Albania: Challenges for Prayer
09 Jun 2015
Evangelicals are in a transition phase in Albania. The frenetic activity of the 1990s has been replaced with more strategic ministry and consolidation. There are fewer long-term missionaries now than in the initial rush after the country opened up; more committed workers are needed. National leadership is developing and growing, but had to start from a baseline of almost zero. Scattergun evangelism is being replaced by a more focused and strategic approach. More than 160 evangelical congregations are connected and represented by the Albanian Evangelical Alliance (VUSH). Leadership training is the most vital need for prayer due to the Church’s rapid growth in the last two decades. At least six groups run training institutes: Albanian Bible Institute, The Centre for Christian Leadership, Evangelical Theological College (AoG), YWAM, Christ for the Nations (Nehemiah) and Southeastern Europe Theological Seminary. Other training and mentoring of promising Albanian leaders in less-academic settings is by TEE, with BILD International.
Turkey: Man attacks church with Molotov cocktail
18 Jun 2015
A man attacked a church in the Kadıköy district of İstanbul with a Molotov cocktail on Tuesday, setting the building's door on fire. In a video purporting to show the attack, the man is seen shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great) and ‘Revenge will be taken for Al-Aqsa Mosque’ as he throws a bomb at the Aya Triada Orthodox Church in the Bahariye area of Kadıköy. The door of the church caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished shortly after the attack. The man was detained by police. A recent report by the Gatestone institute stated, ‘Churches in Turkey on the Verge of Extinction’ as cathedrals are having Qu'ran recitations and being turned into museums. See also
Romania: Prime minister's prosecution?
18 Jun 2015
Romania's parliament has refused to lift prime minister Victor Ponta's immunity from prosecution after he was questioned by Romania's powerful DNA anti-corruption agency last Friday on suspicion of forgery, tax evasion and money laundering. Mr Ponta, who has come under pressure to resign, said he would stay on to prevent a protracted political crisis. Anti-corruption officials are looking at his work between 2007 and 2011. Parliament is dominated by Mr Ponta's centre-left coalition so Tuesday's vote to block prosecution was unsurprising. It is alleged that Mr Ponta used forged invoices from a law firm, Sova and Associates, to buy two luxury apartments and a Mitsubishi Lancer car. The Social Democrat prime minister, in office since 2012, has denied any wrongdoing and says his government will survive a no-confidence vote in parliament due on Friday 19 June. President Klaus Iohannis said he regretted that parliament was obstructing justice and acting as a shield for the prime minister ‘in contempt’ of the Romanian population.
G7 summit: A brief summary
11 Jun 2015
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that time is running out for a deal to keep Greece in the Eurozone. Speaking after the G7 summit in Germany, she said Europe would show solidarity but only if Greece ‘makes proposals and implements reforms’. Also on the agenda was climate change, with the G7 calling for a transformation of electricity generation towards renewables and nuclear power by 2050; they also said that fossil fuel should not be burned in any sector of the economy by the end of the century. This is a seismic shift, but huge questions remain. On the Ukraine the G7 hoped Russia would comply with a ceasefire agreement signed in February by pro-Moscow rebels and the Kiev government. But sanctions could be strengthened if necessary. Barack Obama echoed Mrs Merkel’s comments, saying, ‘The G7 is making it clear that if necessary we stand ready to impose additional significant sanctions against Russia.'
European Trumpet Call this autumn
11 Jun 2015
This is an early invitation to all Prayer Alert readers to join with other European churches, prayer ministries and mission agencies to pray and seek God’s kingdom for the lost in Europe. (2 Chronicles 7:14). There is nothing more powerful than when saints stand in the gap. A great shift is happening in Europe and many are aware of it. It is time to gather, to move forward together, to lift our voices and rejoice together in prayer. God is calling His people to come together to blow the trumpets for the whole continent of Europe, for ‘When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies’ (Numbers 10:9). Please join us in Timisoara, Romania for a historic gathering of believers from across Europe as we cry out for a transformative move of God on our continent.
The newly-elected President of Poland promises change. Andrzej Duda has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws. The victory will be a wake-up call to Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn. Mr Duda said, ‘Those who voted for me voted for change. Together we can change Poland.’ Poland is gradually catching up to Western Europe's living standards but youth unemployment is high and Poles can still earn much more in the UK or Germany. The new President needs his Law and Justice party to win this autumn's parliamentary elections to bring about real change. Mr Duda attracted most support in the conservative eastern regions near the border with Ukraine and Belarus. For up-to-date INSIGHTS into potentially significant political changes across the nations in the second half of 2015 click the ‘more’ button below.
Turkish voters go to the polls on Sunday amid concerns around slowing economic growth and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's autocratic policies. The election could also be momentous for modern Turkish history, as four candidates come from Turkey’s minority groups, including the resurgent Kurds who have been discriminated against for years. Erdogan's AK Party is also fielding an Armenian Christian candidate, Markar Esayan, in hopes of courting the Christian vote in Istanbul. In Turkey there are no Armenian officials, police or judges. The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest national church and one of the most ancient Christian communities, claiming to have originated in the missions of apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the 1st century. Underscoring some of the tensions surrounding Turkey's minority community, hundreds of people took to Istanbul's streets in May protesting against the seizure of a one-hundred-year-old Armenian orphanage. For up to date INSIGHTS behind elections due to be held across the nations between now and 2016, click the ‘more’ button below.
Azerbaijan host European Games next month
28 May 2015
A few countries span more than one continent - transcontinental states. Azerbaijan is on both European and Asian maps, but this year’s European games place it firmly in Europe. An anomaly? Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, was awarded the right to host the 2015 European Games, which are the final ‘continental’ Games to be inaugurated (after the Asian Games, Pan-American Games, All-Africa Games and Pacific Games). As of 2015, every continent will have a continental Games in the Olympic tradition. A total of 20 sports will be represented: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. Twelve of them - Archery, Athletics, Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon and Wrestling - will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.