Albania

In 1991, Communism in Albania collapsed. Suddenly, Albania, just west of Greece and across the Adriatic from Italy, found it borders open to foreign visitors after 40 years as the most isolated and closed country in the world. Followers of Jesus with a heart for sharing the Gospel with Albanians were among the first to enter. They preached the good news of Jesus Christ on street corners and in door-to-door evangelism. Today, there are vital and growing churches across the country.

Alongside Ministries International has been present in Albania since 1992, supporting the work of missionaries and the Albanian believers in Korçë, Bilisht and Erseka, in southeastern Albania. Long and short-term work has been very important in establishing and supporting the Church.

Alongsiders and the Albanian Church

Mark and Ruthie Stoscher

Persons serving with Alongside Ministries International provide key leadership to several thriving ministries in Albania. Under the leadership of Mark and Ruthie Stoscher and a strong team of Albanian leaders, the Crossroads Christian Camp in Erseka welcomes for camp every summer nearly 1,000 children and youth from all over Albania. Additionally, a Bible School, called Udhëkryq (oo-the-krooch), 'crossroads' in Albanian, uses the same facilities September through March, providing solid Biblical and theological training to young leaders. Udhëkryq welcomed the first class of students in September 2004, the newest of over twenty Torchbearers centers worldwide. Since that time, the school has continued with an average of 12-20 Albanian and international students each year.

Doni and Gail Lilo

Doni and Gail have been alongside the church in Albania since 1995 and 2004, respectively. Doni serves full-time in church leadership, translation, teaching, adult discipleship, and leadership at the church and the Torchbearer's Bible School in Erseka.

Gail serves in young women’s discipleship, worship, children’s ministry, and assists at the Torchbearer's Bible School in teaching and translation. They have a 20-month old daughter, Koreta, and are expecting their second child this July.

Arjan and Mimoza Larashi -- an American's perspective

I am in the comfortable meeting room of the new building (dedicated last summer) of the Evangelical Church in Bilishti, Albania where Arjan Larishi, the pastor and his wife, Mimoza and several other Albanian spiritual leaders, are describing the growth in the church following the work of a short-term mission team, Grupi Amerikan, last summer.

In subsequent months, 20-30 new people have become a part of the fellowship of believers in the church. Several other Albanians have placed their faith in Jesus because of the work of believers at this church.

As we are meeting in early March, we hear the wonderful sounds of the weekly children's Saturday program where 20-30 young Albanians have fellowship and hear the good news of Jesus each week. A few hours later, as we continued to meet, we are blessed to hear the worship and praise team practice for Sunday's worship.

We are also praying today because seven from this church will leave Sunday afternoon (March 14th) for a two day mission of sharing the Gospel among Albanians living Manastir, a small city in southeastern Macedonia, north-east of Bilisht.