Ned of YWAM Family Ministries Albania writes:

This week for the first time we will be celebrating National Marriage Week (Java e Martesës) in Albania.  We’re believing that adage that says “from small beginnings come great things”, so we’re taking a step. Marriage Week is an initiative that Jorid and I first heard about 6 or 7 years ago at a YWAM Family Ministries conference and I remember thinking at that time that it would be great if we could start something like that in Albania one day. Our desire is to see it grow into a movement that will bring transformation to this nation – one family at a time.
 
We got a late start to planning and preparing for Marriage Week 2012, but things have come together quickly.  Not only has the idea been well received in the Evangelical Churches where we have full support from the Evangelical Alliance here, but also the Orthodox and Catholic communities have embraced Marriage Week as something that they want to promote as well.  It’s been fantastic for us to lead a broad-based steering committee for this Christian initiative in Albania.  If you want to know more about the international movement, check it out at www.marriage-weekinternational.com.  There are events in over 20 nations across Europe and including the US, Australia and New Zealand.
 
Practically, Marriage Week in Albania will be a time for bringing awareness and encouragement to as many people as possible across the nation.  How can that happen through a small group of unknowns that don’t have money or influence?  Well, that’s the exciting part!  Our attitude from the start has been that something is better than nothing.  We’ve been encouraged that God has given us a lot of favor not only in the Church but with many others as well.  In churches across Albania pastors, priests and leaders will be teaching and preaching on the topic of marriage.  Many churches will be having Marriage Week events as well.
 
We’ve been able to print up and are distributing 25,000 door hangers and 5000 postcards with the “Marriage Week Challenge” that gives couples a chance to do three exercises to improve their marriage.  In the Tirana city busses there will be Marriage Week advertising on all the video screens.  We’ve also developed a website where people can go.  The idea is to get people talking about what it takes to have a great marriage.
 
Finally, we’ve been blessed that opportunities in the media have opened up as well.  Jorid and I and several people on our team are being interviewed on different TV and radio stations during the week.  We’re grateful for this free “advertising” that is a great opportunity to talk about not only skills for strong marriage but the source and center of our marriage which is Christ.
 
I have been recently reminded about the time in Acts when the wise Pharisee Gamaliel told the Sanhedrin that if what the apostles were doing was their own initiative out of their own strength, then it would fail, but if it was from God then no one would be able to stop them!  It seems that this small beginning is growing and we give thanks and praise to God for this!
 
Please keep us in your prayers during this week.  We have to run out the door now to go to an interview on Nesër TV.

Ned