Not so long ago Estonians were asked whether religion played an important part in their life - only 20% said yes. It suggests that the Baltic country is, statistically, the least religious country in the world. At Tallinn’s large Lutheran Dome Church one Sunday 70 congregants were tourists and 15 were regular Estonian church-goers. Although the Lutheran Church is the largest in Estonia, it accounts for only 13% of the population. Fewer than one in five Estonians say any religion plays any part in their lives. In schools religion is not on the curriculum. This does not mean Estonians do not believe in anything at all. Many are nature worshippers, pagans, who define their religion as Maausk - a form of Estonian nature spirituality - in which the trees and earth are cherished objects that possess power. There are eight unreached people groups in Estonia and three of the main religions are Islam, Ethnic and Hinduism.
See also : www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14635021
Denmark: Terrible Inuit experiment
01 Jul 2015
In the 1950s Inuit children in Greenland were taken from their families to be re-educated as model Danish citizens. More than 60 years later, they want the Danish government to apologise for an experiment that did enormous damage. ‘It was a summery day, when two grand Danish gentlemen came to our house in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. They had an interpreter with them. Me and my older sister were told to go outside while mum spoke to them. They asked my mum to send me to Denmark to learn Danish and get a good education. They said it was a great chance for me. My mum said, 'No,' to them twice. But they kept pushing her and it was in the days when Greenland was a Danish colony and the colonial masters - 'masters' in the worst sense of the word - controlled everything. You didn't contradict a Dane. My mother sent me.’ The experience had long-term negative consequences for many. To read the whole story click the ‘more’ link below.
Czech Republic: The invisible child
01 Jul 2015
Tonight, nearly half a million children will go to sleep in a bed that is not their own. In the morning, they’ll wake up in the same place they found themselves the day before - foster care. The system has the best of intentions. But this is an area where good intentions are not enough. While most foster parents do wonderful, irreplaceable work, in some areas the foster care system is badly broken. This is an issue where effective, accountable public institutions are essential and lacking. Too many children are allowed to fall through the gaps. Many fall into some very dark places due to human trafficking. It is a lucrative global industry, generating an estimated EUR 8-12 billion and involving around 300-500 thousand people annually. It is equally lucrative in the Czech Republic. It is an illegal industry that most people never notice or even think about. See also : www.unleashingopportunity.org
The change of government in Turkey could have a direct impact on the recently resumed inter-communal talks to settle the Greek/Turkey Cyprus problem, said Greek Cyprus’s President Nicos Anastasiades in an interview to Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet. Anastasiades argued that, although both community leaders - himself and Turkish Cypriot Mustafa Akinci - are committed to the reunification of the island, developments in Turkey could have a direct effect on the progress of negotiations. He added, ‘Questions would likely revolve around isolated issues’ thus distancing himself from a popular opposition mantra - ‘the key to a solution lies in Turkey, not the Turkish Cypriot community. Confidence building measures could be around the talks of opening more Cypriot crossing points. The most important crossing points at the moment are being characterised as military zones. In this respect, there needs to be demilitarisation of certain areas, or as many areas as possible.
Croatia: Pope’s message of peace for Croatia
01 Jul 2015
‘You have no right to forget your past, because the nation that forgets has no future. However, you should not remember it for revenge, but for peace.’ That was one of the strong messages given by Pope Francis last weekend in Sarajevo, sent to anyone willing to listen. We know how to listen, but are we willing to really hear such a message? Are we, Croatians, prepared to understand it, accept it and live accordingly? Revenge is so deeply rooted in human beings that it seems quite natural to want to return the experienced injustice and evil. Moreover, often the one who lives by the Bible and turns the other cheek or forgives the wrongdoer is perceived as a notorious fool. Twenty years ago, after the homeland war, the first Croatian president gave amnesty to all who participated in the aggression and invited them to stay in Croatia. Now there is a proposal to seek the publication of the register of aggressors.
Bulgarian officials said a US citizen had been killed in a grenade launcher accident and four other persons had been wounded. In a statement, the US embassy in Sofia confirmed the death of one Department of Defence contractor and the injury of two contractors and a Bulgarian translator in a ‘training accident’ at the firing range of an ordnance plant near the city of Sopot in central Bulgaria. One American was killed on the spot and another US citizen was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. A third American and two Bulgarians were also taken to a hospital with less severe injuries, the ministry said. Over recent years there have been joint trainings and exercises, as well as increased joint utilisation of NSTA by units from Bulgarian Armed Forces and the US Army. See also : www.mod.bg/en/tema_SuvmestniVoenniSuorujenia.html
Bosnia: A new ministry
01 Jul 2015
A local ministry is expanding into a new city, Mostar, and needs our prayers. The team consists of just two couples and there will be much planning and stepping out as The Lord leads in the coming months. They have a heart for students and are expecting the Lord to lead them to the students He has for them to minister with. Pray that the hearts of these students would be ripe to become disciples. Pray for Alpha courses they intend to continue running and pray for powerful communication between God and those searching. Please pray for the cities of Mostar and Tuzla, key regional cities to begin ministry in next 5 years.
Belgium: Cities and villages for evangelising
01 Jul 2015
The areas in greatest need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the smaller towns and villages in the Flemish-speaking areas and the Francophone Ardennes region (Liège, Namur and Luxembourg). Brussels is a strategic city. The capital region’s population is over 1.1 million. It is 32% foreign, 8% evangelical and close to 13% Muslim (largely Moroccan and Turk) – with over 45 nationalities of 1,000 people or more. It ranges from increasing numbers of impoverished neighbourhoods to growing communities of affluent young professionals, from the often-isolated and marginalised immigrant groups to the powerful autocratic community. Antwerp now has over 100 evangelical congregations (up from 10 in 1970), but 80% are non-Flemish. The unity and co-operation between these churches is commendable. A number of local and international ministries are reaching out to the large Moroccan community. The majority of Belgium’s Orthodox Jewish population live in Antwerp, with little or no outreach to them.