Serbian President Boris Tadic

On April 27, Serbian president Boris Tadic signed into law the "Law on Churches and Religious Communities" even though he expressed concerns about its "shortcomings." In a letter to the Serbian legislature, Tadic wrote, "I believe that it is imperative that the Serbian Legislature urgently adopt amendments to the law so as to eliminate its shortcomings." However, Tadic gave no indication on how he intends to expedite those amendments and has acknowledged that the law in its present form violates the European Convention on Human Rights

According to the new legislation, all but seven officially recognized "traditional" faiths will lose their legal and tax-exempt status and will have to re-apply for legal recognition. Those stripped of their registered status include the Church of the Nazarene, Baptists and Seventh-Day Adventists, all of whom have all been in the country for over one hundred years.

Pray that amendments to the law will be made that will serve to improve the religious rights of all of Serbia's citizens. Pray that the believers will rely on the Holy Spirit to fill them with His love and power, keeping their minds clear of any apprehension they may be experiencing at the future implications of this law (1 Timothy 1:7). Pray that they will keep their eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of faith, seeing Him as their example of faithfulness and perseverance (Hebrews 12:1-3).