Three Practical Tips for Sharing Jesus with Albanians
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes]
Albania has a rich and complex history. Paul the Apostle preached the gospel in Illyricum (ancient Albania, Romans 15:18-21), and for over a thousand years Albania was nominally Christian. Later, with the invasion of the Ottoman Turks, many Albanians converted to Islam. Just decades after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the communist dictator Enver Hoxha declared Albania to be an atheist nation. Today Albania is a parliamentary democracy, and many Albanians are open to the gospel.
While over half of present-day Albanians would say they are Muslim, many have never visited a mosque, according to Joshua Project. When many converted to Islam during the Ottoman conquest, it was primarily to a folk version of Islam with influences from occult practices. Decades later, the Communist regime’s ban on all religious practices further influenced Albanians' perceptions of Islam. For these reasons, many Muslim Albanians today practice a more relaxed form of the religion.
And that leaves the door for evangelism wide open.
Jeremy Dollar, director of Eastern European Connection (EEC), has a passion for bringing the gospel to Albanians. In his words, “Albanians are very open to the gospel, but because of the influence of materialism from the West, it's becoming a bit more difficult to reach them. It takes time, but the Holy Spirit is still working, and Albanian churches are growing. New churches are being planted. New believers baptized. The future is bright as the Holy Spirit continues to move in the land where Paul the Apostle once preached the good news of Jesus the Messiah.”
Here are three tips for sharing Jesus with Albanians:
1. Talk over coffee.
Coffee is deeply connected to Albanian culture. The pastime of coffee drinking reflects the importance of relationships and a slower pace of life. A popular phrase in Albania, “avash, avash,” means slowly, slowly.
Evis Gjebrea, a board member of Cru Albania, explained that business is usually discussed in a coffee shop.
2. Relationship matters.
"Personal relationships are important for Albanians,” said Gjebrea. “Albanians listen regardless of the stage of the relationship, but they are analytical people and relationships are necessary to influence them with the gospel.”
Ledi Hebibasi, director of TWR Albania, looks for relational ways to evangelize such as through Bible studies, coffee meetings or summer youth camps.
“Evangelism is not just speaking the Word, but living the Word with the people God has put in your life,” she said.
3. Share stories.
Rather than trying to convince Albanians through logic, tell stories. Because Albanians tend to be both analytical and relational, compelling stories reach beyond rational barriers to the heart.
