WELS missionaries served the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Albania for about 13 years between 1995 and 2008. Sometimes missionaries were able to live and work in the field continually, and other times unrest forced evacuations and missionaries were only able to make brief visits to the field. From 2008-2021, the Europe Administrative Committee, Missionary Luke Wolfgramm (Russia), and the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) made periodic visits to Albania. In March 2022, Missionary Wolfgramm settled with his wife in Durres, Albania, to provide onsite training and support for the Albanian church for one year. Now he resides in Germany and makes regular trips for mentoring and encouragement.

Currently, two national pastors serve the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Albania, Mikel Bishka and his son, Nikolla Bishka. The Albanian church has two congregations, one in the capital city of Tirana and another in the port city of Durres. The men work together to serve the 80 members and reach out with the gospel. The Albanian Church is a warm, friendly group of Christians. About 90 people worship in Durres each week, making it one of the largest congregations in our European fellowship.

Fast Facts

• Congregations: 2
• Baptized members: 80
• National pastors: 2
• Seminary students: 1
• In Romans 15:19, Paul speaks of preaching everywhere from Jerusalem to Illyricum, the ancient name for the region now known as Albania.
• The ancient road known as the Via Egnatia runs from Istanbul to Durres. Paul traveled a portion of this road during his missionary journeys.