Banja Luka

After the Bosnian conflict (1992-95), the nation was basically divided administratively between the Bosnian Serbs (who control the northern and eastern areas) and the Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats (who control the central, eastern and southern areas). Banja Luka is the second largest city in Bosnia, and the administrative center for the Republika Srpska (Serbian Republic of Bosnia). It is an attractive city with many tree-lined avenues and parks with nearly 250,000 inhabitants, and dates before Roman times. In Banja Luka, we enjoyed fellowshipping with pastors Bane and Daniela Erceg. They are the proud parents of two wonderful children, Jovan and Jana.

As a young man, Bane received Jesus as his Lord and Savior during our time pastoring in Sarajevo before the war. As a teenager, he had long black hair and was very quiet. We remember him at that time taking the bold step of performing in skits and illustrative dramas. Now he is preaching and teaching the Word of God, training new believers and publishing a Christian magazine. He has planted two churches in Bosnia: Banja Luka and Doboj. Daniela comes from Serbia proper, which lies to the east of Bosnia. She comes from a spiritually influential Christian family in southern Serbia, has an anointed voice for worship, and is a great mom and wife.

The name ‘Banja Luka’ appeared first in the Middle Ages and one of its translations could be ’Valley of the Ruler’. In the center of the city is a castle, a medieval fortress, from where one can oversee the city. The Serbian people are a warrior nation, and warfare has always been a major theme in its history. A Serbian proverb says, “A man without enemies is worthless.” If William Wallace had not been a Scot, he could well have been a Serb.