New Evangelical head says revival is 'essential' for European Church
The newly appointed General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance says revival is essential for Europe's traditional churches. Rev Niek M Tramper was appointed to his new post at the EEA's annual conference in Turkey on April 22. Rev Tramper, of the Netherlands, said there were many challenges facing the Church in Europe, including the need for greater cooperation between new and traditional forms of Church, a growing Muslim population, and tensions between the rich and poor. ‘The Church and Christian movements need each other in advancing the Kingdom of God,’ said Rev Tramper. ‘Traditional churches cannot continue without revival. Profound theology and missionary zeal are complementary. In places with few historic churches, the EEA is of great value for facilitating the replanting of churches in countries like Kosovo, Albania and Turkey, as well as in Central Asia.’
Pray: that the Lord directs Rev Tramper’s energy and vision in ways that promote Christ’s kingdom. (2Ti.3:9-11)
Greece: Economy and impact on population
Greece is close to agreeing to a new set of austerity measures, which will affect both the public and private sectors, that would unlock the emergency loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that the country needs to keep its economy afloat. In the private sector, employers who have more than 200 people in their work force would be able to sack 4 per cent of them at once rather than the 2 percent in place now. There will also be a gradual phasing out of the 13th and 14th monthly salaries that employees receive as Easter, Summer and Christmas bonuses, possibly over the next five years. In the public sector, civil servants will lose their 13th and 14th monthly salaries and their supplementary pay,
which has already been cut by 30 percent, will be reduced by another 5 per cent. This would represent savings of 1.7 billion euros, or 0.6 per cent of Greece’s gross domestic product.
Pray: that the spirit of the Greek population will not be broken by these enforced measures. (Pr.10:15)
More: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_29/04/2010_116768
Greece: Economy and impact on population
Greece is close to agreeing to a new set of austerity measures, which will affect both the public and private sectors, that would unlock the emergency loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that the country needs to keep its economy afloat. In the private sector, employers who have more than 200 people in their work force would be able to sack 4 per cent of them at once rather than the 2 percent in place now. There will also be a gradual phasing out of the 13th and 14th monthly salaries that employees receive as Easter, Summer and Christmas bonuses, possibly over the next five years. In the public sector, civil servants will lose their 13th and 14th monthly salaries and their supplementary pay,
which has already been cut by 30 percent, will be reduced by another 5 per cent. This would represent savings of 1.7 billion euros, or 0.6 per cent of Greece’s gross domestic product.
Pray: that the spirit of the Greek population will not be broken by these enforced measures. (Pr.10:15)
More: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_29/04/2010_116768
Survivors of forced marriage go on UK tour
Victims will urge children at risk to tell the authorities of their fears. Their stories are ones not normally made public in intimate detail. In the first scheme of its kind survivors of forced marriages will travel the country in May to describe the ordeals they went through in an attempt to try to persuade communities to abandon the practice. Men and women who were forced to marry against their wishes will visit 12 cities to tell teachers and police officers to be extra vigilant about children going missing during the summer holidays. Each summer hundreds of girls and boys, largely from South Asian communities, travel with their families to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where they are forced into marriages. Those working to stop the practice say the period just before the summer holiday is always their busiest time of the year.
Pray: for those taking part in this tour, that their voices will be heard. (1Co.16:13)
