Albanian gentleman: “Përshëndetje në shqip, Ganci … më shumë fjalë në shqip, Ganci … vazhdoi të flasë në shqip, Ganci!”
Me (silently to myself): “How do you know my name?”
Our host, Erion, quickly made sense of everything explaining that this gentleman was one of the church members, his name is Genci (it just sounds like Ganci), and his story is an incredible testament to God.
Genci has spent a total of 26 years in prison. In his early 20s he was sentenced to death. His trial was extended during a 40 day window the law changed and the death penalty was no loner legal. In 1997 there was a crisis in Albania and many prisoners were released and escaped. Genci fled to Greece where he was found and sent back to Albania; then the same thing happened when he fled to Italy. He was re-sentenced to 25 to life with the opportunity to deduct years for good behavior.
Erion was partnered with the Prison Fellowship Ministry during this time and was asked to take a look at Genci’s file. After reading his story he interviewed him and decided to work with him. Genci’s family abandoned him, taking all of his land and possessions leaving him with nothing to come back to. After serving 18 years and 9 months Genci was released in 2008 for good behavior.
I am sure like many people who have been hurt by their families in the way he has, Genci wanted revenge. Erion stepped in and told him to let God be the mediator and not to get involved. Genci’s family is very scared of him and he did not like the idea of not taking things into his own hands. He went to his mothers home and threatened her giving the ultimatum of giving him what is rightfully his or he will kill the whole family. She gave him a portion of the money and he went to Erion asking what he should do with it. Directing him on a path to recreate his life Genci used the money to purchase himself a home.
Some more laws changed in Albania in order to help stop all the illegal and forceful possessions of land. Erion advised Genci not to get involved and this time to truly allow God to work on his behalf. God also spoke through Erion to encourage Genci to make peace with his mom and forgive her, he abided and 6 months later his mom passed away. God willing Genci was given possession of some of his land back after stepping back, not interfering, and allowing Him to work things in His glory.
After working along side Erion and coming to church Genci accepted Christ in 2010. Genci is now 58 years old, married to a beautiful women he met through new friends, and according to Erion one of the most faithful members in the church. Papa (Erion’s father) and Genci are in the process of planting another church here in Albania and have been hosting a men’s group every Friday for the past year.
Genci’s story is such a beautiful example of Christ’s love knowing no bounds and that we are never too far out of the reach of His love.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39
