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Training School in Albania
International Bible Institute of Albania is scheduled to open its
doors in Tirana September 7, and Steve Stamatis has agreed to serve as the first Dean. This
school answers a tremendous need.
Deborah & Steve Stamatis
During the past twelve years, more than 1,100 Albanians have been
baptized into Christ, most of them from Muslim backgrounds. Churches have been established in
eleven Albanian cities and in Prizren, Kosova.
For approximately eight years, Bill Morgan of Loudon, TN has been conducting leadership
training classes in Tirana once or twice a year. Consequently, the church in Tirana is strong
and is led by Albanians. Bill is doing a great job, and God is blessing the
church through him.
Bill Morgan Teaching Leadership Class in Tirana
The time has come, however, to start a training school for
all Albanians—one in which future church leaders can study full time or part time. Initially,
the classes will be taught in English, and the school will accept students from all nations.
The missionaries are gradually leaving Albania. Brent Parr left Fier last summer. Pete Hodge
is leaving Elbasan in May. Kevin and Allison Morrill are leaving Pogradec in June.
Increasingly, church leadership is falling into the hands of Albanians.
The need for informed, well trained nationals is critical.
If the churches in Albania and Kosova are to survive, thrive, and plant other churches, they
must be led by Albanians who know the scriptures and are able to share the Good News with
others.
We are happy to announce that WEI, Sunset International Bible Institute, and the Adams Blvd.
Church of Christ in Bartlesville, Oklahoma are forming a partnership. SIBI is organizing the
school and developing the curriculum. The Adams Blvd. church is sponsoring Steve and Deborah
and providing about half of their personal support. I have agreed to raise funds for operating
expenses, classroom space, and food and lodging for the students.
Would you or your congregation like to sponsor a student
at $250 a month? Would you help train preachers and church leaders for churches in Albania and
other countries?
For more information about this opportunity to train
leaders who will plant churches throughout the world, please call Dick Ady at 503-661-0348 or
email him at weiady@aol.com.
New Birth in Oradea
Vasile Iuhos, minister of the church in Oradea, Romania, writes, “Dear brothers and sisters,
yesterday we had the privilege to witness the new birth of our sister Ramona Bungau who
decided to follow Jesus as she had found out in her WEI studies. She came last summer to our
church to study English, and she discovered God and His will for her life. During the summer
campaign, her teachers were Julia Mays and Kathryn Holmes. Then, in October, she studied with
Anna Pride. She thanks her teachers for their love and encouragement, and
also for their patience with her.
Vasile Baptizes Ramona Bungau into Christ
“The church in Oradea is now rejoicing that her soul is
being added to Lord's Church, and we pray for her to stay firm in the faith and on the path.”
Xhumert Marries, Baptizes Irena
On November 3, 2004, Xhumert Nuro (the Albanian minister in Pogradec, Albania) was married to
Irena Gegprifti, a lovely young woman from the village of Potgozhan.
Irena had grown up in the Orthodox Church, but after studying the Bible with Xhumert, she
decided that “the Bible and faith were more important than traditions and
superstitions.”
Xhumert Baptizes His Wife, Irena
But there is more good news. We received word today that
Xhumert and Irena are expecting their first child. God is good.
New Christian in Elbasan
Pete Hodge, missionary in Elbasan, Albania, reports: “On the 16th of February, we rejoiced at
the immersion into Christ of Silvana Biba. Silvana is the 14-year-old sister of our sisters
Mimoza and Ilda.”
Correction
Our October/November 2004 newsletter contained some unintentional errors that were pointed out
by a former missionary. We want to give proper credit to World Bible School for contacts
provided to missionaries in Romania during the early 1990’s.
Through the years, WEI and WBS have worked side-by-side in world evangelism. To God be the
glory in all things.
Tom & Angie Langley
Message from the Langleys
We are busy here at the Eastern Office with, among other things, organizing and recruiting
teachers for short-term missions this spring and summer. If you are interested in teaching WEI
one-to-one or in a small group setting, please let us know as soon as possible. Most of these
short-term missions require a minimum two-week teacher commitment.
Location Dates Teacher Status
Oradea, Romania June 27-Aug 5 One needed
Arad, Romania June 20-July 29 Teachers needed
Constanta, Rom. July 4-July 29 Teachers needed
Lugoj, Romania July or August Teachers needed
Tirana, Albania July 11-Aug 19 Teachers needed
Taipei, Taiwan April 24-May 15 Teachers needed
For more information, contact Tom Langley at the WEI
Eastern Office.
Tel: (865) 983-0397
Fax: (865) 983-0397
E-Mail: weimaryville@aol.com
Encouragement from a Short-term Teacher
“Go! Become a short-term WEI missionary. I remember my first WEI mission trip to Albania in
July 1998. It was such an awesome, life-changing experience that I returned to Albania three
months later to follow up on some of my students. I will make my eighth trip to Albania this
April.
“The WEI material is simply wonderful and makes your teaching efforts a very rewarding
experience. Go and make a difference in the lives of your students, and your life as well.”
---Lee Allen
Thank You
A special thanks to the Maryville Church of Christ elders and congregation. Not only do they
sponsor and provide us with a wonderful office space, but they also increased their financial
support of this ministry by 40% for 2005.
We also thank other supporting churches, friends, and loved ones. Because of your heart for
missions and love for the lost, we are able to continue the work of expanding WEI in the
southern and eastern United States.
---Tom and Angie Langley
Dick and Maudine Ady
Message from the Adys
In this newsletter, we give special accolades to three groups of people:
(1) We thank the NOTHYS (Not Over the Hill Yet Saints) of the Metro congregation in Gresham,
Oregon. They have helped mail every WEI Update since 1989. We are grateful!
(2) We also give special recognition to Bob Patterson, our WEI Webmaster. Bob has given
tirelessly of his time, talent, and money for six years. An average of eighty-five people per
day have visited the web site—a total of 186,000 visitors. Thanks, Bob.
(3) We also give special recognition to Bob and Jan Towell, Directors of the WEI Internet
Teaching Ministry. Since 1997, nearly 5,000 people in 147 nations have enrolled as Internet
students. Thanks, Bob and Jan, for donating so much time, energy, and money to the cause of
Christ.
Special Needs
There are three special needs:
(1) Funds to cover operating expenses of the International Bible Institute of Albania, plus
food and lodging for the students. An estimated $2,000 a month is needed.
(2) Funds for printing materials for nearly 5,000 high school seniors and military police
cadets in Kenya. Approximately $18,000 is needed in 2005.
(3) Funds to cover operational expenses at the WEI offices. About $1,000 a month is
needed.
God Bless You
Maudine and I want to thank the Metro church in Gresham for sponsoring and partially
supporting us since 1989. We also thank the other churches and special friends for their gifts
of love.
We praise God for you, and we deeply appreciate your ongoing support and encouragement. May
God reward you for your commitment to world evangelism? We love you.
---Dick & Maudine Ady
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