Author(s): Jovan Jonovski / Language(s): Macedonian
/ Issue: 1/2017
Traditional evangelical-Protestant churches in the period after WWII in Macedonia are Methodist and Baptist churches, and one home-church that will become Church of God. In 1947 there are 8 Methodist churches and three mission station with 5 pastors, and 2 Baptist Churches with one bi-vocational preachers. In 1948 a government body that deals with the religious community is formed.The Law on Religious Communities of 1953 forbids religious activities outside church property, and therefore many church communities not owning a building are forced to stop, with several punishments for those not abiding. In 1954 there are 3000 Methodist and 3000 Baptist in Yugoslavia.The services of the secret police and military intelligence were asking preachers to report on their activities, especially when going abroad. The government is obstructing the building of Church buildings. In 1962 there are 1920 Methodists with 6 preachers and 37 Baptist with one preacher.In this period Methodist preachers are Pane Temkov, Vladimir Daskalov, Krum Kalajliev, Kosta Karamazov, Ceko Cekov, Asen Palankov, Kiro Buhov, Zora Vuchkova, Nada Shamanova, Nikola Arnaudov, Krum Ivanov, Boris Donchev, Kitan Petreski, Bozhin Kostadinov, Georgi Milchev and Mihail and Pavle Cekov. They are rotating as a pastors in Skopje, Strumica, Prilep, Bitola, Murtino, Koleshino, Monospitovo, Veljusa, Radovish and Raklish.Baptist preachers, Ivan Rusjakov, Strahil Grozdanov, Marijan Hlastan, Chedo Ralevich, Ivan and Samuel Grozdanov, Bore Blazhevski, Branko Trajkovski and Sande Kotev are pastoring churches in Skopje, Radovish, Murtino and Bansko.This period ends with the forming of new Еvangelical-Protestant churches in 1987, Evangelical and Congregational churches, when a new period starts with larger numbers of believers are accepting Evangelical-protestant Christianity as a choice, rather than by tradition.
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