100,000 people have come to Christ in Burundi in the last 8 years

‘Lord, I'll do anything, I'll go anywhere.’ This was the prayer of Simon Guillebaud as a young man, before he was called into one of the world's most dangerous mission fields. In 1999, when he was in his early 20s, Guillebaud gave up a steady marketing job to move to Burundi, a war-torn nation in the Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa. In the 15 years since, he has seen God move in incredible ways and is passionate about seeing the country and its people fully restored. ‘I went out with a few hundred pounds, most of which got stolen on the first day, and I just thought 'Bring it on', he tells Christian Today. Guillebaud set up an umbrella organisation, Great Lakes Outreach (GLO), which works with local groups and gifted leaders to share the Gospel, and has seen one percent of Burundi come to Christ in the last eight years – 100,000 people.

Praise:

God for the way that He has blessed the work of believers in Burundi. (1Cor.15:22)

Myanmar: God hears childrens' prayers

Nandar Nant from the children’s prayer movement in Myanmar, reported: ‘Every week and every month we have prayer gatherings in different orphanages, homes and churches. On Saturdays we organize a 24 hours of prayer. At the moment 50 churches, 60 orphanages and about 3500 children are involved, and next year we plan to expand again. Children have great faith and an innocent heart,’ she says. ‘When we started praying for the seven spheres of society, we saw amazing changes. Parents repented for not taking care of their children, and the children repented for disobeying their parents. People came free from addictions and adultery. We saw miracles of healing and unity among churches. Christian singers and actors now openly share about their faith. Personally I believe these changes are related to the children’s prayer movement. The children are really engaged as they see how God changes things because of their prayer.’

Praise:

God for the prayers of children. (Rom 8:14-15)

Assisted Suicide Bill – the debate

On Friday 18th July the House of Lords will vote on Lord Falconer's Bill to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales. The outcome of this vote will carry weight in the Scottish Parlament as the Assisted Suicide Bill is processed there. Previous bills of this nature have been defeated because they were considered dangerous. While the bill is being debated in the Lords people opposed to the bill will gather from 9:30 onwards outside the building armed with placards, banners and wearing black and/or red. The organisers of this protest want people to consider that while we fight for human rights for the disabled, for assistance in life for the disabled, support and independent living for the less able, a bill is being debated for assisted suicide for the same people. At a time when the NHS and social care are being decimated and the ILF is facing closure, is the only assistance we’ll get a suicide bill? (see also World section - item 6 and Europe section - item 1)

Pray:

that Lord Falconer's assisted suicide Bill will be defeated and there will be strong arguments in the media against it. (Ps.118:15-17 & Job.33:4 & Is.42:5)

Countdown to 2014 Commonwealth Games

It’s count down time to the Commonwealth Games and a Christian ministry organisation ‘Flourish Scotland’ has been set up by Auchterarder-based Chris McCrosson, in partnership with the Christian charity More Than Gold. It will facilitate worship and preaching and Christian activity throughout the entire twelve days of the event with the hope of seeing lives and communities transformed through the release of God's blessing. Taking inspiration from the motto ‘Let Glasgow flourish through the preaching of his word and the praising of his name,’ the teams are preparing for a ‘24/12 Encounter’ in which a variety of speakers and worship artists will help form a non-stop 288-hour period of praise, prayer and preaching from the very start of the Games on 23 July through to the closing ceremony twelve days later. More information about how to support Flourish Scotland at the Games can be found here.

Pray:

for God’s people as they proclaim God as sovereign in the country like never before. May the specially-formed teams know His protection and inspiration. (Ps.5:11)

Military receive spending boost

David Cameron announced on Monday that the government will invest an additional £800m in boosting the military’s surveillance, intelligence and Special Forces plus £300m on extending existing capabilities. He said that the Armed Forces must adapt to deal with unseen enemies and spending on intelligence and surveillance equipment, such as drones, is a national necessity. He warned that Britain faces changing threats in the form of global terrorism and unseen cyber-criminals who can target the country from abroad, stating, ‘We cannot defend the realm from the white cliffs of Dover.’ See also here

Pray:

the extra investment in intelligence, target acquisition and reconnaissance will be an economical spend, to give our military the expertise needed for tomorrow's threats. (Ps.90:17)

Mums-to-be admit drinking too much booze

Thousands of women a year are giving birth after admitting having drunk too much alcohol during their pregnancies, a Sky News investigation has found. Although government guidelines warn pregnant women against drinking more than four units a week - equivalent to two large glasses of wine - hospitals have recorded a significant number drinking much more. The first hospital figures of their kind suggest that more than 2,000 babies a year are born to mothers who have breached alcohol guidelines. Dr Raja Mukherjee, lead clinician for the national foetal alcohol spectrum disorder clinic in Surrey said ‘We know that women are drinking more. 90% of women in this country drink and they don't all suddenly stop when they are pregnant.’ Heavy drinking during pregnancy increases the risk that babies will be born with foetal alcohol syndrome - a life-long condition that can leave children physically and mentally disabled.

