Erna Neufeld (August 2006)

Many OM (Operation Mobilization) missionaries talk about God's love through the ministries in which they are involved. Erna Neufeld, a Paraguayan woman serving long term in Albania, doesn't just talk about sowing seeds; she is planting seeds of hope through her thriving sewing ministry with Albanian women throughout the country.

Last autumn, Erna started a sewing course in the village of Sukth near Durres. In this village, OM has planted the Durres Disciples Church which also has an outreach ministry. Pastor Arvid Gogaj asked Erna if she would be willing to teach a sewing course there after hearing about the sucess of Erna's classese in villages close to Lushnje, where Erna lives. "Pastor Arvid said it would be an evangelistic course, to reach out to more ladies than girls. I told him that I only wanted either students because otherwise it is so difficult and they don't learn so well."

On the first day eight students and three of those students were believers. Franceska, a Christian lady from the village helps with the outreach ministry in Sukth. She mentioned to Erna that there were two other ladies planning to attend the next day, in which they did. Two more women joined later, but Erna has to turn them down, since her eight-person limit had already become 10 students and one helper!

When the course started, Erna explained the purpose of the class and what they would expect during the three months. In addition to the dewing lessions, Erna told them that she also planned to teach them something from the Bible and that there would be a weekly Bible study. All the women agreed to be involved in the study. While some were already Christians, the majority were nonbelievers from Muslim or other backgrounds, so Erna gave Bibles to the women who didn't have them.

Erna and Marie, another OM worker in Albania, shared their testimonies about how they came to know Jesus. Beri, an Ablanian Christian women who helped with the course for two weeks, also shared her conversion experience. Beri's testimony was especially powerful for the Muslim women attending he sewing course because Beri is from a Muslim family. During one session, the ladies asked how to get to heaven. Erna explained the Gospel and there there was only one way to get to heaven. Of the seven students attending the course, sixe responded and accepted Jesus into their lives. Erna shared, "we prayed together, and afterwards I explained to them that there were now part of the family of God. That the Word of God says when we believe in Jesus, we have everlasting life. The were all very happy and I was too!"

Following the completion of the dewing course, Erna reflected on how the ladies did learn to sew, but more importantly, they learned about the one true God and Hid Word. The Durres church is continuing the ministry in Sukth and hopes to reach out to these women and hlep them grown in their faith. "God's word is alive, and it doesn't return empty," said Erna. "That is what we read in the Bible, and that is what I experienced again."


Vision Trips for Church Leaders: North Africa, Oct. 24 - Nov 2, 2006 & Turkey, May 15-24, 2006
Pastors and church leaders, OM USA is hosting two trips just for you. Engage with missionaries and local believers, and explore how your church can get involved. Contact Pastor Terre Hass at OM USA, 770-692.5173 or at terre@usa.om.org.



back to missions