“Kosovo’s sorrow will be turned into joy!”
As the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration, they were to observe these days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.(Esther 9:22,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Europe
Population | 1.95 million
Area | 10,887 km², Rocky region in the center of the Balkan Peninsula.
Capital City | Pristina (210,000 people)
People Groups | Total 10 Groups, Albanians 92.4%, Bosnians 1.5%, Serbs 1.4%, Montenegrins 1%, Turks 1%
Unreached People Groups | 5 (96.2% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Albanian, Serbian
Total Languages | 8
Bible Translations | Completed 5, New Testament 2
Religion | Christianity 4.2% (Orthodox 3%, Catholic 1%), Muslim 90.1%, Non-religious 5.8%, Evangelical 0.2%(4,000 people)
》 About Kosovo
Kosovo was once the center of the Serbian Empire and is home to many religious sites, including Serbian Orthodox churches. After World War II, it became an autonomous province of Serbia within Yugoslavia, and its current borders were set. In the 1980s, Albanian nationalism grew, leading to demands for independence. In 1989, Serbia removed Kosovo’s autonomy through a new constitution. In 1991, Albanian leaders declared independence in a referendum, and armed resistance began. The conflict escalated in 1998 when Kosovo rebels attacked Serbian police. Serbia responded with a harsh crackdown and carried out ethnic cleansing against Albanians. NATO intervened in 1999, forcing Serbian troops to withdraw. The war left about 10,000 dead and created 900,000 refugees. After almost ten years of talks and tensions, Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Over 100 countries now recognize it, but some do not, so Kosovo remains partially unrecognized internationally. Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo, but talks for normalizing relations began in 2013 with help from the EU. Though there is no full agreement yet, some steps have been taken. Kosovo continues working toward joining global organizations and gaining broader international recognition. The current president is Vjosa Osmani, and the prime minister is Albin Kurti, both serving since 2021.
Economically, Kosovo is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Remittances from emigrants in Germany, Switzerland, and Nordic countries make up 17% of its GDP, and foreign aid adds another 10%. The average age is 26, but unemployment is high—33% overall and 60% among youth—leading many to emigrate. Corruption, power shortages, and weak contract enforcement have discouraged foreign investment.
Kosovo’s GDP per capita is approximately $10,800.
》 Scripture Focus
| Esther 9:22-28(NIV) 22 As the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration, they were to observe these days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. 25 But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. 26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should, without fail, observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city, and these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Kosovo went through a civil war driven by deep ethnic tensions, and even after its 2008 declaration of independence, opposition from Serbs and ongoing unrest remained. Many Orthodox churches were destroyed, and the community became fragmented. Meanwhile, many Albanian Muslims turned to fundamentalism, leading to increased violence. Despite the challenges, evangelicals—only about 0.2% of the population—are faithfully working through networks like the Evangelical Movement of Kosovo to promote church unity, outreach, and spiritual growth. Let us pray that the gospel brings reconciliation and healing across ethnic and religious lines. Like Esther, may the church boldly seek the Lord with sacrificial prayer and intercession, leading many in Kosovo to salvation.
2. After the war, many foreign missionaries entered Kosovo with humanitarian aid and helped plant churches, though some have since closed. Ministry remains difficult, but outreach among children and youth has shown encouraging results. Local leaders often lack theological training and are vulnerable to unbiblical influences, highlighting the urgent need for discipleship and leadership development. Mission organizations like OM, ECM, and CMA are active in the region. Let us pray for unity among mission teams and churches to bring spiritual revival and gospel transformation to Kosovo.
3. Most Albanians in Kosovo are Muslims and tend to reject Christianity, which they associate with the Serbs who once ruled them. Other Muslim minorities include Bosnians and Turks. Gospel outreach remains limited among them. At the same time, many young people live without real hope for the future. Let us pray that the next generation hears the message of Jesus and finds hope and purpose in faith. May Kosovo overcome its conflict and become a land of peace, worship, and service to the poor in the name of the Lord.
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