For those of us of a “certain age” Eastern Europe brings to mind communism and oppression. Following World War II the former Soviet Union cast a long and dark shadow over that region of the world. Yugoslavia was no different.

Then following the demise of the USSR, the ugly head of nationalism arose. Yugoslavia broke into pieces with politics based more on race than principle. The worse case of this was in Serbia, where calls for the return to a never existent nation-state led to acts of ethnic cleansing. Indeed this part of the world has seen darkness.

I’m thrilled to announce that the Serbia I visited last week was a place where the light was shining. It was shining in the smiles of our sisters and brothers there. It was shining in their witness and hospitality – in their ministry and evident commitment to the gospel. Two examples: when the attempted ethic cleansing started in Kosovo, the church in Vrsac (where I visited, and preached last week) delivered meals to refugees for months and months until the U.N. and Red Cross took over. While I was there the local city government recognized the church for their commitment helping with special needs children.

It was a real blessing for me to see the homeland of the many Bosnian/Serbian immigrants to St. Louis. It was fascinating to learn more about the culture and to get a sense of where our new neighbors have come from.

We have been invited to visit our brothers and sisters in Serbia. We will be planning a trip in September. Many details will follow, but I hope you’ll begin praying for this opportunity. Possibly you should go, or possibly help someone else make the trip. I can’t promise that our visit will help them, but I can assure you that it will bring light to those of us who go.