A lively street scene in a mountain town with outdoor shops selling colorful textiles and ceramics, stone buildings with wrought iron balconies, and a mountain range in the background under a clear blue sky.

About Restore Hope Albania

Restore Hope Albania was born out of a shared vision to see lives transformed in one of Europe’s most isolated corners. In the city of Korça, Albania, there is a generation longing for a sense of belonging, purpose, and hope for the future.

This vision is being carried forward by a team of two families, the Masons and the Storlies, missionaries called to serve in Albania through the Foursquare Church, in partnership with Mission Emmanuel Church, one of the oldest evangelical communities in the nation. Together, they are working to establish a vibrant community center and indoor climbing gym where faith and everyday life meet.

The center will host mentoring programs, English clubs, and family care initiatives, all designed to meet real needs while reflecting Christ’s love in practical ways. Your partnership will make this vision possible. Every gift, prayer, and act of generosity invests in a movement that will impact Albania for generations to come.

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  • Family of six sitting on a stone wall in a lush garden with green foliage and a brick wall in the background.

    The Masons

    Co-Leaders of Restore Hope Albania

    Sean and Vita Mason have devoted their lives to bringing renewal and faith to Albania. Sean, originally from California and raised in Oregon, moved to Albania after graduating from Life Pacific University in 2001. Vita, from Lithuania, holds a Master’s in International Communication and previously served across West Africa and Southeast Asia. Since marrying in 2008, they have rooted their family—and their ministry—in Korça, where they help pastor Mission Emmanuel Foursquare Church, one of Albania’s oldest evangelical congregations.

    Together with the Storlies, they are leading the vision of Restore Hope Albania, building a community center and climbing gym that will serve as a home for Kingdom work, mentorship, and community opportunity. Their heart is to see Albanians rediscover purpose, belonging, and the transforming hope of Christ in their own nation.

  • A red fish jumping in front of a globe with grid lines.

    Mission Emmanuel Church

    Korça Evangelical Church

    Founded in 1992 by Shkelqim and Mariela Baraku shortly after the fall of communism, Mission Emmanuel began with a simple, courageous vision: to bring the hope of Christ to a nation emerging from decades of darkness. God honored that faith. What started as a small gathering grew into a thriving community that planted a church in Erseka, launched Albania’s first Christian radio station (Radio Emanuel), and founded a humanitarian organization (Fondacioni Emanuel).

    When Shkelqim passed away in 2003, the work continued. Mariela stepped into leadership at Fondacioni Emanuel, and their son took over Radio Emanuel at just 19. Over the years, missionaries and local leaders served the church until Sean, who had long invested in the community, became the full-time pastor.

    In 2023, the church embraced a shared leadership model as Sean and Vita together with Kristiana and Jordan Slorlie formed a united pastoral team, bringing renewed strength and joy to the ministry.

    For many years the church met in a rented building that housed worship, discipleship, and a climbing-gym outreach. When the property was unexpectedly sold in 2022, both the gathering place and the gym were lost. Yet out of this setback came a greater vision: to purchase land and build a permanent ministry center in the heart of Korça.

    This new facility will provide a lasting home for worship, mentoring, community programs, and outreach — a place where young and old will rediscover hope and where the light of Christ can shine for generations.

  • A family of four smiling outdoors, standing in front of a garden with trees and plants, with houses and a blue sky in the background.

    The Storlie's

    Co-Leaders of Restore Hope Albania

    Jordan and Kristiana met in Albania during one of Jordan’s mission visits and later married in Oregon in 2012. Kristiana, daughter of the late Shkelqim Baraku, founder of Mission Emanuel Church in Korça, graduated from Portland State University in Speech Pathology. Together they shared a deep love for Albania and a vision to one day serve there full-time.

    In 2019, after the birth of their daughter Eliana, they moved to Korça to open and manage the indoor climbing gym outreach—a ministry built in partnership with the local church to connect with youth and share Christ’s love. Jordan, a master builder, fabricator, and welder, helped bring the gym to life. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the gym officially opened in 2021, though after just one year the rented building was sold and the gym had to close.

    Even through this loss, Jordan and Kristiana continue to serve the community and church with faith and dedication, trusting God to open new doors for outreach. They are now raising their two children, Eliana and Harley, in Korça and joyfully serving alongside the Mason family in church leadership—helping others discover the hope and love found in Christ.