Jesus said: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel (good news) to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15 ESV (Brackets mine)
Our passion is to reach the world with the good news of Jesus’ unconditional love and grace and see believers established in the truth of the Word – living in victory and fruitfulness! One of the ways we do this is through church planting.
Recently, God connected us with Charis Bible College (Colorado) graduates Craig and Odette Bredenkamp (and their three children). We are very excited to announce that we will be assisting them in planting a church in Albania, South-Eastern Europe!
Albania was the first country to declare itself atheist in 1967 and had been known as the most closed country in the world to the Gospel. Today the country is 70% Muslim (although many Muslims are not practicing) and while in 1990 the number of evangelical Christians could be counted on one hand, today there are about 20,000 evangelical Christians. What a wonderful opportunity to reach out into a mostly unreached country with the glorious message of Jesus!
In starting the church, Albanian law requires us to be in Albania to sign documents – and so we need to go as soon as possible so that they can get started. While there, Marna and I will do some training with them (leadership and discipleship) and help to get some foundational things in place.
Before Marna and I got married in 2010, she had a dream on her heart to one day plant bible schools in Eastern Europe. This dream will be coming to pass as we will also be helping set them up to start a GraceLife Ministry School in the near future!
We are planning to leave around the 15th of January 2015, and go for about a month. In the next two weeks we will be booking our flights and organizing our visas.
We would like to ask you to be a part of this wonderful opportunity to reach into Albania. No matter how big or small your gift, every gift will help us to plant a church in a country that really needs it… and what a great way to celebrate the “Season of giving” by sowing seed that will change lives for generations to come!
We’re trusting that we won’t just have enough for our travel and expenses, but that we’ll have enough to bless GraceLife Albania with a large financial gift to start off the ministry there.
Through this church plant in Albania we are going to reach so many people (especially in Eastern Europe) with the gospel of grace and peace! Please pray for us with our preparations for the trip, and we’ll keep in touch.
Much love
Shayne & Marna
Ways to give:
1. Online through EFT. Our South African banking details:
GraceLife Ministries. First National Bank (FNB)
Account # 62308158452. Branch: 200610
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ (For international givers)
Reference your gift: “ALBANIA your name” or simply “ALBANIA” if you wish to remain anonymous.
GraceLife Ministries. First National Bank (FNB)
Account # 62308158452. Branch: 200610
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ (For international givers)
Reference your gift: “ALBANIA your name” or simply “ALBANIA” if you wish to remain anonymous.