European Leaders Gathering
3 – 7 February 2025 | Durrës, Albania
AGAIN: Together Moving FORWARD
An invitation from our convener
Gathering with fellow YWAM leaders across Europe is a true highlight for many of us. These connections bring life, broaden our perspectives and engagement. With a war happening in our continent, every nation remains on high alert and, as mission leaders, we have a unique role in shaping the future of this continent.
From February 3-7, we anticipate over 300 YWAM leaders to gather near Durres, Albania, to be inspired, connect, cultivate our relationships with other YWAM leaders and be re-envisioned for the work ahead. If you lead a team, school, ministry, base, or nation, or if you are an ‘elder’, consider this your invitation.
The European Leaders Gathering is a biennial event; we last met in Harpenden, England, in 2023. We’ve appreciated your patience as we settled on a location for the 2025 gathering. We hope you will be refreshed by the sea views and resort amenities on offer and revived by our time together before the Lord and with each other. Register today and make plans to join us.
Dick Brouwer
YWAM Europe Convener
craig_mcclurg, ywamolten, ywamstockholm, ywam trentino
Who should attend the ELG?
This is a LEADERSHIP gathering for YWAMers serving in Europe. National, base, team, school, ministry, senior, emerging leaders and elders are welcome – as well as leaders working across European nations. As national teams, we encourage you to consider how your nation can be best represented across all generations and ministries. Main Sessions are in English. Translation options will be made available when confirmed.
Register today to join us on the beautiful Albanian seaside for this significant gathering.
Register by 23:59 GMT January 24th
Quick Links:
Where will we gather?
We will stay, meet and eat at the beautiful Grand Blue Fafa resort on the Albanian coast south of Durrës. For easy reference, the address is:
Grand Blue Fafa, Long Beach, Golem, 1000 Albania
The resort is approximately 40 minutes by car from the closest airport, Tirana Airport (TIA). We will be working on ride shares – watch your emails in January to sign up for a ride share if you are arriving by plane. By ferry, it is about 20 minutes from Durrës port.
What’s the Programme?
Three main topics have been highlighted: Revival, Prayer and Apostolic Pioneering. We will spend ample time in worship, prayer, and listening to God. You can expect teaching, ‘unconferencing’ (topical discussions hosted by you), circle meetings, workshops and more.
Further details will be posted here and sent to your inbox in January if you’ve registered.
Monday
Arrival Day – check-in opens at 14:00, the gathering begins with dinner followed by an evening session.
Tuesday – Thursday
Sessions and activities daily, ending on Thursday night.
Friday
Departure Day – breakfast included for resort guests with check-out by 11:00
Where will we stay?
Accommodation will be at the Grand Blue Fafa Resort, link above. Rooms are ensuite, include some resort amenities, and prices are based on 2 people sharing a double room. Single rooms are available for an additional €32 per night. Your gathering fees include accommodation for 4 nights starting Monday night. Additional nights can be arranged – see FAQs or Cost section for rates – and let us know on the registration form. If you arrange your own accommodation, or live nearby, please choose from the reduced fee options when registering.
How much does it cost?
Conference + accommodation, meals, indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, gym and jacuzzi inclusive
€220 per person – based on two people sharing
€348 per person – single room
Conference Only – no housing and no breakfasts
€120 per person
Extra Nights** – before or after ELG, includes meals
€46 per person per night – based on two people sharing
€78 per person per night – single room
Family – as a reminder, there is no children’s provision at this gathering but if family are travelling with you, please contact the registrar for pricing (click Ask A Question above)
Visa and transport costs are not included. Airport transfers are being arranged at a group rate and you will have the opportunity to sign-up in January.
A non-refundable* deposit of €50 per person is due upon registration to hold your place. Fees may be paid in full at any time before arrival (electronic payments) or when checking-in at the ELG desk at the resort. Cash will be accepted in person.
You can pay your deposit or the full fees via this link. Payment options there include iDeal, Paypal and bank info for transfers. INCLUDE YOUR NAME and ELG in the reference.
Click to pay Deposit and Fees via YWAM Heidebeek
Alternatively, pay remaining fees in cash on arrival.
Please do not let lack of finances keep you from attending; please talk to your leaders or contact us.
*See the Refund Policy in the FAQs below.
**See Extra Nights in FAQs for info about booking & payment.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Albania?
Many of you will be able to visit Albania without a special visa. You can check here: albania.al/visa-procedures/
- If you require a visa, register first! You do not need to pay yet. We will reserve your space.
