The soft-spoken Elona is happy to leave the conversation to her husband, Pastor Ilir. Even while we interview her, she sometimes looks at him for answers about ministry matters. Yet, behind her modest smile hides a subdued but strong passion for Pogradec’s needy women.

“I am 40 years old and have been serving in the ministry for about 20 years, together with Ilir, as the pastor’s wife,” she says. “For two years, I’ve also been leading the women’s meetings in our church.”

What can you tell us about the women’s ministry?

“It was a new ministry here in Pogradec. We realized that women were missing the Word of God in their lives, so we involved them in Bible studies using Bible League’s booklets. These have been fruitful, and we’ve seen women growing in faith. In our meetings, we ask the ladies about their understanding of the Word of God. Do they understand what salvation is about, what the role of Jesus is in their lives, and do they spend time building their relationships with God? We also make sure we know about their situation.”

Can you tell us about that situation? What specific needs make it essential for the women in the Pogradec area to hear the Gospel?

“The first challenge is that we’re dealing with different levels of faith. Some have heard the Word and know it. Others tend to prioritize their difficult economic situation more, which means they do not spend time with God. I need to work harder with these, helping them to see the connection between their needs and the Word of God. Seek God first, and He will help you with anything. That’s what we teach them, and I can say I see the results as they grow in their faith. Initially, it was difficult for me to work with these different levels. Yet, we have a good group now, where all the women understand that spiritual food is the most significant thing they can receive at church. Some of them are now ready to share the Gospel themselves. Regarding this, I understood that our method of motivating, encouraging, and organizing has been beneficial to them to be close to Jesus. They cherish the time they spend in their relationship with God. The Bible League books they have studied were of great help.”

Can you give some examples of how the materials are helpful?

“Their focus on specific Bible verses guides me when I lead the women. The topics, such as starting your faith journey, receiving salvation, and deciding to be baptized, are timely. They help the women to throw away their old lives and receive new life in Christ. It makes people realize they are not perfect. Only Christ is perfect, but we’re heading toward perfection through our relationship with God.”

What is your strategy to reach these women? Where and how do you meet them for the first time?

“We go from door to door or invite women we meet to attend our events. However, in most cases, they bring one another to our church. Their daily needs are our starting point. I look at the condition of their lives, assess their level of faith, and connect the Bible lessons in a practical way. And then, you’ll see they become more open and easier to interact with.”

How did you get to know Bible League?

“My husband, Ilir, is the one who introduced me to the materials, which I’ve been using ever since. For most of these 20 years, I’ve worked with children and teenagers. I’ve worked with women for only the last two to three years.”

What would you tell the donors of Bible League who send money and pray for the ministry so you can have the booklets and the Bibles?

“I would thank them, and I would ask them to continue our cooperation to make sure to have more materials. We will pray for them and ask them to pray for our mission.”

What was one unforgettable day in your women’s ministry in the past couple of years?

“We, Albanians, love to have an enthusiastic and cheery atmosphere. We have experienced two or three such special moments when we felt like being a family, sisters in Jesus Christ. I have seen the joy of the Lord around us. In the lessons, I always mention examples of women from the Bible, how they act in different situations, how they have a relationship with God, and how God responds to them. It’s so special when the women tell me in our meetings that they see such miracles happen in their own lives. These are the moments you don’t forget.”