Israel: Miraculous healing stuns Israelis

Israeli news stations are reporting a miracle that’s impossible to explain: When Therese Daoud arrived at Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital with a malignant tumour the size of an orange doctors said her only chance of survival would be to amputate the leg. However Therese said the surgery was postponed three times due to unforeseen incidents and ‘This was a clear sign to me from Heaven that I should not have the surgery.’ Israeli TV showed images of Therese praying in a church and three months later they reported the killer growth had receded dramatically. ’This just does not happen’ stammered a professor. ‘A growth of this kind cannot recede like this.’ Hospital staff and reporters travelled to Therese's home to look for other explanations. They tasted the food she eats and checked the water she drinks, but there was no physical explanation. They left contemplating one undeniable, unavoidable and very uncomfortable option - that prayer in Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel, still heals today.

Praise:

God for this answered prayer and also for the media interest in Therese’s journey of faith. (Lk.10:9)

Pakistan: An encouraging story

A brother who had participated in a prayer seminar last year wrote to the conference facilitators recently and shared the following, ‘You gave me a verse and said God was going to change me and use me as an evangelist. The power of God came on me like never before. I began to go out witnessing. I have just come back from X city (known as a hard Satanic place) where I have made several trips. Five non-Christian families have come to Christ. You taught us to first teach them to pray. Now we have a small prayer group there. We are praying against Satanic strongholds and seeing God answer.’ He went on to say he lives in a city on the edge of the desert where there are 40 born-again Christian families. They have organized themselves into 24/7 prayer throughout the week. During Saturdays and Sunday afternoons they send evangelistic teams into the area and are seeing lives changed all around them.

Praise:

God for humble, faithful obedience of Pakistani believers and ask Him to protect the evangelists and the new believers. (Ps.40:10)

The C of E's experimental baptism liturgy

The Devil, it is sometimes said, is in the detail. But in an experimental service from the Church of England, it is the absence of Satan from the small print which is causing a furore. A trial liturgy for baptising children in church has been making waves because, while parents and godparents have traditionally been asked whether they ‘reject the Devil and all rebellion against God,’ the suggested alternative format merely asks them to ‘reject evil’. Also proving contentious is the omission of any question asking whether those bringing a child to be christened are willing to repent – as has been the case up until now. The service is currently being trialled. To come into permanent use, it would need to gain approval from the Church's governing body, the General Synod. The existing wording in the Common Worship service book, with its references to the devil and to repentance, will remain in use either way.

Pray:

that any changes will not divert the truths of the promises being made. (2Cor.7:1)

Welby dismisses critics' calls to stay out of politics and stick to talking about God

The Archbishop of Canterbury shrugged off calls from critics to steer clear of politics and ‘just talk about God’ insisting that the Church has increasingly become the ‘glue’ holding society together. The Most Rev Justin Welby used his first New Year address as leader of the Church of England to reaffirm tackling poverty as one of the biggest priorities. Archbishop Welby, a former oil executive, has drawn from his knowledge of the City as a prominent critic of practices by bankers, payday lenders and others. It was a theme he returned to in his first Christmas sermon last week when he spoke about combating ‘injustice’ adding that politics and religion ‘cannot be separated’. But it led to attacks from some commentators who claimed that the Archbishop was failing to talk about faith. The Archbishop replied saying that as Christians if you love your neighbour you’re going to be deeply concerned about the things that trouble them.

Pray:

for the Church to continue to speak out on contentious social issues. (Mt.28:18)

'Speak up for Jesus', Lord Carey urges Christians

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has urged Christians in the UK to be more public about their faith in Jesus Christ. Writing in the Telegraph, he also highlighted the reluctance of Western governments to acknowledge the suffering endured by Christians in many parts of the world and called upon the UK Government to take action. His encouragement to Christians came in the closing paragraphs of his Christmas article: ‘Closer to home, I admit I am worried about the future of faith in the West. Many Christians I meet say there is a pressure on them to be silent about their faith. Though there can be no question of a comparison with the Church in the Middle East, there is an increasing timidity on the part of churchgoers in the West – about even admitting that they have a faith in the workplace.'

Pray:

that all believers will take up the challenge of sharing their faith. (Heb.13:16)

Giving vulnerable children a Home For Good

Home for Good is a church-based fostering and adoption campaign. A joint initiative of the Evangelical Alliance, Care for the Family, and The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS), the campaign is using a network of churches across the UK to encourage and support Christian families to consider adoption. There are currently 4,600 children waiting to be adopted in England alone, something the Evangelical Alliance's mission director Krish Kandiah calls a ‘scandal’. Having fostered a total of 16 children, one of whom he and his wife eventually adopted, Krish is passionate about the Home for Good campaign and hopes that through it, more Christians will be encouraged to open up their homes to children who don't have a family of their own. ‘The Bible is really clear that God cares about vulnerable children. He describes himself many times as a Father to the fatherless and protector of widows and orphans,’ Krish notes. ‘That's what drives our campaign.’