- Be sure to allow time for the visa process.
- Contact us if you need an invitation letter.
- If you are successful, please pay your ELG fees.
- If you are NOT successful, please contact us ASAP so we can offer the space to another attendee.
Getting there - Transport Info
Please see the Google map and link above for the location of the resort.
The best options for travel are driving, flying into Tirana International Airport or ferries into Durrës port.
Once at the resort, there’s no need to travel. Accommodation, meeting spaces and dining will be onsite.
Ride shares from the airport are being arranged by YWAM Durrës for a special rate. We’ll let you know when sign-ups are open and how to pay.
After I register, what happens next?
Make sure you visit: the ELG Payment Portal to pay your fees or at least the deposit to hold your space. If we have any questions, or if you asked a question on the form, we will be in touch within 5 working days.
You can also expect occasional emails with information and payment reminders. If you have not paid a deposit or contacted us about it by the close of registration on 24 January, we will send a final reminder and may have to cancel your registration so we are not charged for an empty room.
In January, you’ll get updated information on arrivals, the schedule, what to pack and more. Please check your spam for emails from the ELG team!
Extra Nights - Payment Info
If you plan to arrive early or leave late for meetings or just to relax, extra nights will be charged at the same special rate.
€46 per person per night for two people sharing
€78 per person per night for a single room
To book and pay for extra nights:
- Please indicate which nights you want to stay on the registration form. (Email us if your plans change after you’ve registered.)
- Add the extra costs to your total fees and pay that amount via the Payment Portal. You must have someone else requesting the same dates and choosing you as a roommate to take advantage of the doubles rate.
- If you are paying your full fees or extra nights upon arrival, payment must be in cash.
Advertising during the ELG
You may request to advertise your ministries/schools/resources on the registration form.
You must request these options when registering. You will then be contacted to confirm space is available and with instructions for submitting any slides and videos.
Options available:
- display a banner and/or materials
- slides/photo ads/short videos to be projected during breaks and as sessions begin and end. These will also be via a round-up email to attendees after the ELG.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to make announcements from the stage about your schools or projects. Flyers on seats will not be allowed this year due to wastage and litter.
Sharing about your work and passions - Unconferences and Workshops
We know you love to spread the word about your ministries and engage others in your work. There may be opportunities to lead topical discussions or share what you are doing in a workshop. Let us know what you’d like to offer when you register. Someone from the team will be in touch to let you know if there’s a good fit in the programme and what time and format is available.
Will there be provision for children?
The ELG is a leadership gathering so we do not have childcare or special children’s provision available. However, we understand that sometimes you need to travel with your children and you can let us know on the registration form. We will then contact you to discuss accommodation options and children’s rates for their stay. If you have carers travelling with you to help with the children, we can also enquire about non-conference rates. Please understand that parents will be responsible for their children at all times during the gathering.
The ELG Announcements WhatsApp Group
A WhatsApp group will open in January for announcements during the gathering. A link to join will be provided in the ELG Update emails and posted here.
What's the Deposit and Refund Policy?
Deposits are non-refundable but may be transferred. If you are unable to attend, please let us know who you would like to receive the €50 credit. (Arrange privately for them to pay you back or offer it as a gift.)
Deposits must be paid by 23:59 GMT on 24 January 2025 to hold your reservation. If you are unable to pay the deposit by this date, please email elg@europellc.eu to make sure we don’t cancel your reservation.
If you are unable to attend and you have paid more than €50, you may:
- transfer the money paid to another attendee, email us to let us know who.
- request a refund by 23:59 GMT 24 January 2025.
- consider the money an offering that helps meet the costs of the ELG.
About your privacy
Data gathered from you for this gathering will be used to communicate with you about the event. You will have the option when you register to choose to join the mailing list for the ELLC – European Leaders’ Learning Community (our hosting website and under YWAM Heidebeek as the data controller) and also to stay informed about future YWAM leadership events and training – managed by YWAM Scotland. YWAM Heidebeek will collect and process data related to your payments for the gathering. We will also share relevant data on a need to know basis with YWAM Scotland and YWAM Albania and the resort to help accommodate and feed you.
Please be aware we may use the third parties listed below when processing your data and you can read more about their privacy notices on their websites. If you are added to a mailchimp mailing list or messaged via What’s App (so that we can communicate with you about the gathering) you may opt out or unsubscribe at any time.
https://ywamheidebeek.org/privacy-statement-youth-with-a-mission-the-netherlands/
https://ywamscotland.org/contact/terms-privacy/
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