TEN Magazine, November – December 2015

S p e c i a l 5 0 t h Ann i v e r s a r y Ed i t i o n

Magazine November – December 2015 www.transformeuropenow.org

CELEBRATING

50 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING

LIVES IN EUROPE

Europe 1965:

Europe today:

Population:

Population:

635 million

743 million

Number of Countries:

Number of Countries:

35

51

Countries in the Warsaw Pact:

Countries in the European Union:

8

28

Number of Currencies:

Number of Currencies:

31

24

(Do you remember the dinar, escudo, franc, guilder, lire, mark or peseta?)

(Includes 25 countries which now use the Euro)

Average UK weekly salary:

Average UK weekly salary:

ÂŁ16

ÂŁ517

we believe God wants to

TRANSFORM EUROPE NOW Please contact the TEN office if you would like to know the sources for these statistics.

Welcome

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n preparation for this magazine I was looking back over the last 50 years at the work of TEN and our valued partners across Europe; I have been thoroughly amazed at the quantity of projects we have been involved in and the number of people who have been impacted. We have so much to thank and praise God for and we give Him all the Glory.

At the 50th celebration conference in May we were privileged to hear from Dave Foster, the founder, and Gary Cox, a long serving director of Eurovangelism/ TEN. Their accounts of the work over the years was truly inspiring and motivational for the next 50 years. Our theme at the weekend was ‘Pulling out the Stops’ and that is our passion for the future—we need to do more!

This is no time for resting as we celebrate our Jubilee; we need to press on. Right now we have a humanitarian crisis in Europe as many thousands of refugees are fleeing from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and North Africa for safety in Europe. People trafficking is on the increase with more people in slavery than ever before. Europe is now a secular society.

There is much in the Bible about Jubilee celebrations and rest, but there is one verse which has impacted me recently, it is Leviticus 25 v10: “And you shall consecrate the 50th year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you”. Our mission is to proclaim freedom to the captives (Isaiah 61). Jesus Christ and His redeeming power, bringing freedom is the message we have taken to Europe for the last 50 years and it is the same message today. As you read this magazine I hope and pray you will be inspired to press on and ‘pull out the stops’ in sharing Jesus’ love and compassion to the people of Europe.

Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done in Europe today. Amen!

Thank you and may God richly bless you all.

Contents 4

European timeline

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60 Seconds with...

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60 Seconds with...

10

Human trafficking in Europe

12

trustees overview

13

ten in europe

14

Prayer diary

17

Country Snapshots

27

Refugee Crisis

1965 – 2015

…Dave Foster

…Gary Cox

November – December 2015

Then and Now

How TEN is responding

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

Tel: +44 (0)117 961 5161 Email: info@transformeuropenow.org

Gerry Partridge CEO Transform Europe Now

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.

Cover image: Russian Soldier in Chechnya, 1994, reading a Bible given to him by Gary Cox

European Timeline 1965–2015

KEY EUROPEAN EVENTS 1965 Sir Winston Churchill buried in state funeral.

1966 England wins the football world cup.

1967 Albania becomes the first atheist state in the world. Religious leaders are imprisoned or executed.

1968 Russian troops invade Czechoslovakia.

1968 Cliff Richard is second in the Eurovision Song Contest with his song, ‘Congratulations’.

1969 First test flight of Concorde.

COMM COL 1970s Many evangelical Christians in communist countries continue to suffer oppression, persecution and loss of freedom.

1971 The UK & NI switch to decimal currency.

1972 Terrorist attacks at the Munich Olympic Games.

1976 Concorde begins its first commercial flights.

1976 General Franco dies in Spain.

1977 Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee.

1978 Karol Wojtyła, a Polish cardinal, is elected as Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in 465 years.

TEN’S HIGHLIGHTS 1965 Eurovangelism founded on 2 December

by Dave Foster.

1967 Dave Foster tries to enter Albania but is denied access.

1968 Dave Foster: “We saw this as an opportunity, so I flew into Prague on a Czech plane.

I was the only passenger.

Together with our Czech brothers we were able to distribute the Word of God to Russian soldiers.”

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1968 Cliff Richard shares his faith in Zagreb and sings ‘What A Friend We Have In Jesus’ live on Yugoslav television.

1971 Cliff Richard visits Children’s Home in Portugal.

1972 ’Living Letters,’ a paraphrase of the four Gospels first printed in Slavic languages.

1970s Dave Foster/ Gary Cox make many hazardous journeys into communist countries to support, encourage and equip the believers.

1980 Freda Bawler: “God provided throughout the eight weeks we were [in Naples]. Before we departed, one sponsor from England gave us money specifically to help babies in Italy, and it wasn’t until we arrived

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

and found a milk shortage for new borns that we realised God was already working in the situation.”

1981 Gary Cox: “I was in Warsaw to deliver the first ever truckload of aid. Waking up that Sunday morning (14 Dec) and seeing tanks on the streets was the last thing I expected. Yet I was at peace, knowing God had placed me there at that time for a purpose.”

European Timeline 1965–2015

MUNISM AND LD WAR ERA 1988 President Gorbachev promises changes in Soviet Union.

Two words sum this up: Glasnost (Openness) and Perestroika (Restructuring).

1981 The Solidarity Movement in Poland fights for worker’s rights and spreads anticommunist ideas. Martial law is declared on 13 December.

1985 Live Aid concert raises £30 million.

1981 Marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana watched by 700 million people.

1982 Falkland Islands invaded by Argentina.

1988 An earthquake leaves 500,000 homeless in Armenia.

1989 The Berlin Wall, a symbol of the division of Europe during Communism and the Cold War is knocked down.

1982 Gary Cox expelled from Romania and barred for five years.

1988 Combine with Tear Fund to help thousands of victims in Armenia.

Partnering with the Baptist church means that Christians who have been persecuted for decades are seen in a new light.

