An Ideal Retirement

An Ideal Retirement

by | Nov 1, 2022 | Europe

As some people near retirement age, they begin considering if they would like to move abroad during those years. In the United Kingdom, the popular internet search “best country to retire to” has increased 94% in the past year. Many retirees are searching for locations with good weather, healthcare, and exchange rate for the British pound. An estimated 12% of UK residents over the age of 50 are planning to retire outside of the country. Research and polls have been conducted to determine the most popular countries for retirement, with three interesting contenders.

Croatia was voted the best, with a population of 21% over the age of 65. The warmer climate and lower cost of living are major draws for those seeking a new environment. Spain has long been a favourite tourist spot and has a warm, sunny climate similar to Croatia’s. This coupled with the highly-rated healthcare in Spain makes it the second most popular retirement destination. With a climate completely unlike the previous countries, Ireland comes in at the third spot. It is said to be one of the happiest and safest places to retire, and the visa process for those from the UK is simpler and cheaper than other places.

Many of these expats move countries to have a better quality of life during retirement, but how much better it would be if they could hear the Gospel, repent of their sins, and have a personal relationship with God! The influx of foreigners to these countries gives missionaries there an opportunity to reach other nations while staying in one place. The statistics show that none of these countries have an evangelical population above 2%; Croatia = 0.4%, Ireland = 1.5%, Spain = 1%. Please be praying for missionaries in these countries and for others to join them in the work of the Gospel.

Bridging the Gap in Croatia

Bridging the Gap in Croatia

by | Aug 6, 2022 | Europe

At the end of July 2022, the nation of Croatia unveiled a beautiful new bridge that has been in the making for nearly five years. It connects the mainland to the peninsula of Peljesac in the south. Peljesac is one of the most popular destinations in Croatia as it contains the well-known medieval walled city of Dubrovnik. Because tourists were required to pass through a tiny portion of Bosnia in order to access Peljesac, it created a hassle for travellers. This bridge eliminates the need for border checks and streamlines tourism, which many hope will boost the economy.

Croatia is a young nation that fought a war for independence against Yugoslavia from March 1991-November 1995. With the conflict being in the recent past, there is still lingering hurt between the peoples of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. As an example of this, the recent construction of the Peljesac Bridge was not supported by Bosnia as the government claims there is an unresolved border dispute between the nations. The Roman Catholic Church maintains a strong grip on the country, and statistically, only .4% of Croats claim to be evangelical Christian. Please pray for missionaries to go to Croatia, disciples to be made, churches planted, and Christian unity to prevail in a country accustomed to conflict.