Street preacher held by police for 19 hours gets £13,000

A Christian street preacher who was wrongfully arrested by police and held in custody for over 19 hours has received £13,000 compensation in an out-of-court settlement. Greater Manchester Police had accused 57-year-old John Craven of public order offences after two teenage boys approached him and asked what he thought of homosexuals. Mr Craven responded by quoting the Bible’s stance on homosexuality, but said that ‘whilst God hates sin He loves the sinner’. The teenagers then kissed in front of him and taunted him with suggestive sexual acts. Mr Craven was arrested by Police Constable Alistair McKittrick for a public order offence.It appears that the actions of the police were calculated to give street preachers the impression that they could not preach the gospel in public without breaking the law.

Praise:

God for this victory for common sense. (Dt.20:4)

Peru: Quarter million in Peru March for Life

‘We all have a child within us,’ was the slogan for this year’s March for Life in Peru on March 22, which summoned 250,000 people in Lima alone, according to organizers. The turnout more than doubled that from last year and broke the record in Latin-America as the biggest pro-life demonstration ever. With thousands more participating in five cities, including 50,000 in Piura, Peruvians from all over the country got out on the streets to demonstrate their support for the pro-life cause. The mainstream media barely covered the event, however. With 2,500 young volunteers helping with the organization, the march was a peaceful ‘party’ to call everyone to defend life from conception until natural death. Peru’s March for Life is celebrated to highlight their officially recognized Day of the Unborn Child, approved by the nation’s Congress in 2002.

Praise:

God for the amazing response to this March for Life. (Ps.27:4)

David Cameron orders review of Muslim Brotherhood

Prime Minister David Cameron has commissioned a review of the Muslim Brotherhood's UK activity, No 10 says. The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist movement which has been declared a terrorist group by Egypt's government. Recent press reports have suggested members have moved to London to escape a crackdown in Cairo, where the group backs ousted president Mohammed Morsi. Number 10 said the review would examine the group's philosophy and activities, and the government's policy towards it. According to the Times, it was prompted by evidence received by the government that Muslim Brotherhood leaders met in London last year to plan their response to events in Egypt. However, No 10 has not provided any details on the scope of the investigation, why it has been ordered and which bodies are involved.

Pray:

that the proposed review of the Muslim Brotherhood activities in the UK will expose and deal with any terrorist activities. (Jn.3:20)

Are British prisons a 'terrorist breeding ground'?

Concerns were raised Sunday over startling statistics which reveal that the number of Muslim prisoners in British prisons has doubled over the past decade. Figures from UK's Ministry of Justice show that the number has ballooned to 11,729 (14%) - up from just 5,502 (7.7%) in 2002 - according to the Independent, and accounts for over one-seventh of all British inmates. The rate is expected to continue rising rapidly because of the large numbers of Muslim teenagers in youth jails - as well as aggressive attempts by Islamist prisoners to recruit and convert other convicts. Whitemoor, a high-security prison, has caused particular concern, after it was revealed that 210 of Britain's most dangerous offenders there are Muslim - and that attempts to radicalize other prisoners to become Islamists are on the rise. Belmarsh prison, where the terrorists who assassinated soldier Lee Rigby last year are being held, has also been the focus of an internal investigation.

Pray:

that this increase in those recruited to radical terrorism will be halted. (Heb.13:3b)

Child neglect is ‘rife’ says Christian children’s charity

A Methodist Church based children's charity has accused the government of failing to implement a proper strategy to tackle child neglect, which it claims currently affects more than 1.5 million children in the UK. A new study by Action for Children (AFC) has also revealed three-quarters of children in the UK know another child who is suffering from neglect. It comes as another damning report by the state's official body for inspecting schools has found some neglected children in England are being left to suffer, because their parents are being given too many chances by social services. The Ofsted study has looked at cases across the country and found a ‘mixed picture’ in how they are dealt with. Action for Children says it would like to see ‘practical measures’ to be included in a strategy, including a web portal where people can report concerns about children.

