My name is Jonida Llapushi, but you can call me Jona. I was born on November 13, 1996, in the city of Berat, in south Albania. My family background is Muslim. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Business Informatics and a Master's Degree in Management of Information Systems from the University of Tirana. I have been working as a Cybersecurity Specialist for 2 years and as a Development Operations Engineer for 3 years until December of 2023. I have been married to Edi for 5 years.
I encountered Christ when I was 17, but I had questions about God in my mind since I was 12. I always believed there was more to life than just its material reality. At the age of 18, after I finished reading most of the books in the city's public library in search of the meaning of life, I started attending a small church in my hometown. There, I read the Bible for the first time. It was fascinating to discover how God could have an infinite love for this world and be righteous at the same time. I decided to follow Jesus, and since then, my life has had meaning: to worship God, to share the Gospel, and to help people find that meaning too.
I have been involved with IFCE as a volunteer since the beginning and have really admired this new approach to ministry in Albania. The focus on sharing the Gospel and equipping believers by providing relevant answers to skeptical people, not only from people with a Muslim background but also from atheists, deists, agnostics, etc., is a good foundation for engaging Christianity in our culture and promoting Christian values.
When I was given the opportunity to join the IFCE team as a full time staff, after some time in prayer, I decided to accept. It became very clear to me that the passion that God had planted in my heart — to help people find real answers for their faith, guide them to the truth, and care for them during their journey — has never left. I was able to identify my gifts very easily within this ministry, and I can't wait to see how God will use me in this mission to Albania, a mission which I now share.
To send a donation by check, write “1045” on the memo and send to:
Mission Together, 12472 Lake Underhill Road #242, Orlando FL 32828
Please check our website for more info: www.ifce.al
Our Vision
We exist so that:
Seekers and skeptics in Albania will find credible answers about the Christian faith.
Christians will be equipped to share their faith confidently.
Albanian culture will be saturated with the Gospel values.
Our Mission:
Sharing the Truth, Equipping Believers, Engaging Culture
Sharing the Truth – We provide a platform where every seeker and skeptic in Albania and beyond will have a safe place where they can ask questions and find kind and credible answers about the Christian faith.
Equipping Believers – We equip Christians in local churches to know and share the truth claims of the Christian faith with confidence and greater effectiveness.
Engaging Culture: It is our passion to see the Gospel saturate our culture. We aim to provide an articulate, intelligent voice for biblical Christianity on cultural trends with issues concerning what it means to be a human being and how to fulfill God’s purpose in the world.
