Remember Kosovo - request for prayer

Our friend in Albania, Memli Mema, has done work with the church in Kosovo. Here is a information and a prayer request from the church in Kosovo

Remember Kosovo

During the Kosovo crisis in 1999 Kosovo was in the main news worldwide because of the war and tragedy. It was then that we asked our brothers and sisters around the world to join us for an International Day of Prayer and Fasting for Kosovo on the 31st of January 1999. Now after 7 years many things have changed, but still there is a need for lots of prayer...

The Christians of Kosovo need your prayers and support! Please join us in praying for:

Spiritually, Kosovo contains about 2 million predominantly Muslim Albanians and over one hundred thousand Serbs who are Orthodox Christians. The protestant-evangelical Christian church in Kosovo is very small and under pressure.
Many Kosovor Albanians have a hatred of Christianity as they were oppressed by the former Serbian (Orthodox Christian) regime. Albanians believe that whatever your religion is, to change it is shameful thing. Muslims that accept Christ as their Saviour will bring shame on their families and face persecution from their community.

Politically, Kosovo was a self-governing province of Yugoslavia enjoying significant autonomy before Slobodan Milosevic came to power in 1987. This autonomy was removed and Kosovo was made a province under direct rule of Serbia. Even though the majority of population of Kosovo was Albanian, the Serbian minority held most of the important position in law enforcement and administration.
In 1998-1999, thousands of Albanians were deported from Kosovo by Serbian military forces. NATO subsequently authorized air strikes and by summer 1999 the Serbian military was forced to retreat.
On the 10th of June 1999, with resolution 1244, the UN Security Council authorized the establishment of an interim international civilian administration in Kosovo. Subsequently, the UN administration has given back substantial autonomy to the people of Kosovo and the last stage of UN Mission's mandate in Kosovo is to finalize Kosovo's future political status. This future status is now the subject of intense diplomatic activity.

Economically, the challenges Kosovo faces today are huge. The situation is serious. Following the economic crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, the economy in the post-war period has depended overwhelmingly on remittances from family members working aboard sending money home, as well as international assistance. Relative to the present size of Kosovo economy, the public sector is unsustainably large, and the continuing decline in international aid means that urgent investment is needed. Present rates of unemployment and underemployment are at crisis levels.
The current system of governmental in Kosovo is very new and untested. Many new laws and regulations have been passed already under the scrutiny of the UN Administration.
However, the Provincial Government of Kosovo is proposing to enact a new law on religion that will require the protestant church to register as religious community. A condition is being placed on registration that will require a stated minimum number of 2000 protestant Christians to declare themselves as such in a forthcoming census, many are afraid of consequences if they publicly declare that they are Christians. It will be difficult for the church to reach the required number and comply. The church in Kosovo is having a hard time because of disagreements with different institutions about our position. There are some serious attempts to isolate and consider the Evangelical Church in Kosovo as a "new sect".

Please pray that God will intervene and that this hurdle will be overcome.

As we write this letter Kosovo is in 15 days of mourning as last week President Ibrahim Rugova died. He was a leader and an incredible president for 16 years. Many internationals have called him the father of Kosovor Nation. People are concerned that his death can cause troubles in Kosovo. He has been known for his pro-Christian attitude and he was always willing to meet with church representatives at all times. Over five Hundred thousand people came to Prishtina to pay tribute to the “man of independence” for Kosovo

Please pray for a new President that will be elected next week, and that he will continue to support Christianity.

We once again ask all of you, brothers and sisters to join Christians in Kosovo on January 31st on International Day of Prayer and Fasting, to Remember Kosovo in your prayers in this crucial time.

Please pray for the church in Kosovo. There are around 25 churches around Kosovo. We ask that you pray for the many young believers to stand strong in this difficult time.

Also, please pray for pastors and leaders to encourage the church and be encouraged by God as they face so many hardships.

Pray for the national Alliance of Kosovo as they work together to unite his church in one voice before the government. Pray for the Council of Ministers of the Protestant Evangelical Church.

Pray for the Government of Kosovo, the Parliament, and the Presidency office.

Pray for the decrease of the economic crisis in Kosovo as there is an extreme unemployment growth Kosovo.

Pray against the pressure coming from Muslim Community as there have been some direct threats given in media against the churches and missionaries. Kosovo is sliding to an extreme Islamic country. Pray for workers and missionaries to be united with us in the cause of spreading God’s Kingdom in Kosovo.

Pray for the Children’s Ministry, there is a great ministry doing on among the children. Pray for support and encouragement for those working with children.

Pray for an open heart to come over and help as Kosovo needs your help and support.

For any information please contact us at: info@kishaprotestante.org
BASHKESIA E POPULLIT TE ZOTIT * FELLOWSHIP OF THE LORD`S PEOPLE
Rr/Str. Rrustem Statovci # 9
PRISHTINA, Kosovo (via UNMIK)
Phone&Fax: ++381 (0)38 225330; ++377 (0)44 141 194; ++377 (0)44 173 406
www.Kosovachurch.org ; www.Kosovachurch.net