Posted: 03/30/2013 at 4:33pm | IP Logged

News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide

	Most Brits believe in the power of prayer Britain's churches may be struggling to make converts but a new survey in the run-up to Easter has found no shortage of people believing in prayer. The new Guardian/ICM survey offers revealing insights into the issues that are on the hearts of British people and which age groups are praying more than others. It found that four in five British adults still believe in the power of prayer. When asked what they would pray for, nearly a third (31%) said world peace, followed by an end to poverty (27%). One in five (22%) said they would pray for healing for another person, while 5% said they did not know what they would pray for. 14%t said they would never pray. Praise: God for the wonderful gift of prayer. (2Cr.6;19) More: TV series gets audience of biblical proportions in US A television drama series based on the Bible and shown on the History Channel has amazed critics by garnering huge viewing figures across America and becoming the most surprising television hit of the year. Defying expectations that a simple retelling of Bible stories, including those of Adam and Eve, and Samson and Delilah, would not appeal to a modern audience, the 10-hour series has been making headlines and had more than 13 million viewers for its first episode. The Bible has consistently been the top-rated cable television programme on Sunday nights, and some reports estimate that 50 million people have watched at least part of one episode. Experts say television stations ignore audiences interested in religion at their peril: with Christian bloggers and churches able to spread the word about programmes, they can bring massive ratings compared with mainstream fare. Praise: God for the response to this television programme and pray that many will open themselves to the Good News. (Mk.1:15) More: Return to Top
	Teachers say bad behaviour in schools rising A survey of teachers suggests a rise in the number of pupils with emotional, behavioural and mental health issues. Over half (56%) of the 844 teachers surveyed said behaviour in the classroom had deteriorated in the last five years. 62% said problematic behaviour was worse now than two years ago. The survey was carried out by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. A majority of those surveyed said they had been forced to deal with at least one challenging or disruptive pupil in the last year. Over three-quarters (77%) reported verbal aggression, followed by physical aggression (57%). Two in five (41%) said they had experienced bullying, while just under a quarter (23%) reported students breaking or ruining the belongings of others. Teachers reported being spat at, kicked, punched and scratched by pupils. Nearly 80% of teachers felt the rise in bad classroom behaviour was down to a lack of boundaries being set by parents in the home. Pray: that the lack of discipline within schools will be overcome and the authority of the staff and parents will lead to an improvement in behaviour. (Job.38.33) More: Girls of 13 pressured to pose for home-made blue movies Girls as young as 13 are facing pressure to appear in home-made porn movies, teachers warned yesterday. Young teenagers are also submitting to demands from boys for explicit photos which are often shared among friends and even placed on the internet for millions to view. A conference was told yesterday how easy access to depraved online content is destroying children’s innocence and changing how they perceive themselves and others. Delegates warned that lads’ mags, the surge in explicit ‘mummy porn’ novels, exposure to inappropriate movies and the depiction of women in computer games are also contributing to a dramatic moral decline among the young. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers’ annual conference in Liverpool warned that pornography and other depraved imagery was becoming part of everyday life. Delegates called for sex education classes to be used to explain to pupils that the behaviour they see online is not normal and the ‘perfect’ bodies they see are usually unattainable. Pray: against those who are pressurising the young to get involved in pornography. (Ps.140:4) More: Sharp rise in number of homeless families Government figures released last week show a sharp increase in the number of homeless families over the past year. In 2012, 34,080 households with children were accepted as homeless, an increase of 12 per cent on the previous year. At the end of 2012, 76,790 children were living in temporary accommodation, an annual increase of 11 per cent. Currently every fifteen minutes another family find themselves homeless. The figures also show an increase in the number of families living in bed and breakfast accommodation, up 29 per cent since the same time last year. Official guidance to local authorities says bed and breakfast temporary accommodation should be avoided ‘wherever possible’. Lack of privacy, inadequate provision for cooking and washing means it is ‘not suitable’ for families with children or for pregnant women ‘unless there is no alternative accommodation available and then only for a maximum of six weeks.’ Pray: for all those who are facing the difficulties of homelessness that suitable accommodation will be found and they will come to realise that God will be their provider. (Ps.104:1-3) More: Helen Grant to overhaul community sentences for women Community sentences in England and Wales are to be made more ‘female friendly’ in an effort to keep women out of prison. Justice Minister Helen Grant wants to cut re-offending rates and offer judges credible alternatives to custody. She says ‘vulnerable’ women offenders need help to break the cycle of crime and abuse many of them face. But the new approach will include an element of punishment such as unpaid work or curfew, she stressed. Ministry of Justice officials insisted the aim was not to lock up fewer women offenders, but to reduce the number of re-offenders and to make ‘credible’ alternatives to custody available to judges. Ms Grant said; ‘Women who commit crime should be punished, but we must not forget that a significant number have been victims during their lives and need targeted support to break the cycle of offending.’ Pray: for this new approach that it will better serve the rehabilitation of female offenders. (1Th.5:11) More: Diane Abbott calls for purge of 'sexualised' imagery Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott has called for a purge of sexualised imagery from public spaces in the UK. ‘I think it has reached a point where we need to detox our High Streets, and make Britain a family-friendly country again,’ she told the Mumsnet website. She also blamed a ‘disturbing’ trend for online bullying of young women on a ‘crisis in masculinity’. Ms Abbott plans to make a speech on the issue. ‘I think we need to clear our public spaces of the worst elements of unrestrained markets - including addressing music videos that blare out at us and our children. The online bullying including problems around 'sexting' and '********-shaming'; the huge billboards that have very sexualised images of women that loom over our public spaces and the sexualised figures of women in films that are now commonplace. For me the key is putting parents back in control and also putting open-minded family values back in our public spaces’ Ms Abbot says. Pray: for significant progress to be made on this issue with a cross-party response in Parliament. (Gal.5:19) More: Toll of loneliness: isolation increases risk of death Elderly people who are lonely because they do not see friends or family regularly are almost 50 per cent more likely to die before their time than those who do, a stark new study shows. British researchers found that social isolation could dramatically increase the risk of mortality in both men and women, even after underlying health problems are taken into account. They concluded that simply enabling people to get out and about more often would not only make them feel less lonely but would actively increase their life expectancy. It follows a series of studies showing higher instances of conditions such as heart disease and dementia among those who live in isolation. There have also been studies linking the emotional effects of loneliness with high blood pressure and stress-induced conditions. But the latest study goes further than previous research in establishing a link between isolation and early death. Pray: for the lonely and for us all to do more to bring older people into the heart of our communities. (Is.25:16) More: 50,000 postcards invite cinemagoers to explore Christian faith The Christian Enquiry Agency is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new poster and postcard campaign. The organisation provides free and confidential information about the Christian faith. Its campaign is inviting people to take a look at the website Christianity.org.uk and offers them a free colour magazine-style Gospel of Luke. The postcards ask the question 'At what moment in your life did you feel most fully alive?' On the reverse is the challenge: 'It's time you found out what Jesus said about life in his own words.' People can add their details and send the postcard to a freepost address or use the QR code to ask for a Gospel. It is hoped the 50,000 postcards placed in cinema foyers around the country will make their way into the hands of people unlikely to set foot in a church. Pray: that this initiative will lead to many people discovering Jesus and new life. (Ac.20:24) More: Return to Top
	Hungary: Massive exodus of street children into Western Europe Key non-governmental groups and officials have urged the European Union to urgently tackle the ‘growing problem’ of street children moving from Eastern to Western Europe by improving cross-border co-operation and child protection. They made the appeal at the 'European Forum On Street Children 2009' in Budapest, amid concerns that the EU's open borders mean that ‘unaccompanied’ minors from poorer member states are increasingly roaming the streets of richer Western European cities. There are believed to be a quarter of a million street children in Europe, although officials cautioned that the figure may be higher because as many as 1.5 million young gypsies, also known as Roma, are ‘unregistered’. In a final declaration, delegates attending the Forum, urged the EU to realize the European Parliament's goal of ending ‘the phenomenon of street children’ by 2015. Pray: that the governments and authorities will be able to tackle this problem speedily. (Job.14:21) More: The Cyprus effect The Cyprus effect is a decision made to obtain financial aid and to prevent the island nation of Cyprus from going bankrupt. Just three weeks into the job, and Nicos Anastasiades, the Cypriot president, is tackling the nation's debt crisis head-on, saying he had no choice but to force savers to forfeit up to 10 per cent of their deposits to avoid a catastrophic banking collapse. Cypriots themselves are furious and they have responded by trying to clear out their accounts. People with savings of less than $130,000 will pay a one-off tax of 6.75 per cent. Those with anything more in their accounts will forfeit 9.9 per cent of their savings. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was worth over $24bn in 2011 - and the proposed bailout is more than half that figure. The levies would generate $7,5bn - with depositors being compensated with the equivalent amount of bank shares. Pray: that the moves by the government will have the desired effect and bring stability to the country. More: Return to Top
	NIGERIA: Boko Haram infiltrates security agencies Lyop Dangyel suffered three gunshot wounds from the same soldier that killed her 9-month-old baby and 5 year old daughter. She then asked her bleeding 7-year-old daughter to pray for their survival. ‘Dear Jesus, please save me and mom,’ Comfort began, as Dangyel silently joined her in prayer that their lives would not ebb away. The Christian family were attacked by a soldier from the Special Task Force (STF) sent to protect Christians against Islamic extremist attacks. Their village, Wereng, is predominantly Christian belonging to the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN). The General Secretary of COCIN said, ‘How can security agents sent to these villages turn their guns on the very people they are expected to protect? We have heard that Boko Haram have infiltrated all security agencies. We now hear of Muslim soldiers attacking Christian communities and killing members of our churches – this to us is not a surprise. Nigeria has no more security.' Pray: for the Government to investigate the army and police identifying and removing rogue Muslim members; pray also against the constant attempts to eradicate the Northern Nigerian Church. (Pr.11:11 & 14) More: Mexico: Christians denied vital resources In the community of La Piedad, Margaritas in Chiapas, Mexico, Evangelical Christians decided not to pay dues for local pagan festivities. In response the traditional authorities have denied the Christians access to