BELGRADE, Yugoslavia — The apparent ousting of Yugoslavian dictator Slobodan Milosevic through democratic elections is encouraging to members of minority churches in the devastated country.
Zarko Djordjevic, pastor of the largest Baptist church in Yugoslavia, told Keston News Service that the new administration headed by President-elect Vojislav Kostunica must make deep changes to Yugoslavian society.
“We had 50 years of vicious sowing of atheism in the country, and now it is important for people not to be content merely with cosmetic changes, with political changes, but to strive for inward changes. Only the new man can create new relations, and our desire is for people to repent and to believe in the gospel,” Djordjevic told Keston.
Father Leopold Rochmes, vicar-general of the Catholic archdiocese of Belgrade, told Keston that his fellow Catholics are “pleased Kostunica will be the new president. The Serbian people are happy and we’re fellow citizens. We always hail democracy.”
However, many Christian leaders like Bishop Jan Valenti of the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church are watching the transition of power cautiously.
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