During the last week of May, we organized the first apologetics conference in Tirana. It was a full week dedicate
d to engaging some of the most pressing questions people raise about the Christian faith, with teaching, discussion, and space for open dialogue each evening.
We had the privilege of hosting Dr. Craig Blomberg from Denver Seminary, together with his assistant Jael Shumaker. Each evening were addressed two major topics, followed by a time of questions and interaction with the audience. Around 150 people joined the opening night alone, including Christians, agnostics, and skeptics.
Throughout the week, we explored ten key questions that often arise in conversations about Christianity:
• Is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God of the New Testament?
• If God is good and all-powerful, why does He allow human suffering?
• If God is good, why did He create hell?
• Why is slavery not clearly condemned in the Bible?
• Do miracles really happen?
• Is the Trinity a logical contradiction?
• Has the Bible been faithfully copied through the centuries?
• Has the Bible been accurately translated and correctly interpreted?
• If God is sovereign, is there still room for human free will?
• What is the Gospel?
Below you can find highlights from the first night of the conference. We are also uploading each day’s sessions to our YouTube channel. If you are interested in watching the talks, you can find them here: @ifcealbania.
Many of these discussions were around themes of suffering, hell, and difficult moral questions in Scripture. It was encouraging to see participants asking sincere questions and engaging with the answers.
We are deeply grateful for everyone who served, prayed, and participated. It was a significant milestone for our ministry in Tirana, and we trust that the conversations and seeds planted will continue to bear fruit in the months ahead.
