Evangelism.
3. Christians in Britain and around the world who will seriously commit themselves to prayerful and financial support for God's work in Bosnia.
Please see the St. Thomas' mission notice board for the most recent prayer briefings -it changes most weeks.
For any further information please contact Barbara Goodacre.
Progress in 1996 (February 1997 edition of magazine)
Please continue to pray for and support the work of Novimost International in Bosnia
GIVE THANKS FOR PROGRESS IN 1996
1996 saw many changes in Bosnia. It was a year when many positive steps were taker; to rebuild a country, shattered by years of bitter conflict. It was a year when the rebuilding process was started in the lives of many young people, the innocent victims of that conflict.
PRAISE GOD FOR
- answering prayers for an end to the military conflict
- continued pressure from the international community which has led to some improvements in human rights.
- the opening of Bosnia's first ever Evangelical Bible School in November
- new mission opportunities opening up in several towns and districts
- all the humanitarian aid which has flowed through the Bosnian churches into the local communities.
- all the people who have participated in the work of the Kingdom of God in Bosnia by working there, driving trucks, taking part in building projects, sorting and preparing did, praying and paying for the work.
PRAY FOR INCREASED RESOURCES FOR 1997
The Bosnian Christians have seen an incredible return on the resources God has entrusted to them.
PRAY FOR
- many more Christian workers in Bosnia, especially for thirteen currently in training with Novimost. the necessary finances to deploy the new workers.
- increasing spiritual maturity and leadership skills in the students attending the Mostar Bible School.
- a Director for the Novimost Sports Centre due to open early in 1997 in Mostar. continued provision of high quality aid whilst it is needed.
- Novimost workers in Britain and Bosnia, many of whom have recently been tied up with issues which have deflected them from the core ministry to which they are called.
The Novimost director writes, "We feel (that each member of the (earn is currently being "marked" by the enemy to minimise their effectiveness. Please pray that the work can be done effectively".
Barbara Goodacre
Sign of Hope (December 1997 edition of magazine)
What is Sign of Hope?
It is an opportunity for us to send a message of hope and peace to the suffering people of Bosnia, this Christmas. Two years ago the Dayton Peace Accords were signed, bringing an end to Europe's bloodiest war for fifty years BUT as politicians and diplomats issue statements of regret REAL PEACE STILL ELUDES THE ORDINARY PEOPLE IN BOSNIA.
What will it involve?
We hope to set aside a few minutes in our services at St. Thomas' at the beginning of December to pray. We hope to have up-to-date information on which to focus our prayers.
Participation
We hope to participate in SIGN OF HOPE. Every member of our congregations Drill be invited to sign a special Christmas card with a very important message to the Bosnian people.
How can you know more?
Please read the up-to-date News Briefings which are on the World Mission Notice Board.
Barbara Goodacre
Quest Club Needs Your Help to Help the Children in Bosnia (April 1998 edition of magazine)
This year Quest Club children are again supporting the work of Novimost International by helping to raise money to send over 2,000 Bosnian young people on a Christian holiday at the seaside this summer.
Sponsoring a Bosnian child for one week at Camp Rio could change his life forever!
For three-and-a-half years the children of Bosnia endured the terror of war, sleeping in cellars, not knowing if the dawn would come. Two years on from the end of the conflict those same young people are starting to look forward with hope to a better future. Many bear the physical scars of war and all carry emotional wounds capable of disabling their development. It is vital that they have the opportunity to feel the healing touch of Jesus and allow him to shape their lives.
CAMP RIO builds upon five years of successful camp ministry with Bosnian young people. In the summer of 1993, Novimost leaders Nikola and Sandra Skrinjaric took seventy youngsters from Mostar, amidst some of the fiercest fighting of the entire Balkan conflict, to the Adriatic coast.
Many of them are now serving at the forefront of the advance of evangelical Christianity in the region and others are fully involved in effective community development and reconciliation initiatives. Their personal encounter with Jesus Christ sparked within them a deep commitment to the Good News and desire to see it applied across their troubled land.
Others have followed their lead at Christian summer camps held in each of the following years. Now, with the acquisition of a superb new beach side facility, over 2000 young people are expected to attend in the summer of 1998, over eighty percent of whom will not be committed Christians when they arrive. That makes it one of the largest evangelical initiatives in the region this century.
