Magazine January – March 2017
www.transformeuropenow.org
passion for
Church Planting A special look at inspirational initiatives in Eastern Europe
What’s going on in Albania? BREXIT Challenge Prayer Diary
Church Planting In our first quarterly magazine for 2017 we are delighted to share some of the inspirational church-planting initiatives taking place in Europe, with reports from Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Moldova and Romania.
Agape Church, Sinoe, Romania
What is clear is that the number of churches is growing and some partners are reaping a great harvest, while others continue to sow the seeds of the gospel and nurture churches in difficult terrain. You’ll find that the TEN Magazine Prayer Diary is again packed full of specific requests from our partners with many needs arising from the vision of church-planting. We are immensely grateful for every individual and local church who will join with us in these daily prayers. Of special interest is the development of the International School of Theology and Leadership (ISTL) based in Tirana, Albania. We report on the significant growth of ISTL in terms of students, curriculum, and the exciting plans to establish
campuses in other Balkan nations. We consider the training and equipping of new leaders to be imperative in order to accelerate church-planting programmes. We are hugely grateful to several of our supporters who have already taken the opportunity to help finance individual ISTL students. You will be encouraged to hear about the passion for church-planting among so many of our partners. This was beautifully illustrated during the summer when two partners in Macedonia joined forces for a month to reach out to a nearby town without any evangelical church. As the gospel was shared on the streets and in people’s homes there was a positive response. New believers were baptised and are now part of a new local fellowship group with the ongoing support of our partners.
Welcome
H
appy New Year to you. May the coming year be filled with great joy and rich blessing, and may you and your family experience the overwhelming love and grace of God. Thank you so much for your faithfulness in prayer and generosity during 2016. Because of you we can continue to partner in the gospel with so many wonderful and committed friends across Europe. With the New Year comes the challenge of uncertain times across Europe; negotiating Brexit, elections in different nations, the continued flow of refugees and migrants, human trafficking, poverty, extremism and violence. These are indeed difficult days, but history tells us that God often brings His greatest blessings in testing times. That’s why the prophets of the Old Testament urged the people not to forget the ‘former days’. However, through the prophet Isaiah, God changes the focus saying “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands”, (Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message). As we enter 2017, even though we face challenging times, we can be expectant and excited as we see the ‘new thing’ God is going to do. Join us and our partners in prayer for Europe, being full of faith, as we watch and see transformational, Kingdom communities, fit for the King of Kings, being built across Europe. Have a happy and blessed New Year.
Contents Church Planting In...
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Albania
What’s going on in...
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Albania
60 Seconds with...
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Chilli
Church Planting In...
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Bulgaria
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You and Europe Prayer diary
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January – March 2017
People Update
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Bob Northey & Peter Wooding
Church Planting In...
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Moldova
Church Planting In...
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Romania
Church Planting In...
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Macedonia
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PS. You will notice the prayer diary in this magazine is for three months. This year we will be publishing a 24-page magazine every three months, rather than two, with more stories and extra features. I hope you will enjoy and be inspired by our fresh approach for 2017.
Mission Possible Albania
Brexit Challenge
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Can you help?
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Gerry Partridge CEO Transform Europe Now
Camp of the Champions
A closet Christian?
Prayer intercessors needed!
Reap the rewards Step out in faith
TEN_Today
transformeuropenow
Transform Europe Now 1 Holdenhurst Road, Kingswood Bristol BS15 1HL
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. Cover photo: New believers are baptised
Transforming Europe – CHURCH PLANTING
Church Planting in...
Albania
As a young boy, Erion Çuni became one of the first believers in his home town of Poliçan and quickly developed a passion for reaching the lost. When Erion and his wife Gentiana moved to Tirana’s suburb of Unaza e Re, he planted the Life in Christ Evangelical Church; which today has 35 members.
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asking God, ‘What do you want us to do in the next five years?’ the Lord spoke clearly to all of us: ‘Make disciples that will make disciples’. “The Lord challenged us to dream even bigger, so we started to make an inventory of what we already had. Today we have two churches, one small group, one children’s ministry and a prayer group. The vision we received is that in the next five years to have: 13 new churches, 130 small groups, 150 leaders, 30 children’s ministries. “Our first step was to enrol all church members into small groups. We would introduce one study course but offer different levels to match each person’s
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As a result of prayer, we took the opportunity in November to plant our third church in that area, especially for the drug addicts and their families.
Transform Europe now / November – December 2016
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O
n the outskirts of Albania’s capital lies the district of Unaza e Re, a diverse community and home to many migrants, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses and agnostics. There is widespread unemployment and poverty throughout this neighbourhood and here church members share the love of Jesus, and as living witnesses they help the needy and care for the lonely. Their dream is that the church will become a place of hope, love and care, a door that is always open for those who are lost and seeking God. In March 2016 Life in Christ Evangelical Church sent eight of its best people to start a new church plant in a neighbouring area. Within months the ministry has grown and already has established a children’s ministry and there are several new couples who now meet together in small groups to study the Word of God. But the Lord has given Erion and his wife a greater dream. Erion explains “When the church leaders met together and started praying and
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Transforming Europe – Church Planting
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They are meeting together and going out into the villages to preach the Word of God. They want to see the Kingdom grow.
