Glimpses ofAlbania

Leah (pictured above) first came to know Seventh-day Adventists when she started going to a language class that was part of a Global Mission project in the port city of Durrës, Albania. After taking the language class, she also studied the Bible, and before long she was baptized. Leah loves to share her faith, and recently she has been inviting young people in her apartment complex to come to church and join the Pathfinder Club. Here she is, second from right, with three young women who have been attending the church thanks to Leah sharing her faith.

In 1991, the collapse of the Communist regime in Albania opened the door for the Seventh-day Adventist Church to bring aid and the hope of salvation. We have 350 members worshiping in five Seventh-day Adventist churches in Albania, a country with nearly 3 million people.

This pyramid (below) was built to celebrate Communist leader Enver Hoxha. After 1991, the Adventist Church held evangelistic meetings and baptisms here.

A meal for the stomach and the word of God for the soul. This group meets weekly to study the Bible.

Pastor Gentian Thomollari, one of two ordained pastors in Albania.

Luan Qosja has been blind from birth, but he has recently seen the light of the gospel and now uses his talents to praise and worship God through his piano.

The Kisha church and center of influence. Here the healing hands of Jesus connect with the community to show them love.

The Albanian children pray that their people will have the means and the strength to share Jesus in a secular culture.

Earley Simon, Office of Adventist Mission