TEN Magazine November-December 2014

S p e c i a l

Ann i v e r s a r y

Ed i t i o n

Magazine November – December 2014 www.transformeuropenow.org

A message x o C y r a G m o fr On the 9th November 1989, Europe, and indeed the world, changed forever. The Berlin Wall fell, leading to a new era of peace and possibility, and Christians with a heart for Europe praised God for an answer to prayer they had sometimes barely felt was possible.

As I have been reflecting on this momentous occasion and the things I would share in this special newsletter celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ‘fall of the Berlin wall’, I have also had some inspiration. Perhaps it is even a ‘God inspired moment’!

£25 For 25 years The idea is simple: for each supporter of TEN to give £25 to the ongoing work.

I know it’s just £1 for each year since the fall of the wall, but if only 1,000 supporters responded that would be £25,000, which is enough to plant 10 new churches—what an incredible thing that would be!

If you Gift Aid your donation then even more churches could be planted.

I remember seeing the Berlin Wall come down and realising that with each removed brick there would be new opportunities for the Gospel. Please

consider giving so that the Kingdom of God can grow. I know it will encourage the Christians TEN supports so much, and enable exciting new chapters of God’s work to unfold.

Thank you for continuing to support the ministry.

Gary Cox, Former Director, TEN

Welcome

A

lthough I was only 18 years old at the time, I very much remember the fall of the Berlin wall and the sense that everything was about to change.

TV news anchors reported on, it seemed, every possible angle, but very little was said about the incredibly courageous and effective efforts of organisations like Eurovangelism.

So, I am delighted that this special edition of the TEN Newsletter features archive reports from the time of the fall of the wall and that Gary Cox, who led Eurovangelism at the time, has lent so much of his knowledge to it (and some great photos!).

As we look back and thank God for what happened on the 9th November, 1989, we also look forward in prayer and hope. We are aware that barriers to faith still remain and that, just like reinforced concrete, the constructs of apathy, religion, nationalism, secularism and hopelessness can be very difficult to tear down.

Please prayerfully consider the ‘£25 for 25 Years’ appeal that will help TEN dismantle some of those barriers to faith. We will do this as we always have done: by seeing churches planted, compassion ministries developed, lives touched with love, and the Gospel of Christ shared as the true hope of the world— all through incredible Christian Nationals.

Here’s to another 25 years of transformative ministry!

Every blessing and on behalf of all of us here at TEN, let me wish you all a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year!

Contents 4

Transforming Europe – The Fall of Communism How it all began for me

10

Transforming Europe – Then and Now And the walls came tumbling down

12

Prayer diary

15

You and Europe

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Then and now

18

Then and now

20

Europe: the next 25 years

November – December 2014

Our prayer for Europe

Romania

Albania

Transform Europe Now 1 Holdenhurst Road, Kingswood Bristol BS15 1HL

Andy Drake CEO Transform Europe Now

Contact Tel: +44 (0)117 961 5161 Email: info@transformeuropenow.org Written and produced by the TEN Team.

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.

Transforming Europe – The Fall of Communism

How it all

began for me Gary Cox began working with Transform Europe Now (then Eurovangelism) as a volunteer in 1976, eventually selling the family shop to move to Bristol and work full time in the ministry.

He became Director in 1992 and is now retired. Gary tells us:

I

began mission trips to Communist Eastern Europe for Transform Europe Now as a volunteer, still working in our family carpet shop. In 1981 TEN invited me to go full time. This was a big decision: “Give me six months when I will do anything you ask, and let us trust God to make it clear if this is His will for me, my family, and TEN.” Poland was in crisis; the country was bankrupt and there were demonstrations and strikes. I had visited Poland regularly to give support to some of the churches.

News was now coming through about

Original Excerpts from Eurovangelism News EUROVANGELISM NEWS 4

Poland’s situation. I visited the Polish Embassy in London and explained to the ambassador that I represented a charity that wanted to help in their crisis. I told him we had four tons of aid, ready to go.

“Can you get more?” he asked. “I’m sure we can...people here want to help.”

His response was amazing! “We have twenty-ton trucks delivering goods to the UK, but they go back empty because our nation is bankrupt. If you give me the address we will send a truck when it is unloaded.” “What will it cost?” I asked.

“Nothing” he replied, “the truck has to go

February 1989 – Luis and Cliff for Hungary Hungarian authorities have now confirmed permission to use a Sports Hall in Budapest for a large public rally with Luis Palau and Cliff Richard on April 9, 1989. Gary Cox was in Hungary to finalise details recently. Gary indicates Eurovangelism’s further involvement in the setting up of similar ministry in other parts of Eastern Europe this year but, in line with the policy of encouraging nationals, will keep a low profile during actual events.

Transforming Europe – The Fall of Communism

back anyway, so give us the addresses of where you want aid sent and we will deliver it.”

