More than 5,000 miles away from the Lone Star State, Diane Hurst is spreading her love for Jesus Christ in Kosovo.
Hurst, a 2019 Lampasas High School graduate and former Lady Badger basketball star, has been nestled in the Balkan Peninsula since the start of the year as a disciple-maker with Greater Europe Mission.
According to the U.S. State Department, 95% of Kosovo residents identify as Muslims while only 2.2% are Roman Catholic and 1.4% are Serbian Orthodox, Protestants or Jews. Hurst said her job is not getting Kosovars to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts overnight but to show His love.
“It is a slow burn here; it is not typically like a light switch where it is off, then on,” Hurst said of religious conversion. “It is more like a sunrise or sunset – very gradual. It is showing up, doing life with them. It is not like they are a project, but they are people that I love, and I want them to know the love that I experience.”
Before becoming involved in missionary work, Hurst was focused on living her dream of playing college basketball. After two years at Dordt University, she transferred to the University of Texas at Dallas to finish her career and graduate in 2024.
Hurst said it was at UT Dallas where she got plugged into a college ministry that is part of Citizens Church in Plano that ultimately altered her life trajectory.
“I feel like the Lord really changed my life in a lot of ways,” she said. “Basketball is important to me, and I love playing it, but there is more to life than basketball, and basketball is just something I get to use to glorify Him. Now I’m overseas, and I get to use sports as a vessel of ministry, and it is just a blessing when I think about it.”
Hurst said Citizens Church’s college ministry attracted plenty of athletes from the UT Dallas campus. She enjoyed the experience of not only being surrounded by believers in Christ, but in discovering how to be a positive light to those still finding their way.
In college, Hurst became motivated to find more ways to show her commitment to Christ and opted to join a mission trip with her church to Rwanda. Hurst ventured to Rwanda in July 2023 where she operated a basketball camp and showed locals the love of Jesus.
“I think the Lord truly opened my eyes for the nations and that there is so much outside of America,” Hurst said. “He showed me the gift basketball is in my life and how I can use it for His glory.”
GOING TO KOSOVO
Hurst learned members of her church had traveled to Kosovo and were looking for someone to send there full time. Although intrigued with the idea, Hurst didn’t think she was the perfect fit for the position. But after some reflection and awareness of her upcoming graduation in May 2024, she felt the Lord was calling her to do His work in the Balkans.
Hurst arrived in Pristina, Kosovo on Jan. 8 for a threeyear stay. She is part of a group of six through Greater Europe Mission that work with different local churches to conduct outreach. Hurst works primarily with collegeaged students and children.
“We host kids’ clubs, like youth groups basically. That is the biggest thing,” Hurst said. “Kids will come to church, and we get to share Bible stories with them. A lot of these kids come from tough backgrounds, and I like to love on them.
“We are not trying to force anything down their throat or get them to believe in something that they don’t really believe,’ she said of her outreach work. “It is a lot of showing up and loving the people and hoping they see the love in us is not our own love but the love of Jesus.”
Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, nine years after a NATO-led intervention, supported by the U.S., forced Serbian forces to withdraw from the region. While many Serbs are Eastern Orthodox Christians, most Kosovo residents are ethnic Albanians who believe in Islam. Tensions between the two groups exist today.
Although Serbs and Kosovars who are primarily Albanian have their differences, Hurst said being an American who loves Christ makes it easier.
“Kosovo loves America; they have a lot of respect for America,” Hurst said. “It is kind of a gift that they except us for who we are. It doesn’t feel like there is a lot of tension because Serbians are Eastern Orthodox, and Kosovo is predominantly Muslim. For me, it hasn’t put me in a tough spot or affected ministry or life here.”
The area where Hurst disciples the most is not in the church but at the coffee shop. Hurst said she has had many conversations with locals who ask, “Why are you here? What do you believe? Are all Americans Christians?” Some will say, “We fast during Ramadan for our God. What do you do for your God?”
While Hurst said those discussions can be challenging, she highlighted trust as the key. Already, she is seeing signs of some who have Jesus knocking at the door of their heart.
“I’ve had a few girls who are definitely Muslim, come from Muslim families and have asked a lot about Jesus,” Hurst said. “They heard some worship songs recently and were singing worship songs proclaiming the gospel. Just really encouraging.”
To help engage more with those around her, Hurst is learning the local language – Albanian. Although she is still getting the hang of the native tongue, she knows enough to help her Englishspeaking peers.
“It is hard, but I feel like I am starting to get it,” she said. “We had a big event not too long ago, and it was all in Albanian, and we had an American team with us. As the pastor was speaking, I realized ‘I don’t think they know what is being said, but I understand, and I will go to translate for them.’ ” Outside of her missionary work, Hurst calls Kosovo a “hidden gem” and a place to enjoy the outdoors. A national park near her apartment gives her the opportunity to explore hiking or the chance for an afternoon jog.
As for food choices, Hurst said Mediterranean, Italian and Turkish cuisines are the most popular. There are a few fast-food restaurants like KFC and Burger King, but the former Lampasan said those options in Kosovo are limited. Hurst admitted she misses home cooking.
“I think sometimes I just miss that or good barbecue, or even my parents’ cooking sometimes,” she said. “My dad does a lot of hunting, and my parents just make really good homemade meals from whatever he has hunted, and I just miss that sometimes.”
With two-and-a-half years left in her Kosovo stay, Hurst said her goal is not about how many become Christ followers but how many she spreads His love to.
“It is not about the number of people who come to know Jesus but about being obedient, showing up and loving these people well,” she said. “It is not my job to save them. I can’t save anyone. It is only Jesus who can save, and all I can do is love these people and give them the best news that changed my life and pray for them.”
