Street preacher escapes charges

A local council has decided to drop charges against a street preacher. Dominic Muir was reading from the Bible and handing out Christian tracts in Battersea Park on August 11 when he was approached by a police officer. According to the Christian Legal Centre, which has been supporting him, the officer told him he would be prosecuted because he did not have permission to preach there. The council was seeking prosecution on the grounds that Muir had breached byelaws banning street preaching in parts of the Borough of Wandsworth, within which Battersea Park is situated. In September, Muir entered a not guilty plea at a hearing in Richmond upon Thames and the case was adjourned for trial. The Christian Legal Centre announced on Monday that the Borough of Wandsworth has dropped the charges against him. ‘This is great news for everyone who believes in the freedom to preach the Gospel in public,’ the Christian Legal Centre said.

Praise:

God for the decision that leads to His Word being free to be heard. (Mt.4:17)

India: God is at work among children

Mission India ministry partners are sharing remarkable stories about children and families in India who are eagerly receiving the Good News of Jesus. India’s children expect little joy in life. But children’s Bible Clubs are reaching these boys and girls with the Christian message of hope. Mission India provides training and materials to our partners, who are introducing Children’s Bible Clubs in their communities. As a result God is transforming entire families as Indian children share their new joy in Jesus.

Praise:

God for His blessings through children. (Dt.3:24)

MPs urged to oppose policy that leaves disabled people without benefit

Work and Pensions Select Committee member Sheila Gilmore has today called on other MPs to sign her parliamentary motion against a policy that could leave people who are unable to work due to disability without any income. Up until now, people who apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are declared fit for work can have this refusal reconsidered as part of lodging a formal appeal while still receiving ESA at a reduced rate. However, as of this week people will have to apply for ‘reconsideration’ first, and will only be permitted to appeal formally if the decision remains the same. As a result they will not be entitled to reduced-rate ESA during this initial period. Their only alternative will be to apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), but to receive this people have to be fit for work. Sheila Gilmore, calls on Ministers to makes changes to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Pray:

for MPs to support this motion to avoid considerable hardship to a significant number of disabled people. (Lev.19:14)

Christianity 'under attack as never before'

Lord Carey has criticised a top judge's comments that courts are 'no longer Christian' in multi-cultural Britain. Sir James Munby, president of the Family Division of the High Court, said in a speech in London this week that, as Britain was a multicultural nation, judges must take an ‘essentially neutral view of religious beliefs’ and should not ‘weigh one religion against another. Once upon a time, the perceived function of the judges was to promote virtue and discourage vice and immorality,’ he said. ‘I doubt one would now hear that from the judicial bench.’ Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, challenged his view, saying that Britain's legal system had its roots in Christian ethics and that the Christian faith was the foundation of British culture. ‘The concepts of honesty, personal responsibility, opposition to violence, concern for others and respect for their property - which are all part of the fabric of our laws - lie at the heart of the Gospels,’ he said.

Pray:

for an understanding that in a multicultural society, British culture based on the Christian Gospels remains equally valid. (Ps.117:1-2)

Welsh evangelicals hope for revival

Wales may be entering a new season of hope, according to Elfed Godding of the Evangelical Alliance. Rev Godding, who has been National Director of the Alliance in Wales since 1999, was addressing Christians who gathered at Moriah Chapel Loghour on the anniversary of the 109th anniversary of 1904 Welsh Revival. The meeting focused on the theme of ‘Wales Past, Present and Future’ and the congregation contained a substantial number of Koreans, which is not surprising given the sense of gratitude they feel towards ‘the land of revival’. The service was the brainchild of Gwent-based Korean Pastor Peter Cho and retired GP Stephen Price who lives in Abergavenny, the home of Robert Jermaine, the Welsh missionary credited with the birth of the Korean church. ‘I was pleasantly surprised,’ said Godding, National Director of the Evangelical Alliance Wales. ‘There was a balanced approach reflecting our past present and future.’ that this new season of hope will grow and bring a fresh revival.

