Europe

UK is Lone-Parent Capital of Europe | Report 24

The latest figures from Eurostat show almost one in four UK children were found to be living in single parent households in 2012. Commenting on the findings Harry Benson, Research Director for the Marriage Foundation, said: “These children are less likely to attain qualifications, more prone to experience unemployment and are more likely to commit crime. He argued that the rising number of lone parents is not due to a rising divorce rate, but rather it is because of “the meteoric rise in the number of children brought up by unmarried parents”. It is vital, Benson concluded, that society “restore trust and confidence in marriage for the sake of generations to come”.

Source: The Christian Institute

BIBLE STUDY: Deuteronomy 4:9-10

PRAY: That society may see the damage and repent.

UK is Lone-Parent Capital of Europe | Report 24

The latest figures from Eurostat show almost one in four UK children were found to be living in single parent households in 2012. Commenting on the findings Harry Benson, Research Director for the Marriage Foundation, said: “These children are less likely to attain qualifications, more prone to experience unemployment and are more likely to commit crime. He argued that the rising number of lone parents is not due to a rising divorce rate, but rather it is because of “the meteoric rise in the number of children brought up by unmarried parents”. It is vital, Benson concluded, that society “restore trust and confidence in marriage for the sake of generations to come”.

Source: The Christian Institute

BIBLE STUDY: Deuteronomy 4:9-10

PRAY: That society may see the damage and repent.

Europe: New Chance for the Church | 326 | Report 12

While many see the church in Europe declining in membership due to secularization, Dutch director at World Vision Evert-Jan Ouweneel is optimistic. “Christianity in Europe is not going down the drain, but it’s in a revolutionary transition. We are being forced to reinvent the Gospel and the Church, and to (in a way) start all over again – what is the Gospel and why is it good news to our society? Wonderful questions for pioneers.”

“Western European Christianity has become morally powerless… and lacks spiritual conviction… and today’s young people have a whole new religious spectrum to choose from.” He continues, “There’s no longer an economic advantage to being a Christian. So… those who still attend a church do so out of real conviction.” “That brings me to the hidden strength of today’s European Christianity: we’re learning to live with our weaknesses and failures, which gives us a whole new experience of surrender to God’s peace and grace. From a gospel of human strength we move to a gospel of humility and meekness. We know that God’s strength can only be manifested when we are weak.”

This also changes the Church. “We should stop planning and controlling the Church and jumping to the next growth formula. What matters is whether we are available for God with empty hands, so He can use us in the way He wants… It’s time for a contrasting Christianity that beams peace in uncertain times,” Ouweneel says.

Source: Evert-Jan Ouweneel – Joel News International

BIBLE STUDY: Acts 2:42-47

PRAISE: God that He is strong when we are weak. Pray that in weak humility the Church in Europe will experience a new infusion of Christ’s power.

Europe: New Chance for the Church | 326 | Report 12

While many see the church in Europe declining in membership due to secularization, Dutch director at World Vision Evert-Jan Ouweneel is optimistic. “Christianity in Europe is not going down the drain, but it’s in a revolutionary transition. We are being forced to reinvent the Gospel and the Church, and to (in a way) start all over again – what is the Gospel and why is it good news to our society? Wonderful questions for pioneers.”

“Western European Christianity has become morally powerless… and lacks spiritual conviction… and today’s young people have a whole new religious spectrum to choose from.” He continues, “There’s no longer an economic advantage to being a Christian. So… those who still attend a church do so out of real conviction.” “That brings me to the hidden strength of today’s European Christianity: we’re learning to live with our weaknesses and failures, which gives us a whole new experience of surrender to God’s peace and grace. From a gospel of human strength we move to a gospel of humility and meekness. We know that God’s strength can only be manifested when we are weak.”

This also changes the Church. “We should stop planning and controlling the Church and jumping to the next growth formula. What matters is whether we are available for God with empty hands, so He can use us in the way He wants… It’s time for a contrasting Christianity that beams peace in uncertain times,” Ouweneel says.

Source: Evert-Jan Ouweneel – Joel News International

BIBLE STUDY: Acts 2:42-47

PRAISE: God that He is strong when we are weak. Pray that in weak humility the Church in Europe will experience a new infusion of Christ’s power.

“Abort Now:” Mother Defies Doctors | 323 | Report 23

Rachel Collins, 30, was told she should abort her baby when she was diagnosed with oligohydramnios – her unborn son was in too little amniotic fluid. The doctor didn’t mince his words, he said: “This baby will die; the best thing you can do is terminate it.” But the first-time mother refused to listen to medics, and baby Alfie beat the odds to enter the world completely healthy.