More than laughter
Camp Rio is not just about having fun although there'll be bucket loads of it. It's about enabling children and young people to face up to the real issues which confront them now and in the future. They will be making friends across the ethnic and religious lines which have torn their country apart; access the long-term support services which are operated by evangelicals in their home towns; start on the road to healing from the trauma buried deep within them; and begin to see Jesus Christ as God's love-gift to them, rather than the cause of hostility and bloodshed in their community.
Sponsor a Child
You now have the opportunity to sponsor a child from Bosnia to attend one of ten week-long holiday events at Camp Rio in 1998. Your £30 donation will pay the food and accommodation costs for one child whose family is unable to pay. You will receive a postcard from the child(ren) you sponsor, direct from Camp Rio, and a full report on the camp project after it has finished.
Thank you
Barbara Goodacre
A Big Thank You from Novimost International (June 1998 edition of magazine)
Following Quest Club's appeal for people to sponsor Bosnian children for a week's Christian holiday this summer, I am delighted to report that a total of £1,710 has been sent to Novimost, which means we have been able to sponsor 57 children. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed. I have received the following expression of gratitude from Novimost.
"Thank you so much for the gifts from members of St. Thomas Church Brampton, which were a great delight to receive. It is very encouraging to have your support and partnership in this project. Your help is vital to the success of this project, and without the generosity of people like you, few children would be able to attend the Camp this year. On behalf of the children you have sponsored, please accept our heartfelt thanks. You will receive a Project Report some time in the Autumn, following Camp Rio. In the meantime, we hope you will join us in praying that the children who attend will have their lives changed for good!"
We have been asked to pray for:
- Mike Robinson, the Camp Rio director, as he is currently finalising details of what the 2,000 young campers will be offered over the coming summer.
- Over 35 people have currently been accepted for a place on the teams going from Britain to assist the ministry. Please pray for all team members as they prepare over the coming weeks.
- The sponsor-a-child appeal is going well. Praise God for his provision and the generosity of his people.
- Please continue to pray for the provision of for 180 people! We need to find them urgently! Let us know if you know where they are!
- Over 80% of the children will be non Christians when they arrive at camp, making this probably the largest evangelistic event amongst Bosnian people this century. Please pray that many of these children will find Christ at camp, and will return home as changed people, having been introduced to the healing, hope and reconciliation that Christ can bring.
Thank you for your support. It is still not too late to sponsor a child. £30 covers food and accommodation for one child for one week.
Barbara Goodacre
Update by the Director, Paul Brooks (October 1998 edition of magazine)
Just yesterday I returned to Britain from Camp Rio, the place where hundreds of young people from across Bosnia have been attending our 1998 summer camps. There is no doubting the fact that God has been using these camps to change the Bosnian church forever!
Before the camps it was estimated that there were around 550 known born-again Christians in the country. Well over 200 people, Muslims, Croats and Serbs, have received Christ at Camp Rio since the beginning of July - an increase of over thirty-five percent in the number of Bosnian believers in just eleven weeks!
A few days ago, Siad, a young Muslim boy who has been attending the Novi Most Sports Centre in Mostar for over a year asked Jesus for forgiveness and new life. His entire family were then converted following his lead!
The following day, tears of joy ran freely down my cheeks as I witnessed scores of young people publicly signifying their desire to follow Christ by signing their names across a painting of his outstretched hand. The included people from Tulza, Sarajevo, Bihac, Mostar and Jaice. Such a scene could hardly have been imagined a year or two ago.
Camp Rio has been the biggest project we have taken on in our five year history. God blessed the ministry amazingly. Hundreds of volunteer workers from more than ten countries have helped to run the camps and every bill has been paid.
Fund-raising professionals will say that it is always disastrous to appeal for "general " funds, but that's exactly what I am doing. Would you please consider helping us by making a donation now? You can be assured that your gift will not disappear into a bottomless pit or be gobbled up in huge administration costs - those are kept to an absolute minimum. Your donation will be used to ensure the vital work of bringing Good News to Bosnia continues and that more lives are transformed by its power.
Bosnia is a changing place! The advances of the Kingdom of God in all parts of the community, and especially amongst the Muslims, has been incredible. Please ask the Lord if he wants you to make a further gift at this time to support the transformation taking place in the country.
