5 June 2025 | Tirana, Albania [Sara Henke]
In an age of social media, QR codes and instant messages, walking around with paper flyers might seem outdated. But the Tirana East Seventh-day Adventist Church in Albania is demonstrating that, when paired with prayer, purpose and a warm smile, printed materials can still open both doors and hearts.
Led by Pastor Gentian Thomollari, Publishing Ministries Director for the Albanian Mission (AM), the church has embraced print-based evangelism as a powerful outreach tool. As part of their Easter outreach, they printed 4,000 invitation cards—half in Albanian and half in English. The goal was simple: to invite people to join prayer groups and Bible studies. But the choice of the method was intentional and deeply spiritual.
“Our message is one of warmth and inclusion,” explains Thomollari. “We want every person, regardless of their background, to know they are welcome.” According to him, the method also helps local members to grow in faith “by sharing these invitations with everyone they meet—whether locals or foreigners.”
When an invitation becomes a personal ministry
More than just a church strategy, this outreach has become a personal ministry for many members. Some go out several times a week to distribute invitations, while others leave them on café tables, park benches or in mailboxes—always with prayer.
“I’m very shy,” shared Veresa Rabili, a church member. “But whenever I go for tea, I leave an invitation on the table. If I see a bench, I place one there. If I pass a mailbox, I leave one there too, and I pray for each invitation. Even though I’m introverted, God is using me. And that makes me so happy.”
Professor Vladimir Solodovnikov, another member, personally distributes 300 to 400 invitations every month. “Each invitation is a chance for someone to discover God’s love,” he says. “If they say no, I pray that next time, they’ll say yes.”
Building bridges with paper, books and faith
In addition to the invitations, church members also distribute printed materials such as leaflets from the SCORE (Supplying Contextualised, Open-access Resources for Evangelism) project, an initiative of the General Conference designed especially for secular or Muslim audiences, as well as books like Steps to Christ and The Great Controversy, both authored by church pioneer Ellen White, along with health-focused literature. These resources are handed out in person, creating meaningful moments of connection and conversation.
Zamira Berati, a volunteer, shared, “I want everyone to know that the doors of our church are open. I found spiritual nourishment here, and I want others to find healing for their souls too.”
Paper, digital… or both?
So, does handing out flyers and physical books still make sense in today’s digital world? “Maybe not for the majority of people,” answers Pastor Thomollari, “but every nation has book lovers and people who still read flyers.” While Thomollari affirms that digital evangelism matters and has its place, he believes that “those who love reading are one step closer to finding the truth of the Bible.”
This strategy is already bearing fruit. For example, a young American woman recently began attending the women’s support group after receiving one of these invitations—an encouraging first step in what could become a deeper spiritual journey.
[Photos: courtesy of Sara Henke]
