March 8, 2016
Oltion Mezini, the Albanian minister who works with Tom Bonner in the city of Lushnja, gives the following account of his conversion.
“My introduction to the church of Christ in Lushnja was through World English Institute. I enrolled as a student to study English free. My first teacher was Alma Kajdo (Tom’s secretary). She invited me to the Sunday service in 2006. I was studying English and attending the worship on Sunday. During that time, I was an unbeliever.”
After studying with Tom Bonner, Olti was baptized March 18, 2007. He says, “This date for me was the beginning of a new life, new thinking, and a new road with God.”
Sojana (Olti’s future wife) started attending church services in Lushnja in 2008 and was baptized in October 2009. Both later earned Master’s degrees from a university in Vlora, but they decided to serve God in Lushnja rather than pursuing secular occupations.
During the past three months, Olti has been studying with Luan, a sixty-five year old man who has attended church services for five years.
Olti writes, “Luan worked for 35 years as a plumber during the communist regime. Because the ideals of the communist party were very deep in people’s minds and lives, it is very hard for elderly people in Albania to leave that mentality.”
After studying Acts 8:27-38, Olti asked Luan, “What do you think about this?” Luan replied, “I want to be baptized because I want to be saved and have a personal relationship with God. I do not want to wait anymore.”
Olti is now studying the Bible with his mother who was impressed by the joy on Luan’s face when he was baptized. Please pray that Olti’s mother will soon be his sister.
