One Mosque and No Church

In the Këneta neighborhood of Durrës, Albania, the population totals 50,000 inhabitants. The number of churches in this section of the eastern Albania city pales in comparison: One mosque, one Mormon church, and no evangelical church.

In a country where Islam is the predominant form of religion, The Wesleyan Church has a presence, albeit a small one. Currently, two families of five and one single adult serve in Durrës, while another couple is raising financial support to serve in the city long-term.

Placing Faith in Christ

Ken and Dawn Bishop have served in Albania since 2005. Their path to long-term missions is a captivating one. In the early 1990’s the couple held professional jobs and had a comfortable lifestyle.  However, neither had Jesus in their lives–until 1992 when they both placed their faith in Him. They wasted no time in asking God how they could be used to serve Him.

The couple began serving through their local church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by acting as missionary directors. Dawn joined a women’s Bible study at church that began to study the Old Testament book of Daniel–and soon, she felt God directing her to serve in full-time missions.

Mission in the Flame

“As I studied Daniel, I realized there is mission in the flame,” she says. Continuing to learn about what it would mean to serve God in a missionary capacity, she felt like she was in a holding pattern. God had yet to “call” her husband to do the same.

So Dawn began to pray that God would speak to Ken. Two years later, Ken and Dawn were on the “same page” and started to pursue full-time missionary service with Global Partners, the missions arm of The Wesleyan Church.

Ken’s two trips to Czech Republic to serve with an English and sports camp and a family work team trip to a Native American reservation had made a lasting impression. Soon the Bishops applied to Global Partners. In 2004, they were accepted as new missionaries. Confirmation from the Lord came in various ways and Dawn says Romans 15 was substantial in knowing God wanted their family to move to Albania.

Headed to Albania

During their first interview with Global Partners, Albania was mentioned as an option for the family who likes to camp and enjoys simplicity. Because Albania is one of the smallest and poorest countries in Europe, conveniences like high-speed Internet and organized highway systems are non-existent. Before they knew Albania would definitely be their future home, they read in Romans 15:19 where the apostle Paul speaks of proclaiming the gospel around Illyricum. The Bishops later learned that Illyricum is present-day Albania.

Ministry in Albania, a country the size of Maryland, is slow and building relationships to tell Albanians about Christ is key, especially when relationships between citizens from the north and south are tense. Yet Jesus is tearing down barriers. Once a month, people groups from the north and south meet for worship. While the two groups aren’t yet meeting regularly, Wesleyan missionaries hope the Albanian citizens will consolidate in the future, as God continues to break prejudices.

Importance of Discipleship

“Discipleship is key to getting prejudicial walls torn down,” says Dawn. “They will see how Jesus wants them to love others.” The Bishops know only nine Albanian believers in their Këneta neighborhood but are hopeful that Jesus will permeate the Muslim-dominated culture in their beloved Albania.

Fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment, the couple also sees the importance of humanitarian efforts, like a local medical clinic and daycare facility, to show God’s love in their place of service.