– Living Together in a Community of Love –
On 16 October 2008, the Student Center reopened its activities with students. The first activity consisted of a meeting of the existing group of students who in recent years have regularly frequented the Center. The aim of this activity was to encourage this group of approximately 40 students to become a force for change in the lives of their fellow students and a living witness of the Orthodox Christian faith. The meeting started with a prayer of praise offered in gratitude for all that the Lord has done and continues to do for us. Small group discussions gave the students the chance to share their personal witness concerning faith. Many of the students shared their stories of faith with the whole group. At the end of the meeting, the Director of these activities, Mr. Nathan Hoppe, spoke about how much change each of us could have if we brought to Christ at least one person per semester. Just as other people have introduced us to Christ, we also have the responsibility to bring others, who don’t know about a life of faith, to the source of life. This is the greatest gift we can offer to someone.
October 22nd, marked the beginning of our general meetings, a tradition which we have kept for many years now. The theme of the 2008 – 2009 Academic Year of the Student Center is, “To Walk as Children of Light.” Every Thursday, a small group discussion has been organized during which our spiritual growth in Christ, based upon readings from a selected text, is studied and discussed. Every Saturday there will be Divine Liturgy followed by pastoral visits to people in need and sports activities.
The Student Center, through the ministries it offers, and all the activities it organizes, aims at the improvement of the quality of life of the youth who live in Student City and to encompass them into a loving Christ-centered community.
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The Student Center is open every day from 9:00 – 20:00. The students may come to the Center to work with a computer, to study for their exams, to rest, to spend time with each other, as well as, to participate in the activities of the Center. It is a blessed sanctuary that gathers and welcomes all; a safe shelter where students can find warmth; a place where they can find inspiration and hope for the future; a place where they can lay the foundations of a life of faith in Christ, or to grow and mature, if they are already Christians.
This year it is equipped with a rich library of about 1000 books on subject which the students have chosen. There are seven (7) computers and an art and crafts room available to serve the needs of students. Right behind the front door, a shelf has been set up offering literature about our faith and about social problems such as drugs, HIV-AIDS etc. These materials are freely offered to the students so that they can increase their knowledge about spiritual life and to become more aware of social problems.
By Ana Baba, The coordinator of Student Center, Tirana
Translated by Joan Baba
Edited by Anastasia Pamela Barksdale
