Denmark: A new government
03 Jul 2015The incoming centre-right government ran into controversy over its plans to cut tax rates for high earners after it emerged that the issue had caused the failure of coalition talks. So now Denmark has a one-party government. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the leader of the Venstre party, said his party would govern alone after coalition talks with the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF) broke down. On Sunday the 28 June Lars Løkke Rasmussen officially assumed the role of prime minister following a meeting with Queen Margrethe II.He also released the names of his cabinet team, made up solely of members of his own Venstre party. Rasmussen was selected to become prime minister following the 18 June election despite Venstre finishing in third place with 19.5% of the vote. The Venstre government will be extremely weak, with only 34 lawmakers in the 179-seat parliament.
Date: Saturday 4th July 2015
Time: 11am - 5pm (Doors open at 10am)
Ticket price: £10 TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR FROM THE BOX OFFICE
Location: The International Convention Centre, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA
ONLINE BOOKING and PHONE BOOKING IS NOW CLOSED for THE TRUMPET CALL 2015
TRAVEL INFORMATION
We suggest that you allow plenty of time to park, walk to the ICC, find the venue and get yourself prepared for this time with God. Please be aware that access to the car parks around the ICC is more difficult due to significant city centre roadworks. Our recommended site is the Paradise Circus multi story car park just off Cambridge Street a 2/3 minute walk from the ICC (B1 2NB). This can be accessed from the North (M6, M42) and South (M40, M5) by following the normal route but there will be delays around Paradise Circus. From the west it is harder to access as the normal road is blocked. If you are coming on the A457 turn off at Summer Hill Street – cross straight over the roundabout after 300 yards and continue with the Barclaycard arena on your right. Keep going as far as you can on this road – the multi-story is at the end! Off road parking is limited and generally restricted to 4 hours. Alternative car parks – West Multi story of the Barclay Car Arena - B16 8AD or Q car park Brindley place – B1 2JF – nice, handy but expensive!
STAND WITH US IN PRAYER
As TRUMPET CALL 2015 approaches we have a growing sense of excitement and expectation. It will be a momentous day – a memorable meeting with God. Yesterday, we had a word about rain clouds on the mountains. When the rain from the mountains pours into the dry rivers, it becomes a flash flood – like a suddenly from God. These are the days to be praying for a move of God. The word continued. 'When you hear the sound of the Trumpet, then the Rains will start. The rest will follow.'
It is time to pray for a move of God in our hearts. Are you thirsty? Stand with us in prayer, particularly for the TRUMPET CALL 2015 key themes:
- For Christ to reign supreme in every element of our lives – and in our nations.
- For the message of the cross – that every person in this nation will truly hear the message of the cross and many will come to salvation.
- For unity – that we draw closer to God and each other – that blessing can be released in our land.
- For our children and young people – for the strong protection of God, for spiritual release and revival – and for a powerful move of God that will stir their hearts
- For our towns, cities, nation and Europe - that out of this trumpet call blessing will flow, the waters of the spirit will soak the land and change our nations.
Directions: View directions on getting to the ICC.
Car parking: There are a number of car parks situated near the International Convention centre.
Hotels: The nearest hotel is the Hyatt Regency but check out Visit Birmingham for other hotels and offers.
Lunch venues: There are many cafes, restaurants and shops in nearby Brindley Place.
Czech Republic: A Church that needs reviving
03 Jul 2015Following its liberation from communism through 1989’s ‘velvet revolution’ Czechoslovakia went through a ‘velvet divorce’ in 1993. This peaceful splitting of the state yielded the creation of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. This densely populated country of small cities, towns and villages, has one of the most stable economies of the post-communist states in central and eastern Europe. Its openness to foreign investment, a fairly low-cost structure, and a well-qualified labour force have helped the post revolution economy to prosper. Freedom of religion came with the fall of communism but a degree of complacency exists. Today over 40% of the population profess atheism, with an additional 16% uncertain whether there is a God. The Catholic Church has a stronger standing than any protestant denomination, but its priests and laity are aging. Protestant churches are enjoying religious freedom for only the second time since 1620.