maturity in Christ. And so we started the process and it proved to be amazing! Immediately we had 10 small groups. During recent months we have seen a great impact on the people. The men and women in the church are alive and full of desire to serve, they are meeting together and going out into the villages to preach the Word of God. They want to see the Kingdom grow. “The small groups soon grew from 10 to 14 and a second children’s ministry was commenced. Because of the ministry with drug addicts, there were people coming from another part of Tirana; which required two bus journeys to get to church. So during the summer we started small groups there. As a result of prayer, we took the opportunity in November to plant our third church in that area, especially for the drug addicts and their families. “Our strategy is all about discipleship through action. We encourage church members to offer friendship, to invite others to church and to feed spiritually the people they bring to church. Every member must be active and responsible for the people that they invite to church and encourage them to join a small group. For those who want to lead, we partner
with the International School of Theology and Leadership in Tirana; which has evening teaching sessions to prepare and equip the future leaders of new churches. “We are sure that the work in the villages and small towns will give us more opportunities for church planting because there has been little or no evangelistic work there for many years. In many of these places the lack of employment has resulted in people leaving, and sadly churches have had to close down. However we often find there are still believers left alone without leaders and with no vision. My own home town of Poliçan is one such place where several men from our church are travelling every week to meet with believers for encouragement and hopes of re-opening the church. “We know this is a difficult task and a big dream—but not impossible! We have seen in the past months, and understand every new day, that the vision is possible. Possible because it is God’s will that people get saved, churches are born and His Kingdom grows. Albania is difficult soil but nothing is impossible for God, His love for the lost and those in the darkness is greater than any challenge or obstacle, whether religious or cultural.”
Erion church planting in Albania
Baptism in Albania
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What’s going on in...
...Albania
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n Albania’s post-communist era of religious freedom, the Christian church has positively thrived during the last two decades. It is estimated there are more than 30,000 believers in the country with the growing number of evangelical churches now exceeding 250. With a total population of three million, 62% are mostly nominal Muslim and 30% are of Christian denominations, including the Orthodox and Catholic churches. TEN currently supports the work of three partners in Albania: Erion and Gentiana Cuni, Hervin and Sedika Fushekati in Tirana and the organisation, Mission Possible Albania. Each partner is working towards the recovery from dictatorship and persecution as they serve the poor, share the love of Jesus and build God’s Kingdom. Erion pastors the Life in Christ Evangelical Church that he planted in Unaza e Re. His dream is that “the church will become a place of hope, love and care, and a door that is always open 6
for those that are lost and seeking God”.
Erion and Gentiana Cuni
Hervin and Sedika Fushekati share a passion for discipleship, church planting and leadership training. They lead Tirana Church of God and have established more than 17 church plants to date. Hervin is the national Alpha coordinator and also heads up the International School of Theology and Leadership (ISTL) which enrolled 70 students during 2016. A few of the ISTL students are being supported while they are doing their training. We would like to support more students.
Hervin and Sedika Fushekati
Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
Mission Possible Albania, led by Besa Shapllo, run the Hope Centre and programmes for up to 500 residents of the poverty-stricken shanty town of Bathore situated on the outskirts of the capital. These range from humanitarian need, education, social care, summer camps as well as publishing the popular Christian children’s magazine Miracle.
Mission Possible Albania
The great need is to train up new leaders able to take responsibility for the scores of new churches being planted. If your church is interested in becoming a partner with a church in Albania we’d love to hear from you, email melanie. griffiths@ten-uk.org
60 Seconds with...
60 Seconds with… James (Chilli) Chilcott Tell us about yourself I’ve had a varied and interesting working life, but in 2010 I began working for a regional accounting firm with expertise in charity accounts. Whilst working there I gained experience of accounting and the governance issues faced by charities, and I developed a love for the sector. As a committed Christian, I also enjoyed the opportunity this gave me to work with and support a variety of Christian organisations, one of which happened to be TEN. How did you first hear about TEN? I was first aware of the work of TEN through David Roderick, whilst worshipping at the same fellowship in Bristol. We were also part of the fellowship group that supported one of the Moldovan pastors. Joining the staff team at TEN as Finance Officer, after being part of the external accounting team that audited TEN, was an exciting opportunity. Which area of TEN’s mission are you most passionate about? Hearing the many exciting testimonies from TEN’s partners is always a highlight. A recent story that stands out, is when a pastor in Moldova felt led by God to contact a brother who had stopped attending church. The brother had fallen into drinking heavily to cover the unforgiveness and bitterness he felt. After talking the issues through, the brother was reconciled at church and with his motherin-law. An obedient pastor, listening to the
Holy Spirit, sharing the love of God and bringing reconciliation—powerful. What’s so special about TEN? For me it’s the prayerful and generous UK supporters and our European partners who sacrificially serve their communities, displaying the goodness of God with a message of hope and reconciliation. I think God’s ability to multiply our ‘loaves and fishes’ is an awe-inspiring miracle and to see this principle worked out through the vision of TEN, to meet the needs of the poorest parts of the church in Europe, engenders great hope for the future.
James (Chilli) Chilcott, TEN Finance Manager
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Transforming Europe – Church Planting
Bitesize bits... Reaching FRANK Why are people in Moldova talking about FRANK? Well it’s a memorable acronym for special church outreaches taking place in Moldova where every member is asked to name and pray for their Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbours and Kids. Please pray for FRANK.
Whistle-stop International School for Theology and Leadership Starting in Tirana, Albania the International School for Theology and Leadership (ISTL) is gathering pace with 70 students enrolled in 2016.
Church planting in...
