Each week during 24-7 Prayer's season of prayer for Europe we're profiling a different nation. Hearing from friends in the country, listening to something of their story and joining with them to pray for their people, their nation.

This week we turn our gaze towards the beautiful Balkan land of Croatia. Croatia feels less eastern than most of it's Balkan neighbours, it's extensive coastline feels Italian and it's mountains are much more Alpine than those further south in the region. The capital city of Zagreb has wide streets and pedestrian boulevards. And yet the horrific war that followed the break up of General Tito's Yugoslavia remains fresh in the mind of many. On my first visit to Croatia last year I met a young man who was beaten and left for dead on a rubbish heap during the conflict. He knows and loves Christ but remains deeply, emotionally, mentally and physically scarred by his ordeal.

Church planting missionaries James and Laura Albright are good friends of 24-7 Prayer and have lived in Zagreb with their family for a number of years. They write:

Croatia is a small, yet mighty nation full of natural resources and a strong and persevering people.  We believe God desires to use this strength and passion for His Kingdom purposes.  Unfortunately, whether it was in the recent civil war, or historic everyday prejudices that still remain, these characteristics have been misused both in Croatia’s past and her present.  Throughout their history we hear stories of neighbour turning against neighbour in battle.  Even Zagreb, the capital city, used to be two cities which battled one another until they found it mutually beneficial to join forces to ward off the invading Turks!

 

Unfortunately this same divisiveness can often be seen in the church as well.  The evangelical church is fragmented and weakened through disunity. It is not uncommon for one denomination, church or pastor to outright refuse to work with another. This lack of unity shows the rest of Croatia a defeated, hurting church, rather than a loving, victorious bride.

 

The good news is we are seeing the tide change here!  There is a fresh wave of faith and anticipation for what God has in store for the nation.  A prayer movement has been stirring around the country over the past few years.  Currently we are meeting monthly in Zagreb for 24 hours of prayer. There are also prayer rooms that God is raising up around the country which are praying passionately for the nation and have participated in this 24 hour period hosted in Zagreb often taking up the baton and continuing in prayer for the following 24 hours in their locality.   

 

Please pray with us for:

• Unity and love among the churches – Pray for old wounds to be healed and for a humbling of hearts.
• The health and sustainment of this prayer movement- Pray that it will  increase in length and include more and more churches.
• A renewing of a missional mindset in the churches in Croatia.
• An end to corruption in the government.
  

Please join with us in praying for Croatia today. Pray for peace, love and unity, especially between the churches. Pray for the Kingdom of Christ to come in Croatia.

Feel free to leave your prayer for Croatia in the comments box below and we'll be sure to pass them on.

To join with Christians all over the world in praying for the prodigal continent of Europe visit our new website 24-7prayer.eu where you can sign up to pray, for weekly newsletters and prayer resources.

You might also like to read Ian Nicholsons article Restoring the Romance or watch our excellent European Prayer video.

If you've missed our earlier posts in the European Voices series you might like to catch up:

Euro Voices - Albania

Euro Voices - Bosnia