Pray:

that this new season of hope will grow and bring a fresh revival.

Scottish Secular Society in ‘hostile’ attempt to rid Scottish Schools of chaplains

A secularist pressure group has targeted every school in Scotland demanding to know about their chaplaincy services. The Scottish Secular Society (SSS) wrote a letter in September asking 24 questions, including whether material disagreeing with homosexuality had been distributed in the school and demanding to know about school chaplaincy services. The letter also asked whether any Humanist speakers had been invited to visit in the last year and whether external service providers are monitored by staff. The Christian Institute’s Director, Colin Hart, has written to Scottish Schools in response to the Society’s actions: 'We are genuinely concerned that some schools may be alarmed at the content of the FOI request. We want to reassure you that schools are fully within their rights to invite chaplains and representatives of faith groups or religious organisations to conduct activities on their premises. The FOI request is wide in scope and shows the SSS’s hostility towards any lawful manifestation of religious and moral belief within Scottish schools.’

Pray:

that the SSS will not cause confusion with its demands and for schools that they will feel confident to resist the intimidation and to continue their programmes of visiting religious speakers. (Gal.1:6-7)

Gideon Bibles banned from Huddersfield student halls

A company that manages university accommodation has been branded ‘anti-Christian’ after refusing to allow Gideon Bibles to be placed in bedrooms. Digs, the body which manages student halls for Huddersfield University, defended the ban saying it wants its properties to be ‘ethically neutral’. But the Revd Mike Smith, a former church minister in Huddersfield, said it was an ‘anti-Christian step’. He pointed out that Gideon Bibles are commonplace in hotels, hospitals and prisons across the country. He said: ‘Banning Bibles is not ‘ethically neutral’. It is a positivly anti-Christian step, and could be the edge of a very dangerous wedge.’ Digs said the ban was necessary because many of its residents were international students. Gideons distributed more than 84 million printed copies of the Bible around the world to students, members of the military and hotels in 2011.

Pray:

for Digs to rethink their decision and to recognise that being an international student should not restrict their access to a Bible. (Mt.24:14)

Over 80,000 children homeless at Christmas, says new report

A investigation by the housing and homelessness charity Shelter reveals ‘shocking’ conditions experienced by homeless families, as government figures show that more than 80,000 children in Britain will be homeless this Christmas. For many this means emergency housing in bed and breakfast accommodation (B&B), where children face particularly difficult conditions. Shelter says the number of families living in emergency accommodation, often in a single room, is at a 10-year high. Almost half of the families interviewed reported children witnessing disturbing incidents, including open drug use and threats of violence. One child was directly threatened by a man in her B&B after an argument over a shared bathroom. The majority of families interviewed by the charity said they felt unsafe in their emergency accommodation. Shelter says its helpline receives thousands of calls every December from families at risk of losing their homes. The charity is launching an emergency appeal for donations to help its already-stretched services meet the heightened demand.

Pray:

for all those who are homeless and find difficulties in providing for their families. (Gen.50:21)

NI: Churches urge Guides to scrap ‘hurtful’ godless pledge

The new godless Girl-guide promise is ‘divisive and hurtful’ and should be scrapped, Churches in Northern Ireland have said. Meanwhile a Church of England vicar in Newcastle has said the Girl-guides sponsored at his church will continue to use the old promise. In September, Girl-guiding UK officially introduced a new secular promise, replacing ‘to love my God’ with ‘to be true to myself and develop my beliefs’. The vast majority of Girl-guide groups in Northern Ireland meet in Church buildings. The Methodist, Presbyterian and Church of Ireland denominations have joined together to voice their ‘deep concern’ about the move. An online petition urging Girl-guiding Ulster to reinstate the old promise, and make an atheist pledge optional, has already been signed by more than 1000 people.

