Why Albania?

"The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time" — Carl F. H. Henry

'In 2010 I visited the Albania Life Centre in Durres, Albania on a mission trip with my local church. We spent the first part of the trip at the first National Youth Conference in Albania. It was really great seeing so many young people worshipping God in this former atheist and Communist country.

The second part of the trip was spent spending time with our missionary hosts David and Valbona Pennoyer and their congregations. We saw the amazing work that they have undertaken and the enormous need for both Christian mission work and humanitarian work in Albania.

Over the past year I have communicated with Pastor David about the possibility of helping him in Albania and in October 2011 I felt compelled to pray seriously about this opportunity and wrote to David again. He responded with a call for me to come and join his team and I felt that God was telling me it was the right time to do it.

I am really excited about the work going on at the Albanian Life Centre, and ministries that they hope to run in the future. I am also thrilled to be to doing mission work in Albania under the banner of Next Level International, who have so much experience in supporting missionaries around the world. As their Country Leader in Albania it will be a privilege to help equip and expand the church throughout Albania, and across Europe.'

Below is video footage Jon took last time he went to Albania with the team from Shoreline Church, Southport.