Howdy! My name is Gordon Burgett and I’m going to Albania this summer. I first went in the summer of 2013, and fell in love with both the people and the mission. Since that time I’ve been back and forth every summer, and a few stints in between.
We’re continuing the work we’ve been doing over the past 8+ years. As the Poland Re:Generation project matures, we’re starting to look into new ways we can support the native staff and church members in Albania and beyond. This is a great opportunity for us to continue to invest in people whose hearts are fully devoted to God:
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
We have built many deep relationships over the years in Albania, and know many people whose lives and ministries God is already strongly supporting. The question we are now asking ourselves is, how can we be part of that support? A secondary purpose of our mission this year is to investigate opportunities to support leaders throughout the year, not just during the summer.
How you can help
My wife and I need your financial support to continue serving in Albania. As my time with CRU has come to an end, a new avenue has opened up with our home church, Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX. We need to raise $2500/ea to make the trip every year and have a little left over to help fund the CRU ministries in Albania. Please consider donating!
More importantly I need your prayers! The most effective part of my support comes from those who are on their knees pleading beside me before our Father in Heaven, that this ministry will be effective. Our works are for nothing if God does not go before us. “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).
Please sign up for the newsletter or text the word “Albania” to +1 214-444-7523 to get updates from the trip, including our prayer calendars.
Why Albania?
Albania has been on my heart since 2013 when me, Jeff Welskopf, and Will Noll went for 10 days to evangelize high school students. Since then our partnership with Albania has continued to grow. In 2015 I quit my job as a programmer to spend 2 years there helping them start a ministry to professionals, similar to what we do at The Porch in Dallas. In July 2018 Watermark sent 39 professionals to Albania to serve with 4 separate CRU ministries for 9 days, including the now 3-year old Albanian professionals ministry. This is far from the culmination of our efforts. I expect our partnership to continue to grow over the coming years.
The work being done in Albania is transforming the region.
The Albanians believe that the opportunity has been given to them to reach the surrounding Balkan muslim countries for Christ. They are uniquely positioned to be welcomed into closed or unfriendly countries like Macedonia, Turkey, and Montenegro. They take this opportunity seriously; they are constantly sending people on short term trips around the whole region, and are even sending some staff members on longer missions.
The Albanians are also hungry for the Gospel. Having lived under Communist rule for so long, they are looking for the Truth that gives life purpose. I’m always surprised by the number of people that are coming to CRU to hear the Gospel, and the speed with which the Albanian church is growing.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
At Easter we celebrate a historical fact. The fact that changes everything. If Jesus Christ rose from the dead, then I too will rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:22), and this world is not my home (Hebrews 11:13-16). What then in this life is not worth giving up for the sake of eternity? Everything pales in comparison to the Resurrection.
Secondly, if Jesus Christ rose from the dead, that validates what He said about Himself. He is the Way the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). There are people in the world today who have never heard why we celebrate Easter. These people don’t know that God has made a way for them to be reconciled to Him, to be forgiven, redeemed and made righteous. They have to know, and we have to go tell them! (Romans 10:13-15)
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
Feel free to read all my posts from my STINT years, starting with “Day 1 in Albania” and ending with “Home”. It’s been quite a journey!