The background
The blind community in Albania is one that is often neglected. Blind people are denied access to education and work and often live closed lives at home. Particularly those in villages are isolated and unable to seek opportunities for themselves. For some time God has been placing a burden upon both blind believers and church workers to reach out to blind people with the gospel. In God’s providence there are four areas in Albania that have a Christian as the President of the blind association; Fier, Erseke, Korce and Elbasan. The church in Erseka has run camps for the blind for two summers running with great success. In addition to this the Jesus Fellowship in Elbasan has a regular meeting for the blind to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Therefore there are some key people who are ready to contribute to taking the gospel to the blind. A group of blind believers and church ministers met together in Elbasan to found the Christian Forum for the blind.
Inaugural meeting of the forum
The aims of this forum are:
- spread the gospel amongst the blind; in particular through the use of technology, camps and church ministries.
- see good materials available for the blind not only relating to the gospel but for discipleship and leadership.
- help the integration of the blind into the Albanian church.
- help raise awareness of the needs of the wider blind community in the nation.
- help meet some of the practical needs of the blind community.
Blind believers and church workers
Blind believers meeting at the Jesus fellowship, Elbasan
Humanitarian aid for poor blind families
In the Fier region alone there are over 800 registered blind people. Many of these do not live in the town of Fier but are in small villages in appalling conditions. One family in a remote village have four blind people in the home and can hardly make ends meet. Thanks to donations from some Canadian oil workers we were able to provide 21 families with a sizable food parcels for the New Year and we hope to be able to do this several times during the next year.
Food boxes for the blind
Father of a family who are all blind receiving a parcel
Festim and Alda Manaj
Please pray for:
- the planned internet site for blind people which will have evangelistic resources and more.
- the creation of a foundation to support the work of the Forum
- the creation of more meetings around Albania specifically for blind people and for the salvation of many blind folk
- that Christian believers who are blind will grow in their faith and become leaders in their churches and communities
- for four believers, Festim from Fier, Niko from Erseka, Arjan from Elbasan and Arjan from Korce who are also heads of their local blind associations. Pray that God would use these strategic men.
- for the humanitarian aid that has been given out; that God might use it not only to provide for material needs but also to open a door for the gospel.
- for Nick Wakely, Orkid Mema and the team working with the blind at the Jesus Fellowship in Elbasan.
