We, Merle and Jenny Jones, along with our three children, Hannah, Lydia, and Luke, have been living and working in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina since October of 1999, when we uprooted and made the move across the ocean. For the first five years we were involved with a team in the planting of a church that grew and then multiplied into three Evangelical churches. After national pastors were in place, we refocused our attention to help develop a Ministry Center in Sarajevo with another couple. 

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Over the past 10 years, Merle has developed an outreach ministry New Dawn, based on Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned,” focusing on cultivating environments for transformation. Like a living parable, Merle uses experiential learning to physically challenge youth to understand spiritual realities in a new light. We want to help people in their first steps toward knowing and trusting Jesus, and preparing for the ultimate adventure of following Christ.  Merle uses experiential learning to develop team building and leadership development.  He also uses his construction skills, develops relationships, and serves in numerous ways. In the winter of 2019, we served on a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base on Saint Lucia for 5 months, assisting their outreach and discipleship, and the many needs of their service to the community. That summer they returned to Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Croatia in the fall to continue serving in that area of the world. The Coronavirus interfered with some of their freedom to travel to Europe, but they served on a YWAM base in Saint Croix during the winter of 2021.  They plan to return after Christmas this year. and continue their service into 2022.   

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Hannah was five when we moved to Sarajevo, and through a very long and difficult process, we adopted Luke and Lydia from Russia in 2001.  Our children grew up in Sarajevo, going to the local Bosnian school for 4 years each, and were then home schooled.  As our children are now grown and leaving home, with Hannah now married to Allan Reinhard, Lydia in Toccoa Falls College for Nursing, and Luke launching into life, we returned to the field as empty-nesters. This new stage of life has takne some adjustment, as we have always had our children with us, but God continues to lead. We look forward to an expanding ministry in Saint Croix, Bosnia, and Croatia, and further developing New Dawn Ministries. 

Offering the free gift of Life to Bosnia and beyond,
Merle and Jenny