1988 Gary Cox visits the Kashenko Psychiatric Hospital in Moscow. The Kashenko authorities allow members of Moscow Baptist Church to work there on a voluntary basis, ministering to the patients.

1989 Evangelistic rally in Budapest, Hungary with Luis Palau. Cliff Richard sings and talks about his faith. Thousands respond to the appeal.

1979 Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s first female Prime Minister.

1980 An earthquake leaves thousands homeless in Naples, Italy.

1985 Nicky Cruz speaks in Budapest, Hungary.

1986 Work with partners in Russia and other Christian agencies to deliver aid, bring comfort and inspire hope after Chernobyl disaster.

1986 There is an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.

1989 The destruction of the wall is an answer to decades of prayer.

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European Timeline 1965–2015

KEY EUROPEAN EVENTS 1990s The fall of communism takes place across Central and Eastern Europe. The events begin in Poland and continue in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Romania.

1991 Christmas and Easter are on the calendar in formercommunist countries for the first time in decades.

1992 Civil war breaks out in Yugoslavia. Tens of thousands are displaced and ethnic cleansing programmes take place as the region is divided along ethnic lines.

1994 Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Chechnya.

POST-COMM 1991 Albania is open to the first Western visitors in 25 years. The world is shocked by the pictures of poverty that emerge.

1993 Maastricht treaty takes effect and European Union formally established.

1997 Lady Diana is killed in Paris.

1998 Serbian forces enter Kosovo with ethnic cleansing policies. Tens of thousands become refugees overnight as they flee.

TEN’S HIGHLIGHTS 1990s Meetings held in large indoor and outdoor stadiums in many formercommunist countries where Billy Graham or Luis Palau speak. Recordbreaking crowds and thousands respond to the gospel.

1991 TV programmes in Russia explain the meaning of Christmas and Easter for the first time, watched by millions of viewers.

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1991 Dave Foster and Gary Cox invited to a prison camp in Siberia to share communion and witness a public baptismal service.

1991 Seven ambulances deliver humanitarian aid to Albania. Publication of the first Children’s Bible in Albanian.

1992 Hundreds of tonnes of aid sent to help Yugoslav refugees.

1993 First Harvest for the Hungry campaign with Derek Wade.

1996 First Alpha Training Event held in Prague, Czech Republic.

1994 Gary Cox: “All along the way we had the opportunity to talk to the young Russian conscripts.

Many were young men far from home, fresh out of training, living with constant fear of attack.

We offered them a Bible each and they all took one. Many of them just opened it and started to read there and then.”

1996 The Christian Agency for Social Action (CASA) started in Oradea, Romania.

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

1998 Partners in Serbia tell us about a church in Macedonia that we could partner with, using it as a base for sending emergency aid. A truck is sent within days.

European Timeline 1965–2015

1999 The Euro is established as the new currency in Europe.

2007 7/7 terrorist bombing in London.

2012 Olympics Games held in London.

2014 Russia annexes part of Ukraine.

2008 Georgia and Russia send in tanks and planes to lay claim to South Ossetia. Many are killed and others lose everything.

2012 Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

2015 Europe has a huge influx of refugees from the Middle East (mainly Syria). The Western Balkan route through Serbia and Macedonia sees thousands passing through each day.

MUNIST ERA 2000 Millennium Dome opens in London.

2001 9/11 terrorist attacks in USA, twin towers destroyed.

2002 Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.

1999 Tons of aid collected and sent to help refugees in Kosovo.

2000s Alpha International is translated and published in 13 languages.

2005 40th Anniversary Conference held at Brunel Manor.

2007 First Gift Catalogue.

“Gifts with a value not just a price.”

2010 Iceland volcano erupts and spreads ash clouds across Europe.

2008 Aid sent via partners in Russia to assist 35,000 refugees of the war in Georgia. They offer food and medicines, love and counsel.

2012 Transform Europe Now becomes the new operating name of Eurovangelism.

2013 Tenacious book published with 100 inspiring stories.

2014 The heaviest rain in 120 years cause massive flooding in South Eastern and Central Europe. 1.6 million people affected.

2014 Balkan Flood Appeal. Funds sent to partners to help in the worst affected areas.

2014 Trumpet of Gideon conference held in Bulgaria.

2015 Refugee Crisis Appeal. Partners in Serbia and Macedonia actively involved in providing food, water and essential items for the refugees.

2015 50th Anniversary Conference held at Brunel Manor.

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

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Church Partnerships – An inside look

60 Seconds with…

Dave Foster

Dave Foster founded Eurovangelism in 1965 and was the Director until 1992. He went to Buckingham Palace in 1999 and received an OBE from the Queen!

What was one of your personal highlights?

Preparing a series on the life of Christ for Russian TV, anchored by one of their best-known presenters who had become a Christian. We began in Bethlehem, continued around Galilee and ended in Jerusalem. It was the only series of this kind to be aired in Russia in seventy years, and was viewed by millions!

Billy Graham. It was his first of many missions into the former Communist bloc, culminating in Moscow’s Olympic Stadium in 1992.

What else would you have done if you had the time/resources?

Nothing! I was privileged to see the collapse of Communism and the work take on a new dimension. Couples The greatest challenge you had to such as Danny and Vera Kuranji have unprecedented overcome? opportunities, not only at Getting visas, sometimes monthly, to what was their base in Novi Sad, but then Czechoslovakia, encouraging and enabling when others were being others to minister throughout refused! After the collapse Serbia. Their ministry is of Communism I met an duplicated by nationals adviser to President Vaclav throughout Eastern Europe.

Havel who had read my Eurovangelism adapted Secret Police file. He told to the new opportunities, me it was because I was even with the new name bringing so much hard of Transform Europe Now currency into the country!

(TEN). The present team are doing a magnificent job with A memorable answer their time, and the resources to prayer? provided by God’s people.

Crossing the border from I can only praise Him and Trieste, Italy into what pray for their continuing was then Yugoslavia with Dave Foster (circa 1965) vital ministry!

