If a country could express pain and agony, then Albania would be near the top of the list. The nation has endured centuries of unrest beginning with a Roman invasion in 229 BC. Later, during the Renaissance, Turk rulers converted two-thirds of the population to Islam.
Before the arrival of Islam, there were Christian influences throughout the country, such as in the town of Apollonia, where ruins of the Roman Road and a stadium where the Apostle Paul and Titus might have passed are still evident.
Most sadly, the darkest days for Albania occurred under the communist leader Enver Hoxha, who ruled with an iron fist from 1944 until his death in 1985. Over 5,000 people perished under this regime, property was confiscated, and all religious material was banned. During this time, he declared, “I have eliminated all religion,” including Islam and Christianity, making it a “totally atheistic state.” To prove his point, he had over 95 percent of all mosques and churches destroyed or gutted.
During the height of Hoxha’s rule, he built a 500,000-watt radio station to propagandize communism both in Albania and throughout the surrounding European countries. Amazingly, this former mouthpiece of communist propaganda is now used by Trans World Radio to carry 80 hours of gospel programming every week to Eastern Europe.
Though the religious ban was lifted in 1990, it has taken years for full freedom of religion to be realized. Albania, often considered to be the “gateway” to the Muslim world, is officially 70 percent Muslim, 20 percent Orthodox and 10 percent Roman Catholic. Currently, Muslim countries are pouring in huge amounts of aid and missionaries to promote Islam in Albania.
Today, over half of all Albanians live outside of Albania. For those still in the country, the possibilities of leaving are almost impossible. Citizens are rarely granted visas to enter other countries for fear that they will not return to Albania once there.
Albania has a population of about 3.5 million people and is considered to be one of Europe’s poorest countries. The present government, considered to be an emerging democracy, struggles with corruption and “mafias” and religious leaders that try to influence the political process. So the future of Albania appears very uncertain.
Throughout all the hardship, God is working in Albania! Partnering with Gospel Waves, Trans World Radio is helping provide programming such as the Albanian version of Thru the Bible on three local Christian FM stations. Each day, these stations are disseminating both the good news of salvation and practical living tips such as hygiene education through its Project Hannah ministry.
Today you can help make an impact on Albania for Christ by donating to TWR. You can help them empower ministries such as Gospel Waves to upgrade their facilities and resources to reach their nation with the gospel. Your gift will help equip this fledgling local ministry with high-quality recording facilities, which would allow them to produce their own worship music, Bible teaching and other projects to reach the Albanian people in their own language.
This article by Bill Blount first appeared in the July/August 2005 issue of The Voice of Inspiration. Reprinted and adapted with permission.
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