One thousand new Revs ‘a remarkable gift to both Church and nation’

The Church of England will be ordaining nearly 1000 men and women this summer to minister in churches across the country. Coming from a wide range of backgrounds including the Army, banking, social media consultancy and racecourse management, deacons and priests will be celebrating their new roles as ‘Reverends’ within the Church of England. The Bishop of Sheffield, Steven Croft, Chair of the Church of England's Ministry Council, said: ‘The ordination of nearly a thousand new deacons and priests in this season is a remarkable gift to both the Church and our nation. These deacons and priests will between them make an extraordinary contribution to the lives of communities across the land, in service, in leading God's people in worship and through inviting others to follow Christ. It is a huge encouragement to see so many women and men in every age group responding to God's call to ordained ministry’.

Praise:

God for all the ordinands and that God will use each of them to proclaim the living Gospel of Christ. (Mk.16:15)

Brazil: The evangelical revolution

Brazil: Much of Latin America and the Caribbean is in the midst of what believers proudly call an ‘evangelical revolution’. According to the IBGE, Brazil's census board, the country's Catholic population fell from around 89% in 1980 to 74% in 2000, while its Pentecostal flock grew from 3% to 10%. A public expression of this new evangelicalism is the ‘March for Jesus’. Over half a million Christians gathered in Rio de Janeiro in early June this year. The annual event was held under the slogan ‘I belong to Jesus. I am a champion’, in honour of the participants' faith and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which Brazil is hosting this year. Another ‘March for Jesus’ is planned in Sao Paulo on 12 July, a day before the World Cup final. This one is expected to draw 2 million participants. It’s the country’s largest religious gathering, and more popular than the Salvador Carnival.

Praise:

God for the events that promote Jesus as Lord. (Rom.10:9)

Ramadan 2014: Christians will be praying daily

Just 20 years ago, Islam was a little known religion to most people in Western nations. At that time there were about 1.1 billion Muslims and efforts on the part of Christians to share their faith with them were scarce. Today, the number of Muslim people is estimated at 2.1 billion and endeavours to reach Muslims have increased ten-fold. From 28 June till 27July, Muslims all around the world will set aside thirty days to intentionally seek their god by abstaining from earthly pleasures. During this month of Ramadan, they will seek Allah, pursuing forgiveness and cleansing of their souls while fasting from sunrise to sunset and refraining from bad habits and spiritual distractions. Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for God to speak and move in the lives of millions of Muslims, introducing His son Jesus, their Saviour. Theological arguments or political manipulation may not impact Muslims, but we know prayer will. See the thirty day prayer guide and other resources at http://www.30-days.net/ and the more link.

Pray:

that God will open the hearts and minds of Muslims as they pray. (Luke 24:44-47)

Cameron celebrates gay marriage in new video

David Cameron has praised same-sex marriage as a ‘huge, historic change’ in a new video released last weekend. He was speaking to coincide with Pride – an annual homosexual event taking place in London. Mr Cameron said: ‘Since I recorded last year’s message there has been one huge, historic change in Britain: the institution of marriage is now open to all. Whether you’re a man and a man, a woman and a woman or a woman and a man, your love for one another is equal in the eyes of the law.’ He also said ‘the Foreign Office was pushing for pro-gay changes in other countries, and that Britain should ‘encourage the rest of our world to take our lead’. The Prime Minister also spoke of his desire to export same-sex marriage around the world at a Downing Street party last year.

Pray:

for David Cameron to be given a revelation from God and a clear understanding of His word. (Jer 31:33)

NHS worker who 'bullied’ Muslim by praying for her

A Christian health worker has begun a legal challenge after being disciplined by the NHS for praying with a Muslim colleague. Victoria Wasteney, a senior occupational therapist in one of the country’s most racially diverse areas, was also accused of bullying the colleague. In addition, senior managers told Miss Wasteney that it was inappropriate to invite the woman to a community sports day organised by her church. The complaints led to Miss Wasteney being suspended on full pay for nine months. A disciplinary hearing at her work in February found her guilty of three charges of misconduct – praying with the colleague, giving her the book and inviting her to church events. Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the case demonstrated that ‘the NHS is increasingly dominated by a suffocating liberal agenda that chooses to bend over backwards to accommodate certain beliefs but punishes the Christian’.

Pray:

for Victoria, who was supporting a colleague who apparently was interested in what she had to say. (Jas.1:12)

Back to the Bible, forward to the world

In his inaugural address as President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Kenneth Howcroft spoke of the ‘desperate need’ for the Church to ‘speak biblically to serve the present age.’ He encouraged Conference representatives to turn outwards to face the world with renewed self-confidence in their Methodist identity. Addressing the opening of the annual Methodist Conference in Birmingham, Mr Howcroft spoke of the challenge of communicating the Gospel in contemporary society, saying; ‘We seem less and less able to speak the languages of the people and cultures round us. We are communities of very different people, sometimes multi-cultural and sometimes multi-national. We are for holiness and mission, and have been given the grace by God to speak biblically in order to serve the present age. Can we go on doing it? Since God has not given up on us yet, by God's grace yes, we can!’

