Ministry Pathways: Teaching in Serbia
A Pioneer in Serbia has been teaching for over 20 years in Europe. When Eric and his wife, Susan, first moved to nearby Montenegro, they followed the ministry model they’d seen in other places and started an English school.
Back then, the plan was simple. In a place where a traditional ministry pathway wasn’t accessible, teaching English offered a natural way to build friendships and share life with the people around them. For 20 hours each week, Eric and teammates taught English to students of all ages—then spent the rest of their time doing what they loved most: meeting people, sharing meals, having conversations about faith, and drinking more cups of coffee than they could count. Over time, relationships deepened, and a small fellowship of believers began to take root in their city.
In 2008, the global financial crisis hit hard, impacting both their student enrollment and their financial support from the U.S. Many teammates began to move back to their home countries because of finances and the couple found themselves increasingly alone in their ministry.
“It became clear that we weren’t going to thrive long-term without a team,” Eric recalls. “After much prayer, we decided not to return to the U.S., but to shift our approach to ministry.”
That decision led them to a new city—and a new pathway for ministry in teaching. They moved north to Belgrade, Serbia, where Eric accepted a job teaching at an international school. What started as a practical move soon provided a new ministry pathway—one that would sustain them for decades to come.
“Right now I’m teaching at an international school in Belgrade,” Eric says with a smile. “I teach Year 4 in a British school, which is about the same as 3rd grade in the U.S. I teach math, English, art, and science to a class of 14 children.”
His role in the classroom naturally opened doors to meaningful relationships that didn’t require explaining why he was there or what he was trying to do. “As a teacher, I can answer people honestly when they ask, ‘Why are you here?’” he says. “It builds trust right from the start.”
Susan also began teaching at the school and over time, they came to realize that teaching wasn’t just a source of income. Through working a job in the classroom, they found a sustainable way to live and serve. There’s something beautiful about having legitimacy in the eyes of the community - it’s honest, it’s natural, and it opens up opportunities that might not exist otherwise.
The benefits have gone beyond relationships. Working full-time has provided a rhythm and financial stability that’s rare in cross-cultural ministry. “My salary covers our expenses, which means we’re not dependent on fluctuating support or exchange rates,” Eric explains. “It’s taken a huge weight off our shoulders.”
That stability has also allowed them to model something important for local believers—a sustainable way to live out ministry. “In much of the former Yugoslavia, pastors often rely on foreign support,” Eric shares. “By working and serving at the same time, I’ve been able to show that you can provide for your family and still actively serve the Kingdom.”
Looking back, Eric sees God’s hand in every pivot and every challenge along the way. “I value our early years in Montenegro and the traditional approach we had there,” he reflects. “But I’m convinced we wouldn’t have lasted 20+ years overseas if we hadn’t made the transition. For us, being Marketplace workers has not only been sustainable—it’s been a tremendous blessing.”
Today, the chalk dust and lesson plans continue to be an integral part of Eric and Susan’s everyday life. Both within and outside of the classroom walls, their family continues to disciple young believers and be present in their community, shaping lives one conversation, one cup of coffee, and one student at a time.
For those who feel called to serve cross-culturally but aren’t sure what that might look like, teaching can be an open door. Around the world, classrooms are places of connection, trust, and transformation. Maybe, like Eric in Serbia, God could use your skills and your everyday work to plant seeds of the Gospel in unexpected places. Sometimes, the most lasting ministry begins not with a Bible study—but with a lesson plan.
