For Immediate Release
2 May 2023
CHRISTIAN CHARITY LEADER URGES UK CHURCH TO PRAY FOR RUSSIAN CIVILIANS CAUGHT UP IN THE WAR WITH UKRAINE
THE leader of a UK Christian charity, heavily involved in providing refuge and support for Ukrainian refugees via partner churches, has called on the UK church to pray for Russian civilians caught up in the crisis.
James Vaughton, CEO of Bristol-based Transform Europe Network (TEN), has visited partner churches and charities providing practical support for women and children fleeing the war-torn country on many occasions since the Russian invasion in February 2022. He is also in regular contact via Zoom and WhatsApp with church leaders. But, he says, on a pre-Easter visit to Montenegro – to which Ukrainians have fled, he had something of a ‘light-bulb’ moment which challenged his own pre-conceptions.
Mr Vaughton was visiting a church in the town of Bar in the country where the Church has grown from five congregations to seven in the last five years, amongst a population of 630,000. Sitting in a prayer meeting, he says his eyes were open to the wider needs of the war.
He said: “In that small, but growing church, I sat as 10 people prayed for all caught up in the war. Deep earnest prayers. Passionate, informed. Pleading with God to being peace. But then I realised that I was sat amongst Montenegrins and Russian Christians – praying together, and working alongside each other!
“Despite everything that was going on, because of their common faith in Jesus, here was the ‘Church’ uniting Russians with those in neighbouring countries. Uniting, despite Russia’s political leaders determined to wage war, and bring chaos and terror amongst neighbouring countries.
“When you are sat by Russians whose family are currently in Russia, and have literally no way of effectively protesting against President Putin, and whose cousins and other family members have been conscripted to fight against Ukraine, it brings it all up close, and challenges attitudes.
“I found myself checking my own feelings towards Russians, and asking when was the last time I actually prayed for the millions of innocent Russians civilisations caught up in this war? They are really feeling the impact of the West’s sanctions and yet, because of the fearful regime, if they speak out publicly, they’d be arrested, punished, or worse.”
Mr Vaughton is therefore calling on churches across the UK to pray for the innocent Russian civilizations – as well as the Ukrainians affected by the war. He said: “We must pray earnestly for peace – especially with renewed and intense activity on the Ukrainian eastern border. But I also want to encourage church leaders to ask church members not to forget Russian civilians. Few support the actions of President Putin. Almost all want peace. We need to pray for them, and for the Christian Church in Russia, whether public or underground, that they might have courage and use every means at their disposal to call for peace.”
TEN’s partner churches across Eastern Europe are providing aid to Ukrainian refugees in the following ways:-
For details of information on TEN’s partner churches working to support Ukrainian refugees, visit https://ten-uk.org/crisis-fund
ENDS
For further information/interview:
James Vaughton CEO 07891 908950 james.vaughton@ten-uk.org
Revd Paul Eddy (PR) 07923 653781 paul@pauleddy.uk
Picture Note:
Pictures of James Vaughton visiting the Montenegro Church are available from paul@pauleddy.uk
Editor’s Notes:
TEN began in the 1960s under the name of ‘Eurovangelism’, as a ‘heart cry’ response to the desperate plight of Christians suffering under communism in Eastern Europe.
David Foster, a travelling journalist, artist and evangelical Christian, started writing articles about the amazing believers he came across, and the various trials they faced in living out their faith. Support came flooding in, both financial and prayerful. Eurovangelism was born to support beleaguered European Christian communities. It was a ground-breaking approach of assistance to the indigenous church-planting movement, as opposed to the traditional model of sending missionaries abroad.
In 2021, Transform Europe Network (TEN) replaced Eurovangelism as the operating name
to represent the holistic, European-wide and cross-denominational Christian network it had become. Today, TEN, based in Bristol, works through 60 Partner Churches across 10 Eastern Europe countries. In the year 2021/22, TEN invested over £600,000 in its partner ministries of compassion, evangelism and church planting. Since the war in Ukraine started, TEN has sent nearly £100,000 in grants to those serving people affected by the war in Ukraine.
For further information concerning our work, and financial accounts, visit www.ten-uk.org
For Immediate Release
4 July 2022
CHRISTIAN CHARITY LEADER URGES UK CHURCH NOT TO GIVE UP PRAYING & SUPPORTING UKRANIAN REFUGEES AS APATHY SETS IN
The leader of Bristol-based Christian charity Transform Europe Network (TEN) has appealed to UK Churches not to give up praying for, and supporting Ukrainian refugees, having just returned from a trip to Moldova.
