A "God-Story"...Like Father, Like Son...
If you want to hear the longer version AND see how bad I am at playing pool, click this link to hear a conversation between me and Jozef where he shares his testimony: https://www.imccracken7.net/links (then scroll down to the bottom of the page--Jozef Menga's Story) In 1991, 20-year-old Gregor Menga entered Greece as an Albanian refugee. All his life he dreamed of fleeing to America where he could be free to express himself as an artist, something he could not do under the harsh, atheistic communist regime he grew up in. But he met Jesus in Athens, God changed his dreams, and after a year of discipleship he returned to Albania to share Jesus with his fellow countrymen. Not long afterward, he planted a church in his hometown in northern Albania, married and started a family. Later, his family helped plant a church in a Muslim community in Kosovo, and now they are doing ministry in a city in Macedonia. Gregor and his wife Kela have 3 boys: Benjamin (16), Samuel (20) and Jozef (21). Since Gregor's oldest son Jozef was about 14 or 15, he has been living a "double life". Although his parents were dedicated followers of Jesus, Jozef was not interested in their "religion". Being a Third-Culture Kid, he found it difficult to fit in and started doing things to be accepted by other teens (smoking, drugs, sex, etc.) When he got older, he started dabbling in the occult, and then Hinduism and eastern meditation. Jozef is also an amazing classical pianist (you can put his name in YouTube and many video clips will come up). Here is one example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__EnQY7u8GE
In January 2021 moved to the U.S. to attend university in Kansas, continuing in a lifestyle far from anything that resembled following Jesus. In September 2021, he had an encounter with Jesus that immediately changed him. He called his family and confessed all he had been doing over the years and fully committed himself to following the Lord. Because of all the years he had opened himself up to demonization, there was quite a bit of spiritual warfare and deliverance at the beginning of his walk with Jesus. People from his school and a local church, and his father (via Zoom) helped him in the first steps. Then Gregor and Jozef asked me (Scott) if I would be willing to continue helping him find freedom and discipling him via Zoom. I agreed and have been so encouraged and somewhat in awe of how I see God's hand on his life. I have met few people who, as new believers, are so enthusiastic AND so humble. He was able to visit us during the week of his spring break and it was a very beautiful time of intense discipleship and mutual encouragement. He continues to grow in his relationship with the Lord and the family of God, as well as boldly and sensitively reaching out to share Jesus with others. Today he told me about a very troubled individual he led to Christ this week! Thank you for continuing to pray for Jozef's spiritual growth. I believe his life and story are going to be used by God to reach many people, especially people "on the margins".
Scott and Jozef at the Columbia River Gorge
Jozef and Scott at Multnomah Falls
Because of YOU, we are able to educate others about sex trafficking, help foster collaboration amongst churches in an at-risk community, disciple others who will disciple others, and take the Gospel to the nations!Thank you for allowing God to use your prayers and financial investments to help this happen!
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