Missions

Frozen in time

For nearly 50 years, the people of Albania lived frozen in time, sealed off from all that was happening beyond their borders.

During communist rule, their land was confiscated, their villages and towns fragmented and great walls of distrust erected. Under the Stalinist regime of Enver Hoxha, Albania was declared the world's first atheist state and closed to the outside world. It became the poorest and most underdeveloped country in Europe.

As a testament to Hoxha's paranoid regime, the land is dotted with 700,000 concrete bunkers ­now used mainly as toilets or storehouses.

Rebuilding lives, economy and faith

Since the doors to Albania opened in 1991, the country has struggled to "catch up" and bring its people into the 20th century.

With the rise of the "democratic" government of Sali Berisha, the hopes of Albanians were raised to new heights of acquiring wealth and prosperity not seen in over a millennium. However, with the rise and collapse of numerous government-promoted fraudulent investment schemes, the country was thrown into anarchy in March 1997. Elected in June 1997, the new socialist prime minister, Fatos Nano, is attempting to attract foreign investment and aid in order to resuscitate Europe's poorest nation.

Continuing sporadic and random violence pervades the country, further destabilizing the economy and escalating despair. Albania's largest source of income is reportedly money sent from family members outside the country.

In direct contrast to its past, Albania's borders are now open to any and all. This includes the West, as well as members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as some Albanians are returning to their primary religion of Islam.

At the same time, the Albanians are overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change.

Tightly knit culture

Albania is unusual in its homogeneous population­ 96 percent of its population are ethnic Albanians.

Albanians are a tightly knit culture, with strong family ties. They resist blending into other cultures. They tend to develop Albanian communities when they live in other countries, maintaining their own language and traditions.

One such community is the province of Kosovo, located in southern Serbia, part of the federation of Serbia and Montenegro. Kosovo used to be an autonomous province within the former Yugoslavia. Albanians make up 90 percent of Kosovo. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Serbs placed Kosovo under martial law, with many restrictions. Persecution of the primarily Muslim Albanians continues to this day, and the Albanians are seeking independence from Serbia.

Other such communities include the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, where Albanians account for 33 percent of the population; and Turkey, where reportedly more than one million Albanians reside.

Profile: Open to gospel

After being intellectually and spiritually starved for decades, the Albanians are now open to the gospel. There is religious freedom and separation of church and state, but efforts exist to change this. There is a provision allowing for government intervention (in religious practices) for the "public good."

Prior to the ban on any religion in 1967, Albanians were 70 percent Muslim, 20 percent Greek Orthodox and 10 percent Roman Catholic. Now the government of Albania categorizes 55 percent of the population as non-religious. Since 1991, six percent of the Albanians in Albania have become evangelical Christians, according to government statistics.

The vast majority (95 percent) of Albanians in Macedonia, Kosovo and Turkey profess to be of Muslim ancestry.

Those who work with the Albanians say that almost every conversation they have turns to spiritual things.

Quotes from different Albanians:

A 15-year-old boy in Macedonia: "I was kicked out of the mosque for asking questions about Isa (Jesus). I spent some time with Jehovah's Witnesses, but they were all mixed up. I found the truth in Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

A 16-year-old boy who wants to learn English: "For 50 years we had no religion. We were told there is no god. We haven't had the opportunity to know anything about a god. It doesn't matter to me what we talk about. I just want to learn English so that I can go to the USA to live."

A 50-year-old woman: "Your Christian religion is liked better by the young people. I'm a Muslim. Have always been. I don't understand these new religions."

A 45-year-old man in Macedonia: "It is difficult to express my new faith in Jesus Christ to my extended family. I know I must. Please pray for me."

An 18-year-old boy: "I was searching for the truth and I only found it in Jesus Christ."

Resource Note:
A flier and documentary video on CBF missions among the Albanian People are available. Visit the CBF e-Store or call toll-free at (888) 801-4CBF (4223).