Pray:

for better information and support for pregnant mothers, especially those with known alcohol problems. (Isa.49:15)

Tooth decay hospitalises 500 children every week

Nearly 500 children a week are being admitted to hospital with rotten teeth, NHS figures show. It is now the main reason for youngsters needing hospital treatment and dentists say the main culprits are fruit juice and fizzy drinks. Most children need between four and eight of their baby teeth extracted, although some are having all 20 taken out. Figures also show that more than a quarter of five-year-olds have some degree of tooth decay and in some areas of England it is well over a third. Only last month new NHS guidelines urged the public to slash sugar intake to as little as five teaspoons a day, due to concerns that it is to blame for rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Experts are also worried that sugar is behind an increase in tooth decay in children and could affect their ability to learn.

Pray:

for greater awareness and better oral hygiene for our youngsters. (3Jn.1:2)

Energy firm complaints hit record high

The number of customers complaining to the independent ombudsman about their energy bills has soared with more people making official complaints in the first six months of this year than the whole of last year put together. Official complaints more than doubled to 22,671 in the first six months of 2014 from 10,598 in the previous six months. The 2013 total was 17,960. Complaints to the ombudsman – who deals with disputes unresolved after at least eight weeks – also reached a record for one month at 4,124 in June, an increase of 216% on a year ago. Chief energy ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said: ‘The spike in complaints is in part a result of the rising cost of living, but also as a result of consumers becoming more aware of their rights and feeling more empowered to act and fight for a fair deal. Addressing these concerns is crucial to restoring consumer confidence in the sector.’

Pray:

for the energy companies to take action to deal quickly with complaints and also to address the issues so that fewer complaints are generated. (Mt.12:37)

660 arrested over accessing online child abuse images

660 suspected paedophiles have been arrested as part of a six-month operation targeting people accessing child abuse images online. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the 660 included doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers. More than 400 children have been protected as a result, the agency said. Arrests were made across the UK and the majority of those held had no previous contact with police. The NCA said 39 of those arrested are registered sex offenders. Charges already brought range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault. The NCA stressed that none of those arrested is a serving or former MP or member of the Government.

Pray:

that the authorities will have even more success in halting this horrific trend of abuse of the young. (Ps.118:25)

Euthanasia: Don’t make our mistake, says Dutch academic

A Dutch academic who supported legalising euthanasia in the Netherlands has urged Westminster not to introduce assisted suicide, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords. Theo Boer, who has been part of a committee monitoring euthanasia cases since 2005, said the number of such deaths in the Netherlands has soared since the legalisation of euthanasia in 2002. Boer has reviewed close to 4,000 euthanasia cases and said: ‘Euthanasia is on the way to becoming a ‘default’ mode of dying for cancer patients'. Cases have been reported in which a large part of the suffering of those given euthanasia or assisted suicide consisted in being aged, lonely or bereaved'. He said: ‘I used to be a supporter of the Dutch law. But now, with twelve years of experience, I take a very different view’. (See also GB&I section - item 1 and World section - item 6)

Pray:

that the results of the Dutch legislation will offer wisdom to the Westminster discussions. (Ps.37:30)

Swedish, Polish Christian medics fired for refusing abortions

A Christian nurse is taking legal action against the Swedish government after she was fired for refusing to perform abortions. A doctor in Poland, who was dismissed on similar grounds, is considering an appeal. Ellinor Grimmark said an employment offer at a hospital in Eksjo, southern Sweden, was suddenly scrapped though she had successfully completed an internship. The Ombudsman claimed the county council had refused her the position ‘not because of her religion, but because she was not prepared to perform duties that were part of the job description’. It comes amid reports of growing pressure on Christian medical personnel across Europe. On Friday, 9 July, news emerged that Professor Bogdan Chazan, viewed as one of Poland's top doctors, is considering an appeal after he was fired as director at Warsaw's Holy Family Hospital for his refusal to carry out an abortion.

Pray:

for all those who are standing up for the sanctity of life and Godly principles.

Israel/Palestine: Digging in, Hamas believes time is on its side

A Middle East analyst suggests that Hamas’s military wing calculates that world opinion and mounting Israeli frustration will ultimately work to their advantage. Even though Hamas underestimated the resilience of the Israel home front, military capabilities and intelligence they are determined to see their mission through. Hamas forces are still standing and they are still standing by demands they issued on the second day of conflict, with no signs of flexibility. Historically Hamas is a socio-political organization with an associated paramilitary force, its roots are in the Muslim Brotherhood which has been active in the Gaza strip since 1950’s.The name Hamas is an acronym of Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya meaning ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’

Pray:

that ‘resistance’ will be replaced by tolerance and acceptance. Pray for suitable mediators to effectively challenge the route of this conflict. (Ps.25:19-22) May God surround all his people in the region. (Ps.29:11)