Pray:

for the Government and all appropriate agencies to take positive action to tackle neglect. (Pr.22:6)

Giant inflatable whale too ‘religious’ for London park

Plans to beach a giant inflatable whale beside the Thames in London for a re-enactment of the story of Jonah have been refused because it would be too ‘religious’. Organisers had hoped to place the 50ft sperm whale, which is owned by a circus troupe, in a park opposite Tower Bridge during the school summer holidays. The life-size creature, which children can explore inside, has been beached on the same spot in the past as part of a pirate-themed attraction for children. Actors were being lined up to play Jonah and other characters as part of an ambitious drive by the Bible Society to help reintroduce a new generation of children to once familiar stories. It follows research showing that children are increasingly unable to identify Bible stories such as Noah’s Ark or Moses which were once a basic childhood staple.

Pray:

that the message of Jonah and other Bible stories will lead to young children growing in knowledge. (Lk,17:26)

Low morale within the British Armed Forces

The morale in the British Armed Forces is at an all time low. With the many recent cuts, redundancies and re-structuring there is considerable distress amongst not only the service personnel but also their families. These cuts have resulted in servicemen and women working extremely long hours, which is unsustainable over a long period. The Armed Forces are then also expected to come to the rescue in a national crisis as with the recent flooding.

Pray:

for our Armed Forces, that morale lifts as all the re-structuring settles into place. Please pray for wisdom for the government and our military leaders, so that our Armed Forces won’t be reduced to such an extent that our nation is left vulnerable. (Pr.2:6)

Businesses sign up 400,000 dementia friends

More than 20 businesses including Easyjet and Butlins are joining a national campaign to train staff to become ‘dementia-friendly’. The Health Secretary will announce this week that more than 400,000 members of staff from the corporate sector have joined the mass movement, which aims to reduce the stigma around the disease so that those suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease feel welcome in their communities. Businesses including Marks & Spencer, Superdrug and Lloyds Bank have already signed up to the initiative. This week Jeremy Hunt will meet business leaders, including Marc Bolland, the chief executive officer of Marks & Spencer - which has already outstripped public pledges to sign up 200,000 dementia friends from major businesses. Those who sign up are given training in how to detect signs of the condition and are awarded a ‘forget-me-not’ badge so they can be identified as being able to assist those with dementia.

Pray:

for those who suffer from dementia and for this initiative to continue helping them. (Is.46:4)

Nearly 50% of workers earn less than the living wage

In some parts of Britain, nearly half the jobs pay less than the living wage, the TUC revealed today (1 April), to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the introduction of the minimum wage and the second week of the TUC’s Fair Pay Fortnight. Across the UK, around five million people get paid less than the living wage. Kingswood near Bristol tops the living wage black spots with 48 per cent earning less than £7.65 an hour, followed by Chingford and Woodford Green in North East London (43.4 per cent), Harrow West in North West London (42.4 per cent) and Sefton Central on Merseyside (40.4 per cent). In other parts of Britain a substantial number of workers also get paid less than the living wage. For working women the picture is even worse. More than half of women working in Kingswood (56.1 per cent) and Bexleyheath and Crayford (51.3) per cent, take home less than the living wage.

Pray:

for all those who are not receiving a fair wage that justice will prevail. (Pr.29:7)

Ukraine’s street children lost amid political turmoil

There’s a hidden segment of Ukrainian society that is receiving little attention in the midst of the nation’s untitled political and economic clamour - its tens of thousands of street children. You won’t see them because they find sanctuary in the basements of abandoned buildings or crouch next to hot water pipes in a system of tunnels running underneath city streets. To stave off feelings of cold and hunger, they sniff glue. The resulting ‘high’ may offer temporary escape from the misery of their existence, but it can’t give them what they need most - the joy of a loving family, food and shelter. Most of these kids are ‘social orphans’ who have at least one parent at home. Tired of living in an environment of neglect or physical abuse, they prefer to take their chances surviving as best they can on the streets where at least they enjoy freedom.

