The following post is by CBF field personnel Bob and Janice Newell. Their ministry in Greece among Albanian immigrants is highlighted in a traveling photo exhibit, which will be at CBF’s General Assembly July 2-3 in Houston, Texas. Learn more or pre-register for the Assembly at www.thefellowship.info/assembly.
Often, the public image of Albanian immigrants in Greece is not at all positive. Hundreds of years of ethnic animosity in the Balkans, squabbles over ancient land rights and concerns that these “foreigners” with different cultural norms are invading the country and taking away jobs from Greek laborers often conspire to fuel existing fires of discrimination and prejudice. As a result, press reports of Albanians, especially in Athens, have not always been affirming. For this reason, we decided to develop a professional quality photo exhibition as the centerpiece of Dedication Days, the June 2008 celebration of the first anniversary of PORTA – the Albania House in Athens.
Based on the outstanding camera work of Gary Barchfeld, Houston-area professional photographer and friend of PORTA who, with his wife, Martha, made three photoshoot trips to Athens, we developed an exhibition entitled, “Albanians in Athens – a Positive Picture!” These 16 photos, showing Albanians in Athens “at work, worship and play,” literally put a face on this challenging work among a people group once isolated from the rest of the world and, by government edict, denied access to the Gospel.
Although initially developed for Dedication Days, the show now hangs on permanent display when we are not presenting other exhibitions of original Albanian art in the Gallery at PORTA. Following Dedication Days, a second copy of this outstanding show was created and a USA tour organized thanks to the assistance of Marion/Montgomery, Inc., a Houston-area advertising and public relations firm and friend of PORTA. From October 1, 2008 through the final showing at the General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (July 2-3, Houston, Texas), the traveling photo show has appeared almost every week on the walls of Baptist churches and agencies in several states, including Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Texas.
Routinely now, we have the privilege of informing young Albanian believers that their brothers and sisters in America are standing before their pictures and praying for them and their families. These sincere new believers are constantly amazed that people whom they do not know and will never meet are caring and praying for them thanks to this traveling photo show.
Learn more or pre-register for the Assembly at www.thefellowship.info/assembly.