Bulgaria Nikola and Daniela Atanasov
In 1999, Nikola Atanasov, along with his to-be wife Daniela, found their lives transformed by the gospel. Three years later, Nikola and his wife discovered that a church was going to close in nearby Shishmantsi. Without thinking, Nikola and Daniela found themselves volunteering their services not really knowing what was to be expected of them. Upon their arrival they were provided a room without electricity, and a group of people who could not agree with one another. So their ministry began. The church in Shishmantsi had about ten people, mostly Roma gypsies. Most of the gypsies were illiterate and some had never heard about who Jesus was and what He had done. Nikola explains “Initially we wanted to give up this church, but God had a different plan. We began to love these people with all of our hearts and serving them became a priority to us”. From that moment on, God placed a desire and passion for the Nikola and Daniela to reach out to the Roma people. Their ministry soon expanded to the village of Yasno Pole, where
This includes several church planters, and there are exciting plans to double the curriculum for 2017. ISTL may also soon be heading into other Balkan countries, such is the appetite to see the kingdom of God established.
Church meets in a caravan at Yasno Pole, Bulgaria
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Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
Transforming Europe – Church Planting
the only church was left without a pastor. Nikola and Daniela began to visit the members of that church, which consisted of around six women who met together in a caravan. Over the years their love for the churches grew and there were further changes in their ministry, including another church plant in the town of Saedinenie. Nikola continues “In 2012, we heard there were Christians in Tsarimir, but no one took care of them. We decided to visit them and minister to them once a week. One of the ladies from the church opened her home for the services, and whenever there is a feast or a celebration, the congregation gather together openly in the street. No one has ever paid us in order to do it, nor have we searched for some kind of remuneration. Our price is this—we are allowed and free to serve this way”. Nikola’s ministry often means he stands in for the main pastor and is responsible for some of the other local churches. Daniela’s ministry is with the children and working alongside Nikola, occasionally preaching but also helping to lead the young people’s group in Shishmantsi. Daniela’s parents also play a key role as they help out and preach every Sunday in the village of Yasno Pole, whilst also looking after their grandchildren and the children from the church in Shishmantsi. Her parents also clean homes and business offices to help with financial support for the Atanasov family. “This year we have welcomed Bulgarian nationals to our church services; we thank God for the honour we have to serve His children. In January, we plan to hold a Christmas feast and party in Shishmantsi village library so that all the people from the village would come—believers and non-believers, Bulgarians, Roma, rich and poor. We also want to pay special attention to the poorest children of the village—those who don’t have shoes and warm clothing. We thank God and TEN for the support you give us both spiritual and material. Without your support we would not be able to do what we do and what we want to do. God bless you.”
What’s the buzz in Bosnia? Creating employment in rural areas of Eastern Europe is always a challenge, but the new vision in Bosnia is to encourage bee-keeping to produce supplies of honey. Selling the honey means jobs and income to support the work of the local churches. UK Christians are helping to sponsor the bee hives through TEN’s Essential Gifts: www. transformeuropenow.org/ product/bee-keeping/
Starting with Alpha The Alpha evangelistic course has introduced thousands of people across Europe to the basics of the Christian faith through a series of talks and discussions translated into local languages. Alpha is regularly used in Macedonia, Moldova, and in Novi Sad, Serbia the church also uses Youth Alpha.
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You and Europe
Transform Europe Now works across 15 European countries with around 70 Partners, so if you or your church wishes to make a difference in Europe you don’t have to go it alone. Church partnerships, short-term teams, special church services, volunteering, targeted prayer and financial support—there’s something for everyone! Countries we operate in include:
Our prayer for Europe: Heavenly Father, We thank you so much for the gift of your precious Son. As we remember His coming this Christmas, we demonstrate your love for the world by making a difference to the lives of others. Please help the TEN partners as they reach out to the poor and bring gifts of
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comfort, joy and goodwill to meet their needs. We thank you for the generosity of those who are able to support the TEN WinterHelp Appeal and pray that many throughout Europe will respond to the proclamation of good news. Amen
Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
Prayer Diary
Prayer Diary
January – March 2017 January 2017 1 / Erion and Gentiana Çuni, Albania: “Pray the for the growth of new people reached in Unaza e Re, Albania, resulting from the Christmas activities.” 2 / Dragan Manev, Macedonia: “Pray for our Christmas outreach in January and especially the puppet show team.” 3 / Nives Pavic, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Pray for The Greatest Journey, a twelve-week programme to follow-up the children who received Christmas Shoe boxes in Tulza, Bosnia.” 4 / Dario Kapin, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Please pray that our bees will survive winter time and that we will be helped to strengthen our bee colonies and produce more honey.” 5 / Vladimir Cizmanski, Montenegro: “Please pray for the challenges faced in January during the distribution in Podgorica of Christmas Shoe boxes provided by Samaritan’s Purse.” 6 / Galina Dzhuzenova, Compassion Ministry, Russia: “Pray for the Puppet Theatre as they visit many state institutions for children with Christmas performances during January.” 7 / Please, pray for disabled children in the Rainbow Association as we visit them with a concert and bring food parcels.”
