The Leslie Family arrived in Croatia in May of 2000. The Lord led them to a small group of Christians who had been praying that God would send someone to start a local church; they had learned that churches start churches, and that they were not a biblical church because they were not started by the right authority. From this small group, the very first Independent Baptist church was started. Tree of Life Independent Baptist Church was started in 2002 in the Northern city of Čakovec and was turned over to Brother Rajko Telebar the national pastor in 2007. The church is currently under the leadership of Bro. Telebar and growing and learning to serve.

The Leslies have also tried to have an active ministry to the Roma (Gyspy) population in Croatia. The Northern part of Croatia has a large Gypsy population and they are in desperate need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Leslies have worked in 3 different villages and for the last 7 years worked in the Gypsy village of Kuršanec. During these 7 years the Leslies had an active work with the children in the village. Every Saturday morning they held meetings with the younger children up to 9 years and then Sunday afternoon had meetings for children 9 years old to 18, and then conducted adult services on Sunday evenings. During this time there was much seed planted and many were saved in the village and baptized.

One of the greatest things God has allowed the Leslies to be involved in is the translation of the King James Bible into Croatian. Bro. Johnny battled with starting the project and after much prayer the Croatian Bible Project began in 2009. After many years of labor we received our first shipment of complete Bibles in 2018. There is no greater work that a man can do than to leave a country with a reliable copy of God’s Word. Since then, more than 25,000 Bibles have been placed in the hands of Croatians all over the world.

After turning the first work over to a national pastor, the Leslies planted another church in the city of Varaždin. Victors Independent Baptist Church was established in 2010 and is growing and doing it’s very best to reach their community for Christ. Over the years many have been saved and baptized in Varaždin. After serving 10 years in this city, the church has been turned over to a fellow missionary and the Leslie’s have moved to the coastal city of Split, which is the second largest city in Croatia. Already they are in the process of starting the 3rd church. Seed is being sown in Split and people are getting saved and coming to Bible studies. The launch date of this new church will be April of 2023.

The Leslies have been married for 32 years and have three adult children who live in Texas and Oklahoma and two precious grandsons.

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Sending Church & Clearing House

Trinity Baptist Church Dr. Todd Lasseter

2212 N. Davis Dr. Arlington, Texas 76012

817-460-7940 tbctexas.org