Prayer Focus: Europe

During July, the UBC EVERYWHERE prayer focus will be on Europe. According to the Joshua Project, there are 51 countries with 460 people groups unreached in Europe. Unreached people groups are defined as a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this group without outside assistance. These 460 people groups are estimated to have a population of 26,264,000.

As of 2020, Christianity was the largest religion in Europe accounting for approximately 72% of the population. Christianity can be further divided on a very basic level by 3 areas geographically. The north and west (Protestant), south (Catholicism), and east (Orthodox).

The next largest group comes from “unaffiliated” at ~20%, followed by Islam at ~7% (50 million). Hindu and Buddhism are at 0.23%. Jews account for only 0.18% of the European population. The top 5 countries in Europe by Christian population are: Romania at 99%; Poland at 92%; Greece at 87%; Ukraine at 85%; and Italy at 80%. Some of the top 10 Muslim countries by population are: Kosovo 94%; Albania 82%; Bosnia 46%; France 8%; and Belgium 7.5% (for comparison the USA is ~1.1% Muslim)

Christianity is projected to remain the largest religious group in Europe through 2050 but it is expected to drop from ~ 553 million in 2010 to 454 million by 2050. Europe’s Muslim population is projected to increase from ~ 43 million in 2010 to 71 million by 2050, a 63% increase.

In addition to the above projected shifts in religion, over the next few decades many countries in Europe are now home to millions of refugees and asylum seekers. As of May 2023, there are an estimated 8.2 million Ukrainian refugees in addition to other refugees. The top 3 European countries accepting these refugees are: Poland, Germany, and Czechia.

Please pray:

That the Gospel continues to be proclaimed in Europe and for God to prepare the hearts of those that hear the Good News.
For boldness for Christians in sharing the Gospel and living as HIS Ambassadors.
That Christians will intentionally seek opportunities to engage with the lost and build relationships that will lead to Gospel sharing.
Pray for strategic prayer teams, missionaries, and resources to bring the Gospel to the unreached people of Europe.
For strength and provision for ministries in the surrounding countries that have taken in refugees (for example, an orphan ministry in Romania is providing long term housing to a group of Ukrainian refugees).
For refugees families to be reunited as many are still separated due to war.
For material provisions for refugees.

Joshua Project Europe

ReliefWeb: Refugees from Ukraine in Europe

Missionary Spotlight:

Alisa Fafulovic & UBC Team in Bosnia

Aldin Fafulovic’s sister, Alisa is full-time missionary who lives and serves in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She’s a single mom who lives in Bugojno (boo-goy-noh) with her 3 children (ages 15,16, and 17) and they make up the total number of local followers of Christ in their town. As a former Muslim, Alisa represents Christ in her community by engaging with the unreached people group she lives in by leading Bible studies with those who are spiritually interested. She also operates a greenhouse to provide food for her community during the ongoing global food crisis. Her faith and devotion to the Gospel has been instrumental in creating a true representation of Jesus’ name in a place that has been war torn by people who blemished the name of Jesus. Alisa, her kids, and a US missionary are the only believers witnessing the good news to the unreached Bosniak muslims in Bugojno. In the midst of a spiritually dark place, the Lord has led this handful of believers to build a small campsite overlooking the town to be a place of light and disciple making, which they have named “Mali Raj” which means little heaven.

Aldin, Kierstin, and Jonny will be representing UBC in Bosnia and will be helping run the first summer camp at Mali Raj July 6th-17th. A large group of middle schoolers from Bugojno and surrounding villages will be invited for this day camp on the side of a mountain. There will be outdoor activities, sports, and workshops for the kids to participate in. Through these activities, local young people who don't know any Christians will be given the opportunity to engage with believers. During this trip the team will also attend a local house church and join in prayer, group devotions, and vision casting. The team will be prayer walking in Bugojno with the intention to engage and build relationships with spiritually open locals and connect them with the local missionary workers. There will be a lot to accomplish each day, but we trust and pray that God will soften the hearts of the lost and they would submit to His sacrificial love.