James Vaughton, CEO of TEN has been visiting partner churches and charities providing practical support for women and children fleeing the war-torn country, many arriving in Moldova with just the clothes they wear.
James said: “I’m very conscious that here in the UK, we’re seeing diesel rising to £2 a litre and inflation already over 9-per-cent. But I’ve just returned from Moldova where their citizens have been open-hearted, compassionate, self-less and sacrificial to refugees, at a time when their own inflation rate is 30-per-cent!
“Moldovans are really struggling to make ends meet. The last thing Ukrainian refugees, and the churches and charities supporting them needs right now, is for the UK church to start to reduce their prayer and financial interest. I urge all church leaders to ensure that opportunities to offer Christian compassion and prayer for Ukrainians is kept at the top of our church’s prayer agenda on a weekly basis.”
Amongst others, Mr Vaughton visited TEN’s long-established partner ‘Beginning of Life’ (BoL) in the nation’s capital, Chisinau. There, Ukrainian refugees are integrated into the charity’s programmes, and offered a wide range of support, including:-
BoL has a developed skills-training programme, enabling locals to learn how to make high-quality toys and gifts to be sold locally, across Moldova and internationally. Mr Vaughton said the charity was integrating refugees into its programme.
“At a time when it would be very easy for BoL to focus solely on Moldovan citizens own needs and workforce skills, it has deliberately included refugees into their ‘Art Story’ programme,” he explained. “Over time, these women and girls develop skills which they can later use to make money, and start to provide for themselves. The quality of goods produced is high-end, and sold both in Moldova and overseas.”
But Mr Vaughton warns that volunteers and charity workers are exhausted by the relentless flow of refugees, and the need. “With no end in sight, all our partners across eastern Europe are focussed now on the middle and long-term vision of supporting refugees as part of their ministries. Despite their exhaustion, they know that even if the war ended tomorrow, it would be months, if not years before refugees could return.”
“For many, their homes have been destroyed, as have schools and local facilities. TEN partners, and all Christian charities working in eastern Europe, are going to need the long-term, committed support of UK Christians if they are to continue to show Christian compassion and the love of God.”
Since the start of the war, TEN has raised over £130,000 to aid Ukrainian refugees through its partners.
Like many charities, TEN are now trying to work out how to support partners for the medium term. TEN is talking to partners in Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria about how they can strategically support refugees as the war grinds on, and there is a need to move beyond emergency aid to support that builds resilience and sustainability.
One way in which churches can help is to join TEN’s 30th anniversary Harvest For The Hungry (HFTH) food parcel appeal. Since 1992, the charity has sent hundreds of thousands of parcels and hot meals, worth over £2.5million to partner charities and churches in eastern Europe. This year, HFTH will also support Ukrainian refugees.
For further information, visit www.harvestforthehungry.org
ENDS.
For further information/interview:
James Vaughton CEO:
07891 908950
james.vaughton@ten-uk.org
Revd Paul Eddy (PR):
07923 653781
paul@pauleddy.uk
Picture Note:
Pictures of James Vaughton visiting Ukrainian refugees and BoL staff, and some of the toys and goods produced by volunteers and refugees at the charity in Chisinau, Moldava, are available from paul@pauleddy.uk
Editor’s Notes:
TEN began in the 1960s under the name of ‘Eurovangelism’, as a ‘heart cry’ response to the desperate plight of Christians suffering under communism in Eastern Europe.
David Foster, a travelling journalist, artist and evangelical Christian, started writing articles about the amazing believers he came across, and the various trials they faced in living out their faith. Support came flooding in, both financial and prayerful. Eurovangelism was born to support beleaguered European Christian communities. It was a ground-breaking approach of assistance to the indigenous church-planting movement, as opposed to the traditional model of sending missionaries abroad.
In 2021, Transform Europe Network (TEN) replaced Eurovangelism as the
operating name to represent the holistic, European-wide and cross-denominational Christian network it had become. Today, TEN, based in Bristol, works through 60 Partner Churches across 10 Eastern Europe countries. In the year 2020/21 we made grants totalling £569,340.
For further information concerning our work, and financial accounts, visit www.ten-uk.org
For Immediate Release
14 June 2022
BRISTOL-BASED CHRISTIAN CHARITY APPEALING TO CHURCHES & SCHOOLS TO HELP UKRANIAN REFUGEES THIS HARVEST
A BRISTOL-BASED Christian charity is appealing to churches and schools to use this year’s Harvest Festival season to help feed Ukraine refugees fleeing to neighbouring eastern European Countries, where inflation in some is nearly 30%.
