When the Time to Talk program began broadcasting on television five years ago, it was the only Christian program reaching out to youth in Albania and Kosovo. This remains the case today. We are grateful to be part of encouraging the next generation of believers in the Balkans.
The Time to Talk program airs weekly and features Christian youth from different cities in Albania and Kosovo. They come together on the program to share experiences and testimonies about their relationship with Christ.
Growing up in a predominantly Islamic culture, Christian youth can feel isolated and alone. Seeing other believers share words of encouragement and testimonies every week on television helps them know that they are not alone.
Recently, Time to Talk featured a 13-part series on the importance of evangelism. Young missionaries who have dedicated their lives to sharing the Gospel came on the program and shared their testimonies, in order to encourage the children tuning in. For many of us, the idea of sharing our faith as a kid in school, when we were concerned about peer pressure and not standing out, is a scary proposition. Many of us could only imagine what it is like as a Christian minority in Albania and Kosovo, where we may be the only Christian in our class.
This was the case with an an Albanian youth who recently shared her story with us. She was raised in a Christian household and went to church as a child, but that she was bullied in class because she was the only Christian believer. Although her parents have helped her on her walk with the Lord, she nonetheless felt very afraid to share her faith in school because of her bullies. She was encouraged by Time to Talk’s recent series on evangelism and writes, “the testimonies on the Time to Talk program have helped me a lot not only spiritually but with practical advice on how to stand for my faith.”
She is one of many who have recently shared their stories with us, and we know that there are many more who have been blessed by this program. Please pray with us that Time to Talk will continue to have permission to air in Albania and Kosovo. May many children be encouraged in their faith. May God use this program to mightily proclaim the Gospel.