2023 Celebrate the Light: Albania

In 1967, Albania became the world’s only constitutionally atheist state, and all religion was declared illegal. (Albania was never part of the Soviet Union.) There were no Bibles, missionaries, or churches allowed in the country.

The only Bibles or scriptures that made it to Albania were smuggled in suitcases or placed in bottles and floated down rivers or across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. When the Iron Curtain was finally ripped away, God began calling and sending missionaries like Kurt and Stephanie Plagenhoef to Albania. Over the years, the Plagenhoefs skillfully used Light for the Lost funds to provide and distribute tens of thousands of evangelism resources (some are pictured here).

Today there are more than 200 evangelical churches (about 30 Assemblies of God) and 20,000 believers in Albania. An additional 42,000 believers have emigrated outside the country. Celebrate the Light: Albania tells a powerful story of LFTL’s partnership with the Plagenhoefs to reach Albanians (who are primarily Muslim) for Christ and plant His church where it previously did not exist for centuries.

One of the highlights in CTL: Albania is the moving testimony of Gezim Spahija, the Albania AG General Superintendent (pictured left). Spahija is moved to tears describing the moment he received his Albanian FireBible and began studying and using it in his ministry. In addition, you will meet three otherpeople who came to faith in Christ through resources provided by LFTL, and you will see how valuable LFTL has been to every missionary in Albania.

Without your support over the years, these stories could not be told. Thank you for all you’ve done to support LFTL. The miracles in Albania are a direct result of your giving.  We can’t wait for the CTL premiere event at General Council in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, August 3. If you plan to attend General Council please make sure you register for the Light for the Lost luncheon that day.