For the past 30 years, Transform Europe Network (TEN) has sent hundreds of thousands of parcels and hot meals, worth over £2.5million, to partner charities and churches in eastern Europe. Now, with the UNHCR estimating 10-million Ukrainians fleeing the war-torn country, TEN is extending its reach to help provide food aid to refugees being cared for by TEN partner churches.
James Vaughton, CEO of TEN said: “Here in the UK, every individual and family is feeling the pinch of the rise in the cost of living, including fuel. But in eastern Europe, not only are they coping with the economic impact of Covid, but many eastern European countries we are working in are also offering hospitality to Ukrainian refugees. In Moldova, where our partner churches have an active refugee programme, inflation is currently at 29%, and Moldova is already Europe’s poorest country.
“This Harvest (September), we want to ensure that as well as meeting our existing partner’s needs to their local communities, we can provide food aid, so refugees are well fed this autumn and winter.”
TEN is suggesting to churches/schools that in addition to any local Harvest food project, they might do a ‘one-off’ fundraising event for TEN’s ‘Harvest For The Hungry’ Appeal. Through decades-worth of partnerships with local churches, TEN says it will guarantee all donations gets to where most needed. TEN says that due to local purchasing power, just £15 will feed a family for one week.
Mr Vaughton added: “Harvest is an ideal time for people to think about the realities of those living in poverty. Maybe Christians belong to a home group and would love to watch a short video and discuss issues of poverty. Or a church would like to book a HFTH speaker to hear how in recent years, donations from churches made a huge local impact. Or, a church youth group, or a secondary school might organise a fundraising carwash, knowing every penny would feed a young person in eastern Europe. This year, in addition to the Ukrainian refugees, we are also highlighting the plight of Europe’s 10 million Roma people who are severely marginalised and often persecuted.”
Donations at fundraising events/in church can be made via texts, the TEN website, or gift envelopes can be provided.
TEN has a wide range of free resources to help would-be church or school participants take part. Online resources, including a short film, PowerPoint slides with stories of hope, along with a poster and graphics for 2022 harvest events can be downloaded from www.harvestforthehungry.org
ENDS.
For further information/interview:
James Vaughton CEO:
07891 908950
james.vaughton@ten-uk.org
Melanie Griffiths:
0117 9615161
melanie.griffiths@ten-uk.org
Revd Paul Eddy (PR):
07923 653781
paul@pauleddy.uk
Picture Note:
Pictures of James’ visit to Romania, meeting Ukrainian refugees, etc. can be obtained from www.ten-uk.org/press
Editor’s Notes:
Inflation: Inflation in many of the countries where TEN’s partner churches operate and help Ukrainian refugees is much higher than in the UK:
● Moldova 29%
● Romania 14.5%
● Bulgaria 14.4% (April 2022).
Moldova’s rate is shockingly high, as the nation is Europe’s poorest. TEN is in regular contact with its partners, whose message is that prices for basic commodities are increasing weekly. In Bulgaria, one partner told TEN staff “until recently, a bottle of cooking oil cost BGN 3, but now it is BGN 6.” That is a 100% price rise!
TEN History: began in the 1960s under the name of ‘Eurovangelism’, as a ‘heart cry’ response to the desperate plight of Christians suffering under communism in Eastern Europe.
David Foster, a travelling journalist, artist and evangelical Christian, started writing articles about the amazing believers he came across, and the various trials they faced in living out their faith. Support came flooding in, both financial and prayerful. Eurovangelism was born to support beleaguered European Christian communities. It was a ground-breaking approach of assistance to the indigenous church-planting movement, as opposed to the traditional model of sending missionaries abroad.
In 2018, Transform Europe Network (TEN) replaced Eurovangelism as the
operating name to represent the holistic, European-wide and cross-denominational Christian network it had become. Today, TEN, based in Bristol, works through 60 Partner Churches across 10 Eastern Europe countries. In the year 2020/21 we made grants totalling £569,340.
For further information concerning our work, and financial accounts, visit www.ten-uk.org
BRISTOL CHARITY LEADER TELLS OF HIS CONCERNS FOR UKRAINIAN REGUGEE WOMEN OVER HUMAN TRAFICKING FOLLOWING VISIT TO ROMANIA
THE leader of a Bristol-based Christian charity has returned from visiting Ukrainian refugees in Romania, and says the vulnerability of women towards human trafficking, and the levels of anxiety amongst teenagers over their futures are two of the main challenges he encountered.
