New President for the Evangelical Churches of North Macedonia More responsibilities for Pastor Petre Petrov
The very sad passing in December of long-term partner of TEN, Mirco Andreev has been mourned by many and left significant leadership roles for others to fill. As senior pastor of the Skopje Evangelical church, Mirco has ministered to the needs of the church and wider community for more than 26 years. Mirco was also the President of the Evangelical Churches in North Macedonia with responsibility for around 40 churches, including church plants. The leadership team of the Skopje church agreed that Pastor Stojan Petrovski would become the new senior pastor with their full support. In the following weeks, the pastors approved the appointment of Petre Petrov, Senior Pastor of Shtip Evangelical Church as the new President. This role provides oversight of the many churches, relationships with other denominational leaders and also accountability to government authorities for the finances and work of the denomination. Petre will draw on his extensive leadership experience as a church leader and successful businessman. Regarded for many years as a religious sect, the Evangelical Church is becoming accepted as a legitimate Christian denomination.
The Evangelical Church is fully registered with the government and stands in good reputation. Its work supporting former drug addicts is widely praised and recognised. A very important part of the ministry of the Evangelical Church is its humanitarian projects helping the poor, the widows and the Roma people. Petre’s vision is to raise up the next generation of young leaders who will become church planters across the nation. He aims to encourage current church leaders to identify, mentor and release new leaders into their God-ordained ministries. Petre says, constant change is vital, the life of every church should be like a river, always new. He also wants to involve younger leaders in the development of wider church vision. Just as the apostle Paul found young Timothy and trained him to be a leader, so Petre hopes that all pastors will train up the new generation. One of the latest younger couples to be released into church planting is Robert and Krasi Salamanovi from Shtip and relocated to Radovish, as featured in the January edition of Connect. 6
