Wednesday June 24, 2009

WELCOME

Welcome to the first edition of the Dill family ministry update and prayer letter. Perhaps the first thing that caught your eye is the colorful logo at the top. For those that know me this probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but as a graphic designer by trade, I couldn’t help but create a logo for our new family ministry.

So, what exactly is this new family ministry you ask? Many of you know that we have recently embarked upon a journey in exploring global missions, an outreach to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to an unreached people group who have never heard the Gospel. This ministry also includes serving amongst an impoverished people with whom we can serve in a tangible and loving way. We have taken this step in faith in obedience to the Great Commission. After much prayer, godly advice, wisdom, and a brief trip to the other side of the world, God is leading us to serve in the country of Albania.

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THE PLACE

Where is Albania? We all know about the boot of Italy that sticks out into the ocean. Well, Albania is located at the heel of that boot just across the Adriatic Sea. For most of the 20th century, Albania was a communist nation where any religious expression or freedom to worship was suppressed by the iron-hand of Envar Hoxha. It wasn’t until the fall of communism in the early 90’s when the freedom to worship was reinstated. Today, Albania is predominantly an atheist country. However, those who choose to worship are predominantly Muslim. With less than a 1% evangelical presence in Albania, there is much work to be done in a nation who is thirsting for the Living Water.

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THE PEOPLE

Albania consists primarily of Albanians with many minority people groups integrated into Albanian society. Of those minority people groups, we will be serving specifically amongst the Roma people, otherwise known as Gypsies. The Roma are considered second-class citizens and are often shunned from Albanian society. Most of them live in abject poverty with minimal shelter, food, water and high unemployment. There is a small community of 15,000 Roma people living in the eastern outskirts of Tirana, Albania. Of this community, there are only 5 known believers of Christ. It is our hope that we can begin planting seeds into the lives of these unreached people with the hope that they will someday surrender themselves to Christ.

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THE PLAN

We have accepted appointment and are now on staff with a missions organization called Pioneers. We will be partnering with another missions group called Christar while serving in the field.  It is our hope that we can go to the mission field around the August/September 2010 timeframe. Until then, we hope you will help pray for us as we continue to seek God’s guidance and direction for us as we step out in faith in full time ministry. We will be totally reliant upon God’s mercy, your prayers and the financial support of fellow believers in the Body of Christ like you.

Love in Christ,

The Dill Family

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