Albania is a small, mountainous nation in the Balkan Peninsula and home to four million people. There are an additional three million Albanians living outside the country in neighboring lands.

Since the fall of communism and the end of state-declared atheism in 1989, OM has been instrumental in planting evangelical churches throughout Albania and raising up national pastors to lead the churches. OM Albania has planted four churches and those Albanian-led churches have established two additional fellowships. Yet, it is still quite a pioneering situation and there are very few believers especially in rural areas. Political instability and ethnic tensions are a challenge in these nations and yet this also brings openness to the gospel.  The country is still considered to be ethnically Muslim as Islam is the predominant religion.

In 1997, during the Albanian anarchy, and also in 1999 during the Kosovo war, people became much more desparate and therefore willing to open their hearts for God. Although the economic situation has improved, many people continue to live in real poverty. OM Albania’s ministry is holistic, serving people not only by providing their spiritual needs, but also assisting the poor and needy in their physical needs and using these opportunities to introduce people to the love of God. Opportunities for friendship evangelism abound in this very relational society.

Seeing this need to provide practical services to Albanians, OM is involved in teaching sewing courses to women; working with the Emmanuel Clinic, a medical facility in Durres; running summer camps for children, and also reaching out to street children both in Durres, and  through the Emmanuel Centre in Lushnje.  OM has also worked to improve the infrastructure in remote locations - for example, developing and building water collection points in isolated villages that wouldn’t have fresh water otherwise.

OM Albania trains national Christians through its’ Action Team training programme, which combines intensive biblical and practical training with hands-on work experience, working with national churches.

The OM teams from Lushnje and Durres often travel to remote locations where they encourage and support small churches which are under national leadership. 

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