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Transform europe now / November – December 2015

Church Partnerships – An inside look

60 Seconds with…

Gary Cox

Gary Cox began working with Transform Europe Now (then Eurovangelism) in 1976. He was the Director from 1992 until 2006.

What was one of your personal highlights?

I met Danny and Vera Kuranji in Canada in 1985. They wanted to go back to Serbia; this was before the war. I was impressed and said we would help them. During the war they escaped to Hungary and then returned afterwards. They were pioneers and set the pattern for ministry in Eastern Europe with the church planting and humanitarian aid.

A memorable answer to prayer?

We wanted to get into the Soviet Union and didn’t have any means of doing so.

I was told the person I needed to speak to was Mikhail Zhidkov, the pastor of Moscow Baptist Church. I managed to get his number and prayed before I rang. I spoke to him and the door was opened, the timing was incredible. God had gone before us and laid it all out. It was nothing to do with me; the door was divinely opened and led to so many good things.

The greatest challenge you had to overcome?

Albania was the last country to open after the collapse of communism.

We had arranged an Alpha training course, but I needed a translator. I was told about Hervin Fushekati and we arranged for him to attend.

127 people turned up but no Hervin, then I got a call saying he had been held up.

After an hour Hervin came in the door, walked up onto the platform, said, “Hello, I’m your translator,” and we went straight into the training. It was perfect and introduced Alpha to the country.

Gary Cox (Siberia, circa 1991)

What else would you have done if you had the time/ resources?

Nothing. The Alpha Course was the key to open up these countries. I remember the first course in Prague in 1996 when 630 people attended. Sandy Millar and Nicky Gumbel from Holy Trinity Brompton came with me and were a great encouragement and support.

Alpha has now been translated and printed in 13 languages and continues to be greatly used by God.

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

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Church Partnerships Transforming Europe––An One inside Life at look a time

Human TraFficking,

in Europe Human trafficking is one of the global challenges we are coming to terms with. Jim Memory, Postgraduate lecturer in European Mission and ECM Mission partner, calls us to action.

I

n 2007 Mauritania became the last country in the world to abolish slavery.

Or so read the headlines at the time.

But making slavery illegal does not make it disappear, and we don’t have to go to Africa to find it. Slavery persists in Europe today. The trafficking of human beings is the slavery of our times.

People are trafficked for a multitude of reasons. Many are tricked by promises of employment only to fall victims to sexual exploitation. Getting reliable data on human trafficking in Europe is extremely difficult. Realistically, pretty much all the statistics are educated guesses. A European Commission report1 on human trafficking in 2014 revealed that there were 30,146 registered victims in the 28 EU member states. Of these, the greatest number are women and girls from Romania and Bulgaria, usually members of the Roma

1 2

community, Europe’s most vulnerable population. Contrast this with the data of the International Labour Organization2 which estimates there to be 270,000 victims of forced sexual exploitation and 610,000 victims of forced labour exploitation in Europe—880,000 in all.

Many of the refugees who have arrived in Europe from Syria, Iraq and elsewhere over recent months paid people traffickers at some point on their journey. Yet as these reports make clear the exploitation doesn’t stop when victims arrive at their destination.

It is shocking to think that there are men, women and children in slavery in many of the liberal social democracies of today’s Europe. The victims may actually live just down our street. In the name of Christ, we must do what we can to find them and “to set the captives free.” (Luke 4:18).

European Commission Report on Human Trafficking (2014) https://ec.europa.eu International Labour Organization Global Estimate of Forced Labour (2012) http://www.ilo.org

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Transform europe now / November – December 2015

Transforming EuropeWHAT’S – One Life GOING at ON a time IN...

HELP TEN RESPOND TO TRAFFICKING Through our partners, Viorica Tataru in Greece and Beginning of Life in Moldova, TEN is responding to trafficking across the Balkans. For example, in Greece, Viorica Tataru has been serving for 10 years alongside Nea Zoe (New Life), a ministry reaching out to victims of human trafficking.

Viorica also travels to Romania and leads prevention and awareness

campaigns in schools and communities amongst the most vulnerable. In Moldova, Beginning of Life runs House of Change in Chisinau, a rehabilitation and reintegration centre for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

With your help we can continue to support these partners—see the back cover for more information.

Jim Memory is involved in training mission thinkers and practitioners for mission in Europe at Redcliffe College. He combines 15 years of field experience in church planting in Spain with three years of research on mission in Europe.

Jim is married to Christine who works for European Christian Mission and they have three teenage children. +44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org

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Trustees Overview

Dear friends, Earlier this year I made a brief reference to the year of TEN’s Jubilee not being a ‘sabbatical, etc.’ as described in Leviticus 25, but rather a year of considerable change in the Bristol office. Neither is there any reason for TEN to ‘rest and recharge’ in terms of supporting and resourcing our partners in continental Europe, where the challenges and opportunities for service in the name of Jesus do not change. Indeed, as we witness the mass migration of people into Europe from the Middle East and parts of Africa—many desperate for a new start in life and their own period of ‘rest and recharge’—those opportunities for service have increased significantly for some of TEN’s partners.

This latest development is symptomatic of the environment in which TEN/ Eurovangelism has been involved over its 50 year life—identifying a need via local, committed disciples of our LORD and together working out the means of meeting that need. Such projects are too numerous to list here, but one could mention by way of example the humanitarian responses to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, the Armenian earthquake in 1988, and the Balkans War in the early 1990’s, together with evangelistic opportunities with Billy Graham and Luis Palau and, more recently, the roll-out of Alpha in many parts of Eastern Europe. A common feature of all such projects, large and small, has been experiencing again and again the power of the LORD to use apparently limited resources and transform them into significant gospel activity. The willingness and ability to adapt to changing circumstances, together with considerable attention to practical details, have also been key characteristics of this ministry.

