Leading up to Training Camp and Launch, I will be doing an 11 part series on all the different countries I will be going to. The main purpose of these posts is not just to know a bunch of facts about each country, but to have specific things to pray for. I hope that you will partner with me in praying for each of these countries and my squad.
Month 1 My squad and I will be in Albania. I have heard that our ministry there will mostly focus on ministering to and building relationships with the youth.
Now for you history buffs, this is for you:
Albania, a mountainous, Balkan state on the Adriatic Sea has a population of just over three million. The nation won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and was conquered by Italy in 1939. The Communist regime that ruled from 1944 until the early 1990s left Albania economically, morally, and spiritually demoralized. Albania remains one of Europe’s poorest countries. The anarchy, chaos, and corruption of the 1990s and 2000s mirror the country’s grim past, leaving Albanians struggling for hope and renewal and a brighter future.
Albania is still struggling to transition from Communism’s closed market to a more open, modern economy. Agriculture accounts for half of all employment but is primarily limited to subsistence farming and small family plots that lack modern equipment. Energy shortages due to reliance on antiquated hydro power contribute to Albania’s poor business environment and failure to attract foreign investors. Politically, Albania has enjoyed peaceful, multi-party elections since the death of dictator Enver Hoxha and the demise of Communism.
Religious freedom granted by the government in 1998 has helped the infant Albanian church to mature, but still over 60% of Albanians are Muslim, although superstition and folk Islam prosper. Even though many identify with a religion, religion doesn’t play a large part in many people’s lives. This is because In 1967 religious practices were banned; which made Albania not only the first but, as of now, the only constitutional atheist state. Religious practice was not allowed to resume until the 1990’s, when the communist Peoples Republic of Albania was dissolved.
Random Facts:
-Albania, Armenia and Vatican City are the only European countries without a McDonald’s branch.
– Albanians nod their head up and down to mean ‘no’, and shake it from side to side for ‘yes’.
-The official currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek.
-The most popular sport in Albania is soccer.
-The national airport of Albania is named after Mother Teresa. The full name of the the airport is Tirana International Nene Tereza
|
Number of People Groups |
People Groups unreached |
Total Population |
Unreached Population |
|
18 |
5 |
3,244,000 |
42,185 |
|
Christian |
Largest Religion |
Official Languages(s) |
|
| 26.70% | Islam (68%) |
Albanian, Gheg |
|
*Numbers according to the Joshua Project
-Pray for Albanian Muslims to encounter the living Christ.
-Pray for Christians to seize opportunities available through religious freedom to minister to Muslims.
-Pray for my squad as we go into Albania and reach out to the youth, that relationships would be built.
-Pray that the youth would have radical encounters and be empowered to lead their country into freedom
-Pray that my squad would grow closer and closer as we all live in community and adjust to life on the race
