This summer's art camp:
This summer we experienced in our three church plants a well-blessed project. As you may know, PECA (Planting and Establishing Churches in Albania) has focused on reaching families through their children. We had a summer art school where we had 60 children per church, a total of 180 children. Naturally you may ask, where did we find 180 kids? As a ministry we spent about a week in June in three public schools near each church. We gave brochures to parents, and since this was in high demand, they hurried to register their kids nearly a month before the project started. We had to refuse many parents since our limit was 60 children per church. It is nearly unheard of to see Muslim parents bring their children to church to learn Bible stories through the arts, asking us to take care of their kids. This is something that only the Spirit of the Lord can do.
The project lasted for four weeks; each day children gathered in the churches and learned Bible stories, guitar, songs, piano lessons, English classes and many other activities. During the weekend we invited their parents to come and see their children performing what they had learned during the week. This was a very successful strategy because we connected naturally with the parents who were very impressed by what their kids learned. At the end of the project we had a special dinner with the parents alone. We got acquainted and introduced them to the idea of holding parenting and marriage courses in September, receiving an enthusiastic response. Prayer Requests:
An exodus is currently happening in Albania, especially among the youth. Because they see little hope for their economic situation inside Albania they are emi-grating especially to Germany with a hope of finding jobs. This summer alone, there were about 30,000 young Albanians leaving the country, looking for a better life. This situation has also af-fected our churches as some members have also gone. We would greatly appreciate your prayers that the Lord will lead the steps of these people so that they may honor the Lord everywhere they go with everything they do. Please pray that people in Albania will understand that their hope is not found in other countries but in Christ alone.
- Edi, Bona, Noel, Sion