Some of us were reminded of various projects and incidents at the conference at Brunel Manor in May where we acknowledged God’s hand at work through TEN/Eurovangelism over the past 50 years. That acknowledgment included recognition of the parts played by Dave Foster, Ken Bawler, Jack Barley and Gary Cox in particular, but not forgetting other staff and more recent directors of the ministry or, of course, our loyal and generous supporters. As we look forward, we thank God for all that is past and trust Him for all that is to come, resourcing ministries in continental Europe that demonstrate the great love that God has for all people and that proclaim the truth revealed in Jesus.

David Thomas

Chair of Trustees

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Transform europe now / November – December 2015

WHAT’STEN GOING IN Europe ON IN...

Where Eurovangelism/TEN has worked since 1965.

Where TEN are working now, 2015

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

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Prayer Diary

Dragan & Biljana Macedonia

Bera

Serbia

Galina

Compassion Ministry, Russia

Slavko & Sanja Bosnia

MPB team Bulgaria

Nikola & Daniela Bulgaria

Ljiljana Bosnia

Marinela (EH) Romania

Prayer Diary

October – December 2015 November 2015 1 / Gerry Partridge and Terry Wood, TEN Ambassador, are in Constanta, Romania from October 29th to November 3rd to discuss progress on ‘Project 2022’. Pray for safety and protection as they travel.

2 / Dragan Manev, Macedonia: “Pray for our work with the biggest crisis with refugees in the Balkans and Europe. We have already helped some refugees in our town, Veles.”

3 / “Now we are focussed on the south of Macedonia in Gevgelija to work together with other evangelical churches. Pray for permission from the government for working in that town.”

4 / “Pray for provision of humanitarian aid for refugees in Southern Macedonia and for New Testaments in the Syrian language.”

5 / “Pray for the team from our church that will be working to help the refugees in Gevgelija, the town where refugees are coming to from Greece.”

6 / Dusan Beredi (Bera), Serbia: “As a church we are starting open meetings for addicts using Alpha International Recovery Course

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material. Pray for a good start and that many will be free.”

7 / They are building new facilities for the rehabilitation of addicts. “Pray for the male facilities to be finished. Pray for new users, that God would bring us more addicts from Novi Sad to our centre.”

8 / Pray “for New Stream, the ministry for youth and artists. We have had a series of concerts and exhibits, but would like to move activities from the church to the city, to reach more people.”

9 / Galina Dzhuzenova, The Compassion Ministry, Russia: “Pray for us as we continue our ministry to the most poor and needy people.”

10 / Today is the national Police Workers day in Russia. Compassion Ministry are meeting with retired Police Workers; “Pray for them to open their hearts to Jesus as we share the Good News with them and give them some sweets and Christian books.”

11 / Pray for us “at the end of December as we will visit hospitals, children’s homes and groups of families with disabled children to hold Christmas concerts and present Christmas gifts.”

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

12 / Slavko Hadzic, Bosnia: “Pray for our humanitarian work and for the families whom we help with food parcels. Pray for their salvation.”

13 / Slavko’s church started an Alpha course in September.

In November they plan to hold an Alpha weekend. “Pray that God will work in the lives of the participants on the weekend and till the end of the course.”

14 / Pray for Chris Hill, TEN Ambassador, as he speaks at Minehead Baptist Church this weekend - at a breakfast on Saturday and in the morning service on Sunday.

15 / This month Slavko is travelling to the Fellowship of European University Evangelists conference. “Pray for safe travel and for a good conference.”

16 / Pray for their Christmas programme with at least 10 puppet shows and a concert. “Last year we had 300 kids and parents at the puppet shows and we distributed dozens of Bibles.”

17 / In December Slavko will have a health check-up. “Pray that all results will be good and that by then he will be completely recovered from the surgery.”

Prayer Diary

Marian, Ionica & Gratzian PRR, Romania

Maca

Serbia

Tanja & Zoli Serbia

18 / Mission Possible Bulgaria (MPB): “Please pray for the launch of five soup kitchens for children from poor, large Roma families.

Each kitchen will prepare hot meals for 50 children.”

19 / “The soup kitchens work in partnership with local churches.

Please pray for the volunteers from the churches as they cook and care for the children.”

20 / Pray for these children as MPB encourage them to attend school, learn basic hygiene and are introduced to a living faith in Jesus Christ.

21 / “Many of the children come from Muslim families. For these children the soup kitchens in the churches will be the only option to prevent them becoming radical followers of Islam.”

22 / Nikola Atanasov, Bulgaria: “Pray for a baptism service which will be held soon. Pray for one woman, she is having a problem with her pregnancy.”

23 / “Pray for us – we want more anointing, more from God. Pray for the lost sons to return.”

24 / Ljiljana Banicek, Bosnia: “We are so thankful to God that He protected the children and us at the summer camp and we had a wonderful time together.” Pray for the children to continue to grow in their faith.

25 / The church wants to run a project with Roma people. “Pray

Mission Possible Albania

Daniel

Montenegro

Milcho & Benny Bulgaria

Vance & Tanja Macedonia

Gjerji & Esther Albania

that we will choose the right Roma community, that they will be open first to the gospel and then for other activities.”

of the new Hospice building this month. Pray that God will provide the funds to continue construction work in the spring.

26 / “We have planted lots of seeds and many people have heard the gospel. Pray with us that these contacts will become believers and help the church to grow.”

2 / Transform Europe Now was founded by Dave Foster in 1965 to support local Christians in parts of Europe where Christians were being persecuted by oppressive communist or fascist regimes.

Praise God for 50 years of working with our partners across Europe.

27 / “We are heating everything on electricity, which is expensive.

Most of the church has pipes. Pray for us as we need to get a new boiler and heating pipes for the rest of the building.”

28 / Marinela Murg, Emanuel Hospice, Romania: “In November we holding a charity concert Voices for Hospices. Pray that the event will be successful and attendees will buy bricks for the new hospice construction.”

29 / “Pray for the patients in hospice care this month. Pray that their pain and symptoms are alleviated and they feel a real sense of God’s presence and love with them in their suffering.”