“How can I be sure everything will go to the churches we want to help?” I asked.

“We can fly you out after loading. Just give us the first unloading point; you can meet the driver there and go with him to supervise deliveries.” This was turning out to be much more than I had asked or thought possible. The ambassador then said, “I have one request. If possible, could you include some basic supplies for the children’s hospital in Warsaw? This is not a condition, but a request.” That was it! I agreed. We got tons of medical supplies, food and clothes. We sent the truck on its way and I was to fly the next day!

The next morning it snowed for two days and flights were cancelled! I thought, “The truck will get there and I won’t be there, the goods might end up in some warehouse and sold on the black market.”

But it was not to be—the plane did get me to Warsaw and I got to the Baptist church. The pastor called the pastor in Wroclaw and the truck was there. They had to unload 84 boxes before driving to Warsaw. I gave thanks to God. I will never forget the next morning.

Luis Palau welcomes Cliff Richard to sing and speak about his Christian faith to the 12,000-strong crowd in Budapest.

EUROVANGELISM NEWS 5

Gary Cox handing out humanitarian aid.

Gary Cox with an orphaned child.

Martial law had been imposed overnight.

Roads and borders were closed and tanks patrolled the streets. I thought for the second time that I would never see that truck again. Foreigners were instructed to register at the nearest police station and embassy. I met the BBC correspondent Tim

February 1989 – Warm Reception in Cool Moscow News of Christian activities being permitted in secular halls and the open-air prompted lateral thinking for the future.

It is now permitted to receive Christian literature from the West, while new and more liberal policies toward believers are evident. According to one report, Mikhail Gorbachev told a meeting of church leaders: “We know you pray to God to ask Him for help, but don’t forget also to ask the Central Committee because we can help you too!”

Life at time Transforming Europe – One The Fall of aCommunism

Sebastian there. He could not get the story out as all communication with the outside world had been cut (this was long before mobile phones and internet). Early Monday morning I saw the truck parked outside— I was overjoyed! But how to deliver everything to where it was needed?

Wonderful news! The only vehicles allowed on the roads were the army, the police, emergency services vehicles and PKS trucks (trucks from the state truck company), hallelujah! I prayed, “Thank you Lord, I promise not to leave Poland until every last box is delivered, but when this is done please get me out so I can let my family know I’m okay!”

I climbed into the truck, put on the

Polish cap given to me and I looked like any other Pole. There were road blocks everywhere. How would we get through?

But this is the state truck company PKS! As we approached the first barrier it was raised and we went through without stopping; for the next two days delivering aid we were allowed through all barriers.

When the truck was empty I needed to get out of Poland. We heard that a train was due through Warsaw from Leningrad to link up in Germany with a train to Paris.

I got a ticket, despite the train arrival time being after curfew. The pastor left me on the platform and got back home before curfew, while I caught the train.

I met a German who was also trying to

1 Gary Cox handing out Bibles.

Young soldier eagerly reading the New Testament for the first time.

Spring 1989 Mikhail Gorbachev has promised changes in legislation on church/state relations.

In his address to the United Nations, the Soviet leader reiterated his previously-stated intention that Christians in his country will be able to follow their faith without interference.

On his December visit, Gary Cox’s attention was drawn to the Kashenko Psychiatric Hospital in Moscow. Western media has projected a dubious image of such institutions and their alleged use by the

KGB to control dissidents. Aware of this, the Kashenko authorities expressed a desire to “rehabilitate the hospital’s reputation”. So members of the Moscow Baptist Church are now permitted to work there on a voluntary basis, ministering to patients!

For Christians who have ever prayed for the chance to extend God’s Kingdom in the Soviet Union, the way is open now.

Jane Ellis claims “the prayers of many people over many years have played their part” in what is happening today. She adds: “Now, when all these changes could be so

EUROVANGELISM NEWS 6

Transforming Europe – Oneof Life at a time Transforming Europe – The Fall Communism

get out and at the East German border the guards did not know what to do. We paid for East German transit visas and continued. Then we stopped about half a mile from the West German border and stayed there. My German companion went to find out what the hold-up was. He came back with news that the train was late and had missed the link-up train going to Paris. We would have to wait 11 hours for the next train. We decided to get off and walk along the track, despite my German companion’s concerns.

Amazingly, we just walked through the barriers into West Berlin and on to the airport. I booked a ticket to Heathrow and phoned home to say I would be back that night. On arrival at Heathrow I was approached by Kate Adie, who was reporting live for the BBC news that evening; suddenly I was on TV as the first eye witness to get back to the UK from Poland.

That interview changed everything: more TV appearances and newspaper interviews led to many individuals and companies responding generously. I spent the next six months filling trucks! God is amazing! When it came to the decision to

easily reversed, is the time to pray as never before”.