Changing Bosnia FOR GOOD
Every day, right through the year, NOVI MOST International is engaged in vital ministry to enable young people in Bosnia who have been deeply affected by conflict to experience the love of Jesus.
Here are a few of our ongoing activities:
RELIEF - Trucks of aid leave our warehouse every few weeks with emergency aid. Assistance is given to enable refugees to return home. We provide funding for vital medical services.
YOUTH WORK -Our staff provide a full range of youth services in refugee centres such as Mostar's "Container Village" as well as engaging in sports development and arts ministry.
TRAUMA SUPPORT - Professional trauma counselling is provided as well as training for Christian nationals engaged in counselling.
CAMP MINISTRY - Camps benefit hundreds of Bosnian young people each summer but the planning preparation and follow-up continue throughout the year.
CHURCH PLANTING - NOVI MOST's Bosnia Director, Nikola Skrinjaric, is Bosnia's leading pioneer and church planter. New initiatives are underway in more cities. He is 100% funded by NMI in Britain.
INTERCESSION - We publish and distribute the fortnightly Bosnia Prayer Briefing, organise special prayer initiatives and are developing the world's first permanent centre dedicated to prayer for revival in Bosnia.
HARVESTERS - The NMI team is the largest and fastest growing missionary force in recent Bosnian history.
Paul Brooks, Novimost Director
Why Pray Day and Night for Bosnia (February 2001 edition of magazine)
BOSNIA - A LAND OF DARKNESS
Bosnia is Europe's least evangelised country. A heart-shaped country in the heart of Europe, it is about the same size as Wales, but it has never experienced spiritual revival. It is a country where Islam, Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Catholicism merge. In a whirlpool of historic, political and religious agenda, all opposed to each other, prejudice, fear and mistrust make Bosnia a spiritual land of darkness and a fertile seedbed for conflict. Fifty generations have experienced bloodshed and vile atrocity. The First World War germinated on Bosnian soil. Each conflict carries within it the seeds for the next one, as the cycle of nationalism and injustice continues, year in, year out.
In the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, over 250,000 people were killed, an estimated 40,000 women were raped, and 9 in 10 children experienced shooting - half of them witnessing first hand someone being killed or injured. Trauma and fear were experienced by people from all ethnic groups as atrocities were committed against each other, often in the name of Christ - a heinous blasphemy.
THE CROSS - FRIEND OR FOE?
The problems we see at a human level in Bosnia Herzegovina are the consequences of allowing the "powers of darkness" free reign there for centuries. To Bosnian Muslims the sign of the cross is the sign of rape, arson and murder. To Bosnian Croats and Serbs the sign of the cross is claimed as part of their national identity. But the real Jesus remains veiled.
PRAYER - THE MOST POWERFUL RESOURCE
Prayer is the only effective weapon we have to re-claim God's rule, advance the Kingdom of God and see healing, justice and righteousness established. Prayer is the most powerful resource God has given to his people. Through prayer, every barrier to the Gospel of the Kingdom can be crossed; every "impossible" situation can become another proof of the miracle working power of our God; and every other resource in the universe can become available to the Church in her fulfilment of the Great Commission.
NIGHT AND DAY
The most ambitious prayer campaign ever launched on behalf of the people of Bosnia is your opportunity to play a part in God's eternal purposes. The time has come to reverse the influences of evil and see the light of Jesus Christ shine throughout. the land; to restore the honour of Jesus' name; and to see young people - future leaders -reconciled to God and to one another.
A CHALLENGE TO PRAY FOR BOSNIA
When Paul Brooks visited us last November [2000], he specifically asked us to consider being part of NIGHT AND DAY prayer for Bosnia. St. Thomas' is now registered and our day to pray for Bosnia is March 16th. Novimost will provide all the information and aids to prepare us to pray. We now need 48 volunteers to pray for half an hour each between 12.00a.m. on Friday 16th March and 12.00a.m. on Saturday 17th March 2001. Please take further information from, and sign up on, St. Thomas' World Mission notice board.
Thank you very much.
Barbara Goodacre
Klub Novi Most (October 2001 edition of magazine)
Barbara Goodacre is the link from St Thomas' with Novimost International, and has provided Ploughshare readers with this update on activities which took place over the summer:
Klub Novi Most finished its summer season on August Bank holiday weekend, and the last team of short term volunteers, together with the three summer long workers, returned home to cooler climes. Beginning on 18th September, the Klub will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays for sports, and Tues - Fri weekday evenings throughout the Autumn. Over 200 children and young people signed up for Klub Novi Most over the summer.
GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD - 10 items from the KLUB NOVI MOST PRAYER UPDATE
- That he has provided for all our needs and in time
- For the continuing attendance of the children and young people throughout the summer
- That there were no incidents of nastiness, despite there being young people from very different social and ethnic backgrounds the KIub - the kids mixed really well
- For old friendships which have been re-kindled and continued through the KIub
- That there were no major problems or difficulties with any volunteers on any team throughout the summer
- For his protection - there was not one significant injury throughout the summer at Klub Novi Most our drivers had not one accident, despite travelling many miles to and from the airport and on excursions
- For the neighbours, as there has been no issue with noise or activities at the Klub, and only encouragement for it.
- For the positive impact which clearing the sports ground has made in the community
- For the young women who walked over an hour to get to KIub
- For the young couple that came to Klub Novi Most because they saw it on Bosnian TV
As you can see, your prayers have been answered! Praise God for his faithfulness! If you would like to receive further information on the work of Novi Most International, please visit our website at www.novimost.org.
Barbara Goodacre
Turning Bosnia into a
Good News Story (February 2003 edition of magazine)
Ten years ago the most savage
war in Europe in the second
half of the twentieth century was tightening its awful grip on
Bosnia-Herzegovina. You will remember the harrowing scenes
of ethnic cleansing that flashed across our television scenes.
Between 1992 and 1995 a quarter of a million people were
killed – 17,000 of whom were children; half the population became
homeless and this small country (about the size of Wales)
became the most densely-mined nation on earth.
Against a
backdrop of millions of praying people, a peace agreement was
signed on 14th. December 1995, ending the bloodshed, but
leaving the country in ruins and the children deeply traumatised.
In December 2000, members of St. Thomas’, along with
members of churches across Britain, supported Novi Most International,
by signing and sending Stars of Hope to the people
of Bosnia. As a direct result of Star of Hope, doors
previously closed to Christian ministry to young people were
flung wide open and hundreds of lives are being affected today.
Klub Novi Most was opened in 2001 and is now a place
of love, trust and joy for young people in Mostar.
Please pray:
- for the 11-14
year olds, that
they would continue
to grow in
confidence, be
healed from the
past and look to
their futures with
hope.
- for the 15-18
year olds, that
they would be
instruments of
transformation in their community. (Romans 12:2)
- for the over 18s, that they would grow in responsibility and
maturity and be good, effective role models for the younger
members. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
Thank you to everybody who gave foreign currency,
signed Notes of Hope and gave financial support to reassure
the people of Bosnia that, amidst their everyday struggle to
survive, they are not forgotten today.
Bosnia 2003
The Bosnian economy has collapsed and unemployment
remains staggeringly high. Young people have little prospect
of finding work in the future. Lord Paddy Ashdown, the International
community’s High Representative for Bosnia,
said recently, “Bosnia’s greatest export is its young and talented
people – its future. 6 in every 10 teenagers plan to
emigrate as soon as possible. In the meantime, Bosnia, a
country rapidly being forgotten by the world at large, is becoming
a breeding ground for criminals. Over 70% of the
hard drugs and 60% of the sex slave girls found on the
streets of Britain and other European countries are trafficked
through this tiny Balkan state.”
We neglect Bosnia-Herzegovina at our own peril. However
the exciting fact is that it is a small nation where communities
can be, and are being changed by the practical
application of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Her Excellency Elvira Begovic, the Bosnian Ambassador
to the United Kingdom, recently thanked Novi Most International
for the transforming hope that it is introducing to
cities like Mostar, Banja Luka and Zenica. “My country remains
in deep depression,” she told Novi Most Director,
Paul Brooks last November, “We need your organisation and
the churches of Britain to show us hope for our nation.”
Please pray:
- for God’s mighty blessing on the people of Bosnia Herzogovina.
that He would enlarge the place of Novi Most’s tent and
grant them success in mission! (Isaiah 54:2-3)
- The year 2002 was a year of great change for Novi Most.
They are now preparing to advance in 2003. Gill Rowell,
NMI’s Project Director writes, ”Our work at Klub Novi Most
is enabling deep relationships to flourish, and our field
team have been greatly encouraged by the change they
have seen in the young people they are working with.
