Tony Darnell – Tunbridge Wells, UK

At the end of May, eight of us from New Life Church in Tunbridge Wells had the amazing privilege of visiting Albania for a week to visit Colin & Elida’s church in Shkoder. We were primarily there to pray with them and support them in whatever ways the Holy Spirit led us, and to build on the heart relationship that has been growing since David King first visited two years ago. This was David’s 3rd visit and the second with a team. On this visit he was accompanied by his wife Trish, Elizabeth and Simon Harris, Brian Simmonds, John McCard, Chris Down & myself. We were met with the warmest welcome and were housed in the church building which offers wonderful accommodation for guests.

We spent lots of time as a group with Colin, visiting parts of the town and the local area, to pray. We prayed from the castle on the hill overlooking the town, outside the Catholic Cathedral, a Mosque and other strategic locations. We had the privilege of praying for several specific church members who were facing challenging circumstances and we were able to minister to them as a team. We were also able to pray and minister to the leaders of the children’s and youth work, as well as for Colin & Elida themselves.

The most moving experience was our visit to the “Site of Witness & Memory” – a museum set up in an old communist era prison to commemorate the thousands of people tortured, imprisoned and killed for their faith under the brutal regime of Enver Hoxha. The evil regime that was doing these things claimed to have “eliminated religion” from the nation by 1974. Incredible that this occurred within many of our lifetimes, and yet we were mostly unaware of it. Sobering. But the seeds of faith had simply lain dormant only to spring to life again, later. Praise God! As Jesus. Said in Mt 16:18 ….I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

The Shkoder church had a beautiful feel to it and a tangible sense of unity, with people passionate for the presence of God and open to the presence & power of the Holy Spirit. They have a strong evangelistic focus and have recently planted a new church in Lezhe, 40 km away which has just moved into its own building right in the heart of a residential area. We spent time with them at their mid-week prayer meeting and sensed an energy & excitement for what God was going to do there.

The whole area is wonderful, with fabulous mountains, lakes and coastline and the city has a lovely relaxed feel to it with people & families enjoying the cafes and bars in the extensive pedestrianised areas. The food and wine was fantastic too, and very affordable for us Brits.

We all loved our time there and would welcome another visit one day, to build on these heart connections.