8 / “Please, pray for our Sister of Mercy, Nadezhda Ipatova, who is 80 years old and now has a diagnosis of cancer. She visited Kashenko hospital for 25 years.” 9 / Tefik Musoski, Macedonia: “Please pray for our five Christmas events planned for January that we might know God’s guidance, wisdom and willing helpers.” 10 / “Urgent prayer for Ayhan in Macedonia who for almost a year has struggled with a tumor in his trachea. He needs a miracle of healing.” 11 / Erion and Gentiana Çuni, Albania: “Pray for people in the church that will take the responsibility to help lead small groups in Unaza e Re, Albania.” 12 / Vance Golomeov, Macedonia: “Pray for the distribution of Christmas parcels in January to the children who attend the church in Stip.” 13 / Dusan Beredi, Serbia: “Pray for Alpha course that will start in the New Year after the Christmas season and that people will accept the message of Christ. Also pray that those who have finished Alpha will continue to grow in Christ.” 14 / “Pray for us as we go out into the city centre of Novi Sad, Serbia to sing songs about the birth of Jesus of the city.” 15 / Benjamin Martin, Evangelismo En Action: “Pray for our follow-up of the recent
evangelistic efforts; 10 Christmas Musical plays during December in several cities in the province of Malaga.” 16 / Maca Turner, Serbia: “Pray about the follow-up of Christmas events and God’s work on the hearts of those who were reached.” 17 / Erion and Gentiana Çuni, Albania: “Pray for the financial provision to help pay for the rent for the new church plants and the support of church planters.” 18 / “Pray for Erion and Gentiana Çuni and their family in Albania to be strengthened and protected as new churches are planted.” 19 / Dragan Manev, Macedonia: “Pray for building renovation for the small Roma church in Veles in Macedonia.” 20 / “Pray for new church plant ministry in Resen, Macedonia that was started in 2016 and for finance to help pay the rent of the building.” 21 / “Pray for the Christian women’s organization, ANA that rent our room in Veles, Macedonia for discipleship training.” 22 / Roumen Ivanov, Mission Possible Bulgaria: “Prayer for the 200 Roma children who are given soup every week from Monday to Friday in Rozino, Slatina, Pevtsite and Ihtimar. Pray that they would receive Jesus Christ for their personal Saviour to change their destiny from becoming beggars, prostitutes and thieves.”
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Prayer Diary
Erion & family Albania
Dragan & Biljana Macedonia
Dario
Bosnia
Vladimir & Marljana
Montenegro
23 / “Pray for the women’s conference in January; over 250 Bulgarians will gather under the slogan ‘Loved by the King’. These women need encouragement as most are alone and carry a heavy burden of spiritual and physical survival of their families.” 24 / Dario Kapin, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Please, pray that we will be able to keep renting our church building until Spring as the owner wishes to sell it.” 25 / “Pray for a good place to store our honey and to obtain a license to export the produce from Bosnia & Herzegovina.” 26 / Nives Pavic, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Please pray for the pastor of Evangelical Church Tuzla awaiting surgery to fix his brain aneurysm.” 27 / “Please pray that up to five families with soft hearts for the truth and easy building of trust and friendship will enrol for the Mission Without Borders programme aimed at addressing poverty in the community.” 28 / “Pray for the leaders of the Royal Rangers (Christian Scouts) ministry in Evangelical Church Tuzla and for the many children from non-Christian backgrounds who attend.” 29 / “Pray for the ministry among the Roma people. Please pray for the children of the villages of Zivinice and Kiseljak as they listen to the Word.”
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Galina
Compassion Ministry, Russia
30 / Vladimir Cizmanski, Montenegro: “Please pray for financial provision for our church building project. We have already raised a third of our target and are almost ready to buy the land.” 31 / “Pray for former drug addicts who attend our church in Montenegro, some still struggle for freedom and perseverance after their time in the Christian rehabilitation centre.”
February 2017 1 / “Please pray for breakthrough for the daily distribution of gospel tracts, which shows little sign of response.” 2 / Vladimir Ubeivolc, Moldova: “Please pray that Moldovans will find answers to the political and economic crisis, which motivate so many people to emigrate.” 3 / “Pray for Christians in Moldova, and especially for church leaders to remain faithful to their calling.” 4 / “Pray that God will give wisdom to the staff team of Beginning of Life in Moldova during these hard days.” 5 / Galina Dzhuzenova, Compassion Ministry, Russia: “Continue to pray for a change in the law restricting evangelism on the streets and in people’s homes. Pray for freedom in Russia!”
Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
Tefik & Anita Macedonia
Vance & Tanja Macedonia
Dusan Beredi & Family Serbia
6 / Dragan Manev, Macedonia: “Pray for the Bible study meetings with nonbelievers that we have already started in two Moscow churches.” 7 / Vance Golomeov, Macedonia: “Pray for the Christmas outreach at the drug rehabilitation centre and for the ongoing ministry across Macedonia.” 8 / “Please pray that God would enable us to plant a new church in the city of Radovis, Macedonia.” 9 / “Pray for the new generation of teenagers, including Ivan P, Ivan R and Daniel P, who meet at the church in Stip every Saturday.” 10 / Valeriu Munteanu, Moldova: “Please pray for the work with the children, especially those who have received the Lord into their hearts, and for the Sunday School teachers in Moldova.” 11 / “Pray for all those in Moldova who have responded to the gospel but who face opposition from their families, and help them to grow in the Word and to be set free from Orthodoxy.” 12 / “Pray for the families in Moldova being reached with the gospel that they will open themselves to more of the Word.” 13 / Vladimir Ubeivolc, Moldova: “Pray against corruption in the government of Moldova, that is causing many people to leave the country having lost hope that the situation can be changed.”
