Some churches begin with a plan, others begin with people.

In Prishtina, the story of Light of the World Church of the Nazarene began with a return, not to something familiar, but to something just beginning to take shape.

Kosovo, the youngest country in Europe, is home to around 1.6 million people. While the context is largely secular, around 94.5% of the population identifies as Muslim, and the Evangelical community remains small, with most believers being first-generation Christians. It is within this reality that the story of this church unfolds.

It began during the war in 1998, as many fled the country, one of them was a young man named Imir Gashi. While living as a refugee in Albania, he encountered Christ through the Church of the Nazarene. What could have remained a personal turning point became something more, though at the time, it likely did not feel that way.

When the war ended, many returned home. Imir returned to Kosovo as well. In the autumn of 1999, the first Nazarene teams reconnected with him and began serving in the country through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. In those early months and years, their presence was not loud, but it was consistent. Through this work, the church in Suhareka was established, and through both local believers and missionaries, people began to come to know Christ.

A few years later, that story continued into a new city.

In January 2006, as a small group of believers from Suhareka moved to Prishtina for their university studies, a church began to form. There was no large launch or visible momentum, only a shared conviction and a pastor willing to lead in something that was still very small. With Imir Gashi serving as pastor, the heart of the church was clear from the beginning: “to reach out to their families, friends, colleagues and neighbors with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Simplicity, small gatherings, limited resources, and a city that was still shaping its identity after years of conflict defined those early days. The church learned slowly what it meant to be present, to build relationships, and to grow in a place where faith often had no generational roots.

Over time, that small group began to change.

What started as a church made up mostly of young believers has become a family church. As people matured, married, and had children, the life of the church naturally expanded. At the same time, the church continued to reach outward, welcoming others into the community. Today, the church reflects both growth and diversity, with people from different nationalities and services held in both English and Albanian.

The journey has not been about one moment, but about many small, faithful steps.

Over the years, the congregation has met in different locations throughout the city. Each space served its purpose, but none of them were permanent. Still, the church continued. In 2012, it was officially organized at the District Assembly, marking a significant step in its development. Now, as it celebrates twenty years of ministry in Prishtina, it stands as a fully functioning church with committed believers, rooted in a city that continues to grow.

And yet, even after two decades, there is still something ahead.

Today, the church finds itself in a new season. After years of meeting in rented spaces, there is a growing focus on finding a permanent home. This is not simply about a building, but it is about presence and stability. It is about creating a place that can carry the life of the church into the next generation.

Prishtina itself is an ever-growing city, now home to almost half a million people. In the heart of that city, this church continues to hold onto the same calling it began with: “to shine the light of Jesus in the heart of Prishtina, pointing people to the hope found in Jesus.”

From a small group of students in 2006 to a diverse and growing church today, the story has been one of steady faithfulness. It has been shaped by people who chose to stay, to build, and to trust that God works even through what feels small.

As this next chapter begins, the need is both practical and deeply rooted in the life of the church. The search for a permanent space carries with it years of prayer, of movement, and of hope for what is still to come.

Join us in prayer for Light of the World Church in Prishtina. Pray for wisdom and provision as they seek a permanent home. Pray for Pastor Imir Gashi as he continues to lead with the same faithfulness that has marked this journey from the beginning. And pray that this church would continue to reach their families, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, remaining a steady light in the heart of the city.

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– written by Katia Oufan, Eurasia Communications