Cyprus: The ‘great divide’
09 Jun 2015
Cyprus is mentioned numerous times in the Bible and Barnabas, one of the earliest Christian missionaries, was a native Cypriot. A 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the north has divided the island to this day, creating as many as 230,000 refugees. The Republic of Cyprus, claiming authority over the whole island, is recognized internationally as the official state, while only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Orthodox Church is a key element of Greek Cypriot culture and identity and Cyprus is one of the more religious countries in the EU. However there is much bitterness and prejudice between the Greek Cypriot Christians of the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north.
The following is an English translation from a Croatian newspaper. A container with 5,200 pounds of clothing started early last week from Caritas Diocese of Dubrovnik to the needy in Tanzania. It is a charitable action that has taken fifty volunteers, along with the staff of Caritas, three months. The action was a response to the members of the prayer group EFFATHA and young people from the parish of St. Peter-Boninovo. The need for such charitable action emerged last summer after a visit by the Reverend David to the Archdiocese of Songea in Tanzania. The goods that they are sending will be distributed free of charge to the needy.
Bulgaria: Unreached people, Islam and terrorism
09 Jun 2015
There are sixteen language groups in Bulgaria - the three main ones are Romani, Turkish, and Bulgarian. Gypsies are one of the major ethnic groups who, under the communist regime, were sent to ghettos to live without electricity or running water. Today, because of their isolation and poor living conditions many Gypsies are not educated and unable to find jobs. Islam in Bulgaria dates to the Ottoman era and is practiced today with folk magic. Muslims are largely unaware of Islamic teachings and Muslim missionaries (who outnumber Christian missionaries) are funded to teach Bulgarian Muslims a ‘’purer Islam’ and to push for greater Islamic influence. 24% of Bulgarians have never heard of Jesus. Meanwhile the English Government’s foreign travel advice warns, ‘There is an underlying threat from terrorism in Bulgaria’. See: Tourist
Bosnia: Participation in war against IS.
09 Jun 2015
Recently Bosnia donated more than 550 tons of surplus arms and ammunition to Iraq as part of its involvement in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State militants. The donation was made on request from the United States and comprises arms and ammunition produced decades ago, when Bosnia was part of the now-defunct Yugoslav federation. Bosnia is not in the NATO alliance but hopes to join. On Monday and Tuesday of this week (8 & 9 June) the special Envoy of President Obama for the Global Coalition against the Islamic State, General John Allen, held meetings with the members of the Presidency of Bosnia. Allen also attended a separate Forum on security in Bosnia before going on to Zagreb, where he met with Croatian political and security officials.
Brussels is the capital of Europe. But some are now calling it the Muslim capital of Europe. The graffiti on a building in Belgium say, ‘Welcome to ‘Belgistan.’ Muslims are the largest religious group in Brussels, comprising one-quarter of the city’s population; in less than 20 years they’re expected to be the majority. Earlier this year Belgians had to reflect on difficult questions about freedom of speech and religion after an alleged plot by Muslim terrorists to kill police officers was foiled. Operation World says that spiritually, Belgium is one of the neediest countries in Europe, with faith largely banished from the public sphere. Muslim peoples (North Africans, Turks, Kurds) have increased through legal and illegal immigration – the majority living in poorer urban areas. Muslims are the second-largest religious population, and there are now 380 mosques in Belgium. There is some outreach, with a handful of Arabic-speaking congregations. Many more workers are needed. See also
Belarus: Weak points of Christian media not reaching the lost
According to the editor-in-chief of krynica.info, the decay of morality in Belarus is happening because people live without God in their hearts, and this is the fault of Christian media that does not carry the Word of God to their audiences. He also stated that there is lack of professionalism in the work of Christian journalists. Also the head of k.mihck.info said, ‘Church media should unite, have an interreligious dialogue and choose a common position. Problems in the work of Christian media include unnecessary official information, and Christian media should become more flexible – making texts more understandable for all (without special Christian vocabulary). 70,000 Jews live in Belarus. Small groups of Muslims are emigrating from the former USSR, adding to the Tatar population. Very few of these people groups have had a chance to encounter Christianity. See also
Almost 12 months ago it was reported that Muslim students outnumber Roman Catholic students at middle and secondary schools in Vienna, the capital and largest city of Austria. Muslim students are also on the verge of overtaking Catholics in Viennese elementary schools. This suggests that a massive religious and demographic shift is under way in Austria, traditionally a Roman Catholic country. Austria’s longstanding Catholic culture is in serious decline. Record numbers leave the Church each year. Annual church tax (1% taxable income) and prominent sex scandals among the clergy have contributed to breaks from the church. Seeking God outside the confines of Catholicism is little understood at present. Church growth occurs within evangelical/charismatic churches. There needs to be multiplication of congregations where the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed and honoured. See also
Andorra: On the brink of Europe's next crisis
09 Jun 2015
The tiny principality of Andorra nestling in the foothills of the Pyrenees between France and Spain has been rocked by allegations of money laundering in its oversized banking sector. Andorra conjures up images of medieval churches and duty-free shopping. However, in the last three weeks the state has been gripped by a banking crisis that threatens to take it to the brink. Bankers have been thrown in jail, savers’ deposits have been restricted, and the country’s government is scrambling to convince powerful regulators thousands of miles away that the country is not a haven for tax evasion. In March the US Treasury Department’s financial crime body, FinCEN, accused the country’s fourth-largest bank of money-laundering. The authority said ‘corrupt high-level managers and weak anti-money-laundering controls have made BPA an easy vehicle for third-party money-launderers’. The bank accepted bribes from criminals in Russia, Venezuela and China to funnel money through the Andorran system. Banking is Andorra's second biggest industry after tourism