communities - Transform Europe Now

Magazine
March – April 2016
www.transformeuropenow.org
BUILDING KINGDOM
COMMUNITIES
God’s Love in Action in Romania
Harvest for the hungry
Helping the neediest families in Serbia
Focus on Romania and Russia
March – April
Prayer Diary
Refugee Update
Thank you so much for your
support and prayers for
our partners in Serbia and
Macedonia, who are continuing
to practically share God’s love
with the refugees.
Our partner in Skopje, Macedonia, Mirce
Andreev brought us this update on their
ministry to the refugees pouring through
their country:
“Each day we can see anywhere from
800 to up to 3,000 refugees from Iraq,
Syria and Afghanistan passing through
Macedonia.
“At the southern border Gevgelija we
have a team from AGAPE who throughout
the winter months distributed 300-500
bowls of soup and bread each day.
“We’ve also been distributing food
parcels and warm clothes.
“At the northern border, Tabanovce, we
try to be there at least two or three times
a day, when a train from Gevgelija arrives.
We are giving out lots of warm clothing
and we lead the work of Cafe Mercy,
where hot tea is distributed daily.
“We also give out fruits, boiled eggs
and bread.”
Mirce concluded by explaining what
motivates them to minister to these
refugees in such challenging conditions:
“What inspires us to help these people is
the love of Christ. We may not be able to
speak their language, but love overcomes
all those barriers.”
Please continue to pray for our
partners in this vital outreach to so
many displaced families.
We want to share some amendments we need to highlight from the ‘Church Planting in
Macedonia’ article on pages 4–5 in our January – February TEN Magazine:
• In the first sentence when Blagoj
promised God that if he was healed he
would allow a church right on his doorstep
he was thinking at that time of the little
Orthodox Church building in his yard.
• Pastor Dragan completed four and a half
years theology training, not two, which
comprised of two and a half years in
Serbia and two years in Osijek, Macedonia.
• Pastor Dragan previously worked on
church-planting two days a week and was
not married at the time.
Welcome
O
Contents
ne of my favourite seasons
of the year is spring time.
Everything seems new
and fresh. Spring flowers start
to appear and God’s creation
proclaims His amazing power
and glory.
Have you ever asked; Why did
God create such beauty? Gen 1
v31 says: “And God saw all that He
had made and it was good.”
Good seems such an inadequate word when we
consider His amazing creation. What about awesome or
indescribable?
I believe one of God’s reasons for the beauty He
created was an act of love, a gift for us to enjoy every
day and remind us of Him.
Psalm 17 v1 David says: “Show me the wonders of
your great love.” Later in verse 8 he asks: “keep me as
the apple of your eye and hide me in the shadow of your
wings.”
Everything about God our Heavenly Father is love.
It is intimate and personal and available to everyone.
His love overwhelms us. We see it all around and we
experience it within us. His love is extravagant; He
freely gives it to all and He gives it to you personally…
incredible! God’s endless love reaches you, His love has
no end, you are precious to Him, you are special and an
integral part of God’s plan for His church in Europe.
Today, we see much turmoil in Europe; UK ‘in or out’,
secularism, financial insecurity, migration, trafficking,
violence, poverty, radicalisation, terrorism and many
other challenges for this continent. By sharing the
love of Jesus through helping the poor, the needy,
broken-hearted and prisoners we and our partners can
make a difference. Our passion is to point people to
Christ through love-motivated ‘social action’. One such
project is Casa Grace (see pages 4–7).
May you experience an increase of God’s
overwhelming love today and in the future. Then, be
generous and give it away… love practically.
Blessings,
4
Building Kingdom
Communities
CASA Grace
6
Harvest for the Hungry
in Serbia
7
You and Europe
8
11
12
13
14
15
Prayer diary
March – April 2016
Team Updates
60 Seconds with...
…Toni Coulton
What’s going on in...
Romania
What’s going on in...
Russia
TEN Conference 2016
TEN_Today
transformeuropenow
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Transform Europe Now
1 Holdenhurst Road, Kingswood
Bristol BS15 1HL
Tel: +44 (0)117 961 5161
Email: [email protected]
Written and produced by the TEN team
Gerry Partridge
CEO Transform Europe Now
Design: Simon Petherick Graphic and Web Design
Transform Europe Now is the operating name for
Eurovangelism. Registered Charity No. 1140592 and
Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7507682.