Prayer Diary
Benjamin Spain
Maca
Serbia
Roumen Bulgaria
14 / “Pray for the new generation of Christian leaders in Moldova who have more optimism, that they will promote mission in their churches and communities.” 15 / “Pray for the teenagers and young people helped by Beginning of Life Moldova, that God will open their hearts and their lives will be changed.” 16 / “Pray for the financial sustainability of Beginning of Life in Moldova and for faithful partners and donors.” 17 / “Pray for spiritual growth among the staff and volunteers of Beginning of Life and progress on projects and transformation.” 18 / Dusan Beredi, Serbia: “Pray for the growth of the Alpha course across the Balkans as we promote new video materials and develop Youth Alpha. Pray for the work of translation and for finances to subsidise Alpha conferences.” 19 / “Pray for our Rainbow Rehab Centre in Novi Sad and for the men and women that are quitting heroin. Pray for their successful rehabilitation and that they would know Christ as their Saviour.” 20 / Jovica Bacvanski, Montenegro: “Please pray for the finance and workers to replace the roof of our church building in Podgorica.” 21 / “Pray for the salvation of the teenagers and young adults who attended our first-ever summer
Vladimir Moldova
Angela & Valeriu Moldova
Savka & Jovica Montenegro
camp last year. We know that young people always bring new life to the church.” 22 / “Pray for the families of the church in Podgorica, that the Lord would help us to take them all to a retreat to build unity.” 23 / “Please pray for us as the Bacvanski family. We are practically alone. We need godly people around to support us. The Lord can bring them from somewhere or they can be raised up among us.” 24 / “Pray for our new converts as they prepare to be baptized. Please pray for their safety at home because the evangelicals in Montenegro are considered as a sect.” 25 / “Pray for the preparations for IMPACT Montenegro that will take place in July 2017. Over 150 young people will join us for the seven days of outreach across the towns of Podgorica, Bar, Kotor and Niksic.” 26 / Zoltan Vegel, Sombor: “Pray that God would raise up leaders and other key people here in Sombor, Serbia. Specifically pray for Veljko & Mirjana, Luka, Dunja.” 27 / “Pray that Christians will find opportunities to enter the ‘marketplace’ in Sombor to exert influence on society and raise awareness of our existence, values and faith.”
Tanja & Zoli Serbia
Marsel
Albania
28 / Plamen Borisov, Bulgaria: “Please pray for God to stop the aggression of the man who damaged part of our building; may he find Christ.”
March 2017 1 / “Pray that we could afford to rent a large hall in Sevlievo, Bulgaria to gather as a church and hold evangelistic services .” 2 / Benjamin Martin, Evangelismo En Action: “Pray for meetings with politicians and town mayors of several towns as we organize the activities of the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.” 3 / “Pray as we plan the Easter Week camps arranged for April Please pray for the Annual Open Air evangelistic worship service to be held in front of the Town Hall of Malaga.” 4 / Maca Turner, Serbia: “Please pray that the good news of Jesus may reach the people of Sombor, especially those afflicted by depression, superstition, drug and alcohol addiction and unemployment.” 5 / Jovica Bacvanski, Montenegro: “Pray for the 21st Church Anniversary Weekend in Podgorica.” 6 / “Pray for the witness of children that they would be used by God to influence their parents to come to church events.”
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Prayer Diary
7 / Nives Pavic, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Pray for our church outreach event in Tuzla on 8th March, for International Women’s day.” 8 / Galina Dzhuzenova, Russia: “Pray for our celebration on International Women’s Day, 8th March with the Sisters of Mercy, widows and needy elderly women to support them spiritually and give them presents.” 9 / Marsel Firanj, Albania: “Please pray for the new Bible study groups in Korce, Albania for families who do not know Christ and that God will open their hearts to His Word and turn to Jesus.” 10 / “Please pray for financial provision to support the work in Korce, Albania and contributions towards the rent for the church building.” 11 / “Pray that strong disciples will be built up through the word of God and willing to be sent out to share God’s light in Korce, Albania and surrounding nations.” 12 / “Pray for our city Korce because there are many Muslims who have been touched by God in their hearts and they understand that Jesus is the way the truth and the life.” 13 / “Please pray for a great revival to happen in our church and our city of Korce in Albania. Pray that God will pour His anointing upon us and see miracles happen as the times of Jesus.” 14 / Erion and Gentiana Çuni, Albania: “Pray for wisdom among the men from the church in Unazae Re, Albania who are visiting villages and old contacts to share the gospel
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and encourage abandoned believers in small towns to restart meetings.” 15 / Tefik Musoski, Macedonia: “Please pray for our pastoral visits that we would see spiritual growth from spending time in people’s homes.” 16 / Marinela Murg, Romania: “Pray for wisdom and guidance for the architect and project manager involved in restructuring of the hospice in Oradea due to the proposed tram line.” 17 / “Pray for the financial support and investors needed to run Emanuel Hospice in Oradea, Romania and that the budgets and grant applications may be completed with God’s guidance.” 18 / “Pray for an extension of the site by adding a plot of adjacent land promised to Emanuel Hospice by officials from the City Hall, Oradea.” 19 / Daniel Stracinski, Montenegro: “Please pray for wisdom, spiritual growth and perseverance for all the new believers following the summer outreaches in Montenegro.” 20 / “Pray for new leaders to be raised up within the churches in Montenegro and that they will be open to God and equipped to reach the next generation.” 21 / “Pray that the different churches and mission organisations in Montenegro will work together and be recognised by the government.” 22 / “Pray that the church in Bar, Montenegro would find larger premises to meet the needs.” 23 / Marian Serban, PRR, Romania: “Pray for the children
Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
in our homes, Casa Benjamin and Casa Anna, in Romania, to know salvation and have a closer relationship with God, as they attend church regularly and have weekly Bible studies.” 24 / “Please pray for the street outreaches in Constanta, Romania. Our desire is to offer the gospel to the people living on the streets, to assist them with practical help and assist them into accommodation.” 25 / “Pray for coordination with activities at our day centre in Constanta city, and that new cases that will be referred to us.” 26 / “Pray for financial stability and for the expansion of our base of supporters to generate regular monthly income.” 27 / “Pray that the staff of Project Romanian Rescue will be strengthened and given wisdom for their work especially where the activity is 24/7.” 28 / “Pray that our after school activities with the children in Murfatlar will be increased from two days to five days a week.” 29 / Milena Vulkanova, Bulgaria: “Pray that the church in Elhovo will be able to run summer camps in 2017 for the local children.” 30 / “Please pray for the women in our churches and that they will be able to run a conference for women in our area and offer transportation and food.” 31 / Benjamin Martin, Evangelismo En Action: “Pray for pioneer workers establishing new works in the small cities of Ardales, Casarabonela and area of Velez-Málaga.”
