On the 4th of February 1999 Will Niven set foot on Albanian soil to live and work full time as a missionary. At that time the plan was that he should work in Lushnje with Berti Dosti; training workers, preaching and teaching. His commitment was for 10 years (maximum 12) and he certainly had no plans for church leadership for the foreseeable future. His plan was to work under experienced missionaries and that if God would move him into eldership in time it would be only when he had grown and matured as a worker. He was also decidedly single!
Never would he have imagined that he would have remained for 25 years, that he would be serving the Fier and Patos churches in a leadership capacity or that he would be married to an amazing woman with three wonderful children. Neither would he have imagined that he would be involved in blind ministry, in teaching in the Bible school in Erseke or that he would be able to go to Kenya to teach there. He certainly didn’t imagine that one day a Nigerian footballer would be baptised and joined to the church in Fier!
Never would he have imagined a building project for the church in Fier or the Kosovar refugee crisis that exploded in March 1999. He would not have considered that he would serve on the boards of various ministries in Albania or that he would be involved in prison work. But God had a different plan from Will’s; a far, far better one.
On Sunday the 4th of February 2024, we held a service of thanksgiving for God’s grace over these last 25 years. Believers from Fier and Patos were joined by representatives of the local blind society and past and present students from the Torchbearers Bible school in Erseke. It was an immensely moving time full of testimonies of God’s grace.
Truly we could say, “But by God’s grace I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) All that has been done and all that has been achieved is simply because of God’s grace. To Him be the glory alone!
We are so thankful to all who have supported us prayerfully, financially and personally through these 25 years. We want to give thanks to God for those who have given advice, comfort and support in challenging days. We want to give thanks to every individual and church who have stood with us as a family and as churches. Please continue to pray for us that God by His grace might strengthen us for what is to come and pray that He would be glorified in Fier, Patos and all over Albania!
3 replies on “God’s grace over 25 years”
This is amazing Will. When on God’s way and He orders the steps of the righteous, we never know where He will take us. Then one day, as you have done here, we find ourselves looking back and being amazed at the places He has taken us and all the ways He has used us.
Continued blessings on you and Doreta and your family. Keep following the path on which God is leading you.
Think of you often,
Don Kidd
What a wonderful, challenging life unfolded for you in Albania Will! Isn’t it just as well God doesn’t tell us everything in advance, but brings us step by step to places we never imagined we could go with Him. You have not just been a blessing in all the places mentioned here, but you have been, and continue to be a valued pastoral friend to me over many cups of coffee at your table. Thankyou for that, and may God continue to guide and direct you to new vistas in His service.
Hey Will, Jeremy du Toit here from Bradford on Avon Baptist church in the UK. What a wonderful story of your time in Albania. May the Lord continue to help you and encourage you in this precious work. We remember this work often in our prayers together on Tuesday evenings.