Pray:

for God to grant each of us boldness in communicating our faith. (Ac.28:31)

Number of children treated for cannabis addiction hits record levels

Children receiving treatment for cannabis addiction is at a record level. Experts are blaming the huge rise in drug addiction on the popularity of a new stronger skunk, which is several times more potent than regular cannabis. Meanwhile police officers have been instructed to go soft on people caught using khat – a drug popular among the Somali community – as a ban came into force this week. More than 13,500 children under the age of 18 received medical treatment for drug addiction last year, with cannabis being cited as the ‘main problem drug’. The statistics were released by Public Health England, an executive agency of the UK’s Department of Health. A spokesman said: ‘Stronger cannabis strains may be causing more problems. The figures showed that in seven years there had been a 50 per cent rise in children receiving treatment. The report also revealed that 200 children aged 12 or below were treated for drug addiction last year.

Pray:

for the children who have become addicted to cannabis and pray that treatment will succeed.

Court of Appeal hears challenge to 'anti-Islam' dismissal

This week, the Court of Appeal heard the case of Christian Legal Centre, regarding Nohad Halawi, who was dismissed from her job at Heathrow airport after her comments were incorrectly perceived by Muslim colleagues as being offensive to Islam. Judgment in the case has been reserved until a later date. Nohad Halawi, who worked for 13 years in World Duty Free (WDF) in Heathrow’s Terminal 3, spoke about Christianity and was perceived by Muslim colleagues to have given offence. The management, without any proper procedure, immediately took away her airside pass which meant she was prevented from working, despite an unblemished record. An Employment Tribunal ruled that Nohad had no protection under employment law as she was not technically employed, despite significant evidence to the contrary. Nohad contacted the Christian Legal Centre and Standing Council, Paul Diamond, represented her.

Pray:

for Nohad, that she will know the strength and peace of the Lord at this latest stage of a difficult and long running case. (Ps.29:11)

Call for an end to Christian assemblies in schools

Legislation stating schools must hold a daily ‘broadly Christian’ assembly is at risk of being abolished. The National Governors' Association (NGA) has declared the law, as set out under the 1944 Education Act, to be ‘meaningless’, and has urged the government to put an end to its application in non-faith schools. ‘Few schools can or do meet the current legislative requirement for a daily act of collective worship, partly because there isn't space in most schools to gather students together, and often because staff are unable or unwilling to lead a collective worship session. There is also the added issue that worship implies belief in a particular faith - if the 'act of worship' is not in your faith then it is meaningless as an act of worship,’ a policy statement from the NGA reads.

Pray:

that the education authorities will rethink the policy and find ways to uphold Christian principles in some form of collective assembly. (Deut 4:9-10)

Ukraine president ends ceasefire with rebels

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ended a unilateral ceasefire with separatists in the east. Mr Poroshenko said the chance to implement a peace plan had been lost because of the ‘criminal activities’ of pro-Russian militants. The shaky 10-day ceasefire between the Ukrainian authorities and separatist groups had been due to end late on Monday. Both sides have accused each other of violating the truce. Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted pro-Russian militia saying Ukrainian forces had resumed shelling the town of Kramatorsk. ‘The decision not to continue the ceasefire is our answer to terrorists, militants and marauders,’ Mr Poroshenko said. Earlier on Monday, the office of French President Francois Hollande said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to work together to establish a bilateral ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

Pray:

that the leaders involved in this conflict will come together to seek the way of peace. (Micah 4:2-4)

Italian navy picks up thousands of migrants

More than 5,000 migrants have been picked up by the Italian navy in the past 48 hours in several rescue operations between Sicily and North Africa. On Monday, about 30 bodies were found in one of the migrant boats, Italian news agencies reported, citing the navy and coastguard. The rescuers made the gruesome discovery when they boarded a fishing boat carrying around 590 refugees and migrants. The immigrants apparently died of asphyxiation, the news agencies said. It is not the first time Italian rescuers have found migrants dead on the overcrowded boats, but never before had they found so many bodies in one boat. Over the past weekend more than 1,600 migrants were rescued by Italian authorities, bringing the total number of migrants rescued so far this year to above 60,000. The number is expected to soar past the record 63,000 set in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings.

Pray:

for the ongoing situation involving migrants from North Africa. Pray for the authorities, that ways will be found to help resettlement. (Ps.44:26)

Nigeria: Dozens of church-goers killed in Boko Haram attacks

Four churches have been attacked and scores of people killed in the latest bout of violence by suspected Boko Haram members. Gunmen fired at worshippers gathered in Kwada village just 6 miles from Chibok in Borno state, where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped and taken hostage on 14 April. The militants then set fire to the buildings, which included the Protestant Church of Christ in Nigeria and the Pentecostal Deeper Life Bible Church, before heading to nearby Kautikari village where they continued their rampage; shooting local civilians and setting fire to their homes. The death toll is reported to be at least 30 in Kwada, though this figure is expected to climb. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Muslim-majority Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States in May 2013 and has authorised an increased military presence in an attempt to combat extremism.