James Vaughton, CEO of Transform Europe Network (TEN) was on a regular visit to the charity’s Romanian partners and projects this month when he was able to spend time with refugees from across Ukraine, of all ages, and listen to their stories.
James said: “Women and young girls feel very vulnerable – many staying indoors in their temporary accommodation, not wanting to go out. Our church partners ensure that volunteers must spend considerable time with them, seeking to address their personal health needs and offer reassurance and safety. But the number of hours they spend indoors is leading to isolation and loneliness. They feel very vulnerable and don’t trust men, so our partner church’s ‘woman to woman’ support is vital.”
In the first five weeks of the war starting, TEN raised over £120,000 for Ukrainian relief – one of the charity’s largest-ever emergency appeal responses in its 55 year history. It has enabled the charity to support Ukrainians in many ways, including medical and personal health supplies, food and accommodation, a mini-bus to help collect refugees from the boarder, take them to processing centres and where possible, to an onward destination. He says the charity’s long-term relationships with churches across countries neighbouring Ukraine means the charity can direct funds very specifically.
James said: “When I was in Romania, a text came through from a Ukrainian pastor to one of our partner church leaders. It was a list of very specific items they needed to help Ukrainians which had fled their hometowns. I was able to accompany our contact to the pharmacy and buy medicines, and exactly what was needed for that group and the next day, the goods were transported back into Ukraine.” For security reasons James is unable to give exact locations of where he stayed, some of the projects he visited and where in Ukraine the charity’s relief is being directed.
However, whilst visiting partner churches in the Constanta region of Romania, James sat down with groups of Ukrainian teenagers. Through an interpreter he heard their stories. He explained: “Young people, many of whom are in school or in their early 20s, had to flee and now face very uncertain futures. They have no idea when they might return, and if that is possible, what there will be for them. They are asking whether they should try to settle in their new refugee country, or move further West? It is a stage of life normally full of opportunities and possibilities and yet, it had been denied them.
“On the other hand, they, and charity leaders talking to them, are very conscious that if all the educated young people leave Ukraine for good, there will literally be a ‘brain-drain’, denying the reformed Ukraine of much-needed professional women and men necessary to rebuild for the future. They are having to make huge decisions about their futures, and under huge pressure. Our partner church volunteers just hang out with them, listen and try to give them time, space and a listening ear.”
James says that whilst many refugees are currently housed in hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation, the holiday season in eastern Europe is soon to start. Owners of these properties will need them vacated so they can get the much-needed seasonal income on which they rely all year. Where tens of thousands of refugees will go is not yet clear.
James’ lasting memory is how life for a refugee creates such anxiety – even over the most basic things in life. He said: “It’s so hard for us to really put ourselves into the shoes of a Ukrainian refugee. So many things we take for granted here, like taking the car to the garage, or going to the dentist – or other things that happen in life where we have the resources on hand – are just not easily available. They are in a new country, with little or no money, and don’t speak the language. That creates a lot of day-to-day anxiety – on top of all the major future and family decision they have to make. Thankfully our partner churches can help, but the need is vast.”
If you would like to support the work of TEN’s partners in Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria and Montenegro working alongside Ukrainian refugees, visit www.ukrainecrisis.org.uk
ENDS.
For further information/interview:
James Vaughton CEO:
07891 908950
james.vaughton@ten-uk.org
Revd Paul Eddy (PR):
07923 653781
paul@pauleddy.uk
Picture Note:
Pictures of James’ visit to Romania, meeting Ukrainian refugees, etc. can be obtained from www.ten-uk.org/press
A Jpeg head picture of James Vaughton is available from paul@pauleddy.uk
Editor’s Notes:
TEN began in the 1960s under the name of ‘Eurovangelism’, as a ‘heart cry’ response to the desperate plight of Christians suffering under communism in Eastern Europe.
David Foster, a travelling journalist, artist and evangelical Christian, started writing articles about the amazing believers he came across, and the various trials they faced in living out their faith. Support came flooding in, both financial and prayerful. Eurovangelism was born to support beleaguered European Christian communities. It was a ground-breaking approach of assistance to the indigenous church-planting movement, as opposed to the traditional model of sending missionaries abroad.
In 2021, Transform Europe Network (TEN) replaced Eurovangelism as the
operating name to represent the holistic, European-wide and cross-denominational Christian network it had become. Today, TEN, based in Bristol, works through 60 Partner Churches across 10 Eastern Europe countries. In the year 2020/21 we made grants totalling £569,340.