Summer 1989 In an evangelistic rally in the Hungarian capital’s largest indoor sports stadium, Luis Palau was joined by Cliff Richard who sang and spoke of his Christian faith.

The stadium’s 10,000-seat capacity was expanded to 12,000. Applications for free tickets numbered more than twice those available. At the response to the invitation to “commit your lives to Jesus Christ”, EUROVANGELISM NEWS 7

Gary Cox baptising a terminally ill young man.

go full time as a missionary, it was what they call today a ‘no-brainer’.

Little did I know I was to see change taking place. Hungary began to change, opening up opportunities to serve and support the churches.

trained counsellors were overwhelmed as more than a thousand people surged forward. As he looked over the crowds, Luis Palau observed: “Something has started in Hungary tonight that could change the face of the land.”

Autumn 1989 – Czech Living New Testament Released “This is by far the longest project in which I’ve been involved,” commented Dave Foster in Prague recently for the dedication of the newly-published Czech Living (cont.)

One Fall Life at time Transforming Europe – The of aCommunism

The Soviet Union was also changing, led

by President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Glasnost – Openness Perestroika – Restructuring These two words opened the door to freedom, especially to Christians who had been restricted since the end of the

second world war.

When East Germans went on summer holiday to Lake Balaton in Hungary in 1989, towing their mini-caravans, many tried to enter Austria. The communists demanded Gorbachev to seal the Austrian/Hungarian border, his reply

Relief aid.

Relief aid.

Demonstration in Budapest, pre-revolution days.

Gary in a Kashenko Hospital, Moscow.

New Testament. The first edition of 10,000 was gone within a month.

1990 – Romania Media exposure of appalling conditions in Romania resulted in relief supplies pouring in on a massive scale. We’re involved, but are also helping Christians there to take advantage of their changed situation. One Christian leader told us: “If you give us the tools, we’ll win Romania for Christ.”

Autumn 1989 – Billy Graham in Hungary A record-breaking crowd of 90,000 jammed Budapest’s largest outdoor stadium to hear Billy Graham. Broadcast live on national radio, the entire rally was also telecast on a 90-minute transmission at prime time.

Dave Foster reported: “The response was immediate and immense.”

EUROVANGELISM NEWS 8

May 1990 – Bibles for Romania Gary works with the Christian publishing house established in partnership with Hungarian Christians. One of the first

Europe – Oneof Life at a time Transforming Transforming Europe – The Fall Communism

was, “If Austria open the doors, let them through!”…they did! This was the beginning of the end of Communism, and a few months later the Berlin Wall was demolished.

One by one the Communist East European countries held democratic elections resulting in freedom for the first time since the end of World War Two, more than 40 years earlier.

All the communist countries fell one by one, and became democratic. Only Albania had to wait another two years before they too became a democracy—until then all religion was totally banned.

Looking back we can see that Hungary and the Soviet Union were pioneering freedom, which encouraged others to follow suit.

Young boy clutching an aid packet.

“

“

Gary Cox, Former director of Eurovangelism

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11

publications is a Hungarian edition of the Lion Children’s Bible. The first edition of 40,000 was gone in days. Income from sales will help pay for another 45,000 now being printed. A Romanian translation is now underway and will fill an immense need.

RIGHT: Eurovangelism display board.

EUROVANGELISM NEWS 9

And the walls came tumbling down

And the walls came tumbling down!

Breaching the Berlin Wall was probably the most graphic symbol of what was really happening in Eastern Europe during the final weeks of 1989. This extraordinary event took place on 9th November. Read what people said about it then, and now‌

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Transform europe now / Spring 2014– December 2014 November

And the walls came tumbling down

THEN

“The most celebrated collapse of a wall since Joshua took Jericho!”

Eurovangelism Newsletter “We are entering a whole new era of possibilities of letting down walls that divide… East and West… leaders are looking for a moral undergirding to perestroika in the Soviet Union.”

Billy Graham “People are terribly confused. The ceiling of their life’s room has fallen in on them.

They are just trying to work their way out of the rubble. What they have discovered is that all their points of reference, all the things they have taken for granted, are not so. And what they are discovering is that everything they were told to believe, to seek, to work for, isn’t so. Yes, there is an enthusiasm, but it is unfocussed. It used to be so clear. Now everything is mixed up.”

Alexei Gherman, Soviet Film Director “The Communist monolith in Eastern Europe has crumbled, but is not yet replaced. Fragile interim governments hold together people who have celebrated freedom from, but are now struggling with the question of what this freedom is for. Already some areas are being flooded with pornography and many other negative influences from the West. Cults have been quick to take advantage of the situation. Never has Eurovangelism’s mandate to envision, encourage and equip the Church in Eastern Europe been more needed. Never have the opportunities been so great.”

