Christian community work

Christian communities are a good starting point for practicing charity. Our first aid transports came from the Methodist Church in Wismar and its friends. Due to the great openness of the people in Bishnica, youth groups and teams for summer outreaches followed. Under the leadership of Pastor Frieder Weinhold, a Methodist congregation was established in Bishnica with up to 120 members. This created a strong basis for projects in the region. In 2009, however, the supervision of the church had to be handed over and it no longer formally exists. The social work continued under the umbrella of Christlicher Hilfsverein Wismar e.V.

With the Diakonia Albania Foundation, founded in 2012, we do not aim to found own churches, but rather want to be a social service provider for municipalities and existing church communities. However, encouraging Christians and congregations remains part of our ministry.

Village outreaches

The openness and friendship of the people in the mountain villages has shaped our work from the beginning. Constant visits to the houses have strengthened the relationship with the people. Of course, this includes the contacts of the permanent employees in our work, but also of teams from Germany or Albania.

Village outreaches are usually a combination of family visits with invitations to church services, children’s events and men’s and women’s meetings. Depending on the mission, we distribute family packages or bring gifts. Such missions take place, for example, in the spring in Bishnica, Velçan and the surrounding area (when the farmers have little to do in the fields) or in the summertime in Holtas. Participants from Germany are warmly welcome; small teams, mixed with local participants, as well as traditional Albanian hospitality make communication easy.

Religion in Albania

Albania is notable for its religious history:

• Early Christianization: Christian message reached the region early on; Baptisteries from the third century bear witness to this. The oldest surviving document in Albanian language is a baptismal formula from Skanderbeg’s time. After the Roman Empire’s division, the border ran through the region, so northern Albania is Roman Catholic and the south is Orthodox.
• Islamization: During the course of Ottoman rule, many Albanians converted to Islam; this opened up better economic and career opportunities. However, the common resistance against foreign rule was stronger than the separation caused by different religious affiliations.
• During the Stalinist dictatorship under Enver Hoxha, all religious practice was strictly forbidden. Churches and mosques were destroyed or used for other purposes, and clergy from all religions were imprisoned. Albania declared itself as the “first atheist state in the world”.

Today about 60% of Albanians identify as Muslims, 20% as Catholics and 10% as Orthodox. The coexistence of religions is generally characterized by great tolerance; extremism is the exception. Especially in the mountain villages there is a popular piety that goes beyond strict rules. Muslim families also supported our work – out of respect for the service to God. But also because our projects benefit everyone, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.

Partners

• Pastor Akil Pano’s Evangelical Gospel of Christ Church in Tirana supports church work in the Mokra villages. Volunteers take part in various missions; Akil Pano himself is a member of the supervisory board of Diakonia Albania.
• We always strive for good cooperation with local parishes as well as with national associations, such as the VUSH (Evangelical Alliance in Albania), but also with Catholic and Orthodox partners.
• The CHW Höxter group works well with Catholic organizations on its aid projects, primarily in Lezha, but also in other parts of the country.