Team News
People update During 2016 we enjoyed a settled year regarding staff; it was so encouraging to watch the team working together and supporting each other. Near the end of the year however, we had to make a slight adjustment in staffing, but great news—the people are the still the same.
Welcome to Bob Northey Bob has been working for TEN as a contractor for almost a year and focused on our on-line communication; his expertise is based on a strong background in digital marketing. I am delighted to announce as of 10 October, Bob joined the TEN staff as Communications Officer. Bob demonstrated while working as a contractor his passion for the work of TEN. Very soon after being involved he also volunteered to serve as an Ambassador. He has a heart for the most vulnerable and for mission and is keen to help in all areas of TEN’s work. I am so pleased to be able to welcome Bob to the team and I’m sure
A changing role for Peter Wooding Firstly, I want to thank Pete for the brilliant work he has done for TEN since he joined us in 2015. Over the last year, you will have all been inspired by Pete’s journalistic writing and communication skills. Sadly, Pete has found his long-distance commute from North Wales a strain. He has also a desire to go back to freelance work rather than being on staff. So, he has reverted to doing freelance work for Christian organisations as well as TEN. We hope to be able to use some
he will be a real asset to TEN. Please pray for Bob as he takes on his increased responsibilities as Communications Officer. Pray he will be able to manage the many aspects of his work and effectively share, through the different media, the work of our incredible partners across Europe.
of Pete’s expertise going forward as Communications Support. Pete is married to Sharon and they have three lovely daughters. Please pray for him and his family as he adapts to his freelance work and pray his venture is successful.
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
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Transforming Europe – Church Planting
Church planting in...
Moldova Lucian and Svetlana Tabac
“My name’s Lucian Tabac and with my wife, Svetlana we have served the Lord for many years. The work started in our village through a children’s ministry and Bible study we organised for family and friends. During the years, we have organized different recreational camps for children, teenagers and families. “God has blessed us with a plot of land in the centre of the village, near the Mayor’s Office where we built a building for our church; which is growing gradually. We thank God for this grace because we can use the building and the land for different activities for the gospel ministry. “We have organized meetings for different groups of people: women, men, disabled and elderly people. We also organized the Alpha Course for 20 married couples and we have run many outreach missions. We have prayer nights and hold seminars for spiritual growth, and learn to study the Bible through the inductive method. “At the moment children from our village meet for Tomorrow Club and the teenagers attend the youth club. A group of women meet to study the book ‘Women from Yesterday’ and each Thursday we have a Bible study for men. My wife is responsible for the women’s ministry in our church and I am responsible for the whole church and I also run the Bible study for the brothers in our church. I continue to organize personal Bible studies with our friends and relatives. I thank God for those who are willing to 16
study the Bible for all ten sessions. “Next year we hope to have more new believers who will witness their faith in the water of baptism. We also want to organize camps for children and teenagers. At the end of each summer we organize a camp for families. I want very much for many more church members to have the vision to making disciples in order to teach them God’s Word. “One of the challenges we have in planting a church is people’s indifference to God’s Word. And also their need to work in other places to support their families and ministries. Another challenge is that the church is young and small, many of them are students and this is why, when we need to do some extra work we have to ask for help from the outside. Even so, we thank God for everything He does for our church and family.”
Lucian Tabac, Moldova
Transform Europe now / January – March 2016 2017
Transforming Europe – Church Planting
Andrei and Eugenie Ghedeon, Burlacu “Our Church in Burlacu, Moldova is a young church that was founded in 1991 after the fall of communism. The Christians in our village purchased an old building for church meetings and the numbers of people began to grow. “In 1999, I was ordained as a pastor and in 2014 we built a new building for the church and the old building was transformed into a centre for social activities. The church has grown from 11 members to over 40 baptised members and more than 70 attending the worship service. “The church lives out the Gospel in all its meaning and we are involved in many activities. These range from youth/ teen’s ministry, a centre for children from socially-vulnerable families where around
50 children come every day to do their homework, to have lunch and various activities: Bible lessons, games, crafts. There are also ministries for women and couples. “Next year we plan to have camps for children and teenagers and we also want to start a new project to build a family home for orphans. We want to start an evangelistic ministry to present the gospel message to every home. “We face many challenges, especially the problem of emigration in search of jobs where young families leave our church and the country and go abroad. Secondly when the teens finish at the secondary school they go to Cahul for high school or college, because there isn’t a high school in our village.”
