Albania

Albania is a small country of about three million people.  It is one of Eastern Europe’s poorest countries.  The estimated yearly income per person is $670.  Unemployment may exceed 30%.  No religion was allowed to exist in Albania until 1990. Religious freedom was legalized in 1998.  The Evangelicals (including Charismatics/Pentecostals) represent 4.4% of the population.  There are no formally registered churches in Albania, but they are allowed to register and exist as Foundations. Leadership training is a major concern of the church in Albania as most churches and Christian organizations are being led by missionaries/foreigners.  There remains the danger of opposition to religious freedom from the religious groups that were once in power.

In 2005 MTEE began working together with a group of Bulgarian pastors who have a heart for ministry in Albania. These are men who we have been working with for years in Bulgaria and they know the power of Bible training and discipleship. Our current strategy is to offer seminars two or three times a year for Albanian leaders, to help them gain the training that they need. In addition to the training our goal is to translate and print materials that will help them in the areas of leadership and practical Christian life. We will also help send teams of young people from Bulgaria to work with the Albanian youth and will sponsor some Albanian leaders to come to Bulgaria for a short time of training/mentoring each year.