1st Year Bible School

Crossroads offers a 24-week course (two 12-week semesters) that combines in-depth study of the Bible and practical training in a cross-cultural mission setting.

Course Summary

  • Participate in a diverse, Christian community that is focused on missions. 
  • Receive teaching and training by international speakers and resident staff - who are missionaries and involved in local ministry.
  • Serve in different churches and Christian organizations throughout Albania.
  • Personal study, regular exams and written assignments will be part of the program.
  • All lectures will be in English and Albanian and are Christ-centered and related to theological topics.
  • Students will visit cultural and historical sites throughout Albania and participate in recreational activities on site and in the surrounding mountains.

Our Bible School Video

Curriculum

Old Testament Books

  • Genesis
  • Exodus
  • Nehemiah
  • Ecclesiastics
  • Isaiah
  • Daniel
  • The Minor Prophets
  • History of Israel

New Testament Books

  • Mark
  • Acts
  • Romans
  • 1 Corinthians
  • 1 & 2 Timothy
  • Hebrews
  • James
  • 1 & 2 Peter
  • Revelation

Biblical Introduction

  • Survey of OT & NT
  • Spiritual Disciplines
  • Mentoring
  • Personal Evangelism
  • Christian Ethics
  • The Sermon on the Mount

Theology

  • The Authority & Inspiration of the Bible
  • The Person & the Work of Christ
  • The Person & the Work of the Holy Spirit

Biblical Characters

  • Abraham – Man of faith
  • Joseph – Man of integrity
  • David – Man after God’s own heart

Introduction to Basics of Faith Today

  • Church History
  • Comparative Religions
  • Inductive Bible Study
  • Biblical Foundations for Missions

Outreach and activities

Students will have many opportunities to practically apply what they are learning from God's Word in a mission setting. Besides regular involvement in the local church, there will be organized outreaches with partner ministries. Opportunities are provided to travel to Albanian beaches and historical sites. Recreation activities and opportunities to travel to nearby Greece and Macedonia are organized as well.

Outreach and activities

Students will have many opportunities to practically apply what they are learning from God's Word in a mission setting. Besides regular involvement in the local church, there will be organized outreaches with partner ministries. Opportunities are provided to travel to Albanian beaches and historical sites. Recreation activities and opportunities to travel to nearby Greece and Macedonia are organized as well.

Outreach and activities

Students will have many opportunities to practically apply what they are learning from God's Word in a mission setting. Besides regular involvement in the local church, there will be organized outreaches with partner ministries. Opportunities are provided to travel to Albanian beaches and historical sites. Recreation activities and opportunities to travel to nearby Greece and Macedonia are organized as well.

Outreach week

Students will serve in different churches and Christian organizations throughout Albania. You will go in groups of four to five students. These are wonderful times to see another part of the country and what God is doing. During the first term, these outreaches are in other parts of Albania. During the second term, you will have the opportunity to go with your team to a distant part of Albania or to nearby Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia or Bosnia.

Living in an Albanian Home

You will get the chance to really experience Albanian culture and hospitality as you live with an Albanian family for a week. This will be with a local family in the same city as the school. You will have the chance to continue your relationship with this family throughout the school year. For many students this is a highlight of their Bible School time.

Student Service

Every Sunday evening you will have the opportunity to be involved in a student led worship service. The main speaker of the week will share his/her story with the students. You will be able to help plan and participate in this student service. (In addition, on Sunday mornings, you will be encouraged to be involved in a local church).

Travel weekend

Crossroads will organize several travel weekends to some of the most beautiful historic towns and places in Albania. These will be long weekends beginning on Friday morning and ending on Sunday evening. These are great times for relaxation and fun, as you visit some very interesting places in Albania.  Among other places you will see: The fascinating 5th century baptismal in the ruins of the ancient hamlet of Butrint; The castle of the Albanian hero Skenderbeg who united the Albanians in the 15th century; The 1st century amphitheater in the coastal city of Durres where some say Titus was martyred.

Recreation

We have a variety of sports activities available. We have a climbing wall and ropes course at the school that will provide fun, team-building times. The students and staff work together to organize soccer, volleyball and basketball games. We have a fleet of canoes that can be used at local lakes and rivers.

