Missions Statement
Our goal is to honor and to serve our God and Savior through the profession of Christ’s death and resurrection to individuals in unevangelized communities of Albania in order to bring them to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Missions Philosophy
Planters advocates incorporating the indigenous church as its missions emphasis. We stand behind a staff of committed and skilled Albanian believers that have a heart to share their faith. Planters equips and financially support these Albanian believers (who are accountable to Planters) to minister and conduct Bible studies for the purpose of developing the church of Albania to develop a lifestyle of Christ as Lord and King in their lives.
Who We Are
Planters Seed Foundation is an independent foundation with an office located in Pekin, Illinois and also a foreign office in Tirana, Albania. Planters has been a not-for-profit organization since 1995 and is also registered as an official foundation recognized by the Albanian government. The vanOrmans’ desire from the beginning was to be obedient servants. They had a passion for the rural people of Albania and sought to share this vision for Albania to churches and other interested groups or individuals. After David's death in 2018, Sarah vanOrman took on the roll of director. She is accountable to an executive board. Sarah leads the activities of Planters stateside and works closely with their Albanian staff equipping and training them to carry out the daily ministry of Planters Seed.
History
David and Sarah ministered in the villages of central Albania starting in 1993, shortly after Communism fell in 1991. With the common denominator of agriculture, they had many doors opened and relationships established allowing the ministry to focus on home visits, seed distribution, agricultural advice, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Seeing the need for more consistent follow up to the villagers, David and Sarah organized a team of young Albanian Christians, to make weekly visits to the villages and formed Planters Seed Foundation in 1995. The team of young people were first called “Sowers” and eventually became knows as the “Bright Star” team. They concentrated on presenting weekly meetings with the children in the villages teaching them about God’s love using Bible stories, puppets, songs, crafts and games. God blessed this work and soon Planters was able to purchase a building that was renovated into a ministry center in the village of Vlashaj. It was clear that full-time staff would be needed and so five individuals were working together to make the weekly programs possible in four villages.
From 2001 to 2003 Planters was able to purchase office facilities in Tirana for the staff to meet and prepare their weekly lessons as well as an apartment for the vanOrman’s to live in while in Tirana and an apartment for visiting guests to use, all in the same building.
The work in the village of Vlashaj was going so well that it was clear that an on sight director was needed to handle the needs of the ministry. The house across the street from the ministry center was for sale and Planters purchased this property in 2005 for the new village directors, Genti and Shpresa Proseku where they continue to serve.
As God blessed the ministry in Vlashaj, Planters began to seek to have a year-round missionary presence in the village. In 2013, the Waggoner family arrived as Planters’ first full-time missionaries, and after intensive language training, they moved into Vlashaj.
David's passing in 2018 was felt deeply in Albania. In early September 2018, the church of Vlashaj which existed due to the vision and obedience of David and Sarah, celebrated David's life as his story one more time pointed to the hope found in the Gospel!
Many activities have taken place throughout these years of ministry. The focus remains the same for God’s name to be declared and Christ Jesus to be lifted up throughout Albania. Many have received this message and continue to proclaim Him as Savior and Lord.
Seeing the need for more consistent follow up to the villagers, David and Sarah organized a team of young Albanian Christians, to make weekly visits to the villages and formed Planters Seed Foundation in 1995. The team of young people were first called “Sowers” and eventually became knows as the “Bright Star” team. They concentrated on presenting weekly meetings with the children in the villages teaching them about God’s love using Bible stories, puppets, songs, crafts and games. God blessed this work and soon Planters was able to purchase a building that was renovated into a ministry center in the village of Vlashaj. It was clear that full-time staff would be needed and so five individuals were working together to make the weekly programs possible in four villages.
From 2001 to 2003 Planters was able to purchase office facilities in Tirana for the staff to meet and prepare their weekly lessons as well as an apartment for the vanOrman’s to live in while in Tirana and an apartment for visiting guests to use, all in the same building.
The work in the village of Vlashaj was going so well that it was clear that an on sight director was needed to handle the needs of the ministry. The house across the street from the ministry center was for sale and Planters purchased this property in 2005 for the new village directors, Genti and Shpresa Proseku where they continue to serve.
As God blessed the ministry in Vlashaj, Planters began to seek to have a year-round missionary presence in the village. In 2013, the Waggoner family arrived as Planters’ first full-time missionaries, and after intensive language training, they moved into Vlashaj.
David's passing in 2018 was felt deeply in Albania. In early September 2018, the church of Vlashaj which existed due to the vision and obedience of David and Sarah, celebrated David's life as his story one more time pointed to the hope found in the Gospel!
Many activities have taken place throughout these years of ministry. The focus remains the same for God’s name to be declared and Christ Jesus to be lifted up throughout Albania. Many have received this message and continue to proclaim Him as Savior and Lord.
Statement of Faith
We believe…
- in the absolute authority of the Bible, and that it is divinely inspired.
- in one God who exists in three persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- that man is made in the image of God and has inherited Adam’s sinful human nature
- that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and faith in Him and Him alone is necessary for the salvation of the human soul. Ephesians 2:8-9
- that the Church is the body of Christ with the purpose to worship God, to disciple believers and to promote the fellowship of the believers.
- in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death.
- in the literal second coming of Jesus Christ to earth.
- that the gifts of the Spirit are given for the purpose of edification of the believers, and that no gift is to be promoted over the other gifts.