30 / “Pray for the Hospice team, that they will care for the body, soul and spirit of the patients with love and compassion. Pray that their energy is renewed every day.”

December 2015 1 / Pray for Emanuel Hospice as they plan to finish the basement

3 / “As a tradition, a group of students from Emanuel University go carolling at our patient’s homes.

Pray that the glorious message of peace and love will bring joy to the patients and their families.”

4 / Project Romanian Rescue (PRR): “We expect that the renovation of our Day Centre in Constanta will be finalised by early December. Pray we can resume our program and continue offering our services to the needy children who attend and their families.”

5 / “Pray for our annual Christmas celebration, where former and current beneficiaries of Casa Charis Day Centre and both group Homes meet with the staff and their families for fellowship.

Pray that the message is clear and strongly impacts their hearts.”

6 / Pray for the Christmas boxes.

“We hope to have a good number of presents this year to give to the children in need in the Constanta area. We feel privileged to share about God’s salvation plan.”

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

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Prayer Diary

8 / Maca Turner, Serbia: Pray for our town of Sombor and for people to know the real meaning of Christmas.

9 / “Pray for the people who have just started coming to church, for them to continue to come, for their hearts to be touched.”

10 / Today is the last day to place orders from the Essential Gift catalogue to receive the cards before Christmas. Pray for all the partners and projects which will benefit from the items purchased.

11 / Pray for Sombor Christian Fellowship as they reach new people with humanitarian aid. Pray for Zoli Vegel and Maca Turner and the work they do.

12 / Mission Possible Albania (MPA): “Pray that the Alpha Courses with the youth and adults will lead to their salvation.”

13 / “Pray for our Youth Ministry through the Hope Centre, Bathore, that they may understand the aims and purposes of life and may become disciples of the Word.”

14 / “Pray for the children of the Miracle Clubs that the Word of God will become their daily spiritual food and help them in their spiritual growth.”

15 / “Pray for the Roma and Egyptian families, and families who live in extreme poverty, that during the cold months they may experience fewer problems to get warm clothes and homes, and have enough food for their families.”

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25 / Happy Christmas! As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we pray for those who do not yet know Him and we rejoice with our brothers and sisters across Europe.

16 / “Please pray for the ministry of MPA in all its different forms.”

17 / Daniel Stracinski, Montenegro: Praise God for all the new contacts received through summer street evangelism. “Pray for wisdom and God’s leading as we plan home group Bible studies and discipleship with these people.”

26 / Vance Golomeov, Macedonia: “Pray for wisdom and strength each day as I speak to the people who come to the church.”

27 / Pray for the church in Stip.

For the children to learn about Jesus; for the Women’s ministry, for new ideas, vision and wisdom.

18 / “Praise the Lord with us because the Sunday church meetings now have 45–50 people and we plan to register the church at the end of the year.”

28 / Pray for the church in Sveti Nikole, for Ahmed who runs a coffee house outreach with nonbelievers every Wednesday.

19 / “Pray for enough resources as we plan to visit poor families with food. In the winter we again plan a special meeting for parents with autistic children to help them with education and share God’s love and hope.”

29 / “Pray for my mother who is still sick and doesn’t want to eat.

Pray for her salvation and healing.”

30 / Esther Renja, Albania: “Pray for us as we endeavour to work in unity with other evangelical churches in the Berat area to spread the gospel and to make disciples.”

20 / The government is preparing a new law on the freedom of religion. Pray for the new law to be clear and fair, not biased against the Evangelical churches.

21 / Pray for Daniel. His father needs surgery again in Serbia and the church in Bar needs him. “Pray God will help me to organise all this and to find a good balance.”

22 / Milcho Deyanov, Bulgaria: “God is leading us to share his Word among the Muslims. Pray that God helps us train up at least one leader to take over who can then train more leaders.”

23 / “Pray for Bulgaria, for more politicians to be born again and for fairness in the judicial system.”

31 / “Pray for our vision to become a reality for the Roma children in Morave (our village) for us to assist them in their schooling, give them an opportunity to make better choices and the chance for better employment in the future.”

“

“

7 / Pray for the carol singing this month. “Every year our children sing carols at some institutions of the state to the officials. Our desire is that these people will know the light of the gospel.”

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

Oswald Chambers

24 / Pray for all our partners across Europe as they share the Christmas message through concerts, carol singing, special meetings, outreaches and services.

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

PRAYER WARRIORS!

Intercede on the front line for TEN today. Contact the TEN Office now and bring Europe before God in prayer.

0117 9615161 info@transformeuropenow.org

Transforming CountryEurope Snapshots: – OneThen life at and a Now time

Country Snapshots:

Then and Now The countries we work in have seen tremendous change over the last 50 years, even the map of Europe has altered dramatically.

Nine current partners from seven countries share their personal perspective on the main differences between 1965 and now in four areas—economic, political, social and spiritual—and take a look to the future…

Albania

L

employed. However, wages were low and ike many Balkan countries, Albania people merely survived. Behind closed has a long history. Paul even preached doors, Albania was the poorest country there (Illyricum in Romans 15:19). in Europe. Esther Renja shares about One of the darkest times came under her husband, Gjergji’s family: “Gjergji’s Enver Hoxha who aligned the country grandmother would walk 10km to collect with the Soviet Union. In 1967 the free chicken heads and feet from the Albanian Communist Party conducted a violent campaign to eliminate all religion. All churches and other religious buildings were closed or converted into warehouses, gymnasiums, and workshops. By 1968 almost all the clergy had been killed or imprisoned. Catholic clergy, especially, were denounced publicly in courts for being fascist collaborators or western spies. Albania became the first atheistic state in the world.

Enver Hoxha began his reforms—roads, schools, hospitals, factories and his By the end of December 1991 more than 200,000 Albanians were defence system and many were estimated to have left their country since an exodus began in July 1990. +44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org

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Country Snapshots: Then and Now

waste of the butchers and the best soup of the week was accompanied by maize bread, which had to be toasted as it was usually mouldy when it was sold to them.

