CEO_header veci
BEHOLD, I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW
#January 2023
It is typical for people in general to become discouraged even depressed in the month of January. The weather is often bleak, and cold, everything around us seems dead and bare, our wallets may even seem dead and bare after the holidays. 😊A positive way to combat those feelings is to look back on the former year, evaluate what and how you've done, and make new resolutions for going forward. This year as we looked back, we not only felt blessed, but even a little overwhelmed. God has done so much among us and one resolution we have made for the new year is to widen our leadership base. 
NEW LEADERSHIP

We have not only taken on extra ministry leaders, but we have also asked the church to recommend new candidates for deacon and eldership. Our church has grown almost 3 -fold this past year and way too much for Mario and his one deacon to handle on their own. The added leadership base will give him the ability to delegate much of the additional workload and be able to focus on leading the church forward from here.

You can be praying for wisdom. We are also needing to come up with a workable solution for going to two services. We need to figure out the logistics to this „wonderful problem“ we have and how it would work with our congregation. 
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

The turnout for our OCC shoebox program was so huge in December and due to a lack of space in our sanctuary, we had to close registration earlier than we normally do. However, since we still have some packages left over, we have decided to open registration once more and host a second evangelistic children's program this month. Please be praying for this event, that God would draw the hearts of these unsaved children and their parents.
PRAISE REPORT>

>Our church is still growing.
>Our monthly support is growing (THANK YOU!).
>God is giving us wonderful new leaders to partner with us in leading our church.
NO CENSORSHIP

New Year's Eve marked the first event of our new student and single’s group (for young people ages 19- 30). The new leadership team for this group planned a New Year's party and had a great turnout. This year they plan to host monthly home groups, periodic hangout activities, and a conference in the Fall to evangelize and draw students and singles to Christ and disciple those who attend our church.

We have found as our church grows, how important having these smaller groups is. It gives people a feeling of intimacy that is lost as the church grows larger; and there is less chance that people fall between the cracks.
TRIP TO TEXAS

Mario will be traveling to the States the end of March to attend a conference with Samaritan’s Purse and has decided to use this opportunity to visit his friends and supporters in Texas. He will be in Texas from April 2nd to May 2nd. If you would like to meet up with him or schedule him to speak in your church or at a meeting, please contact us by sending an e-mail to ceo@cce.hr.

Thank you all so much for your consistent prayer and support. It is such an honor and blessing to be able to partner with so many individuals and churches across the world to do the Kingdom work in Croatia. If you have been feeling discouraged these past few days or weeks, I would encourage you to look back, take assessment of your past year. Don’t just look at those things you need to change, but look at the good things God did in your life no matter how small. Remember that you are a new creation in Christ, the old is gone and the new has been brought to life. Go forth into this new year with your head high and live as more than a conqueror!

In His Love,
Mario & Bonnie Ducic
PRAYER REQUEST>

>For wisdom in choosing leadership and problem solving our space issue.
>For our additional Operation Christmas Child event.
>For Mario’s trip to the States.
Croatian Evangelistic Outreach