Dave Foster, Eurovangelism Founder

NOW

“I remember watching the amazing scenes unfold on the television with my wife Elizabeth. It’s 9th November 1989. The Berlin wall is being dismantled brick by brick. The police and military are inactive, just spectators as they are told not to engage in stopping what is happening.

For more than forty years Germany had been divided between east and west following the end of the Second World War. The world waited; millions across the globe were amazed at what they were watching. Germany was reunited.”

Gary Cox “After the Berlin Wall came down I visited that city and I will never forget it. The abandoned checkpoints. The sense of excitement about the future. The knowledge that a great continent was coming together. Healing those wounds of our history is the central story of the European Union.”

David Cameron “Today marks a truly happy moment of German and European history. Twenty years ago the door to freedom opened up and a seemingly invincible wall that divided a people and an entire continent suddenly became permeable. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

Angela Merkel (on the 20th anniversary) “November 9, 1989, will always be remembered and cherished in the United States. Like so many Americans, I will never forget the images of people tearing down the wall. There could be no clearer rebuke of tyranny, there could be no stronger affirmation of freedom.”

Barack Obama

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Prayer Diary

Andrei

Lucian

Dorin & Tanja

Mark

Nada and Mirco

Galina

Jovica

Erion & family

Prayer Diary

November – December 2014 November 2014 1 / TEN’s Trumpet of Gideon conference for European partners takes place this month (3rd–7th). Pray for good fellowship, encouragement, friendships, unison, seminars and travel.

2 / Andrei Ghedeon, Moldova is currently finishing the church building. May it be a place of rest and a beacon in the community.

3 / Andrei’s church is hosting a week of evangelistic outreach, “please pray for God to work in heart of invited peoples, for messages and organisation.”

4 / Please pray for the teenage ministry, for those who attend and for the leaders.

5 / Lucian Tabac is planning a marriage course which will last for seven lessons and is expecting ten families over the next two months. “We pray to be effective for families.”

6 / Lucian would like new Bible study groups: “We pray that those people are open and receptive to God’s word.”

7 / Dorin Moga asks that we pray for those who have not yet made a clear commitment to Christ. May

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he encourage their commitment in faith.

8 / “We’re doing evangelism every month in the autumn. Pray the message comes across clear and people respond!”

9 / Thank God for the Berlin wall coming down and the effective evangelism that has been taking place in Europe ever since 1989!

10 / Dorin asks for prayer that “as a family we can withstand the trials we get and remain faithful to God’s way.”

11 / Mark McCormick: Recently, Mark took out six Pastors to help with a mission week across 15 Moldovan villages. Please pray that those who responded will become part of the church, receive discipleship and bring friends and family along.

12 / Mirco Andreev, Macedonia: The Alpha course begins in Skopje this autumn. Pray for newcomers, fellowship and for on-going transformation.

13 / “We want to start a course edifying a lasting marriage this November. Please pray for wisdom and for God to restore work among broken marriages.”

Transform europe now / November – December 2014

14 / Mirco is expecting a visit from a New Life Church team from Colorado. “Pray for God’s leadership and guidance as we are to set a new friendship.”

15 / The Compassion Ministry, Russia: Recent affairs have meant that there are now 700,000+ Ukrainian refugees. “We ask God to help us meet their spiritual needs.”

16 / During the Christmas season the Compassion team will visit hospitals, children’s homes and shelters and host a Christmas concert which refugees will attend.

Pray for these different ministries.

17 / The new director of Hospital #20 doesn’t want ‘sisters of mercy’ to visit patients. Please pray for the new director!

18 / Jovica Bacvanski, Montenegro: “Please pray for Daniel, young man from our church (20) who decided to commit his life fully to Jesus and get baptised.”

19 / Daniel’s baptism has been the first seed since a rough start at the beginning of the year. May Daniel and his witness have a great impact for the church.

Prayer Diary

Nikola and Daniela

Blerim

Slavko

20 / Erion Cuni, Albania: A couple in the church have begun studying and praying with half of the church who are to begin a new church plant.

21 / Pray for the remaining church congregation—that they might encourage newcomers into church and begin afresh with passion for Christ.

Ljiljana

Zoli

Maca

27 / Mission Possible, Bulgaria: “We will start soup kitchens for Roma children. In Bulgaria, our crisis deepens; more than 80% of Roma are unemployed. This year we should start six kitchens but currently lack resources for all six!”

22 / “Our prayer is for the direction and the blessing of the Holy Spirit, for the entire church, as the church plant begins to happen and take shape!”

28 / Mission Possible are starting a ‘course for a new profession’.

Their State-given license is to teach the ten different most sought after professions. The first course, beginning this month, will be for hairdressers. “Please support us with prayers for the resources and the success of this course.”

