Dear Croatia ministry Supporters,

Don't send any money! At least don't send it to the wrong place. I have received word that some of our supporting congregations are being targeted in appeal campaigns by e-mail from someone claiming to be part of the Reformed Church in Croatia, but who is really an independent operator who has no membership in the Reformed Church. He has started his own new denomination, calling it the "Protestant Reformed Church"—which of course leads to all kinds of confusion. But the solution is simple: never send funds directly to any person, or even to a congregation here in Croatia. If you want to help us, we have institutional mechanisms that are easy to use, clear, and not open to abuses like this.

We are very thankful for all the help that many of you have given in the past and we do have needs for help now and in the future. We are starting two new congregations: in Zagreb, the capital, and in Osijek. We are putting together camps and conferences for our youth and still trying to find ways to fix church buildings that are damaged. Plus we always are looking for ways to help our pastors who work in congregations that are too poor to fully pay their salaries—so, there are lots of great projects if you have the ability and desire to help more as you have in the past.

PC(USA) congregations are encouraged to use the Extra Opportunity Account (ECO) process. It's relatively easy. Funds can go through the presbytery, earmarked with the proper ECO number and project description, and they will send them to Louisville and on to us. The ECO numbers are:

# 047856 for Rebuilding the Church in Croatia, which includes:

• Funding pastors support in poor congregations


• Repair of damaged church buildings


• Assisting the Reformed Church Bishop's office, which supports pastor's transportation, communication, and administration

• Sponsoring camp scholarships and conferences for youth


• Sponsoring women's conferences


• Sponsoring elders' conference


• Sponsoring newsletter publication


• Sponsoring theological students' expenses

Other congregations can send support directly, but only to the Bishop's office, never to individuals or congregations. I can send you the wire transfer information if you need it. For the record, the Bishop of the Reformed Christian Church in Croatia is Endre Langh, and the official church account is in the Pozeska bank in Pozega, Croatia.

I hope this helps. Please be free to write for more information.

Grace and peace,

Steven Kurtz

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 79