Set free to work for Christ

As Lakshin spoke, his audience hung on each word and felt the Lord speaking to their hearts. This was why they kept coming back for his messages. They weren't a pious crowd. Everyone had a criminal record but the speaker said God would forgive their sins. Lakshin had arrived in jail with a two-year sentence and the guilt of a crime he still doesn't talk about. His family and friends wanted nothing to do with him. He found solace through a Gospel For Asia Radio programme and began to change as he listened. A speaker shared Psalm 27:10, ‘When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.’ Lakshin asked God to make the verse a reality. He started corresponding with the radio station and received encouragement, booklets, magazines and CDs that became his daily spiritual food. He also spoke to his jailbird friends, speaking of the love of Jesus with them. After two years, Lakshin was released from jail as a brand new man and is now a full time missionary.

Praise:

God for the diversity of Christian media outlets that are leading so many into His Kingdom. (Mat.25:36)

Guns for Bibles' exchange initiative

Evangelical churches throughout Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic partnered with local authorities recently to exchange gang members' illegal weapons for Bibles in an attempt to reduce the country's crime rate. Over 1,300 guns, knives and machetes were recovered during the month-long initiative that prompted church leaders to go into the city's most corrupt and violent neighbourhoods while they took the opportunity to evangelize to gangsters and other criminals. ‘We congratulate all the young people and everyone who turned in their weapons. It was an act of goodwill.’ said a Santo Domingo pastor. ‘When they say they won't continue with that knife and prefer a Bible instead that is transformation and a blessing for our country.’ Cristiana Estrella, who belongs to a church in a town near Santo Domingo, said the crime prevention plan was going to become a nationwide effort and noted that while they visited neighbourhoods, many confessed that they had been plotting violent crimes with the same weapons they gave up.

Praise:

God for the faith and bravery demonstrated by the leaders of these churches. Pray that many more leaders will embark on similar creative outreach initiatives. (Is.2:4)

Christians praying for unity within the Church

We are in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The week traditionally runs between the ancient festival of the Chair of St Peter on the 18th and the Conversion of St Paul on 25 January and hopes to address and go some way to repair the ‘scandal’ of disunity between the Anglican and Catholic Churches. ‘To suggest that disunity is something acceptable is declaring that Christ himself is divided – and that really is a scandal!’ the team behind the week say. First commemorated in 1908 by Anglican priests Spencer Jones and Paul Wattson, the week has been adopted by tens of thousands of Christians all over the world and from many denominations who want to see reconciliation between the different traditions. During the Week of Prayer 2014, the Millennium Goals, which largely centre on reducing global poverty, will be used as a focus for prayer for vulnerable people around the world.

Pray:

for unity in the church as it focuses on reducing global poverty. (Php.2:2)

Read Bible favourites to children, parents urged

It might not feature boy wizards, magic wardrobes or Hobbits, but its epic cast list does include a giant, a talking snake and a man who lived for 969 years. Now parents reading stories with their children are being urged to mix favourites such as Harry Potter or the Narnia books with tales from the Bible as part of a new campaign aimed at a million young people. The initiative is timed to coincide with the release of a string of blockbuster Hollywood adaptations of stories from both the Old and New Testaments. Organisers are hoping to introduce a new generation of British children to stories from the Bible with which their grandparents would have been instantly familiar. The campaign, an initiative of the Bible Society, aims not to promote religious teaching but simply to introduce a new generation of children to the drama and adventure contained in the Bible.

Pray:

for all children to be given the opportunity to hear stories from the Bible. (Pr.22:6)

Church of England identifies areas of growth amid decline

New research published last week highlights churches showing signs of growth across the country in a variety of ways, from newly established congregations and churches to ancient Cathedrals and parishes. The research is published against a backdrop of decline of nine per cent in church attendance over the last decade and an even more drastic decline since the 1960s. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, commented: "There is every reason to be hopeful about the future of the Church of England, and indeed, all the churches in this country. There are many signs of growth, huge areas of development, and the church is – more than it has been for the last 60 years – demonstrating how essential it is to hold together our society. New forms of church include Cafe Churches, churches in drop in centres, Messy Church and churches which meet in pubs and bars or out in the street.

