On Wednesday night, the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture held an event at a centrally located venue in Skopje at which I spoke on 'Martyrdom and Identity'. Professor Ljubomir Cuculovski of the Philosophy department at the University very kindly agreed to be a respondent to my paper. We then had a very interesting and pleasant discussion with those present, in which Macedonian Orthodox, Protestant, and more secular views were aired and respectfully engaged with. There were upwards of 50 people there). This event has been perhaps most representative of what the BIFC is about.
On Thursday, I had an interview with a journalist from the Macedonian government television station. It is the middle of an election campaign here, so that she was able to slot us in was an answer to prayer. I was able to speak about Christian martyrdom and to underline the importance of the person and work of Christ. The programme will appear soon.
I then went to preach at the Thursday evening church service at the Evangelical Church. I preached on Jesus's work to defeat the works of the devil, from 1 John 3:8.
Today, Friday, Kosta and I were interviewed by a young documentary film maker who is trying to produce a film on the importance of love for religious traditions. Her first question? 'What is the basis for your belief?' We had a really interesting discussion on whether love is God (as opposed to God being love).
I then held a seminar on 'Research Methods' for the BIFC. This was an open invitation once more. This time the venue was the BIFC's offices in Skopje. Seven people attended, from Orthodox, Protestant and other backgrounds. We were able to talk about the importance of scholarly research actually serving others and not being just an end in itself.
It's off to Strumica in the east of Macedonia this weekend for more lectures, seminars and sermons!
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