By Heather Mustain
Earlier this month, six of us from Wilshire traveled to Skopje, Macedonia, to see and learn more from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel Jeff and Alicia Lee. We were joined on the trip by members of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Wilshire supports CBF, our primary global missions partner, in two primary ways — first, through our faithful giving to the Global Missions offering, which supports the long-term presence of all CBF field personnel, and second, through funding projects undertaken by specific field personnel.
Over several years, Wilshire has given to Jeff and Alicia’s ministry in many different ways. We provided funds to help the only food bank in Macedonia and provided a grant so the Lees could minister to refugees making their way through the region in 2016. Most recently, we provided a small business loan to a young man who wanted to begin a fruit and vegetable stand after losing his restaurants in 2020.
We began our trip exploring ancient and active monasteries, learning more about Eastern Orthodoxy, walking the ruins of a second-century basilica and castle, visiting a mosque and having conversations about how the Lees’ ministry is a bridge between the area’s two dominant faith traditions.
The best way to describe the Lees’ ministry is one of presence. They have lived and worked in Macedonia for 13 years and have built a network of connections between many nonprofits.
The first is Poraka, which provides day centers and group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. We spent two days with the residents playing, crafting, eating and bowling together. Through CBF, Jeff has also provided green houses for vegetables, chickens and goats on Poraka’s properties, and the residents have taken up this responsibility with diligence and care. Unused produce is sold to help fund their operations.
The second is the only food bank in Macedonia, where our group helped package 30 food boxes for delivery to those in need.
The third nonprofit is Ratoe, a recovery and alcohol center for men. Ratoe focuses on the men’s sobriety while also providing employment through a woodworking business where they rehab furniture and build cabinetry.
While each entity has a different focus, Jeff has been able to build threads between all of them. When Poraka or Ratoe is in need of food, Jeff connects them to the food bank. When Poraka built a new house, Ratoe provided cabinetry for the kitchen. And when the food bank needs extra storage space, Poraka opens its doors. It was beautiful to see how the Lees’ faithful presence has led to a witness of love and trust. And the hospitality provided to us will last a lifetime.
We are committed to continuing to help support the Lees and their ministry in Macedonia. Jeff continues to explore new agricultural projects; among his newest ventures are establishing a vineyard, expanding green houses and providing chickens to the vulnerable.
We will go again, perhaps in September 2026 to help harvest grapes alongside the residents of Poraka.
Before that, you’ll get a chance to meet and hear from Jeff and Alicia when they visit Wilshire on Sunday, June 29. We’ll share more about their visit as it gets closer. In the meantime, join me in keeping them in your prayers.