Cover image: Maria Bakro with her two children, Daria and Razvan, Romania
Transforming Europe – One Life at a time
Second in a series of articles on TEN’s priorities
for building kingdom communities
CASA Grace provides
God’s love in action in
Romania
When Maria Bakro’s husband passed away, she was left to care for
her two young children Daria and Razvan on her own in a very worn
down apartment and not even enough money to pay for a funeral.
She knew the reality herself of growing up without her parents
having been raised in an orphanage.
H
owever at the point of terrible loss
of her husband, Maria was visited
by members of the CASA Grace
ministry at her home in Bihor County,
Romania. Maria and her children received
help from CASA Grace to move into a
newly renovated apartment. It is just
one room but now they have their own
bathroom and a kitchen area.
CASA Grace also provided help for Daria
and Razvan, by a psychologist helping
them, to help them deal with the trauma
they’d been through and they were able to
attend the church summer camp. Now they
know all the worship songs they learned
and are hungry to know more about God.
For the past 20 years countless families
like these have received this practical and
spiritual help through the ministry of CASA
Grace.
4
Emmanuel Baptist Church and Transform
Europe Now helped to launch CASA
(Christian Agency for Social Action) in 1996,
by supporting a few dedicated Christians,
who graduated from Emmanuel University.
This small team had a vision to help meet
the physical, social and emotional needs of
the people from the urban and rural areas
of Bihor County, Romania, by providing
counselling, training, material assistance
and emotional support in Christian love.
Ten years later they added Grace to the
name of their ministry because of the
ministry of God’s grace they provided, but
also because of the ongoing help they
received from long-serving TEN supporter
Grace Payne, who sadly passed away
recently.
Currently CASA Grace is making a
difference in the lives of those in need
Transform europe now / March – April 2016
Transforming Europe – One Life at a time
Maria Bakro with her two children, Daria and Razvan
through three programs: Families In
Difficulty, Vocational Training Centre and
Kingdom Kids.
CASA Grace Director Monica Mahr
explains: “The results are greater each
year and make us thankful to God that He
provided the resources that were needed
through the years.”
The Families in Difficulty programme
supports families who suffer the effects
of poverty including lack of food, clothes,
money, overcrowded living spaces, absence
of heat, water and other vital resources,
health problems and social isolation.
Monika adds: “We try to offer them
solutions to improve their life quality
through the services that are offered.”
The Vocational Centre provides tailoring
and computer classes, counselling
services, psychological assessment and
vocational counselling.
Help is provided to people in a variety
of challenging situations including those
who live in very poor conditions or are in
crisis (for example a death in family, severe
illness or losing their job), single-parent
families, institutionalized children and
people with physical disabilities.
Kingdom Kids is for children with
special needs from the state orphanage,
who are now living in family homes, and
children with special needs from the Bihor
community.
It provides physiotherapy, speech
therapy and logotherapy at the Daily
Recovering Centre. The aim of the program
is to recover and rehabilitate these children
through stimulation activities including
auditory, tactile, visual, olfactory and
tasting in the stimulation room.
Monika concluded by highlighting what
motivates them to continue in this very
rewarding but challenging ministry:
“We receive many great blessings and
many battles and obstacles. But we have
the privilege to continue to ‘defend the
rights of the poor and the orphans; be fair
to the needy and the helpless.’ (Psalm
82:3). We see God’s protection, love, grace
and mercy through the daily battles.”
Please pray for this vital kingdom-building ministry. If you can help CASA Grace
support those in need, please contact the TEN office:
tel: 0117 961 5161
email [email protected]
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
5
Transforming Europe – One Life at a time
Harvest for
the hungry in
Serbia
For many years TEN partner Maca Turner
could be seen riding her bicycle around
the streets of Sombor in Serbia, with a
basket full of Harvest For the Hungry
food parcels.
M
aca, who’s been a humanitarian aid
worker for Christian Fellowship
Church in Somber in North West
Serbia for the past 13 years, recently
upgraded her mode of transport for
distributing the food packages to a moped
in which she uses every possible storage
compartment.
Since she began this tremendous
ministry, she has visited at least 600
families distributing Harvest For the
Hungry food parcels to some of the
neediest families in her community.
