Albanian Pastor Making Friends and Seeking Support in U.S. by Katherine Jones
Albanian Pastor Making Friends and Seeking Support in U.S.
by Katherine Jones
For nearly thirty years Alongside Ministries has cherished friendship and ministry connection with pastor Arjan Larashi.
When his daughter decided to enroll at Bellevue Community College near Seattle, Washington, Arjan took advantage of the opportunity to travel from Europe to the U.S. to connect with several churches across the country.
“The Lord is using my visit to not only encourage my daughter Pjetra as she begins her classes at university,” Arjan says, “but to create bridges and make friends with churches and Alongside board members.”
Arjan serves with his wife, Mimoza, in Albania, where he worked for over two decades in Bilisht as a pastor with a strong emphasis on evangelism, youth ministries, and leadership development. Then, in 2017, Arjan responded to a call to shift his ministry focus, moving his family to Korca, Albania, where he now trains pastors and Christian leaders in partnership with Freedom In Christ Ministries, International (FICM).
His work with FICM focuses on training leaders in servant leadership and in teaching how to break strongholds. “All Christians have strongholds,” he says, “which result from family, background, culture, and religion. Prayer is needed to break these strongholds so that Christians can become free.”
Arjan is also a published author, whose books have been widely appreciated in Albania. His most recent book, Breaking the Strongholds of Communism, explores fifteen strongholds resulting from the communist mindset, which affects not only the churches of post-communist countries, but also western churches that are increasingly influenced by this mentality.
As he moves forward in ministry, Arjan faces two distinct challenges. “The most personal challenge in my ministry is the lack of financial support for me personally and for my mission,” he says. Although he is a leader in FICM, the organization does not provide financial support. And because of the economic condition of most Albanians, support from the community is slim.
His other challenge is in not knowing how best to promote his latest book. “I think there are many people that want to read a book like it, but they can't find it,” he says. “I need to have people like Barnabas was for the apostle Paul that encouraged him and opened the ways for him to be useful by God.”
Arjan hopes that his time in the U.S. will serve to forge new friendships and allow him to grow his financial support, as it is his belief that God is always opening doors for Alongsiders. Arjan expects to see the Lord expand missions because “God has a plan for Europe,” he says. “I believe he will grow financial support for all Alongsiders by using new friendships and key people.”
To support Arjan via Alongside Ministries International click here, then select his name from the drop-down menu.
To purchase his previous book Arrest me… I killed someone! (an amazing testimony) click here.