Pray:

for continued and new growth in our churches. (Col.3:16)

Haass proposals: NI Government may intervene

Ireland's foreign minister, Eamon Gilmore, has said, if necessary, there will be joint intervention by the Irish and British governments to get the parties to agree a way forward on the Haass proposals. The Haass talks focussed on the issues of flags, parades and the past. Eamon Gilmore told the Sunday Politics programme there had to be progress on the issues. In a statement, the Northern Ireland Office said there can be ‘no question of imposing solutions from outside’. Mr Gilmore, who is also Ireland's deputy prime minister (tánaiste), said: ‘The two governments are determined that we should not allow these issues to drift,’ Mr Gilmore said. ‘I don't think there is a very long period of time within which this can continue on. There is an urgency about getting these issues resolved. I think if there is an intervention it will be both governments together’. (See also Prayer Alert 01-2014)

Pray:

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

New guidelines will allow 'rubber stamping' of abortions

Almost 190,000 unwanted babies a year are aborted in England and Wales under the 1967 Act which says that terminations can take place legally if two doctors agree in good faith that the physical or mental health of the woman or child is at risk. Ministers have admitted that less than half of women who have abortions now see either of the doctors face-to-face before being given the go-ahead. New proposals contained in a Government consultation suggest that it is not even a legal requirement for doctors to give individual requests any active thought before approving them. ‘What this does, by effectively bypassing the doctors and leaving them as a rubber stamp overseeing the process, it erodes those protections of the Act,’ said Dr Peter Saunders, Chief Executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship. ‘The decision about whether an abortion should be carried out requires quite a lot of specialist medical knowledge.’

Pray:

that there would not be further erosion of the Abortion Act. (Ps.25:9)

Scottish secularists bid to curb churches’ role in education

A Scottish secularist pressure group has called on the Government to remove religious representatives from education committees, during a session in Holyrood last Wednesday. The Kirk criticised the move saying it was the Church of Scotland which helped to establish universal education and that its representatives play a supportive role. The Edinburgh Secular Society (ESS) wants to see a change to the law, because under the Local Government Act 1973 local authority education committees are required to appoint three representatives from religious organisations. The ESS gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee, having gathered 1,778 signatures opposing current legislation. The campaign is supported by Green MSP Patrick Harvie, SNP councillor Sandy Howat and other secular groups. The Scottish Secular Society came under fire last year when it wrote to every Scottish school demanding information about their chaplaincy services and whether material disagreeing with homosexuality had been distributed in the school.

Pray:

that schools will not be intimidated by hostile freedom of information requests and that the Government will be wise in all their decisions. (Ps.119:85)

Russia: Islamist group threatens Sochi Olympics

An Islamist group from Russia's north Caucasus has threatened to attack the Sochi Winter Olympics in a video published online. Russian police in Sochi are hunting for a woman they fear may be planning to carry out a suicide bomb attack. In a warning to President Vladimir Putin over next month's Games, the hosts and visitors were singled out as targets: ‘If you hold the Olympics you will receive a present from us. This will be our revenge.’ The video says two men from the group Vilayat Dagestan, linked to an Iraqi faction called Ansar al-Sunna carried out the two attacks in Volgograd last month that killed 34 people and injured more than 100. Tens of thousands of Russian police, security agents, rescue workers and soldiers have been deployed in Sochi for the games. Moscow has been accused of heavy-handed tactics and using collective punishment to quash uprisings.

Pray:

that those who are threatening to disturb the games will be thwarted. (Ps.9:20)

Ukraine protests: Two people killed in Kiev clashes

At least two people have died from bullet wounds in clashes between police and protesters in Kiev. Protests began in November after the government's rejection of a planned treaty with the EU. (See Prayer Alert 50-2013) Since then, clashes in Kiev, have been fierce and dramatic, with masked anti-government protesters hurling pavement stones and petrol bombs at lines of riot police who return fire with stun grenades, tear gas and plastic bullets. Wednesday's deaths happened after police moved in to dismantle their protest camp in Independence Square, situated below the building of the country’s cabinet of ministers. Despite appeals for calm by opposition leaders it is clear the attacks on government forces are supported by many protesters and some opposition MPs. This is an ominous sign for the coming days and weeks. So far confrontations have been limited to Independence Square’s tent camp, the home to regular rallies behind extensive barricades, and cities in the east holding their own demonstrations. Observers are saying ‘The conflict could move beyond its isolated locations if authorities crack down on the movement, as they now appear to be doing’ See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25823091 & http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25825929

Pray:

against an escalation in the protest movement and for the political deadlock to be broken.

INSIGHT Afghanistan: Warnings of civil war

Former US Afghan commander Gen Stanley McChrystal, who led Nato troops in Afghanistan in 2009/10 said the greatest danger facing the country when foreign troops leave is a civil war. Gen Stanley McChrystal said that the West still needed to show its commitment to Afghanistan after the end of this year. It is at this time when most US and British troops return home. The retired general told the BBC's Today programme that while he did not think that the Taliban had the strength to take over all of Afghanistan, the greatest danger facing the country was the possibility of different groups vying for control which could lead to civil war. For Insights into how to pray for Afghanistan at this time please click the 'More' button. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25821032

Pray:

for a peaceful transition period throughout the coming months and a positive outcome for the 2014 elections. (Ps.9:8-9 & Ps.33:10-11)

