Welcome to the ECI Annual Conference and Prayer Summit in April 2016

Invitation to the ECI Annual Conference and Prayer Summit

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Welcome to the ECI Annual Conference and Prayer Summit! Dear friends,

In previous years ECI has organised two conferences separately at different times of the year in Brussels: a policy conference in the autumn and a prayer conference in the spring. These conferences have together been instrumental in moving forward the work of ECI based on prayer, education and advocacy. This year we are running the two conferences consecutively; one conference will directly follow on after the other. Starting on Thursday 21 April we will host our “ECI Annual Policy Conference” in the European Parliament in Brussels with an ECI internal briefing session on the next morning of Friday 22 April. The “ECI Annual Prayer Summit” will then begin on the evening of Friday 22 April and conclude on Sunday 24 April. The prayer conference will take place in a conference centre in Overijse, located just outside of Brussels. Please feel free to register for just one of the conferences – either the policy conference or the prayer conference – or take the opportunity to stay in Brussels from Thursday to Sunday to take part in both conferences during one single visit. Our time together with you as friends and supporters is extremely valuable for the continuity and growth of the work of ECI and we want to do our utmost to ensure that through these two conferences there will be many varied and meaningful opportunities for sharing information, for teaching, fellowship and spiritual encouragement. ECI has for many years emphasized the meaning and importance of the “Feasts of the Lord” in the Bible for all the nations. It is therefore no coincidence that these conferences take place at the time of the Passover in the Hebrew calendar. We want to honour this feast of remembrance for deliverance and freedom by celebrating it as an ECI family and community together with the nation of Israel.

Looking forward to seeing you in Brussels! Tomas Sandell On behalf of the ECI leadership team _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ECI Annual Policy Conference, 21-22 April 2016, in Brussels Renewing Israeli – European partnership

We therefore invite you to a unique conference where EU officials, Members of European Parliament, diplomats and international experts will address these crucial issues of our time. The 14th ECI Annual Policy Conference will look at these issues and ask how we can break the spiral of misunderstanding and mistrust and re-establish a strategic Israeli-European partnership. But it does not stop there. As Europe continues to struggle with financial crises, uncontrolled migration and terrorist attacks, Israel has proven to be a reliable partner with unique know-how in all three fields. Still, at a time when the need for a partnership with Israel has never been more acute, many governments, organisations and more radical elements want to isolate Israel through boycotts, divestments and sanctions. At a time when the Middle East is drifting deeper in to an abyss of war, violence and radicalization, one nation stands apart in the region, namely Israel. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Israel is in fact a strategic asset for Europe. Israel and Europe do not only have shared values but we also have shared security interests in a world which is in turmoil.

Thursday 21 April 2016 14.00 - 17.30 Seminar in the European Parliament 18.00 Reception (venue to be confirmed) Friday 22 April 2016 09.00 - 12.30 ECI internal briefing session (venue to be confirmed) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14th ECI Annual Prayer Summit, 22-24 April 2016, in Overijse, greater Brussels area ”Let my people go, that they may worship me!”

Come and celebrate Passover in Brussels.

Passover is a feast instigated by God to be celebrated by his people for all times. It speaks about God’s intervention at a time of great distress. Also today the Jewish people are suffering in Europe and elsewhere in the world under the yoke of anti-Semitism while the only Jewish homeland, the state of Israel, continues to face an existential threat. For the last 15 years we have met together in Brussels to pray in line with God’s purposes for the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Out of this faithful prayer initiative the Lord has raised up ECI as a voice to the nations. In the last few years we have brought the message of the Lord’s appointed times, the Jewish feasts, to the United Nations, and we have asked for the recognition of these Jewish feasts as holidays. The message from the book of Exodus has been clear: “Let my people go, that they may worship me”. (Exodus 9:1) This year we want to celebrate Passover together with you as we continue to pray for the Jewish people, share our hearts with you and seek counsel together for the days ahead. Please join us for the 15th ECI Annual Prayer Summit in Brussels.

Speakers include Harald Eckert, Antti Hämäläinen, Gregory Lafitte, Rick Ridings andTomas Sandell. Worship led by Anna Boyd, Rick and Patti Ridings. Friday 22 April 2016 18.00 Registration for ECI Prayer Summit 19.00 Seder ceremony, dinner and evening session Saturday 23 April 2016 9.00 -13.00 Prayer sessions (Opportunity for buying a lunch sandwich at Bosuil or going to a local restaurant) 15.00 - 17.30 Small groups. Teaching and prayer. - EU work - UN Work - Global Prayer Initiative - National capitals/initiatives 18.00 Dinner at a local restaurant, together or in groups 19.30 Evening session Sunday 24 April 2016 9.00 - 12.30 Prayer and Communion Departure Venue: GC De Bosuil, Witherendreef 1, 3090 Overijse (Jezus-Eik) Registration and information: Space is limited so register today. Latest registration date: 8th April 2016 Registration and more information: info@ec4i.org Registration fee: Annual Policy Conference only: 75 euro, includes conference at the European Parliament and reception on Thursday and ECI briefing session on Friday with refreshments. Venue for the reception and the briefing session to be announced later. Prayer Summit only: 50 euro, includes the full programme Friday-Sunday, Seder ceremony and dinner on Friday and two coffee breaks on Saturday. (Not included: accommodation, transportation, lunch and dinner on Saturday) Venue: GC De Bosuil, Witherendreef 1, 3090 Overijse (Jezus-Eik) Both conferences together: 125 euro Conference language: English. Accommodation:

We can suggest three hotels as conference hotels, one in Brussels and two near GC De Bosuil. More information upon registration. You are also free to choose your own accommodation. Please note that because of the limited availability of hotel rooms, you should register as soon as possible.