We welcome Violeta Pavetić as the newest associate of Stoneworks International. She is leading the youth ministry at her church in Podgorica, Montenegro and has previously partnered with Stoneworks running youth camps and hosting mission teams. We are very happy that she is joining our family.
Montenegro was a part of Yugoslavia for many years, an atheist, communist country for generations. When that system collapsed, just a few missionaries went to plant churches. Violeta is a result of those early missionary efforts:
I’m Violeta Pavetić, I’m 22 years old! I was born in Podgorica, Montenegro. I grew up and finished my elementary and high school here. Right now, I’m a student in my last year of university studying International Economics, Business and Finance.
I live in a country where the church of Jesus, people who truly follow Him, is pretty young. But looking back all the way to when the church in MNE didn’t exist: my pastor, Vladimir Cizmanski, came to Montenegro from Serbia in 1993. Vladimir came to start a church where there was none. My father was the first man to welcome Vladimir, into our home. So basically, the very first meetings of my present church was at my house.
Saying all of this is to say I knew about God since I was 4 years old because my mum and my father decided to follow Jesus. But when I truly got to know him, not only with my head but also with my heart, was when I was 13. He was good that he revealed Himself to me, and showed me who He is, and that He really exists. That was the time when I fell in love with him. Since then I run after His heart, and will do so till I finish my mission on this earth.
As I said already, I’m still in university, studying. I also lead a youth ministry at my church in Podgorica. I’m full time student and full time youth leader in church.
I have heart for youth from ages 13 to 18. I love helping them get to know the Lord, and because of the experience I had with Him while I was teenager at their age and yet His child too, I have this privilege to understand them better and show them Jesus’ goodness and love for them and all of us. I enjoy doing that every moment in my life.
My vision for the future is to teach each young person how to run the winning race in the Lord. “Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain” Philippians 2:16. How to find a good rhythm, and endure all hardship, and live life full of Lords blessings.
I want to make the next generation rise up in Montenegro and take over for the Lord, enabling each of them to be an amazing tool of God and his kingdom!