Pray that God opens the door for many middle schoolers to come to Summer Day Camp, and they hear a plain and powerful presentation of the Gospel.
Pray that God continues to grow the faithful, that the Gospel light burns through the fog of a war torn community, and the love of Christ is made known.
Pray for Alisa, Aldin, Kiersten, Jonny and their families that they will be strengthened and given God’s wisdom.

Recent Highlight: UBC on Mission in Hanover, Indiana

After being on the receiving end of the Builders for Christ project in 2022, this year UBC is giving back. A team of 11, led by Dave and Lori Gneiser, traveled to Hanover, Indiana back in May for the first week on site at Hanover Baptist Church.

They worked with the cut team for "AA" week which was made up of volunteers from Alabama, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Nine of the team members Dave, Matt Crum, Ben Crunk, Janeth & Charlie Baker, Serena Stott, Jason & Gabe Horsman, and Timothy Mock worked on the building construction site cutting lumber, framing walls, cleaning up, and even chiseling out old tile. Lorrie and Lisa Hamilton worked as the kitchen crew. This was the first time that "AA" had a kitchen team and it helped the work get done more efficiently.

“It was really special to be able to send a team out from UBC in response and gratitude for all those who came and served us so faithfully last year,” Lorrie said. “We were all blessed to see how God could use us and build the BFC roster of new volunteers.”

Many on the team didn’t know each other well at the start, but they bonded well working with each other and enjoying time around bonfires in the evening. It was also a good time to reconnect with volunteers from other churches that worked at UBC last year.

Serena Stott said, “Deciding to go on the Builder’s for Christ mission trip was an easy decision for me. Last year, I worked the cut week (week AA) for our church and met some wonderful volunteers from other churches across the country. We had a good time working alongside each other. Knowing that many of the volunteers work the same week every year, I chose those dates so I could see some of them again.”

She added, “I definitely used muscles I wasn’t used to using, but the soreness was worth it. Seeing the church start to take shape is rewarding.”

UBC plans to send teams to serve for another week in July and again in early August.

Check out Builders for Christ for more info about this project.

Opportunity: Minister to Local Ukrainian Refugees

Do you enjoy meeting new people? Have you taught someone to drive? Have you felt the burden for the Ukrainian people over the past few years as they battle for their land?

Recently the Core Mission Team heard of an opportunity to come alongside some local refugees through one of our UBC members and local Athletes in Action (AIA) missionary, Isaac Nelson. AIA has brought in 7 Ukranians that are now working on the AIA complex in Xenia. As you can imagine, this has been quite the transition.

Some current needs that Isaac shared are for computers, rides to go grocery shopping on Saturdays, financial contributions to help cover the costs for their living, and for people to take the time to help these refugees train to take their tests to obtain a driver's license. Aside from these practical things, Isaac also mentioned the ideas of simply meeting a refugee for coffee or time to talk so they can practice their English skills, and maybe find a person who wants to pour into them as they are so far away from home and the life they previously knew.

If interested please stop by the Mission & Mercy Table and we can connect you!

Opportunity:

Operation Christmas Child - Christmas in July

We encourage you to be thinking about Christmas in July this year. Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a tangible way that you can help spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Stop by the Mission & Mercy Table this month for more information, or come to one of the interest meetings on Sunday, July 16th immediately after either service at UBC East Classroom #1.

This is also a friendly reminder, if you are already a faithful box packer, now is the time to get some great deals on school supplies to fill your boxes!

Interested in going on a mission trip this year? The following UBC-sponsored trips are open to UBC members and regular attenders.

Contacts to learn more:

Jim Corbin jim.corbin@ubcbeavercreek.com

Aldin Falfulovic aldin.fafulovic@ubcbeavercreek.com

To read past Mission Updates or to get more information about UBC on Mission, visit www.ubcbeavercreek.com/mission.

UBC Mission & Mercy Ministry Update - 2023, Issue 7

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