Grandma would also collect scraps from the cotton factory and sew them together to make everything from underwear to trousers. Shoes were a luxury for Gjergji and most of his childhood he went barefoot. Their house was made from mud bricks and wood, and the floor covering was cow dung. Food was eaten direct from the saucepan as plates were only borrowed when there were visitors. After Gjergji was operated on, when he was a child, the doctor discharged him from the hospital in the middle of the night, so his parents carried him the 10km home in their arms! Such was the norm and because Albania was a closed country no one knew anything different.”

After the death of Hoxha in 1985 and the fall of communism, Albania slowly opened up. When democracy arrived and through television people first glimpsed the standards of living outside Albania— materialism came in, and now is the ‘idol’ of the nation.

In December 1990, the ban on religious observance was officially lifted, just in time for thousands to attend Christmas services for the first time in almost a

quarter of a century. In the last 25 years, the Evangelical church has grown rapidly.

People are enjoying the new freedom to worship and share the gospel. But it is still a young church lacking experienced leaders and workers.

Besa Shapllo sums up the current situation: “Politically, Albania is in the process of solidifying a democratic system that supports free market economy and human rights, while endeavouring to become a full member of the European Union. Economically, it continues to be one of the poorest countries in Europe and is experiencing very slow growth affected by the crisis in Greece and elsewhere. Corruption and apathy have impacted negatively on this growth. There has been little done by the government in the last 20 years to build a new economy structured on the resources that Albania has including mineral ores, renewable energy and tourism. Now in 2015, Albania is experiencing a social crisis related to the lack of social cohesion. Migration and the destruction of social support systems have resulted in a society that is disintegrating because of missing values and morals. Corruption, lack of social order and rule of law are prevalent in all areas. Albanians have now shifted from being atheistic to nominally religious, i.e.

Skanderbeg Square

Town clock and mosque of Et’hem Beu

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Transform europe now / November – December 2015

Country Snapshots: Then and Now

they know what traditional religion they belong to.”

And what of the future? Erion Cuni’s vision is clear: “A third of the population lives in the rural areas where there are no churches. The church must go out to these areas and reach them with the gospel and build community churches, or family churches. This is a hard task for a church

with few workers. Our church has a heart for those areas of Albania. I believe God has called us to do something about that.

Our vision is to plant at least five new home churches in the next five years in these areas and share the gospel with at least 50 villages.”

Based on details provided by Esther Renja, Besa Shapllo and Erion Cuni

TEN partners in Albania: Esther and Gjergji Renja (left), Besa Shapllo (middle), Erion and Gentiana Cuni (right)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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n 1965 Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of former Yugoslavia, a communist country led by President Tito.

Yugoslavia was considered part of the Eastern bloc, actually it was part of the non-aligned movement, and President Tito was ‘dancing’ between East and West. This meant that in Yugoslavia the situation was slightly better than the rest of the Eastern bloc; living standards were a bit higher and any form of religion although strongly discouraged, was not completely forbidden.

Unfortunately, the shift from communism to democracy didn’t go smoothly. After President Tito’s death in 1980 democracy was slowly introduced, but then a terrible war (1992–1995) tore former Yugoslavia apart. In 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent country. In the three years after independence, according

to most recent estimates, more than 100,000 people were killed and over two million people were displaced (from a population of less than four million).

During the war Bosnia and Herzegovina made the transition from a communist, non-religious country to a democracy with nationalistic parties, with growing interest in nominal religion. During the war ethnic cleansing and the displacement of people took place on a huge scale, and today the country is very segregated. The approximate split of citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Bosnian (Muslim) 50%, Serbs (Orthodox) 35% and Croats (Catholic) 15%.

Slavko Hadzic tells us: “As nationalism after the war is pretty strong, people identify their nationality with their religion, which is a big obstacle for the spread of the gospel. The other obstacle is materialism and individualism.

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Country Snapshots: Then and Now

“Bosnia today struggles with a poor economy, a very high unemployment rate (43%)*, and corruption in almost all levels of society. There are many poor people who can hardly meet their daily needs and pensions are small. Two years ago we had terrible floods and after that landslides which affected half the population.

“In the whole country there are less than a thousand Christians. We have actually experienced significant growth in the evangelical churches, in 1965 there were less than 100 believers with a few churches and today we have 700–800 believers with 25–30 churches (includes all evangelical denominations).

“Besides spreading the gospel the churches are trying to help people in practical ways with humanitarian aid.

We want to see many more Christians in Bosnia, so all the churches are active in evangelism, but we also want to see our country advancing in all other aspects.”

Bulgaria

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n Bulgaria 50 years ago every social, political, economic, and spiritual structure was used to unquestioningly serve the communists. The priority was for relations with other countries under similar regimes: Cuba, Vietnam, Russia, China, Poland, Czech Republic, etc.

Heavy industry was a very high priority particularly in Bulgaria. Socially and politically everyone was expected to agree with the Communist ideas.

So what of the Christian Church? Milcho Deyanov tells us: “Every believer became an enemy of the communist party. Why? It is very simple—anyone who did not agree with communism (which included many intelligent people such as writers and

Based on details provided by Slavko Hadzic

TEN partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Slavko Hadzic * Source: www.tradingeconomics.com/bosniaand-herzegovina/unemployment-rate

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Rules of Life for Young Pioneers (cover page)

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

Country Snapshots: Then and Now

engineers) became an enemy against the communists and their rules. In those days if you believed in Christ the communists said you deserved one thing—prison. We thank the Lord, that God gave us strength in those days of persecution. The church was praying for revival and persistence, which we can see the results of now. Gradually the socio-economic situation in the country becomes worse. At the end of 1989 the communist party fell and disappeared. In the 1980s and 1990s the social, political and economic situation was better, even when the crisis came, God did not leave any man or woman who believed in Him.�

After the fall of communism, many foreign Western companies formed new

economic and socio-political links with the country. Today in Bulgaria the evangelical Christians number about 300,000 people (this is unconfirmed), but could be higher.