That’s what it is all about: one to one, hand in hand, lives
coming under the sphere of God’s grace and love as Jesus
is proclaimed through word and deed. 2003 sees huge
challenges for us within Novi Most.”
Here at St. Thomas’ we have a very important role to
play to support Novi Most.
Please pray regularly for Bosnia and the work of Novi
Most. (There are three-monthly Prayer Guides available by
the Mission Board. Please take one.) Have you considered helping on the summer mission
programme?
A Prayer for the people of Bosnia.
God Our Father, we thank you for the glory of your Gospel,
that through it, all people can come to a knowledge of yourself,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. We pray that, through
the power of your Son, hope, healing and reconciliation will
flow into every corner of Bosnia Herzegovina. We pray that
Bosnia, now a place of suffering, pain, anguish and deprivation
may one day become a place known amongst the nations
as a place of your favour and grace. In Jesus’ Name we pray.
Amen.
Barbara Goodacre
Bridge of Hope (October 2003 edition of the magazine)
Sunday 14th December 2003 marks the 8th anniversary of the
official end of the Bosnian war and NOVI MOST is inviting
hundreds of churches to join them in sending a massive message
of hope and goodwill to the Bosnian people with a project
entitled “Bridge of Hope”.
As one of NOVI MOST’s supporting churches we have been
invited to use our imagination and artistic talent to create special
greetings cards depicting bridges in our community – either
physical structures or bridges between sections of our
community. All members of the congregation will be encouraged
to sign one of these cards and to pray for the ongoing
work of reconciliation at the beginning of December. The completed
cards will be placed in an exhibition, which will go on
display in London, before being transferred to the Bosnian city
of Mostar, as part of the celebration for the opening of the rebuilt
Stari Most (Old Bridge) that was destroyed in 1993.
Could you design a card?
Your card will be received as an encouragement to those in
Mostar, who are facing the task of rebuilding relationships
between the people of East Mostar and West Mostar. If you
have never tried anything like this before, why not have a go?
There’s always a first time!
Remember -- your card will be a link in helping the
people of Mostar to overcome the effects of war and
to equip them to face their futures with hope.
Barbara Goodacre
Novi Most Advances! (February 2005 edition of the magazine)
The story so far
Novi Most International began in 1993 when Christians in
the UK raised money to help a young Christian couple
take aid to people in the city of Mostar who were suffering
atrocities because of the war in Bosnia.
The work has adapted to meet a changing situation – from
the initial emphases on aid and church planting, through
large summer camps for young people, to Klub Novi Most,
a drop in and training centre for young people in Mostar.
The organisation today
Novi Most supports a team of Christian volunteer workers
in Mostar who lead Klub Novi Most and organise courses
and activities for young people, most of whom have no
connection with the Church. Novi Most workers also participate
in the work of local churches and lead small
groups for young Christians. Each summer there is a tenweek
special programme when 50+ short-term volunteers
join the permanent team to lead camps, sports events,
concerts, outdoor pursuits and many other activities.
The next ten years
The immediate crisis of civil war, which brought Novi Most
International into being, has passed, but the nation has
great needs and there is vital work for the Christian
Church to do. Within a population of around 4 million
people it is estimated there are just over 1,000 Protestant
believers.
In Autumn 2004 Novi Most International launched
“Advance!” their new 10 year strategy to encourage and
train young Bosnian Christians to continue the work al14
ready started and to work with them to establish an organisation
based in Bosnia, led and owned by Bosnian
believers.
To get “Advance!” underway, Naomi Lawrence, who has
been working with Novi Most since 1997 and knows Bosnia
and its people well, has been appointed as NMI Field
Director. Naomi will be establishing an NMI office in Mostar
and actively promoting the work of Novi Most International
with Bosnian church leaders, mission agencies,
secular agencies and other key officials.
By 2014
Novi Most’s vision and purpose is to have established a
team of Bosnian Christian youth workers committed to
working with young people from all backgrounds in Bosnia,
imparting Christian faith and values and bringing
healing and hope. They aim to do this through promoting
values-based leadership and skills development, through
a programme of activities implemented across Bosnia.
The role of St Thomas'
When Gill Rowell, the director of Novi Most spoke at St.