Andrei and Eugenie Ghedeon, Burlacu
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
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Transforming Europe – Church Planting
Church planting in...
romania
Visit report by TEN Ambassador, Terry Wood It’s always a privilege to travel with our where previously there were no evangelical partners in Romania, Beni and Ancuta churches for more than 100km. Over time, Micle and to go out into the villages near a small house group of dedicated believers Constanta. Less than an hour’s drive away can become a church. This is the process from the busy city, and in stark contrast to Beni and the other leaders seek to replicate it, there are deep potholes in the unmade as they serve the Lord. roads and a bleak landscape of assorted TEN has had the privilege of being single-storey buildings, some looking involved with new church buildings in more like sheds than dwellings. two villages in the last three years where But turning the corner we see something the cost of each building has been less very different. Crisp and clearly recently than £20,000! Please join Beni in praying built, this is the Agape Church building for the next project. This involves the that has made such a difference to the construction of a church building in the little community of Sinoe. Beni and Ancuta strategic town of Mihail Kogalniceanu. have been serving there for a long time Once again this community currently has and helping to establish a local church for no evangelical church. this village and for the surrounding area. In some of the more remote parts of If you or your church wish to find out Romania an evangelical Christian presence more about how to get involved to help can be seen as a threat by both the Mayor with funding church building projects, and the Orthodox priest who, between email: melanie.griffiths@ten-uk.org or them, keep a good handle on all that write to us. happens. But for the Agape Pentecostal Church to have their own building sets them firmly in the centre of the community. There’s a thriving Sunday school and practical help for poor families to demonstrate the love of God in deeds as well as in words. The local Pentecostal churches have taken a long-term view on church planting, targeting an area Agape Church in Sineo, Romania to the north of Constanta 18
Transform Europe now / January – March 2016 2017
Transforming Europe – Church planting
Macedonia Dragan and Biljana Manev
For several years, Dragan and Biljana Manev have served in the pastoral work of the Evangelical Roma Church, that was planted in the Roma community of Veles, Macedonia. They have two young children, Daniel and Maria. Biljana is also the worship leader in the church and serves a lot with evangelistic outreaches to women. To Dragan and Biljana, sharing of the good news in Veles and Macedonia is their top priority. One of their favourite ways to evangelise is to use their puppet-show ministry. Dragan explains “Our vision is to have Roma churches in three different areas in our home town of Veles, with its population of 43,000. My wife and I belong to Evangelical Church in Macedonia and its main focus is evangelism and the great need to plant new churches. After planting new churches we work on discipleship and investing time in new leaders who will be equipped to continue the work of God. “By the grace of God, we have an excellent tool for mission and church planting. Our puppet show team from our church in Veles is used in our town and in a lot of different towns in Macedonia. We also use puppets among Roma community. “We are continuing with Roma mission church in our town Veles. A lot of children, teens and some adults attend the Roma church. We were greatly encouraged in this work by attending an inspiring conference in Hungary during September. It helped to build unity and support among those from the Balkans and the rest of Europe who serve among the Roma people. “Throughout August as a family we went into the south of Macedonia to a town
Biljana Church Planting in Macedonia
called Resen where there was no any evangelical church. We wanted to plant a church there. Because we have an associate pastor in our home church in Veles, we are now more free to plant new churches. It was a great experience for us, wonderful days of street evangelism, sharing God’s love with the people and starting a small fellowship of new believers in that town. By the grace of God we baptized with water three people of that town (together with two people from our church in Veles, and three people from church in Bitola) and now the small fellowship is continuing with the Lord. “We were assisted in this church plant outreach by another pastor from the town of Bitola, Josip and his wife Biljana, who are also TEN partners. We are now jointly visiting the new believers and encouraging them to attend our church in Bitola; which is not far from the town Resen. “The next town we are planning to reach for Jesus is Krusevo. We have already planted some seed there and have a great contact. Please pray for travel expenses for regular trips to Resen, Krusevo, and other towns and villages where there is no any evangelical church.”
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
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Transforming Europe – ONE LIFE AT A TIME
Camp of the
Champions Children reflect on the Camp of the Champions: Mission Possible Albania. Thanks to MPA for sending us these responses from some of the children.
Redjon aged 9:
organised for all of us. I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!”
“The games that we played in our group were a lot of fun and very attractive. The one I liked best was ‘The Circling Wall’. It was new to me. I taught it to my brother and sister too. I also liked the songs and the stories about Jesus. The song I liked best was ‘I have peace like a river’. It was amazing! In closing, I want to thank you with all my heart for everything you had
Kleri aged 11:
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“Dear Champions’ Camp, you were a great camp! I learned a lot about friends, about God, etc. I had so much fun. And now it is the last day and I am writing a lot. And I wish that the Purple team will always be the winner!”
Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
Transforming Europe – Brexit Challenge
Rozalinda aged 13: “This camp is wonderful! It is the perfect place for children that want to have fun, but also learn; the perfect place where cooperation and teamwork for the children are taught; the place where we can learn about friendship with God, which can help us face the issues of the real life; the place where you can get to know yourself and others; the place where you get to feel victorious, even if you don’t win; the place where in a week you feel like a champion. How I wish that every child, could experience at least one day at our camp. They would be glad! In this camp I have made a lot of new friends and I had fun playing. I have understood that singing and dancing make you very happy. The food was also very delicious, healthy and appropriate. I have learned that everyone should believe in God, because He really loves us.”
Brexit challenge for ten—
Can you help?