Initially Maca will take food parcels
containing essential items including
cooking oil, pasta, bread, sugar, fruits and
cookies for children.
But many times she’ll revisit families to
help them with other needs.
“Here in Serbia we have many poor
people and so they’re very open to
the Gospel, especially when you bring
something like food parcels. They never
received anything like this before. Thanks
to Harvest For The Hungry, we can share
the Gospel with them and that opens
many doors.”
One example of this is when Maca went
back to visit Ljubica and her four young
boys aged one, three, five and seven.
“When I went to visit her and brought
her a package of nappies she was amazed
that we came again she said, ‘What, again,
I can’t believe it.’ So then I talked to her
about what she thought of church and
whether she understood the preaching.
And she said, ‘Yes, I can’t explain how I
feel when I’m there.’ Now she comes to
church regularly with her children.
“Then I went back and brought a pair of
shoes for her two youngest boys and she
thanked God again and realised it was God
who provided this for her.”
Support Harvest for the Hungry and help us to continue life transforming
work for many families across Europe. For further information visit:
transformeuropenow.org/harvest-for-the-hungry/
6
Transform europe now / March – April 2016
You and Europe
Transform Europe Now works across 15 European
countries with around 70 projects, so if you or your church
wishes to make a difference in Europe you don’t have to
go it alone. Church partnerships, short-term teams, special
church services, volunteering, targeted prayer and financial
support—there’s something for everyone!
Countries we operate in include:
Our prayer for Europe:
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for our wonderful partners
across Europe who, despite limited
resources, tirelessly serve the poor and
vulnerable in their communities. We pray
for all the families and individuals they
reach out to each day as they practically
demonstrate your love through social action
projects, that they will see many more lives
transformed.
Father, as our partners sometimes get
overwhelmed with the needs around them
please give them hope that their service for
you is making a difference.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
7
Prayer Diary
Besa
MPA, Albania
Savka & Jovica
Montenegro
Bera
Serbia
Maca
Serbia
Galina
Compassion
Ministry, Russia
Erion & family
Albania
Dragan & Biljana Nikola & Daniela
Macedonia
Bulgaria
Prayer Diary
March – April 2016
March 2016
1 / Besa Shapllo, Albania: “Pray
for our youth leaders that they
may have an impact on their
peers and on the community.”
2 / “Pray for our new project
Mission Possible that it will be
life-changing for the families and
couples we minister to.”
3 / Jovica Bacvanski,
Montenegro: “March 3 is a great
Jubilee for our church. Twenty
years ago we had the great
honour and responsibility to be
the very first Evangelical church
in the country of Montenegro.
Please pray for our 20 year
anniversary celebrations today at
the church.”
4 / “Please pray for a great
harvest from our team of young
people coming to minister with us
from the USA in April.”
5 / Viorica Tataru, Greece:
“Please pray for the Lord to
protect the refugee women we
are reaching out to from being
trafficked and exploited sexually.”
6 / “Pray for the message of
the ‘Good seed’ calendars that
we give out now, to find good
ground so that the message of
the Gospel can bring fruit. Pray
8
for open hearts and ears to hear
and to receive the good news of
salvation.”
7 / “Pray for Nea Zoi
representatives who will travel
to Moldova in the beginning
of March to share at the Youth
Conference about the issue of
human trafficking and about
God’s heart for the victims and
the oppressed. Pray for the Lord
to raise up His church to “do
justice, love mercy and to walk
humbly with the Lord.”
8 / “March 8th is the
International Women’s Day and
we hope to organise a special
time to celebrate with the dear
ladies and share the love of God
with them. Please, pray that they
will respond and come.”
9 / “Pray for the preparation of
400 Easter gifts that we will bless
our friends with during Easter.”
10 / “Pray also for me, that
whenever I open my mouth,
may be able to ‘fearlessly make
known the mystery of the gospel’,
Ephesians 6:19. Please pray for
good health and strength to
continue to serve the Lord and
His purposes.”
11 / Dusan Beredi, Serbia: “Pray
for both men and women at our
Transform europe now / March – April 2016
rehabilitation centres. We need
prayer support for the centre
finances, but also for our users’
spiritual growth. These men and
women are at different stages,
going through deep struggles and
prayers are more than welcome.”
12 / “Please pray for me as I
speak at two important Youth
Leaders’ conferences this month.”