Libya: Government and army call for calm

Two years after a revolt that ousted and killed Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Libya’s weak government is struggling to control its borders, stop the smuggling of weapons and manage regional militias that have refused to disarm. The turmoil temperature rose higher this week as:- the Libya UN Support Mission evacuated all staff citing security concerns; the Ministry of Interior asked residents to stay away from clashes taking place around Tripoli International Airport and on the roads; the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tunis, which processes Libyan applications for Umrah and other visas will close at the end of this week. (the embassy in Tripoli is closed); the Aman Bank in Tripoli closed on Monday because of clashes. Also it is becoming increasingly clear that Christianity is no more welcome in Libya after the Arab Spring than under the rule of Gaddafi . Many Christians have left in the face of violent attacks and the growing strength of both political and militant Islamism. See also here

Pray:

for the protection of all NGO’s trying to meet the needs of their neighbours. (Ps.12:5)

Mexico: Dangers for unaccompanied migrant children

Pope Francis called for urgent action to protect and care for the tens of thousands of unaccompanied children migrating from Central America and Mexico to the United States. In a letter read by the Vatican envoy to Mexico and heard by foreign ministers of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the pope said a humanitarian emergency demands urgent measures for minors to be protected and duly taken in. Migrants cross into the United States under extreme conditions in pursuit of a hope that in most cases turns out to be vain. US authorities have detained 57,000 unaccompanied minors since October. Mexican authorities have picked up 8,000 child migrants in the first five months of this year - over half of whom were travelling alone. The pontiff called for policies to inform the public of the dangers of the trip north and to promote development of the migrants' countries of origin. (See also item 4 below)

Pray:

for vulnerable migrants to be protected from kidnapping, robberies, soliciting and abuse by drug gangs.

Mexico: Children at risk – a humanitarian crisis

Unaccompanied children migrants jump onto trains in Mexico to cross the border - as many as 90,000 may have entered the US from Central America this year alone. This week Aljazeera reported that 458 children, including infants, were found living in a rat- and flea-infested refuge in Mexico when police and army troops raided a home known as ‘The Big Family’. Attorney general Jesus Murillo said, ‘There were around 500 children in truly terrible conditions.’ Fox news reported on Wednesday that Dozens of Central Americans who paid $1.50 a head were seen crossing the Suchiate River on inner tubes and wooden boards, in full view of Mexican police and immigration agents. See also here and here

Pray:

that the international community would recognise the challenge of this potential humanitarian disaster and measures be taken by the countries involved. (Pr.29:7)

Syria: UN - Unanimous vote to deliver aid in rebel areas

Despite objections by Syria’s government, the United Nations Security Council voted 15 to 0 on Monday to authorize cross-border convoys of emergency aid for millions of deprived Syrian civilians in rebel-held areas, without prior approval by the Syrian authorities. This strengthens provisions adopted five months ago and signified a rare unanimity among the Security Council members over how to deal with the 4-year civil war in Syria. 10.8 million people need assistance because of the war, and roughly half of them live in rebel-held areas. Up to now the government of President Bashar al-Assad has insisted that all international aid be channelled through Damascus and very little, if any, had been getting to civilians in areas not controlled by the government. His political opponents believe the injustice and unfairness of aid distribution was part of an effort to use the assistance, including medicine, as a weapon of war to sicken and starve rebel-held areas into submission.

Pray:

against further delays, obstructions or opposition to relief reaching civilians trapped in besieged and hard to reach areas, for terrorism to stop and for the humanitarian situation in Syria to improve. (Pr.16:1-2)

South Africa: Desmond Tutu's endorsement of assisted suicide

A South African, conservative Christian political party leader, Rev. Theunis Botha, condemned Archbishop Desmond Tutu's statements last week in favour of assisted suicide, ‘To his support for abortion and same-sex-marriage Bishop Tutu now adds euthanasia (suicide) on the list of things he supports that are totally contrary to the Word of God.’ In an article published last Saturday Tutu cited an example of when assisted suicide should be permissible and said that the case demonstrates that South Africa's laws need to be changed. Desmond Tutu’s endorsement of euthanasia was reported in the British media just days before Britain’s House of Lords debate a controversial Assisted Dying Bill. The proposed new British law would enable doctors to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients who have stated a clearly expressed intention to end their lives. (See also the British Isles Section - item 1 and the Europe Section - item 1)

Pray:

for improved palliative care for the sick and dying across the nations. (Ps.145:8,9)

Asia/Africa/Middle East: Churches affected by anti-Christian campaigns

ChinaAid reported that an anti-church campaign has resulted in the persecution of more than 160 churches. Recently, the White Crane Church in Zhejiang Province received a demolition notice and later was told by the local authorities that they must demolish the house used for gathering. A local pastor said that there is no sign of this campaign stopping anytime soon. China’s house church is a branch of a Hangzhou-based church founded by Watchman Nee. In Nigeria Christian Churches are being targeted almost weekly - the most recent report being of armed Islamic militants killing ‘scores’ of worshippers and civilians and burning down four churches in two villages in the northeast. Nigerian military and law enforcement personnel have neither confirmed the attacks nor announced an official death toll. During Egypt’s struggle against the Muslim Brotherhood recently many Churches were set ablaze. See also here

Pray:

that God will continue to build, nurture and protect His people wherever they worship. (Mt.16:18) Pray also for the Body of Christ to know His wisdom as they stand against persecution. (Pr.24:3,4)