Most any Sunday school class features the story of Noah and the ark at some point. The familiar words are “Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.’” (Genesis 7:1, ESV).
For many people in Albania during Communism, however, none of these things were true. The lack of this freedom directed the course of their life. For some, this reality could feel crushing; but our hope is in God, who sees the desires of our hearts and fulfills them in his perfect time.
World Challenge works with partners in many poor communities around the world, and we have witnessed daily wage laborers struggling to make ends meet in the face of instability and joblessness. Considering how to respond to such need, we have sought to implement a variety of income-generating initiatives to foster self-sustainability.
After prayer and consideration, our ministry partners have begun focus on one particular unreached people group: the Banjara. The Joshua Project notes, “They are the largest nomadic group in India and are known as the root Romani of the earth.”
Mongolia is a vast, largely rural place. Many of the towns outside of their capital city are incredibly remote, almost as if they belong to another world.
One of our partners in Albania work with widows, seeking to bless these dear women with food packages as well as spiritual and medical care. Many of the widows are quite elderly, have serious health concerns and live by themselves in poor conditions.
Abdul was unfamiliar with the good news of Jesus until a friend shared it with him. He recalled, “This message stuck to my heart, and I thought about it for weeks and continued to meet him.” Every time they met, Abdul had more questions for his friend, and his longing to know more grew.