13 / “Please pray for God to use
me as I speak at a conference
of 200 ex-addicts in Sarajevo in
Bosnia in April.”
14 / “In April Youth Alpha will
finish. Pray for fruit—for the
young people who took part
to experience conversion and
become part of the church.”
15 / Prayer for all our partners
today as they take part in our first
TEN webinar. Pray that will be
encouraged and resourced.
16 / Maca Turner, Serbia:
“Please pray for the new people
who came to our church in
December and January, for their
salvation.”
17 / “Pray for people who have
left the church in the last few
months to return.”
Prayer Diary
Dario
Bosnia
Milcho & Beni
Bulgaria
Stoyan
Bulgaria
18 / “Pray that God brings new
people, people who seek Him.”
19 / “Please pray for families to
come to Christ as we distribute
the Harvest for the Hungry food
packages to them.”
20 / Galina Dzhuzenova, The
Compassion Ministry, Russia:
“Please pray for the impact of our
recent outreach on International
Women’s Day on March 8. We
visited two associations of
large families with evangelistic
concerts for mothers and
children.”
21 / “Please pray for
preparations for our summer
camps. Pray for God to help
us coordinate all the details
including locations, teams and
funding.”
22 / “Please pray for our Easter
Outreach preparations, which
take place here on May 1.”
23 / Erion Cuni, Albania:
“Please pray for the Bible study
groups we are starting for
newcomers in our church. Pray
that these groups will result
in followers making other new
followers of Christ. Pray the
entire church gets involved and is
transformed by the word of God.”
24 / “Pray for the families we
are visiting for the first time with
help, that the relationships will
get stronger and that we can
share with them the gospel of
Jesus Christ.”
Artur
Kosovo
Vance & Tanja
Macedonia
Slavko & Sanja
Bosnia
25 / “Please pray for the many
families we visited during
the winter, including 80 with
gift-filled shoeboxes. Pray for
possibilities to follow up these
contacts.”
26 / “Pray for finances for us
to make our worship room more
sound-proof. As we share our
church building with 38 other
families, we want to be a good
testimony to our neighbours
and reduce the volume of our
worship.”
27 / Dragan Manev, Macedonia:
“We have a TEN puppet team
from Bristol coming to minister
with us March 29 – April 7. Please
pray for all our outreach events
with them that they will have
an impact here, including in the
Roma gypsy communities.”
28 / On April 16 Australian
motivational speaker Nick
Vujicic will share at an event in
Skopje. Please pray for this great
opportunity for evangelism.
29 / Pray for the work with
refugees in Macedonia in the
south and north border, where
conditions are very challenging.
30 / Nikola Atanasov, Bulgaria:
Please pray for two elderly men
who gave their lives to Christ.
God touched their hearts when
we visited them and took food.
31 / Please pray for two women
we reached out through the Food
For The Hungry program. One
woman received Jesus. Another
Igor & Marina
Moldova
Ronela & Mircea
Romania
woman asked us for prayer.
Please pray for these people and
for this ministry—Food for the
Hungry.
April 2016
1 / Dario Kapin, Bosnia: “Please
pray for God to provide the
finances for us to buy a church
property as we are currently
renting a building and we are in a
deep need for our own place.”
2 / “Please pray for significant
spiritual growth for our church
members.”
3 / “Pray that our media
outreach with secular TV stations
will continue to be effective.”
4 / “Please pray for the Miracle
Bible Club teachers and kids.
We are blessed to work with the
children and we want to see them
grow in faith.”
5 / “Pray for the activities we
will have during March and April
in the Hope Centre.”
6 / Milcho & Beni Deyanov,
Bulgaria: “Please pray for those
who served in ministry after
giving their lives to Christ, but
have left the church. Pray that
they come back to the Lord.”
7 / Please pray for Milcho, who
is still believing God for healing
from a number of medical
conditions including diabetes,
liver disease, gout and stomach
problems.
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
9
Prayer Diary
9 / Artur Krasniqi, Kosovo:
“Pray for our youth centre in
Kacanik and specifically for
Leonora Kurti. She is leading the
project there and lately has been
strongly confronted by Islamic
groups in there. Pray that God will
give wisdom and courage how to
handle the situation.”
10 / “Pray for our work among the
Roma community in Prishtina. Our
team helps with education among
children and youth and they are
sharing the gospel. Please pray for
them to get saved.”
