10 Apr 2025, 21:23IM Communications
Irish Mission Welcomes Tome Naskov to District of Churches in Northern Ireland
On March 29th, a combined service brought together the Coleraine, Derry/Londonderry, and Letterkenny churches in Northern Ireland to warmly welcome Pastor Tome Naskov as their new district pastor. The service featured a special pastoral installation led by Pastor Ben Pontanar, Executive Secretary of the Irish Mission, who offered this heartfelt appeal: “Serve the Lord together with Tome, love one another together with Tome, fellowship with him, study the Word with him, pray with him—but as he prays for you, pray for him as well.”
A Life Changed by God
Tome was born and raised in Skopje, North Macedonia, in a non-religious family. Everything changed in 1994 when he encountered God through the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “That encounter with God transformed my life,” he shares. “Through the Bible, I found answers to life’s deepest questions—about identity, meaning, origins, and purpose.”
Despite cultural challenges and societal resistance to Protestant faith, Tome remained faithful. Just one year after his baptism, he responded to God’s call to ministry and began theological studies at Belgrade Theological Seminary.
Over the past two decades, his ministry has taken him across various roles and countries—including pastoral work in Macedonia, a chaplaincy at Stanborough School in England, and leadership positions in the South-East European Union. He is also a certified professional coach and has lectured in psychology at the seminary level. His passion for people and growth has shaped outreach programs that integrate coaching principles with biblical truth. “These initiatives aim to present the Christian worldview as a holistic framework for personal growth and human flourishing,” he says.
A Heart for Ministry and Community
Tome is deeply committed to engaging both church members and the wider community. Recognising the growing challenges around mental and emotional health, he hopes to offer encouragement and support through pastoral care, biblical teaching, and personal coaching. “One of the greatest needs I see today is in the area of mental and emotional health. Many people are struggling silently, and I believe that biblical Christianity offers the most complete and hope-filled response to these challenges,” he emphasises.
Beyond his ministry, Tome enjoys being active in nature and sports. He has already joined the City of Derry Tennis Club and enjoys football, skiing, hiking, and reading on topics such as theology, leadership, and relationships.
As Pastor Tome begins this new chapter of ministry in Northern Ireland, let us lift him up in prayer—asking God to bless his leadership, his teaching, and his heart for people. May he be a source of encouragement and hope to the congregations he serves. As Pastor Ben Pontanar so beautifully reminded us, “As he prays for you, pray for him as well.”
On March 29th, a combined service brought together the Coleraine, Derry/Londonderry, and Letterkenny churches in Northern Ireland to warmly welcome Pastor Tome Naskov as their new district pastor. The service featured a special pastoral installation led by Pastor Ben Pontanar, Executive Secretary of the Irish Mission, who offered this heartfelt appeal: “Serve the Lord together with Tome, love one another together with Tome, fellowship with him, study the Word with him, pray with him—but as he prays for you, pray for him as well.”
A Life Changed by God
Tome was born and raised in Skopje, North Macedonia, in a non-religious family. Everything changed in 1994 when he encountered God through the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “That encounter with God transformed my life,” he shares. “Through the Bible, I found answers to life’s deepest questions—about identity, meaning, origins, and purpose.”
Despite cultural challenges and societal resistance to Protestant faith, Tome remained faithful. Just one year after his baptism, he responded to God’s call to ministry and began theological studies at Belgrade Theological Seminary.
Over the past two decades, his ministry has taken him across various roles and countries—including pastoral work in Macedonia, a chaplaincy at Stanborough School in England, and leadership positions in the South-East European Union. He is also a certified professional coach and has lectured in psychology at the seminary level. His passion for people and growth has shaped outreach programs that integrate coaching principles with biblical truth. “These initiatives aim to present the Christian worldview as a holistic framework for personal growth and human flourishing,” he says.
A Heart for Ministry and Community
Tome is deeply committed to engaging both church members and the wider community. Recognising the growing challenges around mental and emotional health, he hopes to offer encouragement and support through pastoral care, biblical teaching, and personal coaching. “One of the greatest needs I see today is in the area of mental and emotional health. Many people are struggling silently, and I believe that biblical Christianity offers the most complete and hope-filled response to these challenges,” he emphasises.
Beyond his ministry, Tome enjoys being active in nature and sports. He has already joined the City of Derry Tennis Club and enjoys football, skiing, hiking, and reading on topics such as theology, leadership, and relationships.
As Pastor Tome begins this new chapter of ministry in Northern Ireland, let us lift him up in prayer—asking God to bless his leadership, his teaching, and his heart for people. May he be a source of encouragement and hope to the congregations he serves. As Pastor Ben Pontanar so beautifully reminded us, “As he prays for you, pray for him as well.”