Pray:

for these unfortunate young people that ways can be found to meet their needs. (2Cor.9:12)

Four churches in Vienna heavily vandalised

On Saturday, March 29th, St. Stephen’s cathedral, the parish church of Breitenfeld (Josefstadt), the parish church of Neuottakring (Ottakring) as well as the Lazaristenkirche (Neubau) were all vandalised. In the parish church of Breitenfeld, four statues were knocked over and destroyed. In the Lazaristenkirche, the perpetrator/s smashed almost all statues, tore down the corpus of a wooden crucifix and broke its arms. In the cathedral of St. Stephen’s, a 37-year-old man was caught knocking over and demolishing the statue of St. Jude. Before he could tear down the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, bystanders stopped and held him until police arrived. Independent journalist Andreas Unterberger reported that he uttered Islamist motivations and that his name was Ibrahim. The police released the man saying that he was psychologically deranged and that there was no reason to keep him in custody.

Pray:

that God will protect His Church from these acts of vandalism. (Ps.5:11)

South Africa: Police ‘National Prayer Day’

Frightening violence and crime is rife in many parts of South Africa. Last week South African Police Service employees gathered at multiple venues in nine provinces to participate in the third annual SAPS National Prayer Day. The theme of this year’s event was Moving Forward in 2014 as one by seeking God’s face through praise and worship. Attendance at the services was voluntary. Addressing a gathering in Pretoria, National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, said the task facing SAPS is huge and requires them to ‘acknowledge our limitations before God and seek His intervention in our lives’. she introduced the following topics for intercessory prayer:- The SAPS management; police members and their families; the reduction of crime; crimes against women and children; the end to police killings; unity among SAPS members; government and the upcoming elections; and for all the religious leaders across the country to lead with dignity. ‘Pray without ceasing.’ she concluded.

Pray:

Into the above prayer topics, pray also for healing and harmony. Pray for total reconciliation. (1Thes. 5:17)

Australia: Christian schools – rebalance of national curriculum

Christian Schools Australia (CSA) has called for the national curriculum to be ‘rebalanced’ by including a fourth cross-curriculum priority about Australia's Western heritage and its Judeo-Christian influences. In its submission to the national curriculum review, the CSA (representing 130 of the 1100 independent schools), endorses the three cross-curriculum priorities of Asia, indigenous culture, and sustainability, but says they have come to dominate the way subjects are taught in schools. ‘While we may look forward to greater engagement with Asia, this should not preclude the analysis of the current and historical engagement with other parts of the world,’ it says. It went on to say ‘Ensuring the continued recognition of the Western/Judeo-Christian influences on our society may help to address these concerns.’ The comments echo criticisms by an education consultant and the Education Minister.

Pray:

for Australia’s school’s curriculum to continue to recognise the significance of Christianity in Australia's history. (Dt.6:1)

Saudi Arabia: Deportation of 250,000 migrants

Saudi Arabia is violating international law and deporting hundreds of thousands of migrants. Since November 2013, Saudi authorities have forcibly deported more than a quarter of a million migrants. 170,000 were Ethiopians who did not have valid visas. Since January 2014 over 12,000 Somalis have been deported. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Somalis were prevented from filing for refugee status - even though they were deported to war-torn Somalia. Earlier this year the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported that Somali refugees still needed international protection and called on all host countries to stop forcibly repatriating Somalis. HRW said conditions of detainees awaiting deportation were appalling with overcrowding, poor nutrition and sanitation and abuse by Saudi guards before they were deported. Most other foreign workers are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines. Pray for Saudi Arabia’s leaders to have compassion on its migrant workers and to ensure justice and fair treatment for them (Ez.22:29).

Pray:

for Saudi Arabia to honour its international obligation to protect refugees, allow them to claim refugee status and apply for asylum (Is.16:3).