11 / “Pray for Millosheva
Community Centre which is a
project funded from our church.
The support we have had until
now has ended. We need to see
other ways and opportunities.
Please pray that God will open
new doors for us in this place
and also pray for people who
are involved in serving this
community.”
12 / Vance Golomeov,
Macedonia: “Pray for young
people who are coming into
the church every day to grow in
Christ.”
13 / “Pray for all the new people
in the church.”
14 / “Pray for ex-addicts Kire
and Trajce to stay clean from
drugs.”
15 / “Pray for drug addicts who
come into the church time to time
(Tote, Dimitar, Joce, Dime, Deni) to
be open to God to release them
from drugs.”
10
16 / “Pray for the gospel
literature to bear fruit as it is
given to the people in Sveti
Nikole.”
17 / Slavko Hadzic, Bosnia:
“Five teenagers from our church
went to Youth Conference in
Mostar in January. Pray that
things which they heard will bring
fruit in their lives”
18 / “Please pray as we choose
which families and individuals
we should help through TEN’s
humanitarian project. Pray that
the people we help will be open
to the Gospel and that we will see
conversions.”
19 / “We are working on the
Jesus.net project for Bosnia. Pray
for good cooperation with other
churches”
20 / “Please pray as we
continue to teach religious
classes to eight students in the
public elementary school.”
21 / “Sister Sabaheta and her
husband have in their home
a former drug addict who is
there on rehabilitation. Pray for
God’s protection over Sabaheta
and her home, for wisdom and
God’s guidance, and also for the
ministry to pregnant ladies which
Sabaheta is doing.”
22 / Igor Sin, Moldova: “Please
pray for God to help us organize
more meetings for widows and to
see some of them saved.”
23 / “Pray for for Jora and
Anisoara’s baby, Gabriela.
Doctors discovered a disease in
her blood. Please pray for God to
heal her.”
24 / Peter Wooding: Pray for
our communications officer Peter
Wooding as he runs the London
Marathon today to raise funds for
Transform europe now / March – April 2016
our anti-trafficking projects in
Moldova and Greece.
25 / Igor Sin, Moldova: “Please
pray that people who visited our
church will come again and
get to know Jesus.”
26 / “Please pray for our student
ministry that we can overcome
their skepticism.”
27 / Mircea & Ronela Cristian,
Romania: “Please pray for
the people we help with food
through our programs in prisons
and society. Pray God will open
their hearts and eyes to see His
love in everything we are doing
and respond by receiving His
salvation.”
28 / “Pray for us to find the right
people to work in the Romanian
prisons where the directors
are asking us to develop our
programs.”
29 / “Pray for the halfway house
designated to the ladies released
from prison, which the volunteers
from Bacau want to open in their
area.”
30 / “Pray for the prison work
among Romanian convicts, which
God started to open in Norway.
We need the Holy Spirit’s
guidance and wisdom.”
“
Don’t pray when
you feel like it. Have
an appointment with
the Lord and keep it.
A man is powerful
on his knees.
“
8 / Stoyan Angelov, Bulgaria:
“My prayer request is about
the refugee camp in our town.
The administration of the camp
asked me for help—for food cans
or medical products. We need
God`s provision.”
Corrie ten Boom
Team Updates
Team updates
Welcome to Melanie Griffiths
We are very pleased to welcome Melanie
Griffiths to TEN. Melanie joined the
Bristol office team in January and will be
responsible for Supporter Relations and
Funding Development.
Already she has settled well into the
team and is contributing greatly to the
organisation. Melanie brings a wealth of
expertise and we are confident she will
be a real blessing and asset to TEN, our
supporters and partners.
Melanie has always had a heart for
mission. In 1990 she went on a Love
Europe Outreach with OM to Berlin, which
she says was inspirational.
Melanie is very excited about the
opportunity of working for TEN. She
believes this is a key time for Europe and is
keen to make a difference and encourage
support for our amazing mission partners.
Melanie would love to hear from you.
Please call the office or email her at
[email protected]. She would
welcome the opportunity to come and share
the latest news and updates of what TEN is
doing across Europe and how you can help.
Read more about Melanie at:
transformeuropenow.org/team/melaniegriffiths
Marathon effort to support TEN’s
anti-trafficking work
Our Communications Officer Peter
Wooding will be running the London
Marathon this April, to raise funds for antitrafficking projects in Greece and Moldova
supported by TEN.
