Pastor Selim is the senior Pastor of the Church under the tent – a church of about 700 roman (gypsy) members in Leskovac, Serbia. Pastor Selim is a longtime warrior of the Gospel amidst resistance and prosecution from every side.
Even though winter temperatures may reach 20 degrees below zero, his church continues to faithfully meet in their tent, with the wood stove in the middle.
Pastor Selim is married and has three children and two grandchildren. Here is a message from Pastor Selim:
“I’m happy that my whole family serves to the Lord. My son is helping me greatly in my ministry and service. I came to God as a young boy and I was helping my Pastor as I was growing up. After some time, I was sent to Bible School in England where I finished my biblical studies and training. Afterwards, I come back and I started working with Gypsy people. The Lord blessed my work with a revival among Roman peoples. There were many hearings and many souls saved. Very quickly the space we were using as a church became too small for us.
Shortly after, trying to accommodate the increased numbers, we moved out to one plot of land where we put a big tent. As then also now my heart yearns to grow new churches. To date we have opened over ten (10) other Gypsy churches in surrounding towns and cities.
This years we start with another pilot work in a small village, which often is neglected and does not get many visitors. I’m excited that I have people around me who help me in this work other other church work. We have the team that goes out to different areas doing services in different church startups. I thank God for His service and the work with which He has entrusted us.
Please pray for us! I send greetings to you all in Christ’s wonderful name!
Selim
UPDATE:
In a major feat of faith, Rev. Alijevic led his church body into the building project to build a building where the tent was. The building is now completed, thereby proving all the naysayers and doubters wrong. The church is now praying for a heating system before winter (Their location is on the same latitude as Canada and regularly gets snow and deep cold temperatures)