By Josh Reeve

For the past four years, Ali and I have been involved in the ministry of Torchbearers Albania (some of you may know Torchbearers by its British name “Capernwray”). At first, our involvement was limited to teaching once or twice a year at the Crossroads Bible School in the south of Albania, and this was consistently a highlight of our ministry year. In God’s goodness, last year we moved to the south to become permanent members of staff at Crossroads. It has been a real joy to be part of this ministry and to play a small part in discipling the next generation.

Over the years that we have been involved at Crossroads, one particular joy has been getting to know Donike Hoti, a young woman from the city of Malisheva – across the border in Kosovo. Donike first heard the gospel and became a believer through a Christian kids’ club in her city. Later, as a young adult, she came as a student to Crossroads to be discipled and grow in her understanding of the Scriptures. Following Bible School, Donike returned to Kosovo to study English at university level. Since 2021, she has been working full time at Crossroads as the Bible School translator. 

It’s been incredible to watch the Lord grow Donike and use her in ministry. As the school translator, she has been involved in Bible and theology classes for the past four years and she has been a huge blessing to the community here. She has faithfully taught, discipled, and pastorally cared for students and has had a fruitful ministry both here on campus and in our local church. 

“As missionaries, one of our main prayers has always been that the Lord would raise up the next generation of workers in the harvest field.”

A few years ago Donike began to express her desire to undertake more theological training so that she could be more equipped for ministry among her own people in Kosovo. In God’s kindness, last year we were able to help Donike connect to Sydney Missionary and Bible College, where Ali and I also trained for ministry. We’re absolutely delighted that Donike has been awarded a scholarship to study at SMBC and, as I write this, she is already in Australia training for long term gospel work in Kosovo. 

For Donike, the purpose of heading to Australia to study the Bible is clear: that she might return to speak words of gospel love and life to the people of Kosovo. In her own words: “It’s my desire to serve among my own people. Considering the lack of gospel workers among the Albanian people, especially in Kosovo, it’s my desire to come back from theological study equipped to do gospel work there.” 

As missionaries, one of our main prayers has always been that the Lord would raise up the next generation of workers in the harvest field, and it’s been wonderful to see the Lord raise up Donike to go and speak the gospel to her own people. 

The evangelical Church in Kosovo is very small. There are only a little over 2,000 believers. — From Operation World

To find out more about Kosovo, click here.