Becoming a Disciple of Jesus

Hundreds of thousands of Russians have moved from their homeland to Serbia this year. World Partners affiliate Zoltan Vegel is the pastor of a church in Sombor, Serbia, and he has been reaching out to the Russian immigrants, some who attend his church and others who live in his neighborhood. 

Zoltan has been discipling one immigrant, “S,” for quite a while and has witnessed his transformation before his eyes. Zoltan states, “He is being transformed before my eyes! It is so exciting to work with him.

He goes on to explain that “For some time we have been working on heart issues and how the gospel cleanses our hearts. One issue “S” has is the hurt in his heart due to having to leave Russia. He feels that leaving his homeland robbed him of opportunities. There was hardness and bitterness in his heart.

But, as we met, “S” told me, “Zoli, I realize that I didn’t lose anything and that I can’t lose anything because I still have God!”

We have talked a lot about being missional and “S” told me, “In Russia, in my old church, I didn’t have any concept of what being missional meant. Faith was a private thing, just believe and don’t bother people with your inner thoughts and faith. So, the gospel was just an addition to personal ethics. But now, I see that the Gospel is something very serious that people need. God is missional so we who follow him should be missional too.”

Zoltan is now discipling “S” and showing him through his daily life and through talking about Jesus what it means to be a disciple and follower of Christ. Zoltan states, “Pray that ‘S’ continues to grow and that God uses him mightily in our church and especially amongst the Russian population here.”