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From: RiPBarnds@aol.com [mailto:RiPBarnds@aol.com]
Greetings everyone,
I wish that I could be as positive in this report as I have been in others. I have a saying when a national comes to me and says "we have a problem"; that saying is "we don't have problems, we only have opportunities for God to show His power." Well, we have a big opportunity for God to show His power.
This past Friday we received official notice from the local police saying that they have rejected our application for residence permits. They are rejecting the renewal of the permits for Paula and me, and they are rejecting the first application of Wileen.
We now have 8 days to file an appeal, which we will do. The reason for the rejection is that we do more than just religious activities inside the walls of the church. They stated that we do TEFL, we do sports ministry through baseball, and we have Bible studies in our home. Their complaint is that we actually go out and share the Gospel in anyway that we can.
This is a far further in reach than just our team, it is a test for religious freedom in Croatia. The interpretation of the law by the local police is so narrow as to disallow any activity other than standing in the pulpit on Sunday, AM, and preaching.
We are going to have a meeting Tuesday with our attorneys to discuss our strategy further. The appeal must be turned into the police by next Friday. Please pray that we will all seek God's wisdom regarding this matter.
We do know that if God allows us to be expelled from Croatia, He will have another place of service for us. We are comfortable with this thought and want to make sure that we do all that we can to stay here, but if God slams the door we will seek His will for our next assignment.
We ask that now more than ever you join us in prayer over this situation. In the end, we want God to get the glory for what happens here in Croatia.
Thank you for standing with us.
In His love and ours,
Rich, For the entire Declare team
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