From April 30 to May 2, 2025, the coastal city of Durrës, Albania, became a center of renewal and encouragement as pastors and evangelical leaders from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and beyond gathered for the Albanian Leadership Forum.

The forum brought together men and women from diverse backgrounds with one shared vision: to strengthen the church, equip leaders, and ignite a movement of hope across the Balkans. Over several days, participants engaged in worship, teaching, fellowship, and strategic discussions, rediscovering the beauty of unity in the body of Christ.

One of the keynote speakers was Philip Miller, Senior Pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, a congregation with over 150 years of history and global influence. Pastor Miller preached from the book of Jonah, powerfully reminding leaders of humanity’s deep need for God’s grace and how true encounters with grace compel us to join God’s mission in the world. His message resonated deeply in a region where faith often requires courage, resilience, and vision.

The Albanian Leadership Forum is part of the wider movement of the European Leadership Forum (ELF), an annual gathering in Poland that unites more than 700 evangelical leaders from across Europe. The goal of ELF—and now the Albanian Forum—is to unite, equip, and resource leaders to renew the biblical church and spread the Gospel throughout the continent. Through mentoring, training, and cross-network collaboration, these forums empower leaders to address the pressing challenges of today with biblical clarity and practical wisdom.

What made the Albanian Leadership Forum unique was its mosaic of focus areas: apologetics, church planting, preaching, biblical leadership, mental health, and discipleship. Each session highlighted that God’s Kingdom is multifaceted and requires a united body, where every gift, calling, and contribution has its place.

At a time when Albania and the wider Balkan region are in need of leaders with heart, vision, and steadfast faith, this gathering served as more than a conference—it was a living experience of God’s renewal.

Our TV 7 team filmed the main sessions, interviewed many of the speakers and produced a special story for the event encouraging Christian leaders in Albania, Kosovo and across all Balkans to grow and transform their communities.

The Forum rekindled hope, reminded leaders of their shared mission, and strengthened the bonds of fellowship that will continue to bear fruit for years to come.