Jelena Sivulka is the founder and Director of Hana's Hope, a non-profit organisation that cares for families with disabilities in Serbia.
When did you trust Christ?
When I was 18, I heard the Gospel for the first time at a Calvary Chapel Outreach. After a few days, I prayed to receive Christ into my heart.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
My family was against anything that had to do with the church, Jesus, or Christianity. Thus, going to church was a constant battle at home. However, I was involved in youth ministry and IFES / InterVarsity, which helped me grow and develop as a Christian during this difficult time. Also, I was discipled by my pastor's wife, who helped me in my Christian walk.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
My involvement with the Forum has shaped every aspect of my ministry, from building and strengthening my organisation to finding sustainable ways to fund its work. It has also contributed significantly to my personal and professional growth, deepening my understanding of my field. I have connected with people who have profoundly influenced the way I serve and grow in my relationship with God. It is really a family event for me.
What is your ministry?
I have been dedicated to disability work for nearly two decades. I am the founder and director of Hana's Hope. Our organisation serves, educates, and cares for families and individuals affected by disabilities. Recently, our team has expanded, and we are now supporting the development of similar organisations across the Balkan Region. In addition, I am a writer and speaker, passionately sharing the importance of pain and suffering in our spiritual walk. Lastly, I oversee a counselling school and am actively building lay counselling support within the Christian community in the MENA Region.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
Prior to funding Hana’s Hope, I was a youth leader and school psychologist, and I was involved in my husband’s church plant.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
There isn’t an area of my life that hasn't been positively influenced by the Forum. As a result, who I am has changed. I know Him more, want to serve Him more, and have more opportunities to do that. My husband and I are in full-time ministry in Serbia, and we live on the support of the church.