Thomas’ last December, she shared her deep appreciation
for all the faithful support and encouragement that
we have given, both prayerfully and financially, to the
work in Bosnia over the last ten years.
In future the hope is that Novi Most will be led by Bosnian
people, with its headquarters in Bosnia. Nevertheless,
Novi Most in the UK will still have an important part
to play because, although Bosnian Christians are very
able to do the work, they will need our continued support
through prayer and giving.
I would, therefore, encourage present friends of Novi
Most in St. Thomas’ to continue their support and invite
new supporters to get involved! Novi Most produce a
quarterly newsheet and prayer diary. Copies are always
available by the World Mission board at the back of St.
Thomas’.
Our annual 24 hour Prayer Day for Novi Most is on the
16th March. Helpful information and prayer needs will be
provided. Please be prepared to sign up and pray wherever
you are for 30 minutes.
Thank you for all your continued support for Novi Most
International.
PLease Pray
“Not everybody can go to Bosnia and not everybody can
give money, but there is something even more important
than Going or Giving – that is Praying.”
Barbara Goodacre
Novi Most Continues to Advance! (February 2007 edition of the magazine)
In the beginning
Novi Most International began in 1993, when the young people at Spring Harvest raised money to help a young Croatian couple take aid to people in the city of Mostar, Bosnia, who were suffering the atrocities of the war. From that small beginning hundreds of volunteers have worked in Bosnia, untold numbers of prayers have been offered and many thousands of pounds have been given to help the people of this war-ravaged country.
Bosnian Young People
Many young people in Bosnia live with terrible memories and still feel the trauma of what they experienced as children. There are many day-to-day problems of growing up in a country where just about everything was destroyed or disrupted. The whole infrastructure was devastated during the war and the recovery is slow. Eight out of ten young people want to leave their country because they cannot see any other solution to the lack of jobs and the grinding poverty around them.
Novi Most is committed to helping and encouraging Bosnian young people to reach their full potential and become nation-changers in their home country.
Klub Novi Most
Klub Novi Most was established in 2001. It is a bridge between local young people from both sides of the city of Mostar and a point of contact between the young people and the church. It is a place where these young people can grow in confidence and self esteem, and Novi Most workers can build relationships of trust. A twelve year old girl who joined Klub this summer writes,
“Klub Novi Most is a great place because young people can be satisfied in all that goes on there. You can play, write, paint, and learn different things like computers and English, and go every Friday to the outdoor pool and on picnics every Saturday. You can make lots of new friends. I have had a really hard childhood but in Novi Most I can relax and I don’t think about it any more. I will keep going to Novi Most until it ends!”
Summers of Hope
Since 1995 over 450 people have gone to Bosnia as summer volunteers – some for two weeks, some for as long as two months – to help with special activities and camps for young people. A summer volunteer writes,
“My lasting memory of Mostar will be the fantastic hospitality everywhere I went and the smiling faces, big and small, that always greeted us. It seems to me that these people who materially have so little, have more capacity for joy and fun than most of us privileged enough to live in Britain.”
Partners with the Bosnian Church
Novi Most works alongside the local churches in East and West Mostar and seeks to support its ministry wherever appropriate. A Novi Most Team member who is also an elder in a local church writes,
“We’re involved in many things in the local church as leaders of the youth and children’s work, in preaching, leading worship and house groups, driving people to services and generally being involved in whatever is going on. The church is very young. It’s exciting to be part of its growth and development. There are often frustrations but it’s vital for there to be a thriving church for us to work alongside.”
Advance Into the Future!
Over the next few years, in accordance with their strategy plans formulated in 2004, Novi Most is hoping to establish a Bosnian-led Christian Youth Organisation to give hope to this and future generations. Challenging and exciting times lie ahead. Already God is answering prayers as three Bosnian Christians, Budo, Adisa and Oliver have joined the team over the last year.
How can we at St Thomas’ support the work of Novi Most?
- Sign up to receive regular weekly Prayer Updates and the quarterly Newsletters and Prayer Diaries.
- Pray for Bosnia and the work of Novi Most. “The war is over but the battle for lasting peace and renewal of a broken nation will be won more in the spiritual realm than the physical.”
- Go as a volunteer this Summer or take a Gap Year to help with youth work in the Refugee Village, at Klub Novi Most, on Youth Camps or with the Street Children in Mostar.