Pray:

for all those who are being challenged to make decisions against their faith and God’s promises. (Ps.85:8)

Italy busts 'international child kidnapping ring'

Police in Italy say they have dismantled an international ring that conspired to kidnap children involved in custody battles. A police statement said those involved were special forces veterans whose commando-style tactics ‘put the child's life at risk’. They charged tens of thousands of dollars for the abductions from North Africa to Europe using high-speed boats, police said. The group carried out its first operation in October last year when a child was abducted in Tunisia, and taken to Norway via Sicily. A second operation in November was foiled by police who intercepted the phone calls of Ms Moskalenko's sailing venture in Palermo. Further operations were planned in Cyprus, Lebanon and Egypt. Two Norwegians and a Swede are also being held in Tunisia.

Pray:

that the authorities will continue to have success in breaking these kidnapping rings. (Ex.24:7)

Computer-generated 'Sweetie' catches online predators

More than 1,000 men, including 100 Britons, were caught trying to pay a computer-generated child to perform sex acts online, after a Dutch children's charity set up a fake profile. Terre des Hommes carried out a 10-week sting near Amsterdam, posing on video chat rooms as ‘Sweetie’, a 10-year-old Filipina girl. Some 20,000 men contacted her, with 1,000 found to have offered her money. The names of these men - including 110 Britons - were passed to police. When I visited the charity's operations room - in a warehouse on the outskirts of Amsterdam - I watched as a researcher logged on to a chat room as Sweetie - incredibly life-like but created by a computer. Within seconds, like sharks, men were circling.' Of the 1,000 men who were willing to pay Sweetie to take off her clothes in front of a webcam, 254 were from the US, followed by 110 from the UK and 103 from India.

Pray:

for the continued success of this initiative. (Job.5:12)

Nigeria: Christians mourn dozens killed In stampede

Christians in south-eastern Nigeria were mourning on Monday, after at least 25 people were killed in a stampede during a massive evangelistic gathering. Saturday's incident at the weekly ‘crusade’, or gathering, of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry Church in Anambra State, occured at the end of the service, which was attended by some 100,000 people, witnesses said. Local media reported that the troubles began after Governor Peter Obi and his party’s candidate for governor, Willie Obiano, visited the gathering in the town of Uke, in the state's Idemili North local government region. Witnesses said Obi and others with him charged into the crowd who booed at them, sparking a stampede. Among the many dead were women and children while others were injured, officials said. While Christians were mourning, news emerged on Monday that gunmen in north-eastern Nigeria killed more than 30 people in an attack on a wedding convoy.

Pray:

for the protection of God’s people against His enemies. (Ex.23:22)

Syria: Massacre of Christians; dozens killed in Islamist siege

Barnabas Fund reports dozens of people were killed when Islamist rebels besieged the Christian towns of Saddad and Haffar in Syria. As churches, homes and schools were looted and destroyed, 2,500 families fled, while 3,000 people, including children, were held as a human shield for a week. Churches were vandalised, looted and graffitied with insults against Christianity. Militants from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front stormed Saddad and Haffar on Monday 21 October shouting ‘Allahu Akhbar’ (God is great). They set up sniper posts and launched a campaign of shelling, killing anyone they found in the streets. Children were crying in fear as the militants took over the towns. Estimates of the number of Christians killed during the siege of Saddad and Haffar range from 45 to 70; children were among the dead. What has happened in Saddad and Haffar is utterly horrific, and yet this massacre has barely featured in the Western media. Is the murder of dozens of Syrian Christians so inconsequential?

Pray:

that God will protect the believers as they face militants.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Welcome after rebel group promises to disarm

World Vision has welcomed reports that rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo are to end their insurgency. The last 20 months have seen intense fighting between members of the M23 rebel group and forces belonging to the government. Some 800,000 people fled their homes this year as a result of the fighting. According to the BBC, the government said it had defeated M23 fighters in the east of the country, forcing them to surrender or flee across the border. The M23 group has promised to pursue its goals using ‘purely political means’. Davies Bishi, World Vision Food Assistance Manager, said: ‘We're encouraged by attempts to restore peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, however, there's a long way to go before normal life can resume. Displaced families living in IDP camps are unsure of whether the conflict is actually over - some are sending a family member home to assess the situation before returning to their villages.

