ZAGREB
CONFIRMATION AND BAPTISM IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF CROATIA – ZAGREB
On Saturday, June 24, 2023, Bishop Jasmin Milić visited REC Zagreb and on that occasion he confirmed the married couple Dragan and Brankica. After that, he baptized their three children! This is a great joy for the Zagreb parish where Rev. Canon Almir Pehlić serves faithfully. After the service, canon Pehlić presented the bishop a gift for his 10-year anniversary of the episcopal ministry. Bishop was presented a Bible in which the congregants wrote words of prayer and good wishes. The pastor of the Methodist Church (Global Methodist Church) Vatroslav Župančić and Baptist pastor Mario Kushner donated a very valuable book, “Martin Luther’s Lectures on Romans”. Book is written in German, and it is 19th century edition. The book will be placed in our Reformation Heritage Museum in Osijek.




See more photos here.
OSIJEK
CONFIRMATION, FELLOWSHIP & BARBECUE AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IN OSIJEK
On Sunday, June 18 2023, we had an extremely festive time in the Good Shepherd Church in Osijek. Our brother Hrvoje was confirmed and his wife Dalija was accepted into the full communion of our Church. After the service, we continued fellowship with a barbecue and a pleasant fellowship. Pray for the Good Shepherd Church in Osijek that the Lord will continue the good work he started.




See more photos here.
The wedding of Daria and Hrvoje
On Sunday, July 23, 2023, Dalija and Hrvoje confirmed their union of marriage before God.

ECUMENICAL BOOK PRESENTATION
On Saturday, July 22, 2023. the Association of Orthodox Christians in Croatia and our Mihael Starin Seminary, held a presentation of Christian books (both our and Eastern Orthodox). This event was opened with a short speach by president of the Association of Orthodox Christians in Croatia, Aleksa Azap, after which passers-by could look at our book stand and premises of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Osijek. Bishop Jasmin Milić and Orthodox priest Predrag Azap were representing Anglican and Orthodox church. This is not only a cultural, but also an ecumenical event in the city of Osijek.

See more photos here.
KAPELNA
In the Roma parish in Kapelna, Rev. Bob Hitching and Rev. Damir Sitar are faithful servents. Special ministerial emphasis is placed on working with children and young people.



VISIT OF THE TEAM FROM BRASIL
On July 7, a team from Brazil visited the church in Kapelna.

Children sing (Video)
SERBIA
THE ANGLICAN THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE IS REGISTERED!

Most of our students at the Michael Starin Seminary in Osijek come from Serbia. Therefore, we launched an initiative to register a theological institution in Serbia. After several meetings (which we wrote about in REC Croatia & Serbia News 1/2023), we started the registration of the Anglican Theological Institute. At the end of May, the Institute was officially registered as a legal entity.
The Anglican Theological Institute is a satellite campus of the Mihael Starin Seminary from Osijek (Croatia). It is very important that we have an officially registered theological institute in Serbia because it gives us the legitimacy of our activities.
JAN HUS DAY FORUM IN BELGRADE (SERBIA)


On the occasion of Jan Hus Memorial Day, on July 6, 2023, a forum entitled “Jan Hus – Heretic or Witness of the Truth” was held in Belgrade. The organizer of the discussion is the Hypostasis Christian association which was founded by our church. Speakers were Bishop Jasmin Milić, the Orthodox priest Zoran Đurović, and Orthodox theologian Jovan Blagojević (who reflected on the significance of Jan Hus for the Orthodox Church). The forum was moderated by Belgrade church Lay Reader, Sergej Beuk.
The booklet we published “Jan Hus – Witness to the Truth”, was also presented at the forum. Before the forum, we held a liturgy where we confirmed a new member of Reformed Episcopal Church in Belgrade, and we also held a Anglican Theological Institute board meeting.

See more photos here.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MISSION IN CROATIA AND SERBIA?
1. By prayer
2. Financial assistance
In order to be able to build our mission work and start a new one, we need financial help for the following projects:
Space for rent in Zagreb, Split, Karlovac and Belgrade. We don’t have our own space in these places, we have to rent it. We require a minimum of $300 per month for each space. In Zagreb and Karlovac we pay monthly rent and in Belgrad and Split daily rent (per hour). So the costs vary from 200 to 300 USD per month.
3. Mission teams (or individuals)
Anyone who wants to help with our mission is welcome. Teams can work with children, young people, etc. Those who want to spend a longer time in the mission with us are also welcome.
4. Donation of books for seminaries in Croatia and Serbia.
We need theological books for our libraries. Any book of theological significance is welcome. Anyone who can help in any way, please contact us at bishop.jmilic@gmail.com
Our clergy and lay ministers

Rt. Rev. Jasmin Milić, PhD, received his master’s degree (MTh) and doctorate (PhD) at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the author of 13 books, and ministers as the rector of parishes in Osijek and Tordinci and a Church planter in Belgrade (Serbia). Likewise, he taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, where he also worked for a time as the Dean for External Studies, and at the Protestant Theological Faculty in Novi Sad (Serbia), where he worked as the Academic Dean. For over 20 years, he taught religious education in two state (public) schools, and for ten years hosted the radio show “Sources of Faith”, which was broadcast on over 20 radio stations throughout Croatia.

Rev. Canon Almir Pehlić, ThD, completed his BTh at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek and received his master’s degree (MDiv) and doctorate (ThD) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the rector of the churches in Karlovac and Zagreb and a church planter in Split. Also, he is the academic dean and a lecturer at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary. In 2022, he published his second book of poetry.

Rev. Damir Sitar, MDiv, completed his studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek (MTh) and at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek (MDiv). Also holds B.A. in Pedagogy degree from University of Osijek. He is the priest of the Romani parish in Kapelna, and serves as the president of our humanitarian organization PASTIR (Protestant Samaritan Work). Likewise, he also works as an Educator at the Center for Youth Education.

Rev. Nenad Adžić, MDiv, completed the study of Economics and BTh at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek and MDiv at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the Assistant pastor in Tordinci, and is employed at the tax service and serves the church part-time. Also, he is the editor of the very influential Christian website Novi Život (New Life).

Rev. Bob Hitching, DMin, completed his master’s degree (MDiv) and doctorate (DMin) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He comes from Great Britain and is a missionary priest of the Roma parish in Kapelna. For over 30 years, he has been actively engaged in missionary work with the Roma, and is the founder of the organization Roma Bible Union.

Lay Reader Saša Maligec, PhD, serves in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Osijek as a Lay Reader and as a Cantor. He completed the study of theology (BTh) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek and received a doctorate in economics (PhD) at the University of Osijek. He is employed at the Croatian Electric Industry.

Lay Reader Sergej Beuk, MTh, completed the study of Pedagogy (BA) at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo and Belgrade, and Cultural Studies (MA) at the Faculty of Culture and Media in Belgrade. He studied theology (MTh) at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. Currently serves as a Church Planter in Belgrade. He is employed at the Belgrade Youth Center as a Program director, where he organised over 2.500 programs and projects in the fields of theology, philosophy and culture. He published scientific papers in the country and abroad, along with three professional monographs. Likewise, he is the president of the Anglican Theological Institute in Belgrade.
Lay Reader Domagoj Rade, serves in the church in Karlovac. He completed the program of Computer Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (B.Sc.), and is currently studying at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary.
Lay Reader Igor Peričić, BTh, completed his studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. He serves as a Church Planter in Split, and also works as a Tourist guide