5 August 2025 | Tirana, Albania [Sarah Henke]
Seventh-day Adventists in Durrës and Tirana lead creative health outreach rooted in faith, compassion, and connection.
Across Albania, Seventh-day Adventist churches have been leading bold, compassionate outreach efforts to encourage healthier living, offering support to smokers and raising awareness about tobacco use. Through face-to-face conversations, faith-based initiatives, and symbolic gestures, communities were engaged with a message of hope and transformation.
These activities were part of World No Tobacco Day, marked globally on 31 May, but their impact has continued to resonate long after.
Irilda Braho, Health Department Director for the Albanian Mission, created and distributed an anti-smoking brochure for use across all churches. In Durrës, under her leadership, the local team took to the streets with a clear mission: to engage directly with smokers. Rather than simply handing out leaflets, they initiated one-on-one conversations, approaching individuals who were visibly smoking on sidewalks, in cafés, and in parks.
“We didn’t just give them a brochure,” Irilda explained. “We challenged them to take at least one cigarette from their pack and exchange it for an apple.” The response was often a surprised smile or a nervous laugh. Yet, almost all admitted they knew smoking was harmful, even if they associated it with stress or enjoyment.
The experience was filled with heartfelt moments. Some individuals opened up about their struggles and failed attempts to quit. Others were glad to see friends or partners challenged. “Some girls told us to do this every day!” Irilda recalled. Non-smokers asked for extra brochures to share with their children, and several people said, “You came at the perfect time.”
Of course, not everyone was receptive. A few declined to listen, refused the brochure, or rejected the challenge altogether. One person even joked that they’d rather divorce their spouse than quit smoking. But overall, the response was remarkably positive. By the end, the team had collected not just stories, but cigarettes — symbolically surrendered and stored in a paper bag as small trophies of progress.
Meanwhile, at Tirana East Church, members gathered for a special Sabbath programme dedicated to raising awareness and offering hope. Led by Pastor Gentian Thomollari, the service combined practical advice with spiritual encouragement for breaking free from addiction.
Pastor Thomollari’s sermon highlighted the serious dangers of tobacco use and urged the church to support those who struggle, not with judgment, but with kindness and care, following Christ’s example.
“Pastor Thomollari’s message opened my eyes,” said Zamira. “I realised that compassion, not criticism, is the key to helping others.”
At the end of the service, members went out into the community to distribute brochures to neighbours and friends. “It felt like more than just raising awareness,” said a church member. “It was a way of showing love. If even one person reads it and decides to change, it’s worth it.”
[Photos: courtesy of Sarah Henke]
