Breaking Into New Countries
About six years ago, NewThing was invited to facilitate training in Albania with two amazing servants of Jesus: Altin Kita & Kejdis Bakalli. God was working through them to do incredible Kingdom work with their leadership, their spouses, church teams, and friends. In fact, Altin had planted ICF Tirana, a church plant located in the capital of Albania. In a less than 1% Evangelical Christian country, Altin grew up as a Muslim, but after his conversion to Christianity, he sensed God was calling him to start a new church that others would find and follow Jesus.
Alongside some friends, we worked with Altin and Kejdis to organize strategic events that would gather like-minded leaders and churches in a room so they could pray together, hear from God together and DREAM BIG together. Over the next few years, what took place was well beyond what anyone could ask for or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
First, Paul Mumaw, Lead Pastor of Genesis Church and a Network Leader in our North America Region, was on this trip with us. Paul was invited because he was apprenticing as a facilitator for our Movement System, but he was so impacted by the friendships and ministry God was working through these leaders in Albania that Genesis Church became a strategic financial partner to Altin and Kejdis’ work in the Balkan Nations!
Second, we had leaders and churches from several different countries within the Balkan Nations at multiple events. Some leaders and churches were so inspired by what they heard, they asked if we could come to their country and run similar events. So we did! One of those places was Macedonia, where they also have less than 1% Evangelical Christian, and we were so impressed by the turnout of leaders and churches that began to work together to plant more churches.
Now, after about 6 years of working together in the Balkan Nations, Altin, Kejdis, and their friends have helped catalyze over 70 new church plants through 8 Networks. On top of that, not too long ago, NewThing was able to serve them by training them through our Reproducing Network Catalyst. It was such an honor to serve such amazing leaders who are doing the work of Jesus.
One of NewThing’s goals for the next few years is to double our global footprint from 40 countries to 80 countries to reach the lost. It’s by supporting leaders like Altin and Kejdis that we can make that happen.
Help Altin, and the next generation of Altin's, reach the Balkans. Check out http://newthing.org/gotogether for more info.