Based on details provided by Milcho and Beni Deyanov

TEN partners in Bulgaria, Milcho & Beni Deyanov

Communist worker’s presentation

Ceremony at Sofia War Memorial

Bulgarian copper smelting plant

Ivan Vazov National Theatre, Sofia

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Country Snapshots: Then and Now

Moldova

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oldova was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and for half a century was run from the Kremlin. In the late 1980’s in the wake of Gorbachev’s era of ‘openness’ there was a resurgence of nationalism which led to Moldova becoming independent and sovereign in 1991. During the time behind the Iron Curtain Moldovan politicians were just puppets who obeyed every command from Moscow. Today after 24 years of independence, corruption is still evident in the political arena and trust in politicians is very low.

From a social perspective: The Republic of Moldova has a great problem with migration—a quarter of the citizens are abroad in Russia, Canada, USA, Europe and elsewhere. The number of vulnerable families has increased considerably and many inhabitants can’t find work. The best

professionals in medicine, education, etc. are leaving the country looking for better paid jobs. Because of the migration many churches have been left without pastors, worships leaders and missionaries.

From an economic perspective: From 1965 to 1990 Moldova was one of the richest countries in the Soviet Union mainly based on farming and agriculture. People had enough money for food and heating. Today Moldova is the poorest country in Europe.

The economy is dependent on Russia and the European Union; many citizens fear that Moldova faces economic collapse in the near future and experts predict the government may soon not be able to pay even small salaries or pensions.

From a spiritual perspective: Under communism Churches were closed and buildings were confiscated. Pastors and

Montenegro

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ifty years ago, Montenegro was part of former Yugoslavia, a communist country led by President Tito, although, in comparison with the rest of the Eastern bloc, communism within Yugoslavia was much less extreme.

Jovica Bacvanski tells us: “As I was growing up I realized it was safe to live in my country. People were united in their effort to rebuild the country just 20 years after the great destruction of the Second World War. People were poor, but happy.

They were united. Anyone who wanted to work could find a job. Many, who were not satisfied with the opportunities in Tito’s Yugoslavia, could travel to the West to find jobs and a better life.”

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After the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in 1992, Montenegro remained part of a smaller Federal Republic of Yugoslavia along with Serbia then, following a referendum, in 2006 the country finally declared independence.

How are things now? Jovica Bacvanski writes: “People who used to call themselves communists, today call themselves democrats. But they are the same people. We have a saying here: The wolf changes it skin, but it does not change its nature. Economically our country has been destroyed. A few people are rich, while many others struggle for daily bread.

The dream of most young people, who are supposed to be the future of the country, is

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

Country Snapshots: Then and Now

church leaders were persecuted, many of them penalised and despised for their faith.

When Moldova became independent in 1991 there were 11,000 Baptist believers and 130 churches. This has now grown to 20,000 Baptist believers and about 500 churches.

Because of the poverty and desperation, where the Church is involved in meeting people’s needs it has gained much credibility.

Igor Sin tells us: “This is why I believe the church provides a good witness when it is involved in social works, e.g. helping the physical-disabled, giving out food and taking care of children from vulnerable families, helping the trafficked mothers, taking care of old people. Politically, the only solution I see is the need for more Christians to get involved in politics, ones who are consistent, honest and prepared to promote constructive politics. We already have a few Christian

to go to the West. People were more happy in 1965 than today in the 21st century.”

The needs of the country are huge— workers need places to work, new factories and firms, improved working conditions, increased salaries, enough money for daily needs, a better schooling system, less corruption, crime or illegal short cuts in every area of life.

In 1965 there were no evangelical churches or believers. Today there are three registered churches with about 130 believers. There is much to be done.

Jovica’s vision is to have a Training Centre for Christian workers and Home Cell groups in every city in Montenegro to carry the torch through prayer and personal

politicians, but they are just a minority. We believe that God has called us to share the gospel through acts and words, to share the gospel in various ways, and focus on the spiritual maturity of the believers in order to evangelise and plant churches.”

Based on details provided by Igor Sin

TEN partners in Moldova: Igor and Marina Sin

witness. He concludes: “There is a price to be paid, like in every other country where people have already experienced spiritual reformation. People united in prayer who will not receive ‘impossible’ as an answer.”

Based on details provided by Jovica Bacvanski

TEN partners in Montenegro: Jovica & Savka Bacvanski

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Country Snapshots: Then and Now

Romania

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n 1965 Romania was a communist country; theoretically that meant a one-class society. In reality there was the vast majority in a middle class, and a privileged few who were in the upper echelons of leadership. In 2015, as a democracy, there are drastic differences socially with the emergence of the very poor and the very rich.

Being a communist country, there was basically a totalitarian government. The majority of people did not have any say in how the country was run. The press and all media were controlled by the government.

Now, people have a say in government through the elections. Instead of a one-party system, there is a confusing variety of many political parties.

Under communism, religion and churches were discouraged. However, some churches were officially tolerated. But real religious freedom did not exist and the Church was greatly persecuted and some Christians were tortured and killed for their faith. Now, there is religious freedom.

Protestant churches are tolerated, can practice evangelism, and there are many missionaries. There is a strong Muslim presence in the South East.

In 1965, the huge middle class had a moderate standard of living, with jobs, housing and education provided by the state. Workers were paid a living wage and enjoyed stable employment. Now, jobs are hard to find and there are very poor and very rich classes as well as the middle class.

With prices drastically increased due to inflation—a typical net salary the equivalent of £200 to £400 per month—it would be difficult to state that the standard of living now is higher than that of the 1960s.