Chile: Second big quake strikes

A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake has rocked northern Chile, just over 24 hours after an 8.2 tremor killed six people, destroyed 2,600 houses and led to mass evacuations. A tsunami alert in Chile and Peru was again issued, but was later lifted after waves of 2.4ft (0.7 meters) hit coastal areas. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was among those evacuated on Thursday. The quake is the strongest of several aftershocks following Tuesday's tremor. There have been no reports of damage from the latest quake.

Pray:

for those who have lost loved ones, homes and businesses. Pray for calm restoration of areas damaged. (Ps.75:3)

Nigeria: Commerce and poverty

At least 12 new private jets ordered by rich Nigerians will be delivered this year and private jet manufacturers will deliver 70 more within the next five years. The state-of-the-art private jets are being flown by professionals, politicians and even pastors. Each jet will cost between $30m and $65m. Many are optimistic about the business aviation market but it takes time. Infrastructure is needed. Meanwhile on Tuesday the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has reiterated the need for the Nigerian economy to grow faster in order to turn the tide on poverty. She said the chronic lack of electricity across the nation holds back businesses. ‘In the villages there are welders, plumbers and carpenters telling us their problem is uncertainty of power supply.’ Solving this power deficit would give a huge boost to Nigeria’s economy. She added Nigeria's rapid growth faced ‘vulnerabilities’. See also: http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/wealthy-nig erians-to-buy-n448bn-private-jets/

Pray:

into the vulnerabilities of: poor infrastructure, corruption in business, terrorism attacks on the church, government and education systems. Pray for God to turn around Nigeria’s stunted growth. (Is.1:4)

Venezuela: Anti-government protests

Anti-government protests aiming to disrupt, frustrate and ultimately trigger a popular revolt are being carried out across Venezuela. Contested details obscure a conclusive death count that includes student protesters, pro-government motorcycle riders crashing into barricades and those clearing or defending the barricades. As quickly as barricades are erected, pro-government militias attempt to tear them down, sparking a violent turf war for control of the streets. While marches by Venezuelans fed up with a tottering economy, rampant crime and crackdown on dissent still fill streets by day in many parts barricades are erected in mostly middle-class opposition neighbourhoods at night. On a recent evening a half dozen figures dragged heavy sacks of debris, twisted metal and watermelon-size chunks of concrete into the middle of a Caracas street. In minutes they'd erected a sizeable barricade, topped with a wooden sign that read ‘Libertad,’ Spanish for freedom. Just as quickly, they melted back into the shadows. Also this week ID cards were issued to curtail food hoarding. See: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/venezuela-issues-id-cards-curtail- food-hoarding-043206090.html#0rP7Mia

Pray:

for this turmoil to be resolved peacefully, pray against Venezuela sliding into poverty and dictatorship. (2Th.3:6)

Syria: Christians in the lions' den

Al Raqqa City, capital of Raqqa province, Northern Syria is home to 300,000 Syrians (3,000 are Christian) and fell last March to rebel forces. Tensions have escalated in northern Syria between the Al-Nusra Front (loyal to Al-Qaeda) and ISIS (loyal to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi). In January 2014 ISIS took full control of Al Raqqa. In February al-Nusra ordered ISIS out of Aleppo. Rather than fight, ISIS retreated from Aleppo and consolidated in Al Raqqa, which one ISIS jihadist boasted 'is a larger area than the state of Kuwait'. Al Raqqa is the only provincial capital under rebel control and ISIS is enforcing Sharia law just as in the Middle Ages. Women must wear the burka and men and women must not mingle. Brigades of young female Islamists now search women. Horrifically, young girls are being forcibly wed to ISIS fighters in marriages which are mostly temporary and routinely violent. One young girl recently committed suicide to escape sexual violence.

Pray:

that God will restrain the jihadis. Pray for protection for the Lord's faithful ones. (Nu.14:9)