Hiking & Climbing

Albania is about 70% mountainous. There are lots of trails for hiking and backpacking. After training on our climbing walls, you may want to head out for rock climbing on some of the local peaks (with a trained climber of course).

Facilities

What started out as a warehouse that was transformed to hold refugees from Kosovo in 1999, later became Crossroads. From the spring of 1999 to the present, the buildings have continued to be transformed for their use as a Bible School, retreat center and summer camp. The rooms hold 4-6 students and each room has its own bathroom and shower.  There are also rooms for the R.A.s and several on campus apartments for staff.  Besides the large lecture hall, there are smaller rooms, a library, game room and activity rooms.

Facilities

What started out as a warehouse that was transformed to hold refugees from Kosovo in 1999, later became Crossroads. From the spring of 1999 to the present, the buildings have continued to be transformed for their use as a Bible School, retreat center and summer camp. The rooms hold 4-6 students and each room has its own bathroom and shower.  There are also rooms for the R.A.s and several on campus apartments for staff.  Besides the large lecture hall, there are smaller rooms, a library, game room and activity rooms.

"My time in Albania – the place I lived, the people I met and lived life with – have been such a blessing to me. The blessing is still reaching into my present reality – even though Bible school for me ended seven months ago. It makes me marvel about God’s faithfulness and his goodness." Lydia - Germany

"I learned so much – not just through my studies, but through the culture and the people I met there. I will never regret the time I spent there learning about God – it has helped shape my character and it’s a part of who I am today." Elisa – Canada

Fees

Crossroads (Udhëkryq) Bible School is a six month school which begins in September. There is also the option of attending Spring School in Kenya or attending Spring School at another Torchbearers School. Spring Quarter registration may be made after Bible School has begun.

2023-2024 Course fees: €5400
1st term: €2700 / Sept - Dec 2023
2nd term: €2700 / Jan - March 2024


Includes: tuition, room, board, student fees, laundry, email services, books, student trips, and Crossroads recreational facilities and equipment.

2024-2025 Course fees: €6000
1st term: €3000 / Sept - Dec 2024
2nd term: €3000 / Jan - March 2025

Important Dates                      

 

2023-2024

1st term (12 weeks)
September 23, 2023 - Start date 1st term
December 15, 2023 - End date 1st term
2nd term (12 weeks)
January 6, 2024 - Start date 2nd term
March 29, 2024 - End date 2nd term

2024-2025

1st term (12 weeks)
September 21, 2024 - Start date 1st term
December 14, 2024 - End date 1st term
2nd term (12 weeks)
January 5, 2025 - Start date 2nd term
March 29, 2025 - End date 2nd term

Fees

Crossroads (Udhëkryq) Bible School is a six month school which begins in September. There is also the option of attending Spring School in Kenya or attending Spring School at another Torchbearers School. Spring Quarter registration may be made after Bible School has begun.

2023-2024 Course fees: €5400
1st term: €2700 / Sept - Dec 2023
2nd term: €2700 / Jan - March 2024

Includes: tuition, room, board, student fees, laundry, email services, books, student trips, and Crossroads recreational facilities and equipment.

2024-2025 Course fees: €6000
1st term: €3000 / Sept - Dec 2024
2nd term: €3000 / Jan - March 2025

Dates                      

 

2023-2024

1st term (12 weeks)
September 23, 2023 - Start date
December 15, 2023 - End date
2nd term (12 weeks)
January 6, 2024 - Start date
March 29, 2024 - End date

2024-2025

1st term (12 weeks)
September 21, 2024 - Start date
December 14, 2024 - End date
2nd term (12 weeks)
January 5, 2025 - Start date
March 29, 2025 - End date

2nd Year Program

Our second year program is for anyone who has completed a first year Bible school at any Torchbearers center and desires further study, training and ministry experience in a cross-cultural setting.

Summer Camps

Many students choose to stay after Bible School to help us get ready for the camps or they travel around Europe and then return to volunteer at the camps during the summer. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to work with kids alongside Albanian national leaders.