Pray:

with urgency for the nation of Nigeria experiencing daily attacks by the extremists. (Ps.140:1-2)

Nigeria: Dozens reported killed by car bomb

A truck has exploded in a huge fireball, killing at least 17 people in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the latest attack in a city repeatedly hit by Boko Haram fighters. Tuesday's bomb rocked Maiduguri's largest roundabout near the crowded Market where elderly women line the road selling peanuts and kola nuts as snacks to morning commuters. The Defence Ministry said in a tweet that an ’improvised explosive device’ went off in ‘a van loaded with charcoal’ and that the area had been cordoned off. One witness said the bomb went off just after the market opened at 8am before most traders or customers had arrived. Unruly crowds tried to attack fire-fighters deployed to the scene, accusing them of arriving too slowly and hindering their efforts to put out the raging blaze, the AFP news agency reported.

Pray:

continuously for God to confuse the hand of the enemy and bring peace. (Ps 140:7-8)

Israel: Hamas 'will pay the price' after teenagers found dead

Israel has vowed retribution against Hamas, the militant Palestinian group it says kidnapped and murdered three teenagers in the occupied West Bank. The bodies of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach were found on Monday evening, after they had been missing for more than a fortnight. Israel PM Benyamin Netanyahu said: ‘Hamas is responsible and Hamas will pay.’ Hamas denies any involvement. Israel launched more than 30 air strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight. The strikes came in response to 18 rocket attacks on southern Israel from Gaza since Sunday night, the Israeli military said. Israeli troops also flooded into the Palestinian town of Halhul. The bodies were found under a pile of rocks near the town. An Israeli official said it appeared the teenagers were shot soon after their abduction. (See also Prayer Alert 23-2014) Tensions rise further after Israeli police found the body of a Palestinian teenager on Wednesday, apparently a revenge attack.

Pray:

that Israel and Hamas will seek ways of peace, not of war. (Ps.34:14)

Iraq and Syria: ISIS rebels declare 'Islamic state'

Jihadist militant group ISIS has said it is establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, on the territories it controls in Iraq and Syria. It also proclaimed the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and ‘leader for Muslims everywhere’. Setting up a state governed under strict Islamic law has long been a goal of many jihadists. Meanwhile, Iraq's army continued an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from the ISIS-led rebels. The city was seized by the insurgents on 11 June as they swept across large parts of north-western Iraq. In a separate development, Israel called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to the gain made by the Sunni rebels in Iraq. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) announced the establishment of the caliphate in an audio recording posted on the internet on Sunday.

Pray:

for the situation across the Middle East; especially pray for peace in Syria and in Iraq. (Is.59:8)

Central Africa Republic: Priest pioneers peace process

Despite the Central Africa Republic (CAR)’s increasing level of chaos, a glimmer of hope has been developing in its northern town Bozoum - which is peaceful and prosperous thanks to mediation efforts. This town of about 26,000 inhabitants enjoys a relative calm which ensures the functioning of vital services such as the hospital, schools and market, thanks to mediation efforts of people of good will under the leadership of an Italian priest, Father Aurelio Gazzera, the bishop of St. Michael Parish of Bozoum. Since Seleka rebels took over power in March 2013, numerous armed men claiming to be from the Seleka rebels or opposing anti-Balaka militia have been looting and committing other forms of abuse against the population, in Bangui and elsewhere across the country.

Pray:

for Father Gazzera as he mediates in this volatile situation, seeking the way of peace. (Lk.2:14)

Pakistan halts Christian exodus; Sri Lanka detains refugees

Pakistani authorities prevented more than one thousand ‘persecuted’ Christians from fleeing Pakistan and hundreds of Christian asylum seekers have been detained in Sri Lanka, a well-informed source told BosNewsLife Sunday, June 29. ‘More than 1000 Pakistani Christians were illegally removed from their confirmed flights from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports in recent months.' he added. ‘It was the first step to end this mass exodus’. Christian refugees who managed to arrive in Sri Lanka have reportedly been targeted as well. Local media reported that the Sri Lankan Immigration and Investigation police had started a joint operation against Pakistani Christian asylum seekers. They had reportedly detained hundreds of asylum seekers in recent weeks. The Christians were to be deported because of their alleged involvement in ‘anti-state activities’ in India and Pakistan.

Pray:

for all those persecuted and falsely accused who are seeking asylum. (Ps.119:36)

Global Christian leaders call on G20 to tackle tax evasion

Christian leaders representing over 1 billion people from 170 nations have sent an open letter to heads of the G20, calling for urgent action on corruption and tax evasion, reports Micah Challenge International in a media statement released on 26 June. This historic anti-corruption initiative by the global Church comes at a decisive political moment as finance ministers meet in Australia ahead of the G20 summit in November. The letter was handed in to Australia’s Treasury as part of a lobbying event in Canberra that saw over 200 advocates meet with 100 MPs. Participants also gathered near Parliament shining symbolic giant lights on the darkness of corrupt deals. Australia holds the presidency of the G20 this year and plays a crucial role in setting the priorities for the meeting in Brisbane. The letter represents the hopes of millions around the world looking to Australia to take the lead on financial transparency.

Pray:

for the G20 finance ministers as they come together, that they will be given wisdom. (Pr.4:6)