It takes a lot of change to forge a new nation. These changes don’t happen overnight or in a year or even in ten years. Yet, Kosovo has surged forward on a number of things. This young nation has been accepted into the International Monetary Fund which allows funding for development loans. Several additional nations have accepted their independence including Jordan, one of three Muslim countries. The present government has been able to persuade participants of the Serbia police force that turned in their badges upon Independence to return to their jobs. In some areas Serbs are moving back into homes and in most of Kosovo a semblance of piece reigns. However, in the North around the border small skirmishes and lawlessness persists even while UN withdraws and the EU takes over. Serb areas are doing without electricity over battles regarding new electricity legislation and many are suffering from the new strict guide lines hampering the black market import and export of items because of customs taxes. Taxes. Welcome to having a democratic government.
In every country, especially developing ones, there appears to be the ethnic or religious group that gets left behind in the development and are most affected by poverty or economic hardships. Even though many in Kosovo live way below the poverty line there is a group that seems to be on the bottom rung and has caused quite a stir with the Human Rights Watch. Just to be clear on the subject this group, the Roma or gypies, are considered the most oppressed group in all of the Balkans. Montenegro’s capital city holds the largest Roma refugee camp in the Balkans. However, with World Refugee Day it was estimated more than 2,000 Roma are trapped in the worst conditions around all of Kosovo.
In Kosovo with the investigation of “an institutionalized crime against the Roma” people in Mitrovica, (London Observer) it is estimated that over 700 Roma live by the dams of an old lead mine next to “black mountain” an old toxic heap. These camps were interestingly enough build by the UN during the war as temporary housing. It is now ten years later and we have a generation of children growing up with some of the worst health conditions in Kosovo. What is amazing to me is that the Kosovo government which is most decidedly Muslim, is starting to work directly with OSCE (The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) to solve the problem. We look at this small nation and it’s concern for involvement for Serbs, Albanians and yes even the Roma. Not necessarily willingly but necessary because all of the world is watching and waiting to see how this new country will solve its racial and religious differences. Maybe world scrutiny isn’t so bad after all.
Even though we miss our home church, visiting other churches has become more a part of our life and we are finding it really a powerful growth experience. Most of the churches we have attended are pretty sound in doctrine. What is interesting is the difference in procedure or Sunday format.
A couple of weeks ago we went to a very poor church in Bakersfield. They use an old church building in one of the worst parts of town. Their ministry is to the drug addicts, alcoholics, bikers, street people and the runaways. Their pastor, decorated out with tattoos, was himself delivered from the “bonds of addiction”, as he would say. We decided to visit this particular church because we had heard that the Holy Spirit was working wonders there. And indeed He is. This particular Sunday the church was visited by a group called Teen Challenge. This ministry/recovery program is made up of men and women that who at one time would have been called productive people in society: mothers, young adults from Christian families, professionals, 30 people from all over the US. These people had turned to drugs, prostitution, theft and worst to eliminate their pain. Through Teen Challenge they were being led to Christ and showing powerful results. This day, there was never a structured service as you would find in a majority of churches. During the worship music, the pastor gave the service over to the Holy Spirit. The pastor than called for repentance and growth, he challenged the men to be leaders, to step forward with their families: To shed ego and to bend to the will of God in Humility. We felt it. We tried to remain still. We were visitors. Yet Garold stood, leading us before the alter, to bow in prayer. We were enveloped in a strong awareness of conviction covered with a deep feeling of love.
Why did this happen here at this church? Maybe, because these people had nothing more to lose. They have been humiliated and humbled in their lives. Maybe because they are what society would consider the worst of the crop and are beyond what most of us see as desperation in life. Maybe, because they fell so far and understand salvation as truly lifesaving, here on earth and in Heaven. Whatever caused it, the Spirit was there. A Pentecostal church? No. An evangelical church focused only on the power of the simpleness of God’s Word. This is what we desire to be a part of in Kosovo: A church dealing with the raw power of God.
In traveling around America, we have found that there is little space between churches. In Bakersfield, driving to the worst area of town we passed three very large churches and countless little ones in about five miles. We are lucky like that here in our country. But where we desire to go to, there are few churches. Less than .01% of Albanians in Kosovo are evangelical. Most have never heard the real story of Jesus. Many Christians live in isolation, not knowing if anyone else in their village is a Christian. Church development and planting is essential so that these people can also have the privilege of feeling the warmth of fellowship or the power of the Holy Spirit in Corporate worship. These are the lost sheep in the world Christ is trying to gather. He needs planters and harvesters.
1) This is God’s mission, not ours
2) God works in ways we cannot see the results even as they are happening
3) God has a timing and cannot be slowed down or rushed
4) God is teaching us to stand in faith and learn to wait but not to be useless
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