Lasavio Family

MISSIONARIES TO ALBANIA

ANDREW & REBECCA LaSAVIO

Albania is a Balkan state located in Southeast Europe just east of Italy, and is home to 3.3 million people. This developing nation is one of the poorest countries in Europe, and has the highest proportion of youth. The country itself is beautiful and mountainous. Its people are also beautiful, although they suffer with unemployment and rampant governmental corruption. Albania is Europe's only predominantly Muslim country: 70% Muslim, 20% Orthodox, and 10% Catholic, although at this time the label of "Muslim" or "Orthodox" is more a badge of cultural identity than a religious conviction. Currently, less than 1% of Albanians are evangelical Christians.

From 1944 to 1991 Albania suffered under the most radical communist regime in history. In 1967 it claimed to be the world's first atheistic state. All mosques and churches were closed and all religion outlawed. In June of 1991 the communist government fell, leaving the country and its people in shambles, economically, physically and spiritually. Slowly and painfully the gospel is beginning to re-enter this thirsty land, and the economic and political systems are slowly maturing. While there is much work to be done, we are thrilled to see progress being made.