Peter has been training hard for this and
explains that his key motivation is knowing
that the funds raised will go to supporting
TEN’s vital work in tackling human
trafficking:
“Training for a full marathon is always
a major challenge, especially during the
cold winter months. What helps is knowing
every pound we raise will make a huge
difference to some of the most vulnerable
women and children who are trafficked
throughout Europe every day.”
Peter was able to witness first-hand
one of our anti-trafficking projects last
November when he travelled to Athens
and spent some time with Viorica Tataru,
who runs an amazing ministry to women
in prostitution in the city, which is seeing
the lives of many of these women turned
around and completely transformed.
Please sponsor Peter today so we can
continue to support projects like these that
are making a real difference in tackling the
serious issue of human trafficking across
Europe:
give.net/LondonMarathon2016ForTEN
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
11
Transforming Europe – One Life at a time
60 Seconds with…
TONI COULTON
How did you first hear about TEN?
I have had a love for Europe since my
childhood days when I visited my aunts in
Spain. Back then you could go to prison for
sharing your faith, or have the family split
up and be put into exile.
I remember Dave Foster speaking
and being one of the few people who
understood the plight of the Spanish
Church under Franco. When I got married,
Eric and I decided that TEN (formerly
Eurovangelism) was something we wanted
to know more about and support.
What areas of ministry are you most
passionate about?
I am convinced that Europe is a mission
area to which the British Church should
be more committed. So I am passionate
that this should be understood. I do think
that the time has come for TEN to be less
concentrated on the East and more panEurope. Obviously Spain features very
highly and I guess always will.
How have you been involved with TEN?
Other than serving as a trustee and
helping with things in the UK my main
involvement has been in Spain and
Portugal—visiting on behalf of TEN
and most recently helping to set up a
church-to-church partnership with TEN
Ambassador Chris Hill .
Why do you support TEN?
Because TEN is supporting nationals
and I am committed to this as a
mission strategy. I also like the holistic
understanding that TEN seeks in their
partners—faith and action.
Toni Coulton
12
Toni with Abel and Rafi at Vilanova i la Geltru Church in Spain
Transform europe now / March – April 2016
What’s going on in...
...Romania
W
ith a population
of more than
22 million, the
Balkan State of Romania
has a history of oppressive
persecution under
Communism. Despite being
officially declared a secular
state Romania has a large
and growing evangelical
population, Europe’s
fourth largest. It is also
considered to be one of the
more spiritually receptive
European nations.
This growth is largely
due to Romania’s sustained
church planting movement,
which has existed since the
fall of Communism.
TEN’s partners in Romania
are playing a significant part
in this growing movement,
including Beni and Ancuta
Micle, who are based in
Constanta in the South East
of the country.
Pastor of Christian
Centre Navodari, Beni also
oversees a sector of four
towns and 16 villages.
Beni explains some of the
challenges in Constanta:
“It’s a desert area where
water is a problem as well
as jobs. There are a few
lakes but now they have
become private property,
which means nobody can
freely fish. There is high
unemployment resulting in
a lack of food and low life
standard.”
Beni adds: “Agape Church
Sinoe is enjoying a beautiful
season where more people
are hungry for the word of
God and fellowship. Many
have found purpose in life
and church has become
a living testimony in the
community for transforming
lives and destiny!
“Also our Betezda Church
in Mihai Viteazu has
doubled in size since we
were able to move into a
new building thanks to a
financial donation from TEN.
“Thank you to TEN for
your support in getting the
building. This is the biggest
breakthrough!! Enabling us
to see many more receive
spiritual and material aid.
“It’s wonderful to see
how so many young men
and women have dedicated
their lives to Christ!”
Please pray for this transformational outreach.
Also pray for God to bring a greater unity among
churches where religiosity and traditions have
caused divisions for many years.
Young people attending Agape Church in Sinoe
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
13
What’s going on in...
...Russia
R
ussia is the world’s
largest country,
extending across nine
time zones between the
Baltic and the Pacific.
The Church in Russia
has suffered some of the
most severe and sustained
persecution of any
nation in recent history,
but since the fall of the
Iron Curtain evangelical
churches have more than
doubled in size following
an unprecedented
opportunity for evangelism.