23 / Mission Possible, Albania: More possibilities are needed to provide employment for the youth and adults within the community.

Please pray for MPA as they work alongside those who are unemployed.

29 / Milena Vulkanov has great need for Sunday schools to be better equipped within the Elhovo region. “We need Christians who are ready to be Sunday school teachers.” Pray for this need and work.

24 / Pray for the families who live in extreme conditions, that they may have food, warm clothes and firewood during the winter.

30 / Pray for the continuing outreach amongst Syrian refugees as Milena helps them with food, clothes and reaches them with the mercy, love and hope of Christ!

25 / Bathore has many Roma and Egyptian children. Pray for their education, well-being and any links they have with the work of MPA. May they know love and be loved.

26 / Pray for the staff at MPA and their families: “that they may have love, harmony and blessings” as they continue to pour out so much of themselves into their work and with the people they meet.

December 2014 1 / Nikola Atanasov: A pregnant young woman is facing her child having congenital anomalies and possible Down Syndrome. Pray for God’s strength, wisdom and healing.

2 / Nikola asks for prayer for Vanya as the lump in her breast is soon to be operated on. Vanya has two daughters. Pray for God’s

Dusan

Ronela & Mircea,

healing touch and overflowing peace.

3 / Pray for Nikola and Daniela to have power and be strong in the Lord.

4 / Teddy and Didi Oprenovi: Pray for the upcoming elections in Bulgaria. Pray that the new government will be God fearing and motivated to serve the people of Bulgaria better.

5 / Pray for the literacy classes: for more teachers enabling better education and care for the children. Pray that this ministry will really change children’s lives longterm and make an impact.

6 / Pray for the new families attending church. May they feel comfortable, welcomed, relaxed and accepted and may they find friends with whom they will grow spiritually and experience God’s love.

7 / Bulgaria is now home to many refugees! Pray for the volunteers, camp staff, and the system of support. Pray for their safety.

Pray against Bulgarians being prejudiced and xenophobic.

8 / Artur Krasniqi, Kosovo: For God’s wisdom, guidance and strength as he continues to lead a church, and also for his family.

9 / Blerim Skivjani: Pray for Blerim’s upholding and perseverance as he works amongst the Roma people; for God’s love to touch people’s hearts.

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Prayer Diary

10 / Leonora and Luigji: Pray for wisdom and courage as they work in the Kacanik Youth Centre. Pray for clear guidance in their vision for how the church in Kacanik could be established.

11 / Slavko Hadzic, Bosnia: 8th–12th of this month Slavko is teaching at Langham Preaching Seminar which will be attended by pastors and preachers from Bosnia and Macedonia. Pray for safe travel, for participants and for Slavko as he teaches.

12 / For Christmas events and puppet shows with evangelistic message. Last year saw 300 children + parents watching the puppet show, and many of them took bibles. Pray this year many will come and be touched by the Gospel message.

13 / Pray for Slavko’s Christmas concert: for good attendance and that people will be touched through the worship and evangelistic message.

14 / Ljiljana Banicek: Pray for the Church Christmas drama and programmes aimed at sharing the Good News.

15 / For the new church building now standing proud within the community. May they experience growth and know God’s work and provision through this long awaited building.

16 / Sinisa and Olja Stojkovic: That Sinisa will be able to train up new leaders and share responsibilities after 17 years of service. For their two sons who currently are not within the church.

17 / Zoli Vegel and Maca Turner, Serbia: Pray against melancholy, depression, unemployment, lack of money, lack of interest for the town of Sombor.

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18 / Pray for the church to be spiritually strong so it can fulfill a purpose within the town which God has appointed.

26 / Pray for the Christmas programs that gifts given to the prisoners will be received in Christian love and not material.

19 / Zoli has a vision for the church yard—pray for wisdom and resources as he begins preparations for next year.

27 / Beni Micle: Please pray for the family’s health and provision to get through the cold season and for a car to take them along broken roads to villages.

20 / Dusan Beredi: Pray for change in the lives of men within the Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre.

Many of them have been taking drugs for over ten years and been involved in criminal activities. Pray for the church and centre leaders as they help and teach.

21 / Pray for the team of five people living in Obrenovac, which was flooded in May and has no evangelical church. Pray for their vision of a church and as they help people practically and spiritually.

22 / Pray also for other activities within Novi Sad church: hospice, Alpha, Rangers and for this Christmas season to maximise the sharing of the Good News.

23 / Rock of Ages, Romania: Pray for God’s wisdom and healing touch as Ronela and Mircea are facing some health issues whilst also trying to find a balance between ministry and personal life.

24 / Work has just started in Moldova; please pray for the resources to come in surrounding this new expansion of Rock of Ages.

25 / Happy Christmas! As we celebrate Christ’s birth, we pray for those who do not yet know Him and we rejoice in this day with brothers and sisters across Europe.

