Pray for North Macedonia

Stepping foot into North Macedonia instantly transports you back in time, with its ancient architecture and medieval landmarks. The capital city, Skopje, is known for its Ottoman  Old Bazaar — one of the largest and oldest marketplaces in the Balkans. Although ethnically Albanian, Mother Teresa was born     in Skopje, and is considered one of the most famous Macedonians. North Macedonia’s terrain is largely mountainous. In fact, it has   the most mountain peaks of any country in the world. Landlocked between Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania, the nation plays a critical role as a junction for major trade routes.

Interestingly, North Macedonia is the only nation to gain independence from former Yugoslavia without any bloodshed.  Independence was established in 1991 under the name “Macedonia”, later becoming “North Macedonia”. With a history as ancient crossroads, it’s no surprise that North Macedonia has a diverse population today — including ethnic Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, and more. The people strongly identify along ethnic, religious, and linguistic lines.  Ethnic minority Albanians historically faced intense persecution. Conflict between Albanians and Macedonians broke out in 2001, causing NATO forces to enter the region and leading the Macedonian congress to grant greater rights to Albanians. Other challenges in the country include high poverty rates, political and ethnic polarization, corruption, and industrial air pollution. Unemployment has improved somewhat over the last two decades, but still remains high.

North Macedonia is roughly 60% Christian (mostly Orthodox) and 32% Muslim. One of     the largest cross structures in the world is The Millennium Cross on Vodno Mountain overlooking Skopje. Despite an impressive religious resume, many churches remain empty and few people incorporate faith into their daily lives. Minority Christian denominations face challenges with registration and activities. However, there is    an increasing focus on oneness in Christ, which includes pastors’ prayer networks and citywide worship events. Protestant and evangelical populations are growing. The evangelical Church in North Macedonia is one the fastest growing in Europe and is reaching across the many boundaries that exist in Macedonian society to minister Christ’s love to others.