What is your ministry?
I am the Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Church of Libonik-Maliq. We have a network of nine churchplants in Maliq-Korce, Albania. Also, I serve as General Director of Homes of Providence. We have two sides in our ministry: spiritual ministry and social ministry. Our foundation also runs a daycare center for street children and a residential home for boys and babies. In the last year, I got involved in politics and society as a member of the City Council, which helps me to raise my voice in social issues and be the voice of those who don't have a voice.
When did you trust Christ?
I came to faith as a student shortly after the fall of communism in Albania. Prior to becoming a Christian, my primary belief was atheistic and my life was filled with hate and anger. A missionary named Mama Lida came and invited me to a Bible study. At first, I did not believe what was being taught and for six months, I was disruptive, interrupting with antagonistic questions, in a loud and angry manner. The leader asked where I was going to spend eternity. I left the group, went home, and read the New Testament that mama Lida gave to me. In Matthew 7:7 I read, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.” I decided to put God to the test, and asked that the room be shaken. Nothing happened. I asked for the light to come on, but they did not. I asked God to show himself to me, but that didn't happen either. I told God he was not real but continued with Bible study anyway. I was asked to pray at the end of one of the meetings. I surprised myself that I said yes. God was working in my heart without me knowing. He changed my anger and hate.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
I have seen the power of God change my heart and I have felt the call of God to serve my community. I started through street evangelism and God helped us grow the church in our area. The Evangelical Church (Kisha Ungjillore) of Libonik, started its service at the beginning of 1991, as they saw the spiritual need of the people in that region. It was one of the first churches in the country after the fall of the communist regime. The church now has 8 other church plants. We are operating in two social projects right now: a day residential space for street children and a safe house for boys.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I see this as an opportunity for my spiritual growth, equipping myself to do the ministry better, and seeing God as my partner in ministry. Also, it is an excellent network of Godly people who want to see His kingdom expand in Europe and worldwide. We can partner together and learn from the experience of others. It helps me to raise my capacity through learning in different sessions to be more effective in my ministry. I am also involved with the Albanian Leadership Forum.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I am the general director of Hands of Providence Foundation that our ministries operate through. I am serving as senior pastor of Evangelical Church of Libonik. That is our mother church that leads all the church planting in the 8 towns and villages around us. I also supervise the social ministry that includes the day center for street children and a residential house for orphans.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
It will help me to be a better servant of our Lord Jesus in my community. I want to build Christian and moral character by setting a good example. I desire to be a leader that will transform my community.