Transform europe now / November – December 2014

28 / Pray for God’s discernment when it comes to decision making amongst the leadership team who want to follow in His Will.

29 / Evangelismo En Accion, Spain: Pray for several church families who have no income whatsoever. Pray for work despite Spain’s economic situation!

30 / Pray for the evangelistic outreach in Casarabonela town.

Please pray for legal permits to perform an evangelistic musical which would open the doors for future testimony.

31 / Continue to pray for the current situations happening across Europe, especially between Ukraine and Russia. Pray all will be solved peacefully. The situation is having huge ramifications particularly in Bulgaria. May God bring a resolve.

Trumpet of Gideon Please pray for the spiritual diversity among partners that it builds bridges rather than barriers and that each individual/ couple goes home feeling encouraged and refreshed.

You and Europe

Transform Europe Now works across 15 European countries in over 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:

Prayer of thanksgiving for the fall of the wall Heavenly Father, thank you for your great love for the people of Europe!

We remember how you tore the curtain in two that separated people from the heart of your temple. In the same way, and as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, we ask that you will continue to dismantle the obstacles that exist between yourself and the people of Europe today.

Wherever Jesus is proclaimed, may people see clearly your mighty power and love.

Wherever Christians serve you faithfully in Europe, may they be encouraged and empowered. And wherever you may call us to pray for, give to or go, may we have the faith and courage to do so.

Amen

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Romania: Then and Now

February 1989 Romania continues to be the Soviet bloc’s most obvious exception to the new spirit of glasnost. In Bucharest, and through the land of megalomaniac President Nicolae Ceauşescu, restructuring means the demolition of entire villages and sections of cities to make way for drab concrete apartment blocks. Power supplies are restricted and food is strictly rationed, with many items unobtainable.

Autumn 1989 The editor of Newsweek International was granted a rare interview with Nicolae Ceauşescu. “When do you think some of the empty shop shelves will be full?” he asked.

“We don’t have empty shelves,” replied Ceauşescu, “on the contrary, we have lots of stock in our shops.” When visual evidence continued to confirm chronic shortages, the question was again raised, this time with the Deputy Trade Minister. He replied: “We keep food in refrigerators and do not display it in large quantities.”

T

oday, many people in the Western world consider Romania to have a fairly healthy population of protestant Christians. Standing at about 5.4% (England is 8.8%), there has certainly been a lot of work going on over the last 25 years! It’s a privilege to know that supporters of TEN have played such a vital part in this God Story. From evangelistic programmes; publishing Children’s Bibles; resources for social action; training of leaders; and the introduction of the Alpha course; national Christians across the country have been reaching out to their communities to 16

Faced with the same question, an official guide claimed: “Romanians today have so much money that they snap everything off the shelves. Why, they’ll stand in line all day just to spend their money.”

In spite of these absurd ‘explanations’, more lists of families in need still reach us and we continue to help as our donors provide funds.

February 1990 The beginning of the end was when Secret Police pressure on Pastor Laszlo Tokes encouraged the people of Timisoara to say enough is enough. Subsequent events happened with bewildering speed. On the day the President and his wife faced a firing squad, Pastor Tokes was conducting Christmas Day worship.

Later, the Baptist pastor addressed 200,000 at a freedom rally. The crowd started chanting: “God exists!” He led them in prayers of thanksgiving for which everyone knelt spontaneously.

demonstrate and tell of the love of God. Elena Pascalau, in Constanta, worked alongside Gary Cox to get the Alpha Course published in Romanian and continues to train churches and provide resources. With 430 Alpha courses currently running across the country, ten of which are run by the Orthodox Church, God is clearly at work!

The southeast of Romania does suffer with a much lower population of evangelical Christians. The Carpathian Mountains run down the centre of the country, so many missionaries travelled overland in to the northwest, but didn’t

Transform europe now / November – December 2014

Romania: Then and Now

1990 Jennie was daring enough to have a Christian ministry among children. After Ceauşescu fell, numbers doubled. “Christian literature, and especially Scriptures for children, are what we need more than anything else,” she told us, “otherwise another generation of Romanians will be lost.”

We showed her a copy of our Hungarian Children’s Bible and told her it’s being prepared in Romanian, [she] was overcome with emotion.

The urgency of this project is emphasised by recent events in Romania. The nation’s

future is causing international concern.

Euphoria is giving way to doubt. The country could slip back into anarchy easily. We dare not procrastinate and possibly miss the golden opportunity God is giving us now!

Others are already taking advantage of the new situation. Pornography is pouring in as just one of the alternative influences on offer. Religious sects are active. Mormons plan to send 11,000 ‘missionaries’. The vacuum created by the removal of Ceauşescu’s atheistic ideology will be filled.

