2007 Kosova Camp
Richfield Community
Church (RCC) is eagerly trusting God and planning its ninth year as host
of an English evangelism camp in partnership with New Life Institute (NLI),the
Albanian arm of Campus Crusade for Christ.
NLI's ministry in Albania began in 1991 immediately after the fall of
communism in what was once the world's only officially atheist country.
NLI began its ministry in Kosova in 2000 following the end of the Kosovo
War. NLI asked RCC to partner with them in Kosova by hosting the first
English Camp for students from the University of Prishtina (the capitol
of Kosovo) in the summer of 2000.
RCC joined forces with NLI in an effort to reach the Albanians of Kosova
at a point of great need. After the devastating war of 1998 and 1999,
during which the majority Albanians of the southern province of Serbia
called Kosovo were targets of ethnic cleansing, relief poured in from
all over the world providing emergency food, resources for rebuilding
lost homes and commercial buildings, as well as the establishment of a
plan to provide university education for young Albanian Kosovars who had
been excluded from university education by Serbia.
English as a second language is an important job skill for these
students. Unemployment is high in Kosova, so any added skill is
important in obtaining a job. Americans are respected and even loved (of
what other Muslim country in the world today can that be said?). We take
all teaching supplies and curriculum with us. The students come knowing
that we will be sharing our life in Christ with them. We use the Bible
in a daily reading comprehension time, during which we have the
purposeful opportunity to share the Gospel. We are having an eternal
impact in the lives of the top students in Kosova who will one day be
the government and business leaders of this country.
Because of RCC's participation in God's work, there are new believers in
Kosova. There are less than 750 believers in the whole country, but
because of God's work through us there is group of almost 50 students
meeting on the University campus weekly. Half are believers, half are
interested and on the path to knowing Jesus.
Background article
on Kosava:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/3524092.stm
2007 Trip Info:
To
continue this strategic RCC ministry, we will be sending this year's
team of 10-12 to connect and joyfully share God's love to more students
from the University. Campus Crusade considers this camp to be the
foundation of their campus ministry in Kosova. Please consider what part
God would have you play in this outreach. You may support the team as a
whole by designating your donation to the "Kosova Mission Trip", or for
a more personal connection, pick a team member to donate to. The cost of
sending the team and underwriting the camp this year is $33,000. We are
always blessed and amazed at God's faithfulness as we "get out of the
boat" and follow Him.
Trip
Dates: July 18-27
For more info, contact Mark Buers or Dave Lowrance
or the church office 714-524-1744