What are the current needs? Daniel Mercado tells us: “For a people that model 24

PRR provides support for disadvantaged young people

and live by high moral standards, ethics, honesty and respect for life, giving up abortion; for a government that is effective, honest and not corrupt, that models and promotes high moral standards and continues to guarantee religious freedom; for a return to God and His principles on the part of the people—for revival; and for sufficient jobs for the working population that will pay a living wage.

“Project Romanian Rescue (PRR) aims to help the disadvantaged young people we work with, our primary objective being that they come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, live for Him and grow in Him. Our secondary objective is to support a healthy development in all areas of their lives. We do not preach the doctrine of any particular church, but strive to preach Jesus Christ through actions and day to day life through which our young people can see and accept a living gospel.”

Based on details provided by Daniel Mercado (PRR)

TEN partners in Romania: Project Romanian Rescue

Transform europe now / November – December 2015

Country Snapshots: Then and Now

Russia

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n 1965 the economic situation in the USSR was stable! Industry was highly developed, there were lots of plants, factories and other industrial enterprises.

The Soviet Union was the first country in space. But there was a shortage of food and goods in the shops, salaries were small, most families lived from salary to salary and high-quality goods were in short supply. There was no possibility to travel abroad. Now industry is at a lower level and many goods and products are imported from abroad. The shops are full of everything that people could only have dreamed of before.

The social policy back then was good.

The health protection, education, system of children’s sports schools and summer camps were very good, free and open (at least in the big cities). The people had ‘confidence in the future’ at least in social terms. Unfortunately between 1990 and 2010 the former social structures have been destroyed and many families are socially unprotected. Now it appears the Government is starting to change the situation.

Fifty years ago the Communist party was the only political party and had unlimited power. There was no democracy, political freedom or human rights. After perestroika freedom came and for a period there was a kind of democracy; the main achievement being the collapse of the communist regime. Many different parties were founded and people got real voting rights. The people got religious freedom and an opportunity to proclaim the gospel.

Unfortunately during recent years it seems we are coming full circle as now the power is again concentrated in one party.

What about the differences spiritually?

Galina Dzhuzenova tells us: “During the

Baptisms of ice in Russia!

communist period there was no religious freedom and there were persecutions.

Many Christians were imprisoned for their faith in Christ and some were killed. There were churches, some underground, some official, and of course there was spiritual life. ‘The Spirit blows where it wishes’.

But it was hidden. Praise the Lord now we have religious freedom and we have the possibility to tell people about Jesus and help them in the name of Christ. But during the last years, unfortunately step by step, the religious freedom as well as human rights and political freedom have become more limited. Now there is one main church in the country—the Russian Orthodox church, so any other churches, and their rights are different.”

Galina summarises the main changes: “The State system changed, socialism was replaced with a market economy and private property; the introduction of democracy, political freedom and human rights, voting rights, religious freedom; the Iron Curtain fell, the Cold War finished, people got the opportunity to travel all over the world; now food products and goods are no longer in short supply.”

Based on details provided by Galina Dzhuzenova (Compassion Ministry)

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Church Partnerships – An inside look

gifts with a value, not just a price This Christmas, help transform a life by buying an Essential Gift.

Our latest Essential Gifts catalogue is packed with gift ideas identified by our national partners as gifts that will make a lasting difference in their local communities.

For more information call us on 0117 961 5161 or visit www.transformeuropenow.org

Refugee Crisis

Refugee Crisis: How TEN is responding Syrian refugees in Serbia waiting in line for food.

2015 has seen a huge influx of refugees from the Middle East into Europe. Syrians form the majority of those desperate for a new life but also includes thousands of Pakistanis, Afghans, Eritreans, Somalis, and others.

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ur partners in Serbia and Macedonia on the Western Balkan route have been providing food, water and other essential items for the refugees as a practical demonstration of the love of God. Nesa Radeka, Novi Sad Nexus, summed it up when he said, “We can’t help them all, but we will help all we can.”

The following amazing testimony was shared with us by Dragan Manev: “One brother, serving in Skopje, shared with me about one group of refugees who said that they knew about Jesus. The brother asked the refugees, ‘How is that possible?’ They replied that they had a miraculous experience when they were on the open sea with their boat. The motor of the boat stopped working and all the group of refugees were in great danger. But one of the refugees had a dream the night before about Jesus (that Jesus has power).

That guy said to the rest of the refugees that they all can try with the name of Jesus (to ask help from Him in that moment of

trouble for all of them in the boat, because they cannot start the motor of the boat).

This guy said to them about his dream and that Jesus has power. So, they called on the name of Jesus and try to start the motor of the boat. The miracle happened. The motor worked and they continued to travel with the boat. This testimony was shared from that group of people in the south of Macedonia to our brother.”

For up-to-date information visit: www.transformeuropenow.org

Afghan family given food clothing and encouragement by Christians in Gevgelia, Macedonia.

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After 50 years ten is still responding

– will you help? – 50 years ago Christians in the UK heard about the plight of believers and their neighbours in Europe. They decided to do something about it and since then the movement, now known as Transform Europe Now (TEN), has responded to many crisis across Europe through the financial support of those who desire to see lives transformed.

– £50 for 50 years – The current crisis of refugees and human trafficking presents a huge opportunity for our partners in Europe to respond with the love of Christ.

Stand with us to help transform lives by giving to our £50 For 50 Years appeal. This support will go to where it is most needed so our partners can reach out to those desparately in need of God’s love. If not £50 then please give what you can.

Donations can be made at www.transformeuropenow.org/give or by using the form below. Thank you for your support.

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Please complete and return this form to: Transform Europe Now, 1 Holdenhurst Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1HL

TEN50-NOV15

I am a UK taxpayer and want Eurovangelism to reclaim tax on all my donations in the past four years and until further notice, meaning an extra 25p for the charity for every £1 I give. I understand that I must pay UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that will be claimed by all my donations to charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs in each tax period. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I will advise Transform Europe Now if I become a non-taxpayer. I will also advise Transform Europe Now if I change my address.