Albania Missions Opportunity

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Albania Missions Opportunity

• You will be my witnesses

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Missions from Little ChurchesScriptural Context

• His command is to Go
• He says that it could be anywhere (JJS) and
  that the Holy Spirit will provide power

Mt. 2818-19 (NKJV) 18 And Jesus came and spoke
to them, saying, All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go thereforec and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.
Acts 18 (NKJV) 8 But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you
shall be witnesses to Mea in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.
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Missions at Foothills HOFCCMissionaries

• Shinteulgas in Mongolia
• Simpsons in Jordan (north close to Syria)
• Demos in Albania
• Considering Grimms in PNG

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Missions at Foothills HOFCCFamily Involvement

• Chaffees China many times (dynasty), Mexico,
  Bangladesh
• DeBusscheres Peru, Kenya
• Engstroms and Harpers Albania
• Harpers Jordan and considering Mongolia in
  April
• Mullins Nepal
• Many to Gleanings

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Missions in AlbaniaPlace
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Missions in AlbaniaPlace

• Balkan nation close to Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia,
  Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Greece among
  others
• 3M people, 1/3 in the capital city of Tirane
• Known as second world or developing country
  somewhere between poverty and prosperity
• 60 muslim, 15 christian, rest claim no
  affiliation
• Was Communist and officially atheistic (1967) for
  much of 20th century until 1991 when it became
  democratic
• AL Constitution allows freedom of religion

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Missions in AlbaniaVery Brief/Recent Political
History

• Post-WW1 Wilson stating that AL must stay an
  independent country (Serbia, Greece and Italy all
  wanted part of it)
• Balkan wars, ethnic cleansing in Kosovo by
  Serbia later bombed by NATO but mostly US
• NATO membership in 2009

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Missions in AlbaniaCultural Observations

• Generally European
• Warm and ultra-hospitable people
• Double-kiss
• Visible poor (gypsies)
• Colorful buildings and clothing
• Raki and espresso during frequent stops to meet
  talk

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Missions in AlbaniaAlbanians Love Americans

• Its tangible
• Skanderbeg and Woodrow Wilson (statues) in Tirane

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Missions in AlbaniaAlbanians Love Americans

• Clinton statue in Kosovo (mostly Albanians)

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Missions in AlbaniaAlbanians Love Americans

• Bush statue in Fushe Kruja, AL

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Missions in AlbaniaPeople the Demos
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Missions in AlbaniaPeople the Demos

• Eduart (Edi) and Valbona (Bona) and their sons
  Noel and Sion
• Came to Foothills in 2008
• Immediate connection between us clearly
  fostered by the Holy Spirit
• FH began financial support
• Demos called to a new work and Illyricum Movement
  is created (WA State non-profit corp with IRS
  501c3 recognition)

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Missions in AlbaniaIllyricum Movement

• Church planting movement particularly
  evangelizing Muslims
• Relationally connect mature US churches with
  just-planted AL churches
• Name comes from Illyrium where Paul preached (RO
  15)
• Titus martyred in Durres, AL
• Daryl on Executive Board and Treasurer, IM
  Counsel helped write the AL constitution in 1991
• 150K annual budget, 9 employees in AL, all
  volunteers on Board in US, some financial support
  from NL and UK
• Edi Demo is Director of Operations for IM AL

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Missions in AlbaniaIM-Planted Churches in
Tirane Ekklesia

• All urban and apartments
• Yzberisht
• Poor neighborhood

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Missions in AlbaniaIM-Planted Churches in
Tirane Ekklesia

• All urban and apartments
• Yzberisht
• Poorer neighborhood

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Missions in AlbaniaIM-Planted Churches in
Tirane Ekklesia

• Having a meeting with prospective elders and Eric
  Burd

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Missions in AlbaniaIM-Planted Churches in
Tirane Ekklesia

• HOFCC Leadership Team (Orgest Romela, Kosta and
  Leta, Cimi and Leonora, Merjeme)

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Missions in AlbaniaOther IM-Planted Churches in
Tirane

• Don Bosko
• Slightly better off economically
• Erlind Hasko, planter
• Affiliated with Woodridge Comm Church in WI
• Komuna e Parisit
• Elevated economics
• A lot of University professors live here
• Saimir Braho, planter
• US church affiliation TBD

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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Serve

• Visit and Serve in Albania 1 week, 1 month, 1
  year
• Cost of Living 2K/pprt to Nene Teresa, 800/mo
  living
• Singles, couples, families all embraced and
  will minister
• Service could include
• English classes
• Preaching
• Music/worship
• Street evangelization
• Pass on HOF Reforms, Distinctives and Culture
• Bible Study (Grudems ST in use)
• US ambassadorial function in hospitality settings
• Donate money 96 will go directly to church
  planting and evangelization in AL

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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Get There
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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Evanglize
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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Meet People
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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Table
Fellowship
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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Connect with
Church History
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Missions in AlbaniaCall to Action Work With
These Folks!
End