water, firewood, health services and government support. Although a legal accusation has been made, one of the Christians could lose his home. They have asked that we join in prayer with them that the Lord will give them strength as they withstand the pressure from the traditional authorities, and the pagan influence over the area. Historically, traditional Catholics in the indigenous region of Chiapas states follow a blend of Catholicism and native religious practices, and frequently have been accused of acts of religious intolerance against Protestants, such as threats, intimidation, robbery, expulsion from their communities, or death. These conflicts arose from community leaders demanding Evangelicals to pay quotas for Catholic festivals. In the past Evangelicals were willing to cooperate in community projects but refused to fund religious festivals. Pray: for protection for Evangelical Christian families and that the Lord will touch the hearts of the authorities who rise up against them. (Ro.1:16-17) More: Syria’s north: Kurdistan influence Kurdistan is benefitting from an oil boom at a time of austerity and slow growth in the rest of the world. It hosts 50 or 60 foreign oil companies seeking to find and exploit Kurdistan’s oil. In the beginning of March a Kurdish militia took over oil fields and installations in north-eastern Syria declaring their willingness to share the resources with the Syrian opposition. This week the Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib replaced Presidant Bashar al-Assad at the two-day summit of the Arab League in Doha. A Syrian Kurdish party called the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its militia has set up local councils, security forces and Kurdish-language schools in N.Syria. A parallel government is being created there. The PYD is allied to the militant Kurdistan Workers Party. In February the Turkish Prime Minister vowed ‘Ankara will not allow a separate Kurdish political entity in northern Syria.’ See also: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/20133262278 258896.html Pray: that God will raise up leaders with a heart to build Syria, people who walk uprightly, knowing and acting on God’s wisdom at this time. (Pr.14:1-3) More: Afghanistan: British serving personnel in Camp Bastion The working day for many British personnel at Bastion is long – often a 15-hour day. Time is therefore short for rest and relaxation and for those Christian troops to be able to fellowship together. Also, with the 2014 drawdown getting ever closer, there is a real and constant threat to Bastion now, especially as many of the smaller bases have closed. We are asked to pray for Service personnel – may they have enough rest and be able to remain vigilant at all times despite their long working days. Pray too that the loyal members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the UK intelligence services will continue to intercept the enemy’s plans as there have been several ‘close calls’ recently. Pray: for God to endow our armed forces with the wisdom and discernment needed to achieve His purposes as they serve at home and abroad. (Pr.20:12) More: Burma: Troops kill and rape Christians and burn Churches Days before Burmese President Thein Sein was reportedly nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize last week, a report revealed his government troops had killed and raped dozens of civilians and burned hundreds of churches and homes in their war with rebels in predominantly Christian Kachin State. The report by CSW, the Chin Human Rights Organization, Human Rights Watch, and KWAT testified about the violence in Burma during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the European Parliament in Brussels last week. They said the international community should push ethnic and religious minority rights higher up the reforms agenda for Burma, after government troops killed and raped dozens of mainly Christian civilians while burning hundreds of churches and homes. In one of the most recent incidents a 13 year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a Burma Army soldier in southern Chin State. See: http://www.rescuechristians.org/2013/03/17/burma-government- troops-had-killed-and-raped-dozens-of-civilians-and-burned-h undreds-of-churches-and-homes/ Pray: for a troop withdrawal from Chin State and an end to human rights abuses. More: USA/France/: Same sex marriage bills On Tuesday USA’s Supreme Court Justices heard arguments regarding California's 'Proposition 8' amendment to its Constitution stating that ‘only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.’ The polarisation of the Court on social issues was laid bare on the two days of hearings. Liberal advocates shot down claims that same sex-couples should not be allowed to wed because they cannot procreate, while the conservatives attacked rapid change as undermining centuries of tradition. One persistent line of questioning was, ‘the advocates of the gay-marriage ban do not have legal standing to bring the case because a California referendum result was overturned by a Federal Court.’ Meanwhile in France last weekend in the Champs Elysées riot police fought back hundreds of thousands of people protesting against a draft law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. The crowd included conservative activists, children, retirees and priests, in a last-ditch attempt to stop the bill. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/24/french-anti-gay- marriage-protesters-clash-police Pray: against the proposed French ‘marriage for everyone’ bill and for America’s focus of marriage to be on procreation and Biblical principles. (Gen.2:24) More: Sudan: Persecution increases Some 1,500 Christians trapped in Sudan are on their way to neighbouring South Sudan as part of a massive rescue operation dubbed 'Exodus'. This brings the total of rescued believers under the programme to roughly 3,800 - almost double the number originally planned. The Christians hope to begin a new life in a place where they can be free to practice their faith in peace and have opportunities to improve their circumstances. Aid workers are prioritizing the most vulnerable women, around two-thirds of whom are widows, and children. Displaced Southerners (mainly Christian and African) said they experienced much persecution and discrimination in the overwhelmingly Muslim and Arab North where they lived under Sharia or Islamic law. Pray: for the thousands left behind in makeshift camps on the outskirts of Khartoum, pray also for those outside the camps suffering the ongoing hostility towards Christians. (Ps.69:1)