But with what? Garbage, or the eternal, life-giving Word of God?

LEFT: Gary Cox with young conscripts on duty in Bucharest.

RIGHT: A woman prays for her son, killed by the Securitate during the struggle for freedom.

cross the range. Meanwhile, the close proximity to Turkey has led to a strong Islamic influence in the area.

The church planting programme that Elena and husband Traian are involved in is clearly necessary. Whilst there are now about 4,000 pentecostal and Baptist churches in Romania, plus many more orthodox churches, in the Constanta region alone there remain over 100 towns and villages with no kind of church or Christian witness at all.

Elena also tells me that just north of them, the Danube Delta not only suffers with a lack of churches, but there are

also no schools or hospitals. Poverty remains an issue across much of Romania and CASA Grace in Oradea continues to advocate for those shunned by society, many living in one-room homes with plastic for windows and holes in the roof and mud-brick walls.

Garbage, or the eternal, life-giving Word of God? The last 25 years has certainly seen pockets of Christians across the country tirelessly loving others, bearing the life-giving Word of God to those living like garbage. But there is so much more to be done to bring this nation to its knees and declare that God does indeed exist!

+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org

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Albania: Then and Now

1990 Isolated from its neighbours, the nation’s constitution specifically bans all forms of religious expression. While reports of unrest in the country are denied by its leaders, recent escapees confirm anti-government demonstrations in at least one city.

Border security is being strengthened and a siege mentality seems to have set in.

Albanian Christians living in neighbouring Yugoslavia are intensifying prayer for the freedom of their homeland.

1991 Only bitter memories remain of Enver Hoxha, the hard-line Stalinist who, during four decades of dictatorship, led the nation into chaos. An ardent atheist, he outlawed religion more thoroughly than any other East European leader. After incarcerating or killing all those who engaged in religious activity, he closed every church, synagogue and mosque.

When winds of political change finally reached Albania in the spring of 1991, immense needs—physical and spiritual— were revealed. By responding to a tentative request for medical supplies, Eurovangelism

A

s we stand on a cute little arched stone bridge by the edge of the road to Tirana, Hervin Fushekati tells us with pride: “This is the bridge that the Apostle Paul walked over 2,000 years ago!” Rachael Robertson and I are on a road trip around the Balkans, visiting a myriad of partners that TEN has gained over the years. Today, we are reminded of the ancient Christian history of Albania, long before the Islamic Ottomans came and, more recently, atheism.

Despite the turbulent past, Albania is 18

became the first Western agency to provide such help for Albania.

In September, a nine-vehicle convoy, with six ambulances, travelled across war-torn Yugoslavia to Albania. Packed with food and medicines, their arrival was greeted by applause from crowds in Tirana’s main square. When the gift of these vehicles was announced on national TV, the Ministry of Health was bombarded with dozens of requests from hospitals and clinics across the country, all stating their desperate need for such transportation.

EUROVANGELISM’s British and Canadian directors, Gary Cox and John Murray, led the team of drivers taking a nine-vehicle convoy, through war-torn Yugoslavia.

bursting with hope for the future. With only a handful of Christians in 1991, today the Christian community makes up almost 1% of the population and is growing at a rapid pace of 4.6% per annum (UK growth rate is 0). It is also making good economic progress, although it is still the second poorest country in Europe.

The fresh, new faith brings a distinct ‘togetherness’ of different church denominations, and it’s possibly this unity that makes Jesus so appealing; Jesus, and the young vibrant church leaders who are

Transform europe now / November – December 2014

Albania: Then and Now

Gary Cox (right) shakes hands with Dr Sazan Celiku of the Ministry of Health as he presents one of the ambulances, packed with food and medical supplies, to Dr Drita Alia (wearing sunglassses), director of the Justina Shkupi Hospital of Malnourished Children, Tirana. Others were delivered to different parts of the country.

For the first time in more than 40 years, Albanian children can read Bible stories. Eurovangelism’s publishing house in Hungary produced an Albanian first edition of more than 20,000 copies. The Ministry of Health told us: “We appreciate your practical help because we are poor, but we need your spiritual help as well. When you return to our country you will see the effect of the spiritual help you have given.”

full of energy and passion to transform their nation.

Hervin himself became a Christian when, as a Muslim, he attended church and studied the Bible in order to prove it wrong. God spoke to him in such a powerful way, that when he was forced to move out of his home because of his faith, he went to his mother’s home town and began telling people about Jesus. Before he knew it, a church was started, and as a new believer—and teenager—Hervin was leading a church.

Today, Hervin has planted over 15 churches, and has started a practical Bible School that sees people planting churches as part of the course. This is a key time for Albania—people are open and young leaders are willing to serve. All that is lacking is the finances, and with TEN’s rich heritage of supporters in the UK, let’s be the ones to stand up and be counted as people who have, and will, share all that we have with our Christian brothers and sisters in Europe.

