Is it possible that, in our eagerness to hastily share the Gospel with the lost, we can unwittingly raise up additional barriers before them?

Several years ago, our family was spending an afternoon in a Roma community, helping people with various needs. We were surprised when another non-Roma family timidly approached the group we were visiting with. It’s highly unusual for outsiders to tread these grounds because of widespread fear of gypsies and their strange ways. The family looked very uncomfortable. The man nervously thrust a religious booklet into the center of the group. A Roma woman took hold of the literature, methodically tore it to shreds, and threw it to the ground where several others stomped on it. The young family made a hasty retreat.

We felt a little sorry for them, knowing they’d had good intentions. Their problem was that they had never taken time to understand Roma people. If they had, they would have known that this particular community was illiterate. Secondly, they would have realized that centuries of discrimination against Romas had destroyed their trust of Gadja (non-Romas). The family didn’t take time to build trust. They were just doing what they were taught by their church, apparently unaware of Christ’s method.

Our plans for the future building in Berat include using it to train laymen in the practical art of sharing the Gospel. They need to know how to reach different classes and backgrounds in different ways. They also need to know how to share the right literature in the right way and at the right time. It might seem obvious that we should have a different approach for reaching Atheists and Muslims, but surprisingly, it is rare for Christians in this country to tailor their outreach.

Thank you for helping meet the need for this multi-purpose building that will be a light in Albania.

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