S
ince the UK voted to leave the European Union we have seen the value of the Pound fall to almost parity with the Euro. In December 2015, £1 was worth €1.43, today the Pound is only worth €1.18, this is almost 18% less than 12 months ago. This means our partners receive 18% less than 12 months ago. You can understand this presents a real challenge to TEN and especially our partners across Europe. For example, a pastor receiving £350 support per month would get approximately €500 per month, but today they would receive €413, a reduction of €87. Or a project receiving £1,000 per month before Brexit would receive €1,430, but today this is €1,180, €250 less per month. In some cases TEN has been able to make up the difference, but we cannot continue this indefinitely. Can you help? Would you prayerfully consider your giving to TEN with a view to increasing it by 18%? Or perhaps you can share the need with a friend and encourage them to start giving regularly to TEN’s mission in Europe. GBP to EUR chart, 30 Nov 2015 – 29 Nov 2016: 1.45 1.35 1.25 1.15 1.05 Dec 15
Photos from Camp of the Champions, Albania
Feb 16
Apr
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Oct
Source: http://www.xe.com/currencycharts
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
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Please Pray For TEN
Are you a closet
Christian? By Ken Millwood, TEN Operations Administrator
W
hilst the modern meaning of closet is a wardrobe or small room used for storage of clothes or food, in former years it had a different meaning—a larger room in which a person could sit and read in private; often the place where personal prayer took place. This is the idea expressed by E. M. Bounds when he wrote “Prayer is not learned in a classroom but in the closet”, and “A holy life does not live in the closet, but it cannot live without the closet”. In Matthew chapter six Jesus teaches about the need for private prayer directed towards God and not made for public show: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6 NIV.) For some their prayer closet will be a literal room with a comfortable chair, table, Bible and notebook. For others, it is that place they meet with God on a regular basis. This might be a favourite chair or garden bench. Jesus usually went to a secluded hillside. For me it is my car when I am driving to work (don’t worry, I keep my eyes open!). John Wesley’s mother is said to have sat in a kitchen chair and thrown her apron over her head as a sign to her children to leave her alone. So, where is your prayer closet? And when is your next scheduled appointment with God?
Will you join us in regular prayer and become a TEN Intercessor? If so, please email the office at melanie.griffiths@ten-uk.org and tell us you want to be a TEN Intercessor. We will then include you on the weekly and urgent prayer request emails.
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Transform Europe now / January – March 2017
Fundraising
Step out in faith and
reap the rewards Inspired by the TEN conference to do something to raise funds for TEN, we heard from supporter, Ros Holt, about a fundraising event she organised for Harvest for the Hungry…
R
os popped into the TEN office a few weeks ago and told us that she was inspired to put on a fundraising event by the question asked at the TEN conference in May: “What can you do to raise funds for TEN?”. Ros decided to plan a concert for the Harvest for the Hungry appeal. The concert was held at Speedwell Methodist Church, Bristol on October 1st, and raised a magnificent £716. 70 in support of Harvest for the Hungry. So how did Ros go about it? Her starting point was to ask the musicians at her church if they could do anything, either as individuals or together? Several people agreed to take part. She then heard about a local choir, Emmaus Christian Choir, who were delighted to be invited. An African gentleman from her church came forward with a drumming group that were also able to perform at the event. Entrance was free and a retiring collection was taken. About
Drumming group performing at the fundraiser
60 to 70 people attended, largely from the choir itself and the local congregation. Asked how she found putting on a fundraising event, Ros said “It wasn’t difficult”. Organising the concert was a great encouragement to Ros, her church and to the TEN team. It’s great to hear what can be achieved by one individual who decides to step out of their comfort zone and ‘give it a go’. A huge thank you to the many churches and community groups who took part in Harvest for the Hungry special fundraising events this year with quizzes, concerts and collections. So far something in the region of £16,000 has been raised to support the work of our partners in providing food parcels for hungry families in Europe. Your generosity makes a huge difference. If you have any photos or stories from this year’s Harvest appeal, or other fundraising activities, we’d love to hear from you. Your stories can encourage others to have a go and do something to raise funds for TEN in support of our wonderful partners across Europe. For more ideas for fundraising for TEN, download our ideas sheet from the TEN website or contact Melanie at melanie. griffiths@ten-uk.org, or if you want to talk over any ideas you have, do give us a call us on 0117 961 5161.
+44 (0)117 961 5161 / www.transformeuropenow.org
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WinterHelp Appeal Your gift would mean so much to those who are among the poorest people in Europe. As we prepare for Christmas festivities with our families and friends, We hope you will consider joining those who are giving to TEN’s WinterHelp Appeal. This winter many of TEN’s partners will again offer assistance to the most vulnerable people in their communities. Without the generosity of UK Christians only a small number of elderly people and families can be helped. Donating money towards TEN’s WinterHelp Appeal enables our partners to buy and distribute food, fuel and other vital provisions at local prices. This costs much less than it would to source and send supplies from the UK.
How can you give to WinterHelp? » Online at www.transformeuropenow.org/give or by cheque (made out to ‘TEN’ with ‘WinterHelp’ written on the back) » Church collection » Fundraising event » Purchase an Essential Gift online at: www.transformeuropenow.org/ winterhelp
WinterHelp Essential Gifts • WinterHelp Big Bundle: £90 Includes: • A supply of logs: £35 • Winter clothing: £20 • Hygiene pack: £15 • Food Hamper: £10 • New blanket: £10
transformeuropenow.org/winterhelp