Rachel Collins, from Tamworth, Staffs, kept a day-by-day account of her nine month struggle to bring Alfie into the world – in the hope it would help her grieve if she lost him. But instead, she is now preparing to save it for baby Alfie to read when he is older. “The journal is what kept me going, it’s where I poured everything I was feeling, the good and the bad.” Rachel said: “I could feel my baby was alive, he was moving, how could I get rid of him? There was no way I was terminating my baby.”

Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham agreed to take her on as a patient and help her through the difficult pregnancy. “They told her it was going to be tough, that he might have deformities, but they said they would give him a chance. Alfie was born at 30 weeks by emergency caesarean on October 21st. Rachel said: “He came out screaming… He is a little miracle. It was a nightmare pregnancy,
but every day he was hanging on was a blessing, he is now 6lb 14oz and has no health problems.”

Source: Daily Mail; Christian Today

BIBLE STUDY: Jeremiah 1:5

PRAISE: God for the example of a mother who could feel her baby alive and resisted the cult of death. Pray more mothers-to-be will have this conviction.

Re-Evangelising Secular Europe | 323 | Report 22

Despite its Christian heritage, Europe is often seen to be the least religious continent of all. But Dietrich Schindler has a plan aimed at turning secular, postmodern Europeans into Bible-believing Christians. Under his leadership the German Evangelical Free Church is seeking to plant 100 new congregations in ten next years.

Mr Schindler says, “A dying church will focus on three things: their members, their youth, and their buildings… Good churches emphasise the harvest, the work of going into the harvest, and tending to those already in the barn.” He hopes to enable churches to do this is through a new course, entitled My Life Workshop, specifically designed to appeal to the postmodern secular mindset.

In attempting to get to the root of the problem, Mr Schindler said: “What they don’t want is something pre-packaged. They do not want answers to questions that they themselves have not asked.” It is that kind of organic, individually focused, less ‘preachy’ system that My Life Workshop seeks to offer. The course is made up of six sessions of an hour and a half each.

Source: Christian Today

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 19:26

PRAY: That a Biblical, persistent outreach may lead many Europeans to find the Living Christ.

“Abort Now:” Mother Defies Doctors | 323 | Report 23

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:10 — 1.1MB)

Rachel Collins, 30, was told she should abort her baby when she was diagnosed with oligohydramnios – her unborn son was in too little amniotic fluid. The doctor didn’t mince his words, he said: “This baby will die; the best thing you can do is terminate it.” But the first-time mother refused to listen to medics, and baby Alfie beat the odds to enter the world completely healthy.

Rachel Collins, from Tamworth, Staffs, kept a day-by-day account of her nine month struggle to bring Alfie into the world – in the hope it would help her grieve if she lost him. But instead, she is now preparing to save it for baby Alfie to read when he is older. “The journal is what kept me going, it’s where I poured everything I was feeling, the good and the bad.” Rachel said: “I could feel my baby was alive, he was moving, how could I get rid of him? There was no way I was terminating my baby.”

Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham agreed to take her on as a patient and help her through the difficult pregnancy. “They told her it was going to be tough, that he might have deformities, but they said they would give him a chance. Alfie was born at 30 weeks by emergency caesarean on October 21st. Rachel said: “He came out screaming… He is a little miracle. It was a nightmare pregnancy,
but every day he was hanging on was a blessing, he is now 6lb 14oz and has no health problems.”

Source: Daily Mail; Christian Today

BIBLE STUDY: Jeremiah 1:5

PRAISE: God for the example of a mother who could feel her baby alive and resisted the cult of death. Pray more mothers-to-be will have this conviction.

Re-Evangelising Secular Europe | 323 | Report 22

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43 — 909.1KB)

Despite its Christian heritage, Europe is often seen to be the least religious continent of all. But Dietrich Schindler has a plan aimed at turning secular, postmodern Europeans into Bible-believing Christians. Under his leadership the German Evangelical Free Church is seeking to plant 100 new congregations in ten next years.

Mr Schindler says, “A dying church will focus on three things: their members, their youth, and their buildings… Good churches emphasise the harvest, the work of going into the harvest, and tending to those already in the barn.” He hopes to enable churches to do this is through a new course, entitled My Life Workshop, specifically designed to appeal to the postmodern secular mindset.

In attempting to get to the root of the problem, Mr Schindler said: “What they don’t want is something pre-packaged. They do not want answers to questions that they themselves have not asked.” It is that kind of organic, individually focused, less ‘preachy’ system that My Life Workshop seeks to offer. The course is made up of six sessions of an hour and a half each.

Source: Christian Today

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 19:26

PRAY: That a Biblical, persistent outreach may lead many Europeans to find the Living Christ.

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