Pray:

for a lasting peace in DRC and for the government and M23 rebels to come together in unity. (Eph.4:3)

North Korea: Christian becomes longest known American detainee

A Christian missionary spent another day locked up in a North Korean labour camp on Tuesday, November 5, becoming the longest known American detainee since the end of the Korean War hostilities. Kenneth Bae was arrested in the port city of Rajin on November 3, 2012. Activists said North Korea's ‘Communist dictatorship’ has not held any known US citizen longer than 12 months since a cease-fire between South and North Korea was inked in 1953. ‘We marked with great sadness the one-year anniversary of Kenneth Bae's detainment,’ said Ryan Morgan, Regional Manager for East Asia of International Christian Concern (ICC), an advocacy group involved in the case. ‘Kenneth has now been held longer by the North Korean regime than any other known US citizen,’ Morgan told BosNewsLife in a statement. ‘Our prayers are with his family during this incredibly difficult time and we again renew our call for his release to the North Korean authorities.’

Pray:

for Kenneth Bae and his family at this time and for God’s strength to overcome. (1Jn.5:4)

Iran: Evangelicals lashed from drinking communion wine

Two evangelical Christians were recovering of their injuries last Friday after they received 80 painful lashes for taking wine during a communion service, Christians and rights activists confirmed. Behzad Taalipasand and Mehdi Dadkhah (Danial) of the Church of Iran, a network of house churches, received the lashes on Wednesday, October 30. Christians with close knowledge about the situation said Behzad Taalipasand was whipped ‘with extreme violence.’ Trial observers said the Christians were charged with drinking alcohol and possession of a receiver and satellite antenna, and were given ten days in which to appeal. Christians said it remained unclear whether their appeals were rejected or whether the delay in receiving the verdict meant they ran out of time.

Pray:

for believers that they will stand firm in their faith. (Job.11:15)

Egypt: Christians killed in attack on wedding

Four Christians have been killed in an attack on a church as a wedding was taking place in the city of Giza in Egypt. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the dead were all guests at the wedding and include the mother of the groom, Camilia Attiya, 56, and two children, eight-year-old Mariam Ashraf and 12-year-old Miriam Nabil. The other victim was 45-year-old Samir Fahmy. They were killed when masked gunman opened fire as wedding guests were leaving the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Warraq al-Hadar, Giza, on Sunday. The gunman was riding a motorcycle at the time and fired indiscriminately before driving away from the scene. Sources confirmed to Christian Solidarity Worldwide that 18 people were injured in the attack. According to Father Thomas Daoud Ibrahim, priest of the Warraq church, three wedding services had been taking place at the time of the attack.

Pray:

for Christians as they worship that they will be protected from diverse forms of attack. (Ps.59:1)

Half a million Churches to pray for Persecuted Believers for IDOP

Christians around the world will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) either this Sunday or on Nov. 10, but those being persecuted for their faith want other believers to not just pray for them, but pray with them. Jerry Dykstra, director of media relations for Open Doors USA, told The Christian Post that prayer is the ‘number one request’ of believers in persecuted nations, and even those who are among the persecuted are praying for Christians in other nations. Gospel for Asia (GFA) reports that more than 14,000 people around the world are martyred for their faith each year, though that number only includes reported cases. Christians who aren't killed are sometimes beaten, deprived of food or imprisoned. Believing children are sometimes rejected by their families or turned away from their schools. In other cases, the homes of believers are burned down by their persecutors.

Pray:

for the Church as it prays for the persecuted Church in all its diversity. (Mt.5:10)