Matthew 25 in Action

I love Matthew 25:35–36, where Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; I needed clothes and you clothed Me; I was sick and you looked after Me; I was in prison and you came to visit Me.”

Our time with Macedonian Outreach is testimony to responding to this calling to serve the least of these.

We began our journey with a visit to a ministry center in Thessaloniki that provides clothing, food, and hot meals to refugees from wherever they come: Ukraine, the Sudan, Syria. The center provides a safe place where people can tell their story. Most importantly, the gospel is presented, both verbally and non-verbally, through the love shown by the volunteers. The Jesus Film and The Chosen are streamed on the TV.

On Sunday, we attended a church service put on by Voice of the Martyrs where pastors gathered from all over the world for a pastors’ conference. We met several American ministry partners as well as pastors from other countries.

A few days later, we went to Skopje, North Macedonia. Macedonian Outreach’s ministry partners Pavle and Suzan, who serve families in Skopje, organized a VBS for children from extremely poor families of the community. We did crafts, and played games. Linda Fore gave a wonderful telling of the Good News of the gospel, telling them of Jesus as our Rescuer, then using a demonstration of building one’s house on rock as opposed to building on sand. She very creatively used houses made of popsicle sticks on both a flat rock and another built on sand, then creatively used a spray bottle to mimic a storm coming. The children were captivated. At the end, Linda prayed a prayer of an open invitation for the children to give their life to Christ.

Shortly thereafter, we had the privilege of going to Bulgaria where we met ministry partners Gopi and Reni. They serve the Roma/Gypsy population in Yastrebovo and Pamukchii. Gopi grew up in the village and is now the pastor of the local village church. Vula has known him since he was a young man. Gopi and Reni have dedicated their lives to the village, meeting the needs of the villagers. When we arrived, we witnessed first hand the excitement by the villagers as our very own Vula was spotted. There were hugs all around from young adults who have known Vula since their childhood years. We went into the first village grocery store which was opened through Gopi’s guidance. We saw the new homes that were a dream of Macedonian Outreach twenty years ago to provide homes, running water and electricity for the first time for people who were once living in chicken coops. There are many more in need, but to see the happy faces of those who were beaming with love and appreciation was a sight to behold. Macedonian Outreach helped build the church building where Gopi preaches. We had a chance to offer VBS to those children, along with giving short testimonies. We met many mamas, fathers and grandmas with plenty of little ones. We met many who are in-firmed and elderly. For having so little, the Roma people are very generous with their love and hugs (and cookies).

My husband and I were invited to give our own personal testimony of the loss of our children. Many of the mamas and grandmas wept openly and told us their own stories of loss. Grief and loss know no boundaries. We are all on an equal playing field. It was a profound moment of connection. We had the chance to pray alongside a couple whose child is ill.

This is just a short synopsis of our experience with Macedonian Outreach. There is a quote from the Talmud that states, “He who saves one life saves the world entire.” Many generations are being raised up to go to school, to become self-sufficient, and to provide for their families. More importantly, many generations are hearing the gospel and following Christ. To see hands raised in worship by the Roma people during the service was amazing. We witnessed with our own eyes and touched with our own hands the gift of giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. Always in Jesus’ name.

Janie and Mike Sheedy
June, 2025