Dear Colleagues:
By now all of us will have celebrated Easter – those in the West on April 16, in the East on April 23 – and now we can, and we need to, live in the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the glorious proof of our faith – we follow someone who said that He was God, and incidentally, that he could be killed and would be raised again – and was. If the second part was true, the first part must be also!
WELCOME
The new National Director of YFC Denmark took up his post on 1 April, and we give a warm welcome to Harm Jan Kjaer Feijer. If you wish to contact him, you can do so on harmjan@yfc.dk
WELCOME BACK
Although he never really left (as he is still heavily engaged in YFC through his work with The Alumni Association) we are delighted to have Jean-Jacques Weiler back working in the Area. He has accepted an offer from the Eastern Europe Region to become their chaplain, giving around 9 weeks a year to visiting the EE countries, spending time with the staff and bringing encouragement and the wisdom of his more than forty years’ experience with YFC.
LOOKING AHEAD
If you’re a soccer fan you’ll know that the biggest thing this year is the World Cup, starting in approximately 46 days, 3 hours and 40 minutes at the time of writing, according to the FIFA official site, http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/ YFC Germany, along with many other Christian organisations, is gearing up for a huge effort to reach the millions of spectators and fans who will be flocking to Germany. Today, 24th April, the state of Hessen will hold a gala for representatives of all 32 countries which will take part in the World Cup in Wiesbaden. Daniela Sudmeier, in charge of their preparations, says that around 400-500 people are expected, and that iThemba, the YFC dance and drama team from South Africa, (who will be the next hosts of the Cup in 2010) will do the final presentation of the evening with 3 dances, an introduction of their ministry and a personal testimony. What an excellent opportunity to have the Gospel right at the heart of this completely-secular competition!
In an additional blessing, the official who set up this engagement, who is in charge of all projects around the World Cup, was so impressed when he saw iThemba perform recently and heard what they did that he wants to introduce them to the Ministry of Education in the State of Hessen, as he believes their message of peace and reconciliation can play a vital role in the prevention of violence and in the strengthening of the self-image of students, especially immigrant students.
Pray that the Gala Evening tonight will go well, and that iThemba will give the performance of their lives, with no problems with the sound, backing-music, forgetting of lines or moves, or nervousness, and that people will be deeply moved.
OUTSIDE OUR AREA
In Asia-Pacific, the country of Nepal is teetering on the edge of what may be a cataclysmic social and political upheaval, as the king tries to hold onto his absolute power and the people demonstrate for democracy. Yesterday at least 35 people were hurt in clashes with police as an estimated 100,000 people demonstrated on the streets of Kathmandu, there is a daytime as well as night-time curfew in certain areas of the capital, and great uncertainty about the future. ABC Radio in Australia put out the following this morning on their AM programme: “King Gyanendra's offer of a partial return to democracy was soundly rejected by opposition groups at the weekend. The King had asked the Opposition to recommend a new Prime Minister; he said elections should be held as soon as possible, to return power to the people. But the Opposition leaders said the King's offer was inadequate - a view seemingly shared by many of the protestors on the streets of the capital. They are planning another coordinated march tomorrow, Tuesday. The King's statement was meant to be a chance to end the strike and protests that have crippled the capital over two weeks. International observers including the US, the UN, China and, importantly, India, had welcomed the King's statement as a step in the right direction. But others believe it may have come too late. Two weeks ago this was a political protest. But with each day that passes it is becoming a popular movement - one that may not be satisfied without significant change.”
Much prayer needed by Christians throughout the world - not least for our YFC workers there led by Nico T - that the needed changes will come peacefully and without further bloodshed and death.
PRAYER THIS WEEK
Monday - Turkey, and Iran
Tuesday - Slovakia, Albania, and Italy
Wednesday - Ukraine, Belarus, and Armenia
Thursday - Latvia, and Jordan
Friday - Tunisia, and Libya
In His grip and grace.
