Our Story

Feb. 2013


What’s In a Name?

Having the last name ‘Georgeff’ has had its ups and downs.  The downside: I find myself automatically and rather mechanically reciting ‘G-E-O-R-G-E-F-F’ during first time introductions.   The upside: when people ask, "what kind of name is that?” it invariably brings the conversation around to a part of the world where little is known, or the only thing known is war and hatred.  The region I am talking about is the Balkans, or better known as the former Yugoslavia.  You see, my father’s parents immigrated in the early 1900s from Macedonia; a small country nestled in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, between northern Greece, Albania, Serbia and Bulgaria.  They were leaving a war torn, drought-plagued county for a better future in the New Country, where Grandpa made his ‘fortune’ as a cobbler.  I remember as a kid driving to Omaha from Iowa to visit my Grandparents’ house.  It was like entering a foreign county: a strange language (Serbo-Croatian), yucky food (sarma) and strict customs (being greeted at the curb with sloppy wet kisses on BOTH cheeks from a hairy-lipped grandmother).  

The memories and impressions from those days have left their mark on my life.  Over the years the Balkans have never been far from my mind. I have always kept my eye on news stories relating to that part of the world.  I remember hearing of missionaries who were able to sneak in and out of the communist controlled region, bringing Bibles and the Good News about Jesus to Kosovo and Albania, and about how the people there would be beaten and imprisoned simply for being Christian.  It broke my heart to hear about this.  Years later, I watched with anguish the wars that erupted in the early 90’s.  I never questioned this heartfelt ‘preoccupation.’ It seemed natural, God-given, and purposeful.

When Natascha and I were first getting to know each other, we learned of our similar passion for Eastern Europe.  Natascha had completed a training school in Norway and Switzerland with YWAM that focused on Missions to the Slavic people, and had joined a team working with the Polish communities in Chicago.  I was living in Chicago at the time; attending Moody Bible Institute.  After we were married in 1990 we moved to Natascha’s home town in Denmark where we lived from ‘91 - ’96; a special time where I got to know her German / Danish languages and cultures.  Two of our kids, Tamara and Lukas, were born there.  In early ‘92 we took a few fact-finding trips into Poland and Russia to see how we might join with others in serving Eastern European people.  Life-changing experiences to be sure, but it wasn’t the right time.  FAMILY FUN FACT: our oldest daughter, Anna, took her first baby steps on Red Square. 

Upon moving back to the States I entered the ‘providing for my family’ phase; working in the marketing and construction management industries. The past 17 years have been great! I am very blessed and honored to have worked with hundreds of wonderful professionals (and friends).  I have truly learned much from them.  

Last summer, while spending time with my father in his last days, my heart for the Slavic people reignited.    A few days before he passed, one of my brothers and I took dad outside in his wheelchair for some fresh air.  In his altered mental status he suddenly blurted out, “I’m looking for my father.”  Something stirred in me when he said that.  I think all of us are looking for our Father to go home to.  I also believe we are created with passions and abilities that satisfy our hearts’ longings, while at the same time, bringing a big smile to our Heavenly Father.  My own tapestry of skills and interests, combined with the things that do and do not motivate me, make it increasingly apparent that I am like a puzzle piece that has been sorted into the wrong box.  Natascha and I believe that a new time has come for us, and the puzzle box we belong in is in the Balkans.

In response to God stirring anew in our hearts, Natascha and I started looking into how we could find an outlet for our ‘preoccupation.’  Our desire has long been to work with the church-planting vision of the Vineyard https://multiplyvineyard.org/church-planters/how-to-plant-a-vineyard-church/, in that God’s love and power is wonderfully expressed through ‘the living stones’ of His people.  (1 Peter 2:5-6)    We began looking for Vineyard churches in the Balkans, and through a simple google search, Natascha found that Vineyard DACH has been working there for over a decade.  http://www.vineyard-dach.net/mission/momentaufnahme/mp-balkan.html  

Since July, I have been communicating regularly with Reinhold Harms, a Vineyard missionary from Germany.  Reinhold is the point man for the Balkan Vineyard Movement, and has been a faithful and fruitful ambassador of Jesus.  He has been a great encouragement and has since introduced me to a number of leaders in Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo and Montenegro.  There is more to write about all the wonderful things that God is doing in the Balkans....and I will do that in later blogs.  But for now, you can take a look at a couple of videos under the tab titled, ‘Balkan Vineyard Movement’.

The Balkan Vineyard Movement is having a leadership conference at the end of May of this year in Sarajevo.  Leaders from the Balkans and the Vineyard DACH will be there.  Reinhold and the team are very excited about what God is doing throughout the peninsula; seeing God’s transforming favor heal broken lives and reconciling people and nations.  Their desire and prayer for more leaders to be raised up is being answered.  Together, we are looking to God for direction and timing on how we might join them. 

I, and if possible Natascha, are planning to be at the conference in Sarajevo in May; to get to know the team better and to see how our ‘puzzle piece’ fits into theirs.  Would you pray for us?  We cannot do this alone, nor do we want to.  We are better together and absolutely need ‘the prayers of the saints’.  We are especially thankful for Mike and Sherri Harder, our close friends and pastors of the Des Moines Vineyard. Their friendship and leadership for the last 12 years have been instrumental in preparing us for bigger steps of faith.  We are asking God to be an extension of our church by placing us in the Balkans, and hopefully establishing a partnership with the Balkan Vineyard Movement.  You may also want to check out what’s going on at the Des Moines Vineyard by visiting:
http://yourvineyardchurch.org/

There are many details that need to be worked out; and as many of you know, we have a busy and exciting spring coming up.  Lukas is graduating from High School; Tamara will be preparing for her move to Chicago to continue her studies at Moody Bible Institute; Anna is graduating from Drake University, then in June she will be getting married to Brad (our family is getting bigger!); and finally, our baby, Ilana will be learning to drive.  Yes, we indeed need your prayers!!  

Blessings to you!

Jay 

The Georgeff’s

L-R

Tim & Tamara King (Georgeff),

Brad & Anna Leah Wall (Georgeff)

Lukas Georgeff, Ilana Georgeff,

Natascha and Jay Georgeff