Sincere Praise – Final Service, Sunday Evening

Baptist Church, Rijeka

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Journey to Rijeka

We travelled two hours after lunch on Sunday afternoon, arriving in good time to have a sound check and pray, trusting God for a breakthrough.

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Anticipation and Atmosphere

People came with great anticipation and expectation. Approximately 60% of the congregation were unchurched individuals who had been invited either by a friend or a friend of a friend.

The word had spread like wildfire that a gospel choir from London was coming to the city. The venue, a modern new-build church, was packed.

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An Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

From the moment Sincere Praise sang their first song, you could feel the outpouring of the Holy Spirit like liquid fire. People were on their feet rejoicing, faces beaming and hands raised. Even people unfamiliar with this setting could not sit still.

Individuals from different walks of life and ethnic backgrounds became united as Jesus was lifted up for the world to see. Heaven came down and glory filled our hearts as we sang in praise and worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

God had gone before us, and the Holy Spirit had prepared hearts for this explosion of praise!

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The Word of God

The Word of God went forth, taken from Matthew chapter 8, regarding the Roman Centurion putting his faith in the authority of the spoken Word from the mouth of Jesus, which resulted in his servant receiving a miracle of healing.

When the congregation heard this, they erupted in applause—it was incredible!

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Concert Overflow

The concert started at 8pm, and the audience would not let the choir stop singing, requesting one song after another. Each time Sincere Praise attempted to leave the platform, the audience cried out for more. They could not get enough of the Gospel in song.

Finally, at 10:15pm, the choir left the platform.

Many people were crying—especially men—overwhelmed by the power of God. They just sobbed in His divine presence.

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Next Steps and Reflections

The wonderful privilege of discipling these people now begins. We pray that there will be fruit that remains.

The power of prayer is unfathomable. We want to thank everyone who lifted this mission trip to Slovenia and Croatia up in prayer. God has done far more than we could even ask or think. People received Jesus as their Saviour, others were healed and delivered from the strongholds of the enemy. People testified of being forever changed.

Dates have been provisionally booked for our return in 2026. It is all in the Master’s hands.

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Closing Declaration

“The nations shall hear the Gospel and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus!”

What an honour to be co-workers with our blessed Saviour in these last days!

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Prayer Points

1. Pray for those who have heard the Gospel for the first time, that the seed of the Word would germinate and bring forth fruit.
2. Pray for the pastors and leaders who have been strengthened and encouraged throughout these meetings. Many souls were saved and delivered, and many will now be attending their churches.
3. Thank God for the new doors that have been opened for 2026.
4. Let us continue to cover Croatia and Slovenia in prayer.

Day Two // 3rd May 2023

Pastor Faton’s heart’s desire is to reach the unchurched local community of Gjakove. In faith he set up a stage in the park with the awareness that when the weather is lovely on Saturday evenings families gather together to socialise.

As we approached the park children were eagerly gathering. Awaiting the evening’s event. They excitedly wanted to practice their English. We soon discovered that they spoke such good English because they watch English and American programmes on the television.

As the sound of music filled the air people of all ages came from all directions. Women pushing buggies, fathers with their children, teenagers on their scooters and skateboards from different ethic groups.

The children were so excited they began climbing onto the stage to get as close as possible to the action. When the choir began to sing they erupted with joy. A group of boys stopped playing football and came to the front of the stage. Each time the choir stopped singing the cried out ‘one more, one more.’

People who were taking an evening walk through the park stopped in their tracks as the message went forth. It was as if they were mesmerised. After the message people stood and applauded. It was a sobering message, however it was evident that this was a message people needed to hear.

It was difficult for the choir to leave the stage, people crying out for more. When the choir finally descended people wanted to know when they would be returning. Children and young people flocked them wanting to share how much the evening meant to them. Young children spoke of how much the message affected them and asked for prayer for their schools and families. God is moving by His Holy Spirit throughout the nations of the world.

Day One // Friday 2nd May

4:35am found us sleepy eyed and struggling to check in at Luton airport. Looking forward to our 2nd Mission trip to Kosovo but secretly wishing we could have a few more hours sleep! Lord help us we are only human!!!

We landed safely in Pristina airport warmly welcomed by Pastor Faton who informed us we would be ministering in a restaurant that evening in Gjakove which was appropriately named ‘Happy Restaurant’. Its Muslim proprietor excitedly offered us the use of his restaurant. We were based in a very secular part of the city, cigarette smoke wafted through the air, but the presence of the Holy Spirit sent out His sweet perfume transforming the restaurant into a holy sanctuary.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6pm. As the musicians and minister Klee Goodman set up for the evening there was a buzz of conversation as people came from off the streets totally unchurched not knowing what to expect, but nevertheless filled with anticipation.

The evening opened in prayer and Pastor Faton introduced Sincere Praise. The atmosphere was electric as the choir sang their first song ‘Sin has lost its power. The audience began to tap their feet and move to the rhythm of the music. One lady couldn’t contain herself, she stood up waving her hands and began to dance. This was not in the flesh but sheer joy as the spirit of the Lord began to move. There was such a liberty in the Spirit, facial expressions changed from sullen to expressions of joy, from heaviness to freedom.

We had prayed for a spiritual breakthrough and could see the transformation taking place before our eyes. The choir continued to sing, the Word came forth and people sat transfixed. Many had never heard anything like this before. When Revd Taylor finished speaking there was a split second of silence, then the audience erupted in rapturous applause as the realisation of this message of hope and deliverance hit home.

Sincere Praise sang their first song closing song no altar call was made but people began queuing for prayer, many breaking down, sharing their heartache, pain and brokenness. We took the time to listen and pray for each person. What a transformation people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, you could see the joy of the Lord as it filled their entire being. Evident breakthrough! Each time we prepared to leave others came forward for prayer and to also share what they had experienced that evening.

Pastor Faton shared that 90% of those present had no experience of church.

We give God all the glory this is truly Harvest time.