Texans follow their calling to Greece, work among Albanian refugees

ATHENS, Greece—When he taught at Houston Baptist University, Bob Newell often challenged young ministerial students to be sensitive to the need to keep their call alive and growing.

“I reminded them that ministers, especially in the latter stages of their careers, should be careful, lest they lose some of the vitality of their ministry commitment and simply settle for coasting until retirement,” Newell said.

Knowing the potential for such stagnation existed, Newell and his wife, Janice, continued their own personal and professional growth throughout their careers, so that as their ministry matured, they themselves would be ready to meet new challenges.

It came as no surprise the Newells were prepared for the calling they began to recognize in the late 1990s to work with Albanian refugees. At the time, Newell was pastor at Memorial Drive Baptist Church in Houston, where his wife served as organist.

The inkling of a call started at a conference in Stockholm, Sweden, when Newell learned about ethnic cleansing and tensions among Balkan people. When he returned to the States, he learned that Houston had become home to more than 500 Kosovar Albanian refugee families, and relatives of a church member were beginning a ministry among Albanians in Kosovo.

“Seemingly at every turn, factors conspired to alert us to a fresh concern for ministry among Albanians,” Mrs. Newell said. “Bob led the church to focus its ministries on Albanian people; as a result, Albanian children became members of my children’s choir, and we led ministry teams to work with Albanians in Macedonia and Kosovo.”

By then, the Newells were convinced God was calling them to some form of cross-cultural ministry in the final chapter of their careers. They began to explore opportunities through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In 2003, they were commissioned as CBF field personnel to Athens, Greece.

CBF Missionaries Bob and Janice Newell

“We were not surprised that, after prayer and conversation, we both sensed a powerful tug toward the needs of Albanian immigrants in Athens,” Newell said.

Everything matched. Houston was about the same size as Athens. Their skill sets, abilities and experience equipped them for innovative ministry. They had worked on a university campus and in a local church.

“In addition, our years of experience in working with ecumenical and interfaith groups, merged with Bob’s training in sociology/anthropology to help us to be somewhat prepared for an assignment which focused on the needs of a minority ethnic group with Muslim, Christian and atheistic backgrounds, living in a foreign cultural milieu dominated by the Greek Orthodox Church,” Mrs. Newell said.

“For us, this opportunity to serve has been a genuine gift from God,” her husband observed. “Our gifts have been utilized. We have been challenged to remain alive and growing in our ministry. And we have found adventure, excitement and fulfillment—despite the terrific challenges associated with learning two languages and adapting to different cultures.”

The Newells’ primary ministry venue is through PORTA—the Albania House in Athens. Located in a neo-classical house, built in 1916, the distinctive facility houses an art gallery, library, and four classrooms. The center offers a variety of programs—such as language and computer classes—to a large group of non-Christian Albanian refugees. Meanwhile, about 300 Albanian Christians take advantage of Bible studies, evangelism and Christian discipleship programs, marriage and family enrichment, social events and relationship and reconciliation workshops at PORTA.

A photo exhibit, “Albanians in Athens – a Positive Picture,” was created by Gary Barchfeld, a professional photographer from Houston. Barchfeld and his wife, Martha, went to Athens three times to take photos of Albanians at work, worship and play. Sixteen photos were included in an exhibition that was shown first at PORTA and now is traveling to churches throughout the United States. It will conclude its United States tour at the CBF General Assembly in Houston, July 2-3.

“This traveling exhibit has literally put a face on the ministry among Albanians in Athens,” Mrs. Newell said.