TEN May News - Personal Encounter Brings Transformation

Hello! Welcome to our May News. It is the penultimate day to call it that but better late than never, we hope. Thank you for your support and interest in our work. It means a lot to us. We hope you are encouraged, challenged and inspired as you read on. Here's what's coming up in our May news: Ken at Kinmel Bay - Our Partners Manager joins a partnering church to 'Celebrate Missions' Unspeakable Joy at Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre - Aleksandar shares how Christ found and freed him Connecting with Partners in Albania and Kosovo - James meets up with God's dedicated people in the Balkans Banner Photo: Berat, Albania Ken at Kinmel Bay Ken Millwood - you might know him as "Ken at TEN" - had the privilege of heading up to North Wales last weekend. Kinmel Bay Church, which has a longstanding partnership with one of our partners in Moldova, invited us to join with other mission organisations they support at their 'Celebrate Missions' weekend, so we could share about our work. Thank you, KBC! Ken says: It was great to represent TEN at Kinmel Bay Church. It was encouraging to update the church on our work, and for TEN to be prayed for at the prayer meeting for all the missions the church supports. It was lovely to meet with some long-term supporters and others who have heard about TEN more recently. The church was very welcoming and hosted all of us reps in such a friendly way. Then, on the Sunday evening, as I was in the area, it was a pleasure to pop along to speak to the men’s group at Gloddaeth Church, Llandudno - another church that supports our work. If you would like a representative of TEN to come and speak at your church or group, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We would love to visit you! Request a Speaker Unspeakable Joy at Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre is a residential centre for men caught in the powerful grip of addiction. The programme is centred on biblical principles so that the men are taught about the God who loves them. While some people's journeys end in tragedy, Rainbow Rehab has many stories of hope to share. Here is Aleksandar's story: I came to the rehab centre terrified and broken—I could barely recognise myself. But then, I saw something unexpected: people who used to be like me, living normal lives. That seemed like science fiction to me. I remember reading a book called 'In the Hands of My Heavenly Father.' It moved me deeply and inspired me to pray for the first time. Even though I didn’t believe in God, I prayed with all my heart, desperately crying out to Him. I didn’t believe in Jesus or that He died on the cross for me, like the guys at the centre told me. Still, I prayed. And He answered. I asked Jesus to reveal Himself to me, and I will never forget what happened next. At exactly 2:55 am, I woke up and saw Jesus standing there, looking at me. I was more terrified than I’d ever been in my life—my heartbeat felt like it reached my forehead. After some time, I calmed down, and He was no longer there. Eventually, I fell asleep. Not long after that, I was free from medication. For the first time in 12 years, I could sleep without pills and function throughout the day; I wasn’t anxious, depressed, or hopeless. Jesus has done so much in my life in such a short time—I can’t even imagine what more He has in store. That thought fills me with unspeakable joy. My daily prayer is that God would use me to reach others who are lost, like I once was— that broken people would come to Him and find refuge. Please pray for the Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre. Although they have set up projects to become financially independent and sustainable, they are currently struggling due to severe economic uncertainty in Serbia. About Serbia Connecting with Partners in Albania and Kosovo This week, James has been travelling in the Balkans, meeting partners and connections there. Today, James will spend time at the House of Hope in Kacanik. Here's what James had to say about getting out there.

I have been in Albania and I'm currently in Kosovo, spending time with our partners, and it's honestly the only way to really understand what is happening here and the importance of our partners' work. Yesterday, I sat and heard firsthand stories about young Albanian men (aged 15-19 years old) leaving the country. I met a mother who has not seen her son for 22 years. Our partners, Gjergji and Marinela Chomo, who run Mission Possible, shared their experiences. The work of Mission Possible Albania is so important because they try to help young people discover the hope of the gospel and how it can translate into a life of hope in Albania. About Albania This morning, in Kosovo, I've been to a rehabilitation centre where Arton, one of the team at Fellowship of The Lord's People served for a time. He is a former addict. The sacrifice that the guys who serve at the centre make is amazing. They literally give everything to serve Jesus. Having seen the transforming power of the Gospel in their own lives, they now live it out as they serve and love others. Members of Fellowship of the Lord's People in Pristina, Kosovo About Fellowship of the Lord's People Thank you so much for your support. We hope you are encouraged and inspired - you really make a difference. Be blessed! The TEN team.