EU-DIGEST

RCCG leader speaks hope to 60,000 Christians assembled in London - by Maria McKay

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was in London last night to reinvigorate Christians for mission and cast off doom and gloom in the midst of the credit crunch. Speaking ahead of the event, Pastor Enoch Adeboye told Christian Today it was imperative that believers look to God to help them through difficult times. Pastor Adeboye said he believed Europe was on the brink of a major revival. Festival of Life has grown to become the largest all night non-denominational gathering of Christians in Europe, gathering tens of thousands year-on-year since it first began in 1996. The night features preaching, worship and prayer for revival.

Labels: Britain, Christians, EU, God, Religion

Iraqi Christians fleeing murder in Mosul - by Martin Barillas

The Barnabas Fund, a charitable of the worldwide Anglican Communion, reported on October 13 that Iraqi Christians are fleeing Mosul as Islamic extremists launch campaign against them in Iraq. Said Ni’ma Noail, a 50 year-old civil servant, "We left everything behind us. We took only our souls." Thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled the city of Mosul in northern Iraq over the past week after Sunni Muslim extremists launched a deadly campaign to remove the Christian community from the city. Christian houses have been blown up, and at least 744 Christian families (approximately 3,750 people) have left their homes to find refuge with relatives or in churches and Christian centers in seven towns and villages to the north and east of Mosul. Some are sleeping in their cars. They are in desperate need of food, clothes, bedding, items for personal hygiene and other basic necessities.

Labels: Christians, Iraq

Christians and sex - One preacher's message: Have hotter sex - by Brian Alexander

"Beam, a portly, silver-haired basso profundo dressed in khaki slacks, a sweater vest and brown tasseled loafers that make him look like a retired country-club golf pro, walks to the front of the room and proceeds to tell the men in the audience how to make their semen taste better. Sweet stuff works, he says, which provides a built-in excuse because "then you can say, 'I'm eating this cake for you, baby!'"

The San Diego Church of Christ is Beam’s sponsoring group today, but as far as he is concerned it could be any conservative Christian denomination. The message would be the same: Married Christians ought to be having more — and hotter — sex. Welcome to the world of hot Christian love".

Labels: Christianity, Christians, Sex

Germany to Push EU to Take In Iraqi Christian Refugees

Germany's interior minister got backing from the country's top security officials to press the EU to open up to Christian refugees from Iraq. But the ministers failed to agree on a new attempt to ban the far-right NPD.

Federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble got the green light from the country's 16 top state security officials to start a European Union initiative for the acceptance of Iraqi Christians as refugees. Schaeuble will make the proposal at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg on Friday, April 18.

Labels: Christians, EU, Germany, Iraq

Christian women in Basra forced to wear Islamic headscarf - by Daniel Blake

”Christian women in Basra are being threatened and intimidated into wearing the traditional Muslim headscarf, or hijab. The Times has reported on the case of Zeena, 21, who on her first day at Basra University was met by a man who told her, along with three other Christian girls, to cover their heads with the hijab.Graffiti adorns the city warning women not to go outside without following Islamic dress codes. According to the newspaper, one such message said, “Whoever disobeys will be punished. God is our witness that we have conveyed this message.”

Labels: Christians, Iraq, Musllim

US Elections - A Pledge I'd Like Every Christian Leader to Make - by Mark Daniels

"I promise not to endorse any political candidate, platform, or party in the 2008 election cycle. I promise instead to use my influence and my recognized position of leader to pursue the mission of the Church, making disciples for Jesus Christ. When we hold Jesus captive to particular philosophies, parties, or candidates, we're really guilty of a kind of idolatry in which we make Jesus over into our image. God isn't a Republican. God isn't a Democrat."

Labels: Christians, US elections

Christian Conference Focuses on Muslims in Europe

Christians from across Europe gathered in Leicester earlier in the month to engage in the issue of being Muslim within Europe. The Joint Committee for Relations with Muslims in Europe of the Conference of European Churches and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences met from 3 to 6 May at St Philip’s Centre in Leicester, a Christian centre for study and engagement in a multi-faith society. The committee met two Muslim groups currently engaged in interfaith dialogue made up of seven men and three women from the Muslim community in Leicester and the staff from the Islamic Foundation in Markfield, Leicestershire.

Discussions with the groups focussed on the issues of being Muslim within Europe and the training of Imams and Christian clergy.

Labels: Christians, Europe, Muslims

International Consultation Challenges Protestant Churches in Europe -Jennifer Gold

The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe and the Evangelical Academy in the Rhineland have hosted an international consultation on social challenges for Protestant churches in Europe. The CPCE said that the meeting, which took place from 18 to 20 April, marked the start of a study phase that will initially last one year.

Labels: Christians, Europe

Easter in Europe - by Loui Galicia

Filipino workers in Europe are surprised to find that Holy Thursday and Good Friday are normal working days here.Unlike in the Philippines, there are no traditional rites and customs during the commemoration of Holy Week in Europe.Holy Week in European countries is a time of celebration and feasting. Malls and shops are jampacked during this time of the year as shops offer as much as 30 percent discount on products. In Europe, Easter Monday is the most important religious event observed by both Catholics and Protestants. It is when almost all businesses close shop for a holiday. Since Easter Monday is a big holiday, people do their shopping and groceries on either Holy Thursday or Good Friday to refill their pantries for the long weekend. And this is not just because there will be no store open on Easter Monday. Easter Sunday here is celebrated like Christmas when families hold reunions and an extravagant Easter lunch is always planned in advance. Easter in Europe is mainly for children and the young at heart. Children wake up on Easter morning and play Easter egg hunts. The whole family also goes to hear Easter Mass before going home to a sumptuous feast.

Labels: Christians, Easter, Europe