Sri Lanka: Monks lead attacks on Christians

Large mobs led by Buddhist monks attacked an Assemblies of God Church and Calvary Church as believers gathered for Sunday worship. They claimed the Christian presence in Hikkaduwa was ‘illegal’. Police had been stationed outside the churches following threats of violence made the previous night, yet TV footage of one attack shows officers overwhelmed by the scale of the assault. Both Churches were badly damaged by demonstrators who stayed until noon, causing serious disruption by occupying the main Galle-Colombo road. The monks left only after police promised the churches would be closed until February 10 while ‘a solution was being sought’. (The Sri Lankan constitution guarantees freedom of religion, however Buddhism has been part of Sri Lanka since the 3rd century BC and many consider Christianity a foreign religion imposed by European colonials.) Churches have been burned and Christians attacked and murdered since effective evangelical outreach in the 199'0's.

Pray:

for justice for the two congregations and for freedom of worship for Christians. (Ps.12:5)

Nigeria: 60 Christians helped, 80 waiting for prosthetics

While the assaults by Boko Haram in Nigeria have faded from the news, the attacks on Christians have continued to escalate. What would you do? Go to church knowing you could be attacked? Avoid sharing your faith? Or even deny your faith to save your earthly body? These are very hard questions and Christians in Nigeria (mostly the north) face this dilemma almost daily. In recent years Boko Haram has burnt churches and beheaded Christians. Another tactic is that of severing a limb, usually a leg. In response to these attacks The Voice of the Martyrs has built a prosthetics clinic in northern Nigeria. With the help of technicians donating their time along with quality materials shipped from the US they have been able to assist 60 of our persecuted brothers and sisters with prosthetic limbs in the last 12 months and have identified 80 more Christians needing one.

Pray:

for God to protect and encourage Nigerian believers living in fear, and pray for those ministering to victims of persecution. (Ps.69:32-33)

Syria: Renewed prayer during and after Geneva II

Gregory III Laham, Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem, called Christians worldwide to ‘pray for true reconciliation in Geneva II,’ and ‘the key to the success of Geneva II is faith-based, human, cordial, national and truly Syrian reconciliation.’ Also please pray for the captives. At present there are three priests (Fr Michel and F. Maher, missing since 9th February 2013, and Fr. Paolo, held since early August 2013), two bishops (Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Metropolitan Boulous Yazigi, held since 22nd April, 2013) and a number of nuns held since December, 2013. Pray against religiously-motivated persecution of Christians. On 8th January Fadi and Firas, both Christians, were ambushed by militants shooting at their vehicle outside Homs. Fadi was killed and Firas was left for dead. When the militants saw that Fadi was wearing a cross they proceeded to decapitate him. Firas escaped.

Pray:

that all delegates at the conference will not promote just their own agendas. Pray for the bereaved, wounded and traumatised, to experience His healing and presence. (Ps.7:-6-7)

Canada: Prime Minister’s visit to Israel

Last week we asked you to pray that ‘Canada's relationship with Israel would be strengthened’ by PM Stephen Harpers visit to Israel. This week the media reported him delivering a speech before the Knesset that many feel is the example to follow for any national leader claiming friendship with Israel. The prime minister noted that Canada's 350,000 Jews, as well as Harper and his wife themselves, are ‘immensely proud’ of Israel's courage in war, generosity in peace, and the bloom that the desert has yielded under their stewardship. Some questioned why Canada is taking such a pro-Israel position on the international stage when it stands to gain so little from doing so. Harper's response to them was that ‘Canada supports Israel fundamentally because it is right to do so,’ pointing out that it is ‘a very Canadian trait to do something for no reason other than it is right.’ Harper also met with Mahmoud Abbas and announced a $66 million aid package to the Palestinian Authority.

Pray:

for more international leaders to take the stance of ‘doing the right thing’ even if there is little prestige or financial gain from doing so. (Ps.1:1-3 & Ps.5:12)

Phillipines: Hit by new typhoon

While many areas are still recovering from November’s historic Typhoon Haiyan, a new typhoon has left a new wave of destruction in the Philippines. In many areas this latest system has set back the recovery from Haiyan. Temporary houses have been destroyed, tents where families have been living were blown over, and at least 40 people were killed. More than 100,000 families have had to be evacuated from their homes. Some families used inflatable tyre tubes to escape. Residents are standing on the roofs of their homes that are submerged in flood water, whole villages are under water, others have been hit by landslides. People are wading through flooded roads to reach higher ground. To view images in a slideshow that will help you to focus your prayers click the 'More' button.

Pray:

for all those in evacuation centres, for all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, livelihood, homes, and communities. Pray also for mission agencies reaching out to the typhoon victims. (Ps.10:14)