July 6, 2017
Bledar Valca (affectionately known as Bledi) was born and reared in a predominantly Roman Catholic community in northeastern Albania. There, he became a WEI postal student and was baptized into Christ in the mid-1990s.
It has been pure joy to watch Bledi grow through the years. He and his wife Bona now provide crucial leadership in the Tirana church.
Bledi is well-prepared academically having graduated from IBIA (International Bible Institute of Albania), and having earned a Master’s degree in theology from NationsUniversity. Bledi writes:
“Almost 20 years ago, I was asked by Artan Xhaferaj (who would become a dear brother and friend), ‘Why do you want to be baptized?’ I remember answering something like this, ‘My life is a mess. I need a stool on which to rise up, and I find nothing better than Jesus.’ I was led to this decision by my studies with World English Institute.”
“God works in mysterious ways; however, the tool he used to reach me was WEI. I was born and grew up where there was no presence of the Lord’s Church. An acquaintance gave me the address, and I enrolled. He never became a Christian, but God used him to lead me to the studies that led me to Christ. I was seeking, and God providentially led me to this amazing evangelistic tool.”
I have had the privilege of being a WEI student, of teaching WEI students, and of following up on WEI students who have requested baptism. WEI has been involved in Albania for more than twenty-five years. It started as a correspondence course. Then it moved to one-on-one studies in Summer Sessions. Then it was upgraded to e-mail and Internet teaching. WEI continues to provide a flow of contacts with lost people. Recently, we held a WEI Internet Students Reception at our building. They signed up for one-on-one studies in our Summer Session, and they had people in their circle of influence enroll. Because of the flow of students who attended, this was the first year we did not need to run a newspaper ad.”
“A church member approached a Christian author, deeply concerned that his church was not doing enough about evangelism. The author replied, ‘Increase the money you allocate to missions. Jesus said “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also”’” (Matthew 6:21).
Bledi concludes, “I promise you, if you want to give your time, talent, and treasure to the spread of the Truth, WEI is the means to do it. So pray for, teach with, give to, and publicize WEI.”
In addition to his many duties, Bledi directs the second week of the Albanian Christian Camp each summer. Eleven people were baptized during the three-week camp this year. Four were baptized by Bledi during week two.
