PRN staff is teaching on peace in Kyrgstan
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Vladimir Ubeivolc, director of PRN Eastern-Europe, just came back from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. There, he was a main speaker for a conference on Social Responsibility of the Church.
He himself led plenary presentations on Integral mission, and classes on youth ministry. Other topics of the workshops: serving to the victims of violence (held by our Ukrainian staff member Oksana Gratziuta), rehabilitation of drug addicted people, law and human rights in Kyrgyzstan, and others.
The conference was organized by a coalition of the pastors, who see this need and raised the money from their churches and covered the rest of the costs through the fees from the participants. Together with Tearfund Kyrgyzstan, PRN Europe was able to conduct this conference at which 180 leaders participated, starting from Catholic to a few Lutherans and ending with right wing Charismatic ministers.
The participants came from all regions of Kyrgyzstan, but also a few from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and even Mongolia.
"The atmosphere of the conference was incredibly good" says Ubeivolc, "people are eager to learn and eager to apply their knowledge in ministry."
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Peace conference in the war zone
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For 4 years, Ukraine has been in a state of military conflict. According to the United Nations by mid-December 2017, already 33,249 people have been victims of the conflict in the Ukraine, including 10,056 deaths (and in this number also 2,181 civilians). As of November 2016, 1.5 million people fled to other countries.
But not all losses can be measured in numbers. The consequences of this war, the end of which is not visible, certainly affects the mental state of not only fighters, but also ordinary citizens.
"We all need peace!" - Over the past four years, this phrase has become blatant audible. Is this peace possible? How to find the inner peace in terrible conditions? How to find a way to reconciliation (with yourself, with relatives, with God)? How to help people who are mentally traumatized? How to restore the integrity of the individual in the conditions of military operations and mass depression?
We will talk about this at the conference "Carriers of the Peace" on February 16-18, 2017 in the city of Druzhkovka, Donetsk region.
During the conference it is planned to consider the following topics:
- Reconciliation of man with God;
- Restoration and preservation of internal integrity in the conditions of the military crisis;
- The need for reconciliation for the development of society;
- The church is the centre of reconciliation.
The guests and speakers of the conference will also be:
- Vladimir Ubeivolc (Chisinau, Moldova) - Ph.D., University of Wales; a teacher of missionary at the University of Gracia, Chisinau; the pastor of the church "Light of the World", the director of the charitable organization "The Beginning of Life";
- Oksana Gritsyuta (Rivne, Ukraine) - psychologist, psychotherapist, teacher of the Department of Social Work of the Open International University "Ukraine", active minister of the "Tabernacle of Awakening" Church, organizer of training seminars, conferences, trainings, organizer of the movement "Media of Peace" in Ukraine .
- Olga Chobotar (Alexandria, Ukraine) - counsellor, consultant, teacher of seminars and conferences;
- Sheryl Haw (UK) - International Director of the global movement Micah
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Please pray that the agreed ceasefire will be kept, as well as for healing of injuries and people who can become bridge builders for peace.
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In January, representatives met to found the first PRN Foundation. In the near future further information will be provided starting from when, how and where the foundation can fulfill its tasks.
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Help us to conduct the conference!
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We are in the process of setting up a foundation in order to support the assistance for peace initiatives. More information is available upon request.
- To provide a place of dialogue where participants can share, reflect and consult on the issues surrounding conflicts in respective countries.
- To understand the theological and practical approaches to healing wounds from ethnic conflict, and enable the church to understand and respond to their calling to be Shalom bringers / ministry of reconciliation.
- To develop a coalition of partners and individuals committed to champion peace and reconciliation.
- To develop a training hub for integral mission which focuses on reducing poverty, injustice and conflict.
- To raise awareness and expose the issues that underpins conflicts in Africa
- To listen to the views of the victims of violence and how issues of violence affect them.
- To develop a position paper. This will include action that participants are going to take corporately and as individuals to promote peace.
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1.-4.03. Toronto, Canada
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Meeting to develop PRN Canada
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19.02.-22.02. Dallas, Texas (USA) |
Potential meeting for a closer collaboration with BL4P |
25.03. - 01. 04.
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Evangelism in Paraguay + meeting for a potential founding of PRN Brazil and Paraguay
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Reconciliation & Peace, Kigali, Rwanda
26 February - 15 March 2018: Healing Hearts, Changing Nations: The International School of Reconciliation for Peace Practitioners is hosting a workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. Click here to download the flyer and here for more information.
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Thank you for your support and prayer – we pray that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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On behalf of your PRN team,
Manuel Böhm,
Director of Network Development
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