- Give: “Nearly a third of Novi Most’s income comes from committed giving by standing order, thus giving them security in planning and also cutting administration costs.”
Barbara Goodacre
Novi Most Mission Sunday (2006) (February 2007 edition of the magazine)
The 3rd of December was a Mission Sunday at St Thomas’ and we were focusing on Novi Most International. Gill Rowell, who is the Director of Novi Most spent the day with us and spoke at all three of our services. She challenged us to ask ourselves “are we open for mission?”.
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Gill was accompanied by Sarah Watts, a student who had just spent seven months in Bosnia working for Novi Most after leaving school. Sarah told us of her experience of working with and getting alongside the young people of Bosnia.
At lunch time about 80 of the congregation joined together in church for a ‘turkey’ lunch. This was followed by activities linked to Novi Most, including a quiz, map drawing, a giant jigsaw puzzle and building bridges made out of newspaper.
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(Novi Most means ‘New Bridge’. This is named after the new bridge in Mostar that replaced the bridge destroyed during the war. It links East and West Mostar.)
Mark Hoare
Listen to Gill speaking at St Thomas' here:
The Second Coming: the reason for mission Readings: Genesis 12:1-9 Luke 1:67-80 
The Christian Life: an adventure with God Reading: Hebrews 11:8-12
Passionate for the Kingdon (December 2009 edition of the magazine)
Mission Sunday 2009
On Sunday 25 November St Thomas’ had a Mission Sunday for Novi Most
International. Novi Most has been one of our Mission Partners since 1994 and it was good to welcome back Gill Rowell, the Director of Novi Most.
Gill spoke at all three of our services and shared a light lunch with a number of us in church.
She is passionate about two things:
Novi Most and the Kingdom of God
–and in her life and work they are
inextricably linked –she wants to share the Kingdom with the people of Bosnia Herzegovina.
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Gill had a number of Good News stories about how God is working His will out among the young people of Bosnia –the people whom Novi Most is trying to reach primarily. She also updated us on Sarah Watts. Some may remember that she accompanied Gill at our last Novi Most Mission Sunday in 2006.
So what did we learn about the
Kingdom of God from Gill? Well at the 11am service she asked the children what they thought the Kingdom was like. The answers included peaceful,
relaxing, quiet, calmful (sic) and like home. I hope it is like all these! Gill went on to tell us that the Kingdom of Heaven is near, it is where God is and where He reigns and where the least and the greatest of us are.
Gill took Matthew 13:31-53 as the Bible reading to go with her talks. It is about the Kingdom of God being like a mustard seed –growing from something tiny (the seed) to something huge (the full grown mustard plant). When God puts that seed of faith in us and we say “Yes” to Jesus, things happen.
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Gill challenged us, are we saying “Yes” to Jesus? –in obedience, trust,
stepping out with Him to do what he has called us to do. Remember who we are in Christ. We are born of God, we are new creations, co-workers with God, citizens of heaven, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, we are His possessions, we are more than conquerors, we are His ambassadors. We are God’s workmanship; God made each of us just as we are; He made us unique. We are His gift to the world. The word for ‘workmanship’ in the Greek means poem. When God created us He was writing a poem –a love poem. We are here to love, God created us for love with His love.
Novi Most began with one person’s “Yes”. If we say “Yes” to God there is
always fruit. In Bosnia the Christian church is still small –but growing. Novi Most is working to help the poor and under privileged and to bring together those who have traditionally been enemies. Through this work they are ‘growing’ the Kingdom of God.
More About Novi Most
‘Novi Most’ means New Bridge. The name is the antithesis of Stari Most (Old Bridge) which spanned the Neretva River in the middle of Mostar and was destroyed during the war in 1993. When it was destroyed, all hope was lost and the international community began to wake up to the atrocities being committed at the time.
Novi Most International is a relational organisation, and the different projects which have evolved over the years have always come out of the desire to see the Good News of Jesus Christ taking root in individual lives and bringing healing and hope to the nation. Novi Most also believe that every young person in Bosnia Herzegovina should be offered the opportunity to make friends across the ethnic divides and learn skills to help them grow in confidence.
Picture shows Gill Rowell (left) with Irene Jones (St Thomas' Novi Most Representitive).
Read more about St Thomas’ involvement with Novi Most and listen to Gill speaking at our services here
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