Christianity in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is at the crossroads of South and Southeast Europe. It shares borders with Serbia to the East, Montenegro to the Southeast, and Croatia to the North and Southwest. In the South, it has a narrow coast on the Adriatic Sea within the Mediterranean region. The capital and largest city is Sarajevo, while the official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. There are several ethnic groups in the country, including Bosniaks, 50.1%, Serbs, 30.8%, Croats, 15.4% and others, 3.7%. Islam is the dominant faith embraced by 51% of the population. The Serbian Orthodox Church is 31%, Roman Catholicism 15%, while Atheism and others represent 3%.

Modern History

       The country’s history extends way back to the time of Roman conquest in the first and second centuries B.C. It was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from the 15^th century. The region came under the control of Austria-Hungary in 1878 and subsequently played a key role in the outbreak of World War 1. In 1918, it was incorporated into the newly created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, where it had no formal status of its own. After World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a constituent republic of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. Following the disintegration of that country in 1991, the majority of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted for independence in a 1992 referendum. Much of the country’s Serb population, however, opposed independence and boycotted the referendum.

        War soon consumed the region, as ethnic nationalists, with the support of Serbia and Croatia, tried to take control of territories they claimed as their own. Horrific ethnic campaigns between 1992 and the end of 1995 killed thousands and displaced more than two million people. International intervention led to a peace agreement, the Dayton Accords, in late 1995.

God’s Canvass in Bosnia and Herzegovina

        The country is mostly mountainous. The highest point is Maglic at 2,386 metres (7,828.1 feet). Other major mountains include Volujak, Zelengora, Lilija, Orjen and Kozara. Overall, 50% of the land mass is forested, especially most parts of Bosnia. Herzegovina has a drier Mediterranean climate. The pictures below represent the fauna and flora of the country.

Fauna

        Bears, foxes, goats, wolves, martens and wild cats are among some mammals found in the country. There are also more than one hundred species of birds, including the peregrine falcon, blackbird and rock partridge. Some of the animals are presented below.

Flora

 Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to rare species of plants. These include Bosnia bluebell, Serbian spruce, Minnow-nase, European pine, beech and different varieties of oak. Some of the plant species are shown below.

Beaches

Traditional Attire

The national attire of the country is unique due to its diversity, with some features traced to the influence of the Balkans, Orient and Mediterranean cultures. Some of the attires are presented below.

Culture

The culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina offers a mix of influences that blend the East and West in architecture, cuisine, languages and religions. Its people are very friendly with a unique sense of humour. Elders are respected and generally considered extremely important members of the family.

Cuisines

 The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina use many spices in their cuisine, but usually in very small quantities. Most dishes are light, as they are cooked in lots of water with fully natural sauces. Some popular dishes in the country are shown below.

Status of Christianity in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally ethno-religious; hence, people’s ethnicity determines their religious affiliation. Currently, Islam is the most popular faith, especially among ethnic Bosniaks. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the most widespread Christian denomination followed by Roman Catholic Church. Both are not evangelical in their outlook. Consequently, the country is under the influence of strange spirits that promote false religions. According to the Bible, the church is under the leadership of Jesus Christ. Before His ascension, He gave the early disciples a charge to evangelise all nations. It is the responsibility of every believer to participate in this Great Commission. On this note, the following prayer points are relevant.

Prayer Points

1. Ask the Father to break the influence of all demonic principalities and powers operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2. Pray that He would destroy every infrastructure they are using to keep the people in bondage.
3. Ask the Father to pour out His Spirit on the people as He promised in Joel 2:28.
4. Pray that revival will break out among believers in the country to prepare them for great harvest of souls.
5. Pray that God would destroy all wrong foundations laid in the lives of believers through doctrinal errors and doctrines of demons.
6. Ask the Father to sanctify all believers in the country by His word.
7. Pray that He would fill them with His Spirit for ministry of the word and prayer.
8. Pray that God would open doors for believers to preach Christ with their lives.
9. Pray that God would protect believers as they minister in Muslim controlled areas of the country.
10.  Thank Him for giving believers in the country everything they need for life and godliness.

Intercession Checklist

1.  The political map of Bosnia and Herzegovina provided in the article is to aid focused prayer for unsaved souls in the country.
2. Pick a town, city or region from the map for targeted prayer.
3. Present your chosen space to God and tell Him that you are claiming it for Christ as His Ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20).
4.  Remind the Father that He had promised to give the entire nations to Christ as His inheritance (Psalm 2:8).

    ***** Some materials sourced from Bosnia and Herzegovina, https://en.m.wikipedia.org; https://nationalclothing.org.