Hilki Berisha is the Director of the Balkan Institute for Missions in Kosovo, which seeks to reach Muslims for Christ.
When did you trust Christ?
The decision to follow Christ wasn't an easy one. I was a Muslim and believed in Islam as the only way to God. In addition, I viewed Christianity as a distorted religion and thought the Bible was corrupted. Eventually, I was evangelised by a cousin of mine who lived in Finland. He shared for the first time that Jesus is the only way to God, and he sent a Bible to me. I began reading it and understood that Jesus, according to the Bible, is different from what I knew and learned in Islam. He seemed to be a person with authority and not just a prophet but a promised Messiah and the Son of God. The words of Jesus had a lot of impact on me. However, that wasn't enough. The ultimate factor that brought me to my knees to accept Christ was the vision of Christ. That supernatural act delivered me, and for the first time, I began to see and understand that Jesus is who He says He is in the Gospels. I could now call Him my Lord and Saviour.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
My Christian walk was impacted a lot by the situations I was going through after I accepted Jesus Christ. Coming from a Muslim background, I had to go against family tradition and rely heavily on Jesus. I was almost disowned by my family for believing in Christ, and I was cut off financially for my student years. These were the moments I grew more in Christ, as I could see and experience His faithfulness on a daily basis.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I want to be part of a larger network so that I can be encouraged for the work that God has entrusted me with here in Kosovo. I also look forward to the practical teaching. Everything about ELF is encouraging and so helpful for my ministry context. I remember how I got connected with people the first time I attended the Forum, and as a result, I continued those relationships, which was very helpful and encouraging for me.
What is your ministry?
My interest in witnessing to Muslims began right from the moment I believed in Christ and dedicated my life to Him. Coming from a Muslim background triggered an interest in me to reach out to Muslims. Since I supernaturally came to Christ through a vision of Christ, I believe I can understand what is going on in the inner being of a Muslim. Islam is not just a religion but rather a way of life and a spiritual system that enslaves people, and they need to be free of it. I see my involvement in training people to reach out to Muslims by conducting training and seminars in this regard and being involved personally in evangelising them.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I am currently a pastor at a local church in the city of Gjilan in the eastern part of Kosovo. I am the church's leading pastor, and a team works alongside me. I love teaching the Bible and believe it is a gift of God for me to equip the saints for the work of God. I also lead an organisation called the Balkan Institute for Missions that seeks to reach Muslims for Christ. It is an organisation working in different Balkan countries, predominantly with Muslim majority populations.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
I come from Kosovo, a country that is almost 90% Muslim. I believe that preaching the Word to non-believers (Muslims) is a responsibility entrusted to me. For others to invest in my training and ministry is to be a part of this biblical vision of carrying out the Great Commandment, not just as a multiplication of individuals but rather as a multiplication of communities.