The country continues
to face many challenges
including a deadly decline
in the country’s population
and many health issues
spiralling to crisis level.
TEN’s partners are
responding to this urgent
need, reaching out to some
of the poorest and most
vulnerable people in Russia
with the love of Jesus.
Galina Dzhuzenova,
who is the leader of
the Brotherhood of
Compassion in Moscow,
has been working with
TEN since 1990. Her team
visits hospitals, shelters,
14
children’s homes, poor
and needy families
and disabled children,
providing vital practical
and spiritual support.
Galina shares one
inspiring example of the
kind of people they’re
ministering to with
compassion:
“One day an old woman
came to us called Ekaterina.
She lives in a village in
Ivanovo district, but now
only 15 old people live
there. She is the youngest,
73 years old.
“She takes care of other
inhabitants, because there
is nobody else to do this.
Firstly, she visited them at
their homes, helped them
with cooking and cleaning
and treating their illnesses.
“Now almost all of them
live in her small wooden
house. We gave her
food, medicines, clothes,
hygienic and sanitary
items and blankets. After,
Ekaterina told us that she
believes in God, but she is
not a member of a church,
and she wants to have a
Bible. We were talking with
Transform europe now / March – April 2016
her about Jesus and His
love, about His love in her
heart. We gave her a Bible,
Children Bible, and some
Christian books.
“Ekaterina is such an
example for us, Christians!”
Photos: Galina (top-right) with
elderly women who’ve received their
practical and spiritual support
CO N FEREN CE
• 2016 •
• 2016 •
13 – 15 MAY | WOKEFIELD PARK, READING
“
“
I found TEN’s conference to be a valuable way of understanding the
wider work of TEN better, meeting other supporters and seeing the full
value that TEN offers: seeking to match UK based supporters with church
planters and supporting opportunities in other parts of Europe.
CHRIS HILL
Ten Supporter and
Ambassador
See the back cover for details of the Speakers
To book, please complete and return the booking form to:
Transform Europe Now, 1 Holdenhurst Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 1HL
or call Ken Millwood on 0117 961 5161 or email [email protected]
Special room rates available for children under 16, please contact Ken Millwood for details.
Please note a £4 booking fee will be added for all card payments.
Balance of payments are due by 15 April 2016.
(Please use BLOCK CAPITALS)
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Email:
Phone:
Number of people attending:
Rooms required:
(Please tick)
Single room, ensuite at £145 pp
I enclose a non-returnable deposit of £50 pp
Twin room, ensuite at £145 pp
Amount: £
Double room, ensuite at £145 pp
I enclose full payment of: £
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
15
TENCONF-JAN16
CO N FEREN CE
• 2016 •
• 2016 •
13 – 15 MAY
WOKEFIELD PARK, READING
FEATURING:
TEDDY & DIDI
OPRENOV
Sofia First Baptist
Church, Bulgaria
SLAVKO & SANJA
HADZIC
Sarajevo Evangelical
Church, Bosnia
MIRCEA & RONELA
CRISTIAN
Rock of Ages,
Constanta, Romania
JOHN & PAM
BLANCHARD
Bible Teacher and former
Chair of Trustees
ROB
NEWEY
Worship Leader
See over page for booking details.
Partners with TEN for over a decade, this dedicated
couple have been ministering in Sofia and Bulgaria for
over 20 years. They have been involved in ministry to all
ages and serving the needy and neglected by society—
Roma, orphans, homeless and most recently refugees.
A highly esteemed leader and long-term partner of TEN,
Slavko pastors a church alongside being national co-ordinator
for Alpha; board member and teacher at a Bible School;
denominational secretary and board member of national IFES
(International Fellowship of Evangelical Students).
Mircea and Ronela started Rock of Ages 22 years ago
and now co-ordinate an army of 180 volunteers from
25 different churches, currently visiting 27 prisons in
Romania, and their work has recently also expanded
into Moldova.
Pam needs no introduction, having been a member and
then Chair of Trustees for TEN for over 20 years. Dr. John
Blanchard is an international preacher, teacher and author
of over 30 books. We are pleased that John will bring his
inspiring Bible teaching to this conference.
Rob has been writing and performing songs as his
main vocation for over 30 years now. He is a long-term
friend and supporter of TEN. He will lead worship at the
conference again this year.
transformeuropenow.org