13 April 2025 | Tirana, Albania [Sara Henke]
After several cold and cloudy days, Saturday, 13 April, dawned bright and sunny in Tirana, Albania. Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church gathered from across the country, wearing wide smiles and sharing warm embraces in anticipation of the day of celebration ahead. Whether travelling four hours or just a short distance, all arrived with one purpose: to thank God for 33 years of the Adventist Church in Albania. The occasion was not merely a gathering — it was the Festival of Faith, an annual tradition that unites members from all local churches to worship God and celebrate His guidance throughout Albania.
A Call to Mission and Revival
With the theme “Come, Holy Spirit”, this year’s festival offered both a call to mission and an invitation to revival. During the programme, the book Hapat Drejt Rizgimit Shpirtëror (Steps Towards Spiritual Awakening) was officially launched. Published by the Albanian Mission (AM) Publishing Department, the book is entirely devoted to exploring the work of the Holy Spirit. “I believe that whoever studies this book carefully, reflecting deeply on the Bible texts and messages, will experience a true revival,” commented Pastor Gentian Thomollari, Publishing Director. “My hope is to see our members filled with passion and the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit!”
Deep Roots
For many, the event also provided an opportunity to reconnect with their spiritual roots and heritage. Adventism arrived in Albania during the communist regime, when, in the 1930s, Daniel Lewis, an Albanian pharmacist trained at Harvard University, returned to his homeland with a single purpose: to share his faith. Even under surveillance and repression, he quietly began a Bible study group. Among the first participants was Meropi Gjika, who faithfully set aside her tithe for over 40 years, waiting for the day she could be baptised. That day came on 18 April 1992, marking the official beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Albania. Alongside Meropi was Violeta Mita, also among the first to be baptised.
Three decades later, Mita stood at the Festival of Faith as a living witness to God’s faithfulness. “I feel happy and renewed to be at my church today. I remember my baptism with such nostalgia; I fell into the arms of Jesus. How beautiful it was!” she recalled. Reflecting on her journey of faith, she added, “I needed a place to lean on, because there are so many human struggles on this earth. And I’ve found, and proven, that the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit has given me strength to face them all.”
Unity and Praise
Pastor Zlatko Musija, president of the Adriatic Union Conference, delivered the main message of the day, encouraging people to depend fully on the Holy Spirit. Commenting on the spirit of joy and unity experienced during the event, he remarked, “I always love being with the church family in Albania… It’s essential that every local church joins moments like this, where we can praise God together, reflect on important topics, and make decisions as a family.”
Mission Flame
As the sun began to set over Tirana, members made their way back to their homes, carrying the deep flame of mission in their hearts. “The Festival of Faith was more than a commemoration. It was an expression of gratitude for God’s goodness — a collective and sincere act of worship,” commented Pastor Delmar Reis, AM President and event organiser. “We were reminded of the past, of how God has guided us through the years. But we are also inspired to look ahead. We still have a mission: to continue the work begun in the past, until Jesus returns,” he concluded.
[Photos: Courtesy of the Albanian Mission]
