Two weeks in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo

Recently I visited our work among the Albanian peoples that stretch across 3 countries (Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo) in Southeast Europe. As I have reflected back on my trip, the Lord has impressed 4 things on my heart. I have interspersed those reflections among some photos of the trip.

Tirana: the beautiful capital city of Albania



Kyle Collins from Atlanta has a spiritual conversation with an Albanian college student.



Some of the bright smiling faces who are part of our work in Kosovo.

1) What God has done among the Albanian people: In the 1980s Albania was officially atheistic and closed to the outside world. All religious expression was illegal, much the way North Korea is today. Yet now in Albania the number among the evangelical church has gone from less than 20 in 1991 to over 20,000 today. Through the efforts of faithful missionaries, the gospel has gone out among every town, city and village across Albania. However, there is still much work to be done in proclaiming Christ in Albania.

This is me sharing my story of faith with students in Tirana.

Some of the guys who are part of our ministry in Tirana.

2)  What God can do among the Albanian people: The Albanian body of Christ is already sending missionaries beyond its borders. Even more so than that, Albanian missionaries can go into the difficult Muslim countries that American missionaries cannot enter. Albania is the missionary gateway to the rest of the Muslim world.

Outside our hotel in Tirana, Albania was a lemon tree with branches heavy with fruit.  Usually you don't associate Muslims in Europe with "low hanging fruit" but the team from Atlanta thought the word picture was appropriate after our week with college students in Albania

Brent Harrison, of Experiencing Missions International, leads the discussion with college students in Kosovo.

3)  The necessity of church partnerships: In order for the gospel to claim new ground in our world today, there must be partnerships forged between mission agencies and missions-minded churches. The gospel work in Albania, as well as other parts of Eastern Europe, will depend on vibrant, committed partnerships with North American churches to provide encouragement, prayer support, training, laborers and finances. Likewise, many missions organizations can provide on-site logistic support, local contacts and the needed infrastructure for churches to extend their influence into “remotest ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

If your church is looking to establish church partnerships in international locations, particularly Eastern Europe, please contact me.

These are some of the awesome college students we talked with in Tetovo, Macedonia.   This city is traditionally a very difficult place for Christian missionaries so our goal was to make friends and establish some connections.   We were helping "move rocks" and "dig up bushes" that day so that later the soil may be plowed so someone else can sow seed. 

On the main highway through the mountains southeast of Tirana we rounded a corner and had to brake quickly because we didn't expect to be sharing the road with some fellow travelers.

4)  The stewardship given to the North American church: I believe that God has given the American church all that is needed to fulfill the Great Commission in our world today (Matthew 28:18-20) . Yet are we good stewards of what God has given us? Recent studies, according to World magazine, show that the average Christian gives only 3% back to the church and of that money, only 3% goes to missions outside of the USA. Other resources such as training, laborers, facilities, even the English language, go largely to fortressing the church of America rather than proclaiming light in dark parts of the world. Will God remove the lampstand given to the American church (Revelation 2:5)? Will He transfer it to another church? The Asian church? The Latino church? The African church? Perhaps even the Albanian church? "God blesses his people with extravagant grace so they might extend his extravagant glory to all peoples on the earth." David Platt from his book, Radical.

This ole guy offered to sell me this rabbit which was still very much alive for 20 Euros ($28).  When I politely declined he sweetened the deal by offering to slit its throat, skin it and throw it in a big pot of boiling water at no extra charge. 

This sign was at a bridge on the Macdonian border with Kosovo.   After I saw this, I thought twice about joy-riding across the bridge in my tank.