Pray:

for this initiative and for more Christian families to consider adoption. (Mt.18:5)

Progress on Northern Ireland 'must not be squandered'

Amnesty International has warned that the opportunity to deal with the past in Northern Ireland must not be squandered following a lack of agreement at the end of multi-party negotiations, chaired by Dr Richard Haass. Northern Ireland’s five main political parties failed to agree to a new approach to dealing with the legacy of three decades of human rights violations and abuses, among other issues. Amnesty is calling for the publication of draft proposals from the inter-party talks and for negotiations to recommence in the New Year. The human rights group’s Northern Ireland Director Patrick Corrigan said: ‘We are disappointed the parties failed to reach an agreement on dealing with the past, but determined to continue to press for truth and justice for all victims in Northern Ireland. What progress has been achieved by the parties and the Haass team towards agreeing a new approach to the past must not be squandered or obscured by disagreement on other issues.’

Pray:

for God to stir hearts and minds to break through the impass in negotiations to secure a safe and positive future for the province. (Mt.5:9)

Scottish sex education guidance ignores traditional marriage

Parents who believe in traditional marriage are being sidelined by draft sex education guidance, Scotland for Marriage has warned. The pro-marriage group said under the proposals teaching about marriage will be downgraded in sex education. Scotland for Marriage also warned that teachers who have concerns about the issue will not be protected. ‘The new draft sex education guidance is a real shocker, and shows where things are heading’, the group said. The organisation also voiced concerns that the new guidance undermines parental rights. It said children could be taught certain aspects of sex education in other classes despite parents removing them from formal lessons on the topic. The draft Government guidance on Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education has been released following the Bill to redefine marriage in Scotland. The guidance removes reference to children learning about ‘the value placed on marriage by religious groups and others in Scottish society’.

Pray:

that these proposals will not lead to even further undermining of traditional marriage and relationships. (Ph.2:5)

Last weather warning to expire - but flood risk remains

The last of many weather warnings issued by the Met Office since before Christmas is set to expire - but flood waters could still rise in some areas. A rain warning for much of Wales and south-west England ends at 09:00 GMT, and no more warnings have been issued. However, more than 100 flood warnings are still in place in England, as well as seven in Scotland and one in Wales. It comes as forecasters predict possible snow in northern and eastern parts of the UK next week. BBC Weather's Emma Boorman said cooler temperatures would set in from Thursday, becoming colder over the weekend. ‘There is a snow risk for the north and east, but not immediately’, she said.

Pray:

for all those affected by the extreme weather and pray that ways will be found to bring relief.

Europe's young Christians encouraged to have missional lifestyle

Between December 28 and January 2, more than 2,700 young people from across Europe met in Offenburg, Germany, for the bi-annual Mission-Net conference. Primarily aimed at people ages between 16 and 30, the conference and its network encourage a Christian missional lifestyle that links spiritual expressions of faith with practical outworkings. Mission-Net is commissioned and supported by the European Evangelical Mission Association and the European Evangelical Alliance. The theme of the five-day conference was 'Work in Progress'. Around 75 theologians and speakers shared their thoughts on the topic through large-scale meetings as well as interactive seminars. Main speaker Karin Ramachandra spoke from the book of Nehemiah on the opening night, in which she stressed that all things are possible with God, regardless of how great our own shortcomings are.

Pray:

for all the young people who attended Mission-Net that they will live the lifestyle of Christ. (Mat.19:26)

Winter Olympics: Russia launches Sochi security clampdown

Russia has launched one of the biggest security operations in Olympic history, a month before the start of the Winter Games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The authorities are deploying more than 30,000 police and interior ministry troops and limiting access to the area. The main concern is the threat of attack by Islamist militants from the restive North Caucasus region. Russia's most wanted man, Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov, has urged his fighters to target the Winter Olympics. The BBC's Steven Rosenberg in Moscow says recent deadly bombings in Volgograd have intensified those worries. President Vladimir Putin was in Sochi on Monday night to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas, appearing at a church service. ‘Starting 7 January, all divisions responsible for ensuring the guests' security at the Games are being put on combat alert,’ Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said.

Pray:

that those who wish to intensify terrorist activities will be thwarted. (Is.8:10)

Iraq/Syria: ISIS threat to media and personal freedom

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Jihadi group ‘Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIS) who are attacking news media and journalists in both Iraq and what they call ‘liberated areas’ of Syria. This Jihadi group uses intimidation, abduction, torture and murder to further its goal of controlling news and media information. Isis target all who do not share their ideology and rule nothing out in order to impose a reign of terror. The local media play a crucial role in Syria, where news gathering and dissemination is becoming increasingly dangerous. Nowadays ISIS are carrying out real crimes against freedom of information. Historically the name Isis was that of the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, now it’s a group of jihadist fighters engaged in extreme violence and instilling fear in the media and the towns by their bloody standards of Syria’s savage civil war. See here.

