Staff Gathering in Durres, Albania
Each year the staff from Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) gather for four days of connection, learning and discerning God’s leading for our collective service. We find that this annual gathering is such an encouragement and inspiration for our ongoing ministry. It is the one time each year that we meet in person and the joy in being together is palpable as people share meals, listen into to each other’s lives, and share in worship and prayer together. We thank God for another blessed gathering and I am encouraged by each person and the ways they continue to hold up the light of Christ in the places they live and serve.
Attending Sunday worship service at Corner Stone church in the capital city Tirana.
The weekend before our gathering began in Durres, our family spent two days in Tirana. One of the highlights of our time was meeting Blerim (front left) who welcomed us so warmly to his city and his church. Blerim and I were put in touch with each other through a Serve Globally connection. Showing us true Albanian hospitality, he came to meet our family at our hotel, took us to the church and introduced us to his friends. Now that is hospitality!
Blerim is Albanian and came to faith in Christ through the ministry of CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) on his university campus. He then joined the CRU staff and is now a senior leader helping to guide over a hundred full time Albanian staff members. It was truly amazing to hear about the work they are doing on school campuses, local churches and communities all around the country. It was a joy to spend time with Blerim later in the week as well when he and a colleague presented to our group about how God is at work in Albania.
The young adults from the church in the picture above each had a testimony of how they came to faith on their campus and later joined this church community. Before and after the service we had the opportunity to hear how they experience life in Albania. They were open about their struggles to see a future in their country due to corruption and few opportunities to thrive after their studies. At the same time they shared how their faith is shaping the way they seek to live and encourages them to pursue their studies and future work with Gospel integrity. With God in their lives they feel a new sense of hope and purpose for their lives that goes beyond gaining status and wealth in society.
It was beautiful to hear the congregation joyfully sing in Albanian. We recognized the tune of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, and tried our best to sing along in Albanian. As Hanna and I shared about our experience afterwards, we both shared a sense of joy and hope in the truth that God is at work all over the world in countless ways. Before coming Albania we knew very little about their difficult history as a people, how the Gospel has changed so many lives, and that the church is growing. Thanks be to God who is doing “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.” (Eph. 3:20)
In the background the newly built Namazgah Mosque rises prominently in central Tirana. Albania was ruled by the Ottoman Turks for nearly 500 years and the majority of the population remains nominally muslim. We felt the blending of religion as we heard both church bells and the call to prayer from the mosques ringing out throughout the city.
During the brutal totalitarian rule of Enver Hoxha, (1944-1985) Albania was completely closed off from the rest of the world. All religion was brutally oppressed and ultimately banned completely. After the revolution of 1991 religious freedom was established and people were free to gather for worship. Blerim shared that there is are respectful and peaceful relations between Muslim and Christians and that many nominal muslims are curious and open to the message of the Gospel. Many of the staff working with CRU came to faith iin Christ from Muslim backgrounds.
View from the city of Kruje, built on the side of the mountains near Durres. The picture is taken from an ancient fortress now turned into a museum of Albanian history. This is a people that throughout their history has faced the conquering forces of their neighbors. The museum tells the story of resistance, war, occupation and the rich history and culture of the Albanian people.
Pray for:
Blerim and his work with CRU and for God’s Spirit to continue to transform lives among students and their families.
For the people of Albania for renewal of society and government and freedom from the grip of corruption
And for the church in Albania, for unity and partnership in the Gospel, and for the next generation of young believers to lead with Christ’s love and integrity.
For our Serve Globally staff in Europe and MENA region. Pray for God’s encouragement in their work, and for the churches and organizations they partner with.