Sonja Stojanovic came to Serbia as a missionary, and she is a pastoral and community worker there.
When did you trust Christ?
I decided to follow Jesus when I was 14. Some friends took me to church, where people were talking about Jesus as if He were really alive. I discovered that I needed forgiveness for my sin and a Saviour.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
After I watched the breakup of the former Yugoslavia on the news, God called me to Serbia in 1996. My husband and I later planted Good News Church in Niš in southern Serbia. And though I've been impacted by many great Bible teachers, I was equally impacted by an old woman I met when I first came to Serbia, who both touched and challenged me, as she had paid a great price for her faith during communism.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
The Forum has invigorated my ministry by meeting many different people from across Europe and beyond, learning about their ministries, and gaining new perspectives on how to serve the Lord in Serbia. The Forum has also provided access to numerous resources. The Forum offers a wealth of useful and practical teaching and an opportunity to meet leaders who serve faithfully in many interesting and challenging situations. Being amongst so many leaders gathered together is an incredible privilege and opportunity not to be missed. It offers unparalleled access to collective wisdom and understanding.
What is your ministry?
I serve at Good News Church, doing community outreach projects which I've initiated, leading the women's ministry, travelling with my husband to teach and encourage other church leaders in the region, and teaching churches in the West about cross-cultural missions.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
My leadership roles over the years range from teaching Sunday school to leading a children's ministry in the UK. I continued leading the children's ministry for many years after I came to Serbia, as well as reaching out to unsaved youth. I have also led the women's ministry for many years.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
The Balkans, and Southern Serbia in particular, have very few believers. The task ahead of us is enormous, and I want to be fully equipped to serve God and His Church.
