And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20
Citylight Church is obedient to Jesus and to His command to go. We have a mission to share the gospel. One way we do this is by sending global workers, short and long term, to the nations. Each year, our church sends short-term teams from our college ministry the Salt Company. By going to the nations, even in a short term assignment, students get to see and understand the hope and truth when speaking of Jesus and sharing His word. Jesus wants this! How will these communities hear if we do not send?
Last year, Citylight sent four students to Albania. The team partnered with a local missionary team to reach local college students. Each day, the Citylight team walked to campus and befriended students. They organized activities for students so that deeper relationships were built in hopes of spiritual conversations. This year, Citylight is sending another Salt Company global team to Albania. As a church we have an opportunity to help this team go.
Last year, Ben Hagedorn was one Salt student on the Albania global team. He returned as a changed man with a changed trajectory in life. He saw the great commission in a tangible way. One way was with an Albanian student “D.” Ben described what God did:
"“D" hung out with us every day and at the end of the trip, he shared with us how much of an encouragement we were to him. It encouraged him to live out more boldly and to share the gospel with his friends. In Albania they are outspoken, so if they don’t like you, they will tell you. It’s not considered bad. It can be discouraging. Doing Bible studies with "D" and living out our faith with him changed his perspective. I’ve kept in touch with him most days since being back. The girls on the team keep in touch with a girl they met as well. We don’t ever want it to seem that we came and now we have forgotten you. "D" and the others are my friends. I understand now why long-term missionaries go and stay.
Everybody should consider going. I wish I went sooner. Not that I regret it, but I want to go back. If you were to tell me two years ago that I would go to talk to people in Albania about Jesus, I would have told you that you were crazy. But now! You never know, so be open to the idea and to everything God gives you. Leave the door open for Him.”
Another student who went last year is returning to Albania this year. Sami Myers described why she is going back:
“Last year, I never thought I would go. I saw more of God’s character through support raising and going overseas. It was terrifying but the best time of my life. There is physical and spiritual darkness in tangible ways. There was spiritual warfare in myself with pride and ego and insecurity. The Lord worked through every single moment. Every single brokenness He used and gave purpose for His glory. I was able to help with other student’s familial brokenness. Every time when I think I have God figured out, He throws something out and even better.”
Citylight, would you again partner with those that are going? God saved students, fostered relationships and connections, and grew faith in those that went last year. He will do it again! Let us send more students like Sami.
Sami concluded with an invitation to our church,
“Would you partner with us on this journey? We may be the boots on the ground, but none of this is possible without God’s sovereign hand and the support of our community. With that, I truly invite you to pray for us, for our health, against spiritual warfare, and that the Lord would do incredible things in and through each of us. I also ask that you pray for the people of Tirana, that their hearts would be softened and that they would be open and eager to know Jesus and be transformed by Him. Additionally, we need financial support. Our team is about $3,300 short of our goal. We humbly ask that you prayerfully consider giving to help us reach more students with the gospel.”
Support this year's Albania team >>> https://app.managedmissions.com/Donations/Donate/96078