Ukraine: Unrest and 'escalating tensions'
kraine's Prime Minister has called on the opposition to stop escalating political tensions, warning, ‘anybody found guilty of violating the constitution and laws will be punished.’ Mass street protests (the largest since the pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004) began over a week ago, sparked by the government's decision not to sign an association deal with the EU. The EU wants to forge closer ties with Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and three states in the Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. All these former Soviet states have remained to some extent in Russia's sphere of influence since the Cold War ended. Years of negotiations culminated in a summit in Lithuania on 28-29 November. Ukraine and Armenia pulled out of an association agreement. Once on the path towards EU membership, countries (Turkey for example) receive millions of euros in EU funding for development projects. Ukraine has a population of 45 million and is one of Europe's biggest countries, dwarfing the other five partner states.
Bosnia: Bishop demands end to discrimination against Catholics
‘Politicians from the West must put pressure on Bosnian politicians so that Catholic war refugees can also return to Bosnia at long last,’ said Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka Diocese, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Talking to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Komarica, chair of the Bishop's Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina, called on politicians to make sure refugees' basic rights are respected. According to the bishop, Catholics, who are ethnically Croats, have not received the same rights as Bosniaks and Serbsin the country. Bishop Komarica said: ‘Croatian Catholics must finally be put on an equal footing with the other two ethnic groups. They must be allowed to return from abroad and possibilities must be created for them to build up a life in their hometowns.’
Ukraine: Unrest and 'escalating tensions'
kraine's Prime Minister has called on the opposition to stop escalating political tensions, warning, ‘anybody found guilty of violating the constitution and laws will be punished.’ Mass street protests (the largest since the pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004) began over a week ago, sparked by the government's decision not to sign an association deal with the EU. The EU wants to forge closer ties with Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and three states in the Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. All these former Soviet states have remained to some extent in Russia's sphere of influence since the Cold War ended. Years of negotiations culminated in a summit in Lithuania on 28-29 November. Ukraine and Armenia pulled out of an association agreement. Once on the path towards EU membership, countries (Turkey for example) receive millions of euros in EU funding for development projects. Ukraine has a population of 45 million and is one of Europe's biggest countries, dwarfing the other five partner states.
Two Strategic Initiatives for the Next Generation and the United Nations
Last week, over 300 brothers and sisters in Christ from approximately 40 nations came together in the New York City area to pray for the children and youth of our world and for the efforts of the United Nations to help them. Our theme was "Children and Youth: Investing in the Future". Two unique and historic events - the Children in Prayer global consultation and the United Nations prayer initiative- both meeting end to end during the same week, carried that theme through all their sessions.
Here are some of the high points of both events:
- Hearing stirring and insightful presentations from our many gifted presenters.
- Praying with the children and youth participants over a huge inflatable globe for the nations and also an explosive spread of the Children in Prayer movement to the ends of the earth.
- Watching the kids being kids, having fun together and sometimes squirming on a large map of the world as they tried to concentrate fully. They also prayed, danced and shared moving words from the Lord with us during "Time with Abba".
- Stimulating workshops and regional sessions for both kids and adults as well as time spent in a specially decorated 24/7 prayer room.
- An affirming Skype call with Esther Ilnisky, "mother of the CiP movement".
- Strategic planning sessions and excursions to the Empire State Building to pray over New York and a tour of the U.N. to bless that complex, its personnel and efforts.
- Being challenged about the Next Generation and the possibility of a World Youth Prayer Assembly in 2015 or 2016.
- Hearing the testimony of one Korean church in New York that is impacting hundreds of thousands of children through inviting them to soccer games in stadia in several nations.
- Eating breakfast together in the U.N. Delegates Dining Room with ambassadors and U.N. staff to hear about the needs of children and youth; and to be led by children and youth in prayer for the Millennium Development Goals and by virtuoso students of Itzhak Perlman who played their violin and viola masterfully.
- Anointed worship of the Lord with all our hearts in the very heart of the United Nations.
- Praying there in the U.N. for a whole day, strongly and in agreement for the issues of youth and children- for orphans, those caught in trafficking, those in need of health, education, and employment, children trapped in war and refugee situations such as Syria, etc. You can see the 10 am session on November 20 inside the UN on this UN webcast link:
http://webtv.un.org/watch/the-united-nations-prayer-initiative/2859713384001/
- Fellowship with one another over meals and praying for one another's lives and ministries before departing.
Many said their lives and ministries were affected deeply and that they now intended to focus much more intentionally and energetically on the Next Generation in their countries. Here are some of the many comments:
"The CIP / UN Prayer initiative... was such a wonderful and worthwhile time of God's people coming together from across the nations. The first evening as we worshipped and sang "Worthy is the Lamb" together will stand out in my memory as a holy moment in time."
"I have come away uplifted andencouraged by what the Lord is doing across the nations at this time. Soglad and thankful that I came to New York. I'm so looking forward to all that the Lord is going to do in the future amongst the children here in Perth - literally the ends of the earth! I feel that is significant!!"
"I really thank you for involving me in the CiP UN Prayer Initiative. I am returning to Nigeria with a fresh passion and burden for children and youth."
-John Robb, IPC Chairman
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