For further information concerning our work, and financial accounts, visit www.ten-uk.org
For Immediate Release
28 April 2022
BRISTOL-BASED CHRISTIAN CHARITY LAUNCHES 30TH ANIVERSARY FOOD PARCEL APPEAL FOR EASTERN EUROPE
A BRISTOL-BASED Christian charity has launched its 30th Appeal to provide much-needed food parcels for Eastern Europe, after sending hundreds of thousands of parcels and hot meals worth over £2.5million since 1992!
Transform Europe Network (TEN), gathered supporters yesterday afternoon (27 APR) at Crofts End Church in Bristol, and via live-stream, to kick-start what they hope will be their biggest ever annual food aid programme. Speakers included ‘Harvest For The Hungry’ founder Derek Wade from Kettering, Carol Sharman from Ridgeway Methodist Church, a UK Harvest partner church involved in the appeal for many years, and a video message recorded especially for the event, from Slavko Hadzic, leader of a partner church in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Charity supporters heard that following violent flare ups in April 1992 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnian War resulted in 2.4 million people attempting to flee the conflict, and a further 2 million internally displaced. Responding, the charity collected food, clothes and aid from churches across England, and volunteers drove lorries to the war-torn and neighbouring countries. TEN used its well-established links with partner churches in the region to ensure that aid got to those most in need.
The provision of food for the hungry in the Balkans and eastern Europe has continued via an annual ‘Harvest For The Hungry’ Appeal. In the early years, teams of volunteer drove food parcels across the borders. These days, with real-time international money transfers, and bulk purchasing via local retailers better value for money, TEN raises financial donations from churches, schools and individuals to provide soup kitchens, hot meals and food parcels as needed. Last year, TEN delivered the equivalent of 8,000 meals to individuals/families via just under 30 partner churches.
This year, TEN aims to make the 30th Anniversary Appeal its biggest year yet by asking existing partner churches across the UK to introduce the Appeal to neighbouring churches, and individual Christians ask their friends to donate.
Commenting on the 30th Anniversary Celebration and launch event, James Vaughton, CEO of TEN said: “Each year, TEN’s partners distribute food to hungry families and widows who rely on assistance. However, the need in 2022 is far greater. Ukrainian refugees need food as they rely on the generosity and kindness of strangers to support them. And a major challenge facing them, and the poorer people in Eastern Europe, is that the war, and the rising cost of fuel, have pushed up the cost of living.”
“TEN has always stood with our partners to help them meet the needs of the hungry. The amazing thing about ‘Harvest for the Hungry’ is that it consistently meets the physical, social and spiritual needs of people across south and eastern Europe. Just £15 will feed a family in easter Europe for a week.”
“We are grateful for the support of so many over 30 years. In this our anniversary year, we look forward to welcoming onboard many more churches and individuals who want to give, knowing that their donations go to those most in need. Because of our history and our partners on the ground in eastern.” Europe, we can guarantee that.”
To watch the launch event, visit (www.youtube.com/transformeuropenetwork/live) ,and for further information about ‘Harvest For The Hungry’ 30th Appeal, (www.harvestforthehungry.org).
ENDS.
For further information/interview:
James Vaughton CEO:
07891 908950
james.vaughton@ten-uk.org
Revd Paul Eddy (PR):
07923 653781
paul@pauleddy.uk
Picture Note:
Pictures of James’ visit to Romania, meeting Ukrainian refugees, etc. can be obtained from www.ten-uk.org/press
Editor’s Notes:
TEN began in the 1960s under the name of ‘Eurovangelism’, as a ‘heart cry’ response to the desperate plight of Christians suffering under communism in Eastern Europe.
David Foster, a travelling journalist, artist and evangelical Christian, started writing articles about the amazing believers he came across, and the various trials they faced in living out their faith. Support came flooding in, both financial and prayerful. Eurovangelism was born to support beleaguered European Christian communities. It was a ground-breaking approach of assistance to the indigenous church-planting movement, as opposed to the traditional model of sending missionaries abroad.
In 2017, Transform Europe Network (TEN) replaced Eurovangelism as the operating name to represent the holistic, European-wide and cross-denominational Christian network it had become. Today, TEN, based in Bristol, works through 60 Partner Churches across 10 Eastern Europe countries. In the year 2020/21 we made grants totalling £569,340.
For further information concerning our work, and financial accounts, visit www.ten-uk.org
