Is this the key to reaching Albania for Christ?

Most Albanian moms know what’s expected of them: Don’t say you’re tired. Don’t share your feelings. Have everything in order, including your children and your career. 

“It was always the role of the woman to be perfect,” said Nita Bukowski, a Converge global worker who collaborates with Albanian women on the MOMCo Albania team. 

Nevila is a volunteer leader on the team alongside Nita. Christ has helped Nevila transition from cultural pressures to kingdom priorities. 

“Our culture is all about looking good in the eyes of the others,” she said. 

Therefore, many Albanian women isolate themselves and never show weakness or share feelings. It’s hard for these women to realize God loves them and wants to transform them. 

But Nita, Nevila and several other women see God creating a new community for moms. As the moms gather, they find other women going through the same journey, Bukowski said. 

“Now these moms are finding their value, learning to share about their stories, express their weaknesses without judging each other,” she said. “It’s a really, really big thing.” 

A Muslim mother recently asked MOMCo Albania leaders to start a group for moms of special needs children. These mothers are more isolated than other moms because of shame for having a child who doesn’t fit in. 

The Muslim woman told believers she had no desire to leave Islam, but she wanted to be in the group. So, the group welcomed her as she was, inviting her into encouraging friendships.

These moms are finding their value, learning to share about their stories, express their weaknesses without judging each other. It's a really, really big thing.

Nita Bukowski 

Over time, Nita said, the woman got to know Jesus. She started to see this whole other picture of God, someone inviting her to receive love and grace. 

“She gave her life to Christ and was baptized,” Bukowski said. She’s now a leader in the group for special needs children. 

The group for special needs children has now grown so large leaders are splitting it. What happened in that group and in that mom’s life, Nevila explained, is only the beginning of what the Lord can do. 

“The key to reaching Albania for Christ is actually moms,” Nevila said. “If we’re able to reach moms, then we will be able to reach the children, we will be able to reach the husband, we will be able to reach their family, and I think Albania will become a Christian nation.”

Converge is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.