By now all of us will have celebrated Easter – those in the West on April 16, in the East on April 23 – and now we can, and we need to, live in the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the glorious proof of our faith – we follow someone who said that He was God, and incidentally, that he could be killed and would be raised again – and was. If the second part was true, the first part must be also!
WELCOME
The new National Director of YFC Denmark took up his post on 1 April, and we give a warm welcome to Harm Jan Kjaer Feijer. If you wish to contact him, you can do so on harmjan@yfc.dk
WELCOME BACK
Although he never really left (as he is still heavily engaged in YFC through his work with The Alumni Association) we are delighted to have Jean-Jacques Weiler back working in the Area. He has accepted an offer from the Eastern Europe Region to become their chaplain, giving around 9 weeks a year to visiting the EE countries, spending time with the staff and bringing encouragement and the wisdom of his more than forty years’ experience with YFC.
LOOKING AHEAD
If you’re a soccer fan you’ll know that the biggest thing this year is the World Cup, starting in approximately 46 days, 3 hours and 40 minutes at the time of writing, according to the FIFA official site, http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/ YFC Germany, along with many other Christian organisations, is gearing up for a huge effort to reach the millions of spectators and fans who will be flocking to Germany. Today, 24th April, the state of Hessen will hold a gala for representatives of all 32 countries which will take part in the World Cup in Wiesbaden. Daniela Sudmeier, in charge of their preparations, says that around 400-500 people are expected, and that iThemba, the YFC dance and drama team from South Africa, (who will be the next hosts of the Cup in 2010) will do the final presentation of the evening with 3 dances, an introduction of their ministry and a personal testimony. What an excellent opportunity to have the Gospel right at the heart of this completely-secular competition!
In an additional blessing, the official who set up this engagement, who is in charge of all projects around the World Cup, was so impressed when he saw iThemba perform recently and heard what they did that he wants to introduce them to the Ministry of Education in the State of Hessen, as he believes their message of peace and reconciliation can play a vital role in the prevention of violence and in the strengthening of the self-image of students, especially immigrant students.
Pray that the Gala Evening tonight will go well, and that iThemba will give the performance of their lives, with no problems with the sound, backing-music, forgetting of lines or moves, or nervousness, and that people will be deeply moved.
OUTSIDE OUR AREA
In Asia-Pacific, the country of Nepal is teetering on the edge of what may be a cataclysmic social and political upheaval, as the king tries to hold onto his absolute power and the people demonstrate for democracy. Yesterday at least 35 people were hurt in clashes with police as an estimated 100,000 people demonstrated on the streets of Kathmandu, there is a daytime as well as night-time curfew in certain areas of the capital, and great uncertainty about the future. ABC Radio in Australia put out the following this morning on their AM programme: “King Gyanendra's offer of a partial return to democracy was soundly rejected by opposition groups at the weekend. The King had asked the Opposition to recommend a new Prime Minister; he said elections should be held as soon as possible, to return power to the people. But the Opposition leaders said the King's offer was inadequate - a view seemingly shared by many of the protestors on the streets of the capital. They are planning another coordinated march tomorrow, Tuesday. The King's statement was meant to be a chance to end the strike and protests that have crippled the capital over two weeks. International observers including the US, the UN, China and, importantly, India, had welcomed the King's statement as a step in the right direction. But others believe it may have come too late. Two weeks ago this was a political protest. But with each day that passes it is becoming a popular movement - one that may not be satisfied without significant change.”
Much prayer needed by Christians throughout the world - not least for our YFC workers there led by Nico T - that the needed changes will come peacefully and without further bloodshed and death.
PRAYER THIS WEEK
Monday - Turkey, and Iran
Tuesday - Slovakia, Albania, and Italy
Wednesday - Ukraine, Belarus, and Armenia
Thursday - Latvia, and Jordan
Friday - Tunisia, and Libya
In His grip and grace.
posted by John Duncan @ 2:17 pm
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