Sally Bertram, COO of TEN

+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org

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Europe: The next 25 years

Europe:

the next 25 years “ W (Leo Tolstoy)

hat a staggering amount of change has occurred since the fall of the Berlin wall! From war in the Balkans and the Eurozone economic crisis, to the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the ever present separatist agenda (Scotland, Catalonia, etc.), Europe has felt less like a whole continent and more a collection of shifting and sliding tectonic plates of human agenda.

These agendas continue to butt against one another, and of course any student of European history would claim that, despite the appearance of change, nothing has in fact changed at all. Many European countries share a common experience of changing borders, changing tyrants, changing national identity and a seemingly endless failure to thrive over the centuries. What hope can there be for the Europe of the future?

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“

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but nobody thinks of changing themselves.

The great secular hope is that of development and, more specifically, economic and social development through monetary union and trade. In some ways there have been successes in this regard. Despite the conflicts in Europe of the last 25 years, they are still far less than those over the last 100. So, development in Europe has brought some unity, prospect and peace.

And yet development cannot provide a true reason for living; the absence of struggle is not the same as the presence of fullness of life. There are also new struggles on the horizon, or perhaps even with us as we speak. The ageing population of Europeans is one, as is the lower-than-sustainable birth-rate of European societies. These, coupled with increased immigration, mean that Europe—and Europeans—will look

Transform europe now / November – December 2014

Europe: The next 25 years

increasingly different in the future.

Church plants and evangelistic mission used to involve reaching out to people of mainly one culture. Now we know of ministries that reach out to many different cultures. For instance, one European church planter I was listening to recently ministers amongst 65 different languages spoken by a mix of refugees, immigrants and indigenous people.

So what does it take to see fullness of life in Europe today? The answer, of course, is still the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and an attitude like that which Leo Tolstoy describes in the quote at the beginning; a desire to see true personal transformation, and not just social and political change.

The medium for its sharing is the true beauty of TEN’s approach to ministry, for it is the Christian Nationals we support who decide what works. They in turn are guided by a local, on-the-ground ‘holy pragmatism’. For instance, 25 years ago we weren’t involved in anti-trafficking

work. Today, we support anti-trafficking initiatives in Moldova and Greece that have sprung up as a counter to this evil blight in their respective communities.

Along the way we will also need to enthuse UK Christians about European mission. This isn’t about political debate, but rather an acknowledgement that ‘Europe is our Samaria’ (Acts 1:8), and that it is in dire need (for instance, there are more evangelical Christians in Brazil than the whole of Europe).

We can only see such change by working together. Therefore, may I thank you for praying for TEN and our partners, for giving generously to the work, and for going in teams to serve our partner’s needs. Thank you also for standing with God’s work in Europe, for caring for Christians on the continent, and for ‘banging the drum’ that other UK Christians might do so too. Please bang loudly!

Andy Drake, CEO of TEN

+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org

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Please Don’t Forget! £25 for for 25 years Please consider giving so that the Kingdom of God can grow.

(See (see page two for more details.)

A Parting Gift

Use the final gift of your Will to give the next generation the best start.

During our lifetime many of us invest time, energy and financial resources in supporting the expansion of the Kingdom of God, but how much do we invest in ensuring that what may be our largest financial gift is used in the same way?

A gift to Transform Europe Now in your Will ensures resources are passed on to the next generation of people who are shining God’s light across Europe, continuing the work you dedicated your life to support through your gifts and prayers.

To receive our ‘legacy pack’ with further information on how to leave a legacy to TEN, please call us on +44 (0)117 961 5161 or email us at info@transformeuropenow.org

Gifts with a value, not just a price

Give an essential gift to help transform a life.

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TEN’s 50th Anniversary Conference Brunel Manor, Torquay | 15–17 May 2015 Don’t miss this exciting, inspiring and action packed weekend celebrating TEN’s 50th Anniversary!

Featuring Danny & Vera Kuranji Novi Sad Christian Fellowship, Serbia

Partners with TEN for 29 years, this amazing couple founded a church from their living room at home, before expanding and ultimately being responsible for numerous plants around the region! They are now running a hospice facility and a drug rehab centre. Come along and be inspired!

and Slavko & Sanja Hadzic Sarajevo Evangelical Church, Bosnia

A highly esteemed leader and long-term partner of TEN, Slavko pastors a church alongside being national coordinator for Alpha; board member and teacher at a Bible School; denominational secretary and board member of national IFES. A speaker not to be missed!

To book, please complete and return the booking form to: Transform Europe Now, 1 Holdenhurst Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 1HL, call Rachael Robertson on 0117 961 5161 or email info@transformeuropenow.org

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Single room, non-ensuite at £139 pp

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