Pray:

for freedom of information and against the ascendancy of harsh forms of Sharia law. (Is.59:1)

Nigeria: Commerce and rural update

Nigeria was labelled a potential emerging economic giant by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme’ when Evan Davis and Newsday's Nkem Ifejika interviewed entrepreneurs. However ‘the country still faced fundamental issues with an infrastructure that remains a problem to the nation's economy.’ Problems with power and electricity have been solved but education was still a problem with the entrepreneurs saying it was necessary for businesses to ‘invest in future staff’. They also added that corruption had become ‘a cultural thing’. Outside the cities, thousands have died in tit-for-tat ethnic violence blamed on land disputes between semi-nomadic Muslim Fulani herdsmen and mainly Christian Berom farmers in zones where Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north meets its Christian-majority south. The most recent barbarism resulted in 30 dead, dozens of houses torched and cattle killed or taken away by Hausa-Fulani herdsmen in the Riyom area. See here.

Pray:

for Nigeria to fulfil her potential, for the cities and the rural areas to be in God’s hands. (Pr.23:17-18)

South Sudan: Atrocities by both sides

South Sudan was founded on Christians praying for freedom from Muslim-governed North Sudan. Like the children of Israel many have forgotten the Lord since independence. The Dinka tribes are mainly Christian. Many roam the bush without the necessities of life. Thousands of Nuer people are also sleeping out in the open with little access to food or toilets. Nuer men say they are being approached by Dinka security forces who, in the Dinka language, ask questions. Those unable to respond in the Dinka language are executed. The present conflict is marked by ethnic violence between Kiir's Dinka tribe and Machar's Nuer community. Nuers worship a spirit of the sky. Over 1,000 people have been killed since December and 200,000 driven from their homes. see also France24.com

Pray:

that the leaders of the two sides would agree a ceasefire and that Church leaders would disciple people in biblical truths. (Pr.14:34 & IICh.7:14)

India: ‘Blood bricks’ industry

Bricks are a crucial part of India’s growing economy as brick kilns supply the country's booming construction sector which in turn is raising buildings owned by Indian, British and multinational companies. There are more than 2 million brick workers in India. Many kilns use bonded labourers working in conditions of near-slavery earning at best around £1.50 for a 12-hour day. Many suffer ill health from the acrid smoke and harsh working conditions leading campaigners to call the bricks they make ‘blood bricks.’ A picture shows how a mound of coal, barefoot women and children squat to break pieces of coal with un-gloved hands. Two of the children are barely four years old, their faces smeared black as they break coal by hitting pieces against each other. All of this is against the law. Among many reports of abuses, last week labour contractors were accused of cutting off the hands of two workers who tried to leave their jobs.

Pray:

that campaigners will successfully end the appalling human cost of India's brick industry. (Ps.140:12)

Iran: Farsi language banned from Church

Farsi is the language spoken by most Iranians. Iran's churches are under pressure from the government to stop holding services in the Farsi language. According to Mohabat News, St Peter Church in Tehran was forced by the Revolutionary Guard to announce that Farsi-speaking Christians are no longer allowed to attend and a church custodian of St Peter Church had to refuse admittance to Farsi-speaking members. Some had worshipped there for 20+ years. Sunday school teachers, elders, and ministers could not enter the building for any reason. The pastor announced that all services will now be held in another language. Iran's Ministry of Intelligence requested the church turn over all personnel information, an act intended to intimidate members from attending. Only a few Armenian and Assyrian families now attend St Peter church. Now that all Farsi-speaking members are banned the church will probably close completely.

Pray:

that the pressure and restrictions on Iranian churches will strengthen not weaken the resolve and faith of believers and that church members will be protected from violence.

Bangladesh: Democracy in peril

Earlier this week the country's religious minorities deserted the polls following threats from Islamists. The election results saw the ruling party win. The opposition boycotted the poll when police failed to protect voters and people died in factional clashes. Anger and cynicism best describe the voices on the streets of Dhaka. The mood inside Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s residence is jubilant. At her press conference she was asked about the legitimacy of her win. On Tuesday the BNP called for a nationwide strike, disregarding the reality that in the last three months more than 300 people have lost their lives in violence generally attributed to the highhandedness of the Awami League (AL). Many believe the return to power of AL in the general election is widely regarded as lacking credibility and likely to be challenged by angry opposition in violent street protests in the coming weeks and months. See here.

Pray:

against escalation of unrest and violence. Pray for a peaceful walk towards democracy. (Pr.29:4)