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The
Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II
suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned
religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the
world's first atheist state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania
since the regime's change in 1992.
The Baptist Union of
Albania was organized in 1999 with a membership of four churches.
Delegates from the four churches met to adopt their constitution and
statement of faith and to elect officers. A celebratory worship service
followed the delegates’ meeting.
The union’s charter-member
congregations are Freedom Baptist Church and Way of Hope Baptist
Church, both in Tirana; the Baptist Church in Bregu i Lumit; and the
Good News Baptist Church in Lezha.
Now, in 2009, there are eight Baptist Churches in Albania, with 250 members.
News from Albania
When
I was at the German Baptist Women’s Leadership Conference in Dorfweil,
in February, I got the information letter from the German Baptist
women and on the cover was a beautiful picture of a woman in her
national costume. It turned out to be Haijrie Hamitie, Women’s Ministry
Leader in Albania, as I read in the Info-letter. Elisabeth
Kapsreiter made the picture and wrote the following article which has
touched me deeply. After that I have asked Haijrie Hamitie and
Shqiponja Lamce to tell us about women’s work in Albania. Please read
and be touched also!
Wies Dijkstra, Holland.
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Through Challenges We Continue to Love Christ and Witness in His Name
Lajmi
i Mire (Good News Church) is one of the Baptist churches of Albania in
the city of Lezha. It is a small city which resides in the North West
of Albania. The Baptist Church had its beginnings in 1993. It’s a new
church with mainly young members. 80% of the church are women and the
rest of it are boys and youths. Men in Albania think religion is mostly
for children and for women but not for them. This is one of the reasons
why the Albanian church generally lacks men.
Since the women at
the “Good News Church” are made up of different ages (17 – 75 years
old) the women’s ministry is divided into two separate meetings. In
both meetings the women study the Word of God together. They pray for
one another and for the church’s needs as well as the needs of the
nation. The women’s meetings mainly serve as an encouragement for one
another to walk with God in the midst of different challenges in their
lives.
Their challenges are related to society as well as their
family. Related to the society, because their faith is not embraced by
it and because this society is corrupt. Related to their family,
because their husbands and the rest of their families are not believers
and the women are continuously facing mocking and contradiction.
The
women are a great blessing for the “Good News Church” because
regardless of the challenges, they continue to follow the Lord and
contribute with their prayers, finances and their service in the
Kingdom’s best interest. Their life is also a great example in the
middle of a corrupt society. They follow Jesus with a passion in their
heart, they develop good friendships with one another and they
invite other women to follow Christ and are His light in their
society.
Hajrie Hamiti, Women’s Ministry Leader,
Good News Baptist Church, Lezhe, Albania.
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