The health ministry said this week it had secured an additional €3m to its budget in order to ensure the supply of new and innovative drugs for the treatment of Hepatitis C, Amyloidosis and Multiple Sclerosis, and for the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer for all girls aged 12 of age. The health ministry said there were a number of new drugs on the market for these conditions that bring better results for patients and these would be imported for public hospitals. For HPV the free vaccine programme would begin on 1 January, 2016. Meanwhile, the latest reduction in medicine prices of 8.5% on average came into effect on Monday 29 June. The ministry said that with the latest reduction, drugs prices had fallen 23% over the past six months. The ministry said that the wholesale price of antibiotics has dropped over 30% and cholesterol medications by over 40%.
Croatia: 4 July gay pride parade
03 Jul 2015A Gay Pride parade will be held in Zagreb Saturday. Participants will walk under the slogan Louder and Braver: Anti-fascism - Without Compromise. LGBTIQ persons will send out a message that they are not taking part in the parade only as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans-gender, inter-sexual and questioning persons, but as citizens who will not stand by and watch in silence the wheel of history going back. The organisers expect two thousand people to join them. They are using the façade of ‘gay rights’ and then highlighting their dissatisfaction and concern about the political situation in the country and are dedicating the event to the citizens of Croatia. ‘As long as there are people incessantly calling for war, we will fight for a society of peace, co-existence and solidarity. We must stop further political, economic and moral destruction of society. The response to radicalisation and hatred must be a single voice of a broad, united progressive front,’ said the organisers. Left-wing, centre-left, and green political parties are proponents of LGBT rights, while right-wing, centre-right political parties and some NGOs and the Roman Catholic Church oppose LGBT rights. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Croatia
Bulgaria: Trafficking in human beings
03 Jul 2015Some 500-550 Bulgarians a year become victims of human trafficking, according to official statistics, cited Bulgaria’s National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. On Monday 29th there was a press conference to launch a project aimed at fighting human trafficking. The project envisages the training of a large number of officials from the law enforcement and security institutions and courts and will acquaint people involved in the fight against human trafficking with specific aspects of the problem. Human trafficking is a cross-border crime and requires joint efforts by Bulgaria and all other EU countries. Currently large numbers of human traffickers are handed suspended sentences, causing victims to give up on reporting cases to the police. (in 2014 92 people were convicted of human trafficking and 60% ended with suspended sentences). The most common profile of a victim is a young woman from a region with high unemployment and poverty.
Bosnia: Challenges for Prayer
03 Jul 2015The largest religion in Bosnia is Islam with 2,036,217; followed by Christians with 1,540,698 and Evangelicals numbering 2,207. Expatriate Christian input is definitely needed for believers in Bosnia to have a greater impact and there are many ways to impact the nation. Operation World asks us to pray that those engaged in leadership development, aid, rehabilitation, outreach and church planting ministries might fully identify with the people, and that through these a harvest may be won. The largest agencies: Pioneers, OM, Novi Most International and TE use creative means of sharing Christ’s love including the Alpha Course, house construction and repairs, ESL and German-language acquisition. There are also handicrafts, coffee bars, sports and camps, youth ministries and, most strategically, prayer and intercession – the foundation for all other ministry.
Belgium: Christian outreach
03 Jul 2015There are a variety of mission agencies working in Belgium who need our prayers. OMF has nine Chinese churches and the AoG has one couple working among the Chinese. BEM has a Japanese couple working within the Japanese community and have planted a Japanese church. A number of other Asian communities (Korean, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Iranian, Filipino) have at least one church each. The Eastern European population is rapidly growing – Poles, Russians, Bulgarians, Kosovars, Romanians and others. Only the Romanians have a significant number of evangelical congregations; the Polish and Kosovars have none. There is little or no outreach to these peoples. There is a student population of over 250,000 in 17 universities and numerous colleges. Outreach to the student community is a major challenge. IFES has a ministry in seven Flemish universities (Ichthus with 150 students involved) and in several French universities. The small work grows very slowly. (Source: Operation World 2015)