Paulin Veleçiku is a pastor in Kosovo.
When did you trust Christ?
I was born and raised in communist and atheist Albania. Under that regime, regarding religious knowledge, I knew almost nothing. In 1995, I went to compulsory military service. Here, for the first time, I met and heard an explanation of the Gospel, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. I was amazed and touched by the Gospel's message. It all made me thirsty to know more about Jesus. A soldier friend of mine had his own Bible at the military service centre, which he shared with me and led me to read. I started with the New Testament according to his instructions. At that time, Albania was in the midst of a transition, and while I was doing military service, I was very worried about my family, especially about my mother and two sisters, since my father had died, and I also had three younger brothers. My friend told me that believing is not about challenging God, but about repenting of your sins and believing in Jesus Christ, who offers you eternal life. In the coming days, by reading, explaining, and understanding the Bible more, I set aside the views I had before Him and trusted Him, together with this soldier friend.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
Defining moments of my walk with God have been: the light of God, the impeccable life and example of my soldier friend. He was the first light of Christ I saw in a man, and after that, he joined the local church in Shkoder, Albania. I was discipled by a younger believer who stirred my heart to learn more and live for Christ. For me, a great change was receiving a call to serve in a ministry with war refugees from Kosovo during the crisis with the war refugees we had in our church in Shkoder.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I believe that it will be helpful for me personally and for my wife. Especially for the church plantings aligned with the church's vision and our call to ministry in the region of Gjilan in Kosovo.
What is your ministry?
My ministry is pastoral; the pastor of the church includes pastoral care, counselling, training, and equipping church leaders. Weekly service, Sunday sermons, teachings at the men's meeting every Thursday at the church, new church planting in the Gjilan Region, as well as evangelising in the surrounding villages.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I've led a home group, served as a youth pastor for a few years, and then as a pastor of the Disciples of Jesus Church in Shkoder. Since 2011, I have been a pastor and church planter in Gjilan, Kosovo.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
We have been in partnership with The Orchard Church in Chicago for several years. We believe in each other's values and mission. I believe in Colin Smith and Brad Mullet's suggestion that this teaching time at the Forum will be a blessing for our preparation as leaders and church planters in the years to come.
