Amazing miracle in Wales

A couple camped nearby as they wished to have some quiet space and be at Ffald-y-Brenin (a House of Prayer near Fishguard) on their wedding anniversary, 30 July. The wife was upset to discover they had missed morning prayers. They went to the High Cross where she listened to The Grace Outpouring on her phone. She couldn't read it because she is blind. She has a stick, dark glasses and a guide dog. They went to evening prayers which were led by one of our volunteers. When it came to 'wherever darkness touches me I trust you to lighten it' the Holy Spirit came onto this blind lady and she fell to the floor crying 'my eyes hurt, my eyes hurt'. When she stood up and opened her eyes her first words were - 'I like your shirt!' Then she turned to her husband and saw him for the first time in eight years. They hurried home to see the children whom she has never seen before.

Praise:

God for this glorious answer to prayer. (Ps.17:6)

Digital Bible platform surpasses 200 million users

Coming from modest beginnings as a cassette tape lending library more than 40 years ago, Faith Comes By Hearing can truly say they understand and appreciate the saying, ‘You’ve come a long way, baby.’ At one time, the ministry focused solely on those in the American church and provided content in one language: English. Today, they are an international organization providing free digital access to Scripture recordings in over 830 languages that are spoken or signed by over 5.7 billion people. Across all of their digital platforms, the ministry has seen Bible engagement from more than 200 million users in just the last four years. Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) has been on the technological forefront in digital Bible distribution with the Digital Bible Platform, which houses the world’s largest repository of digital Scripture text, audio and video that is freely shared with partnering developers via an open API (application programming interface).

Praise:

God that His Word is living and vibrant bringing life wherever it goes. (Rom.10:17)

Statistics reveal prisons struggling to cope

Figures released on 31 July by the Ministry of Justice paint a complex picture of a prison service making heroic strides in some areas while struggling to cope with the impact of rising prison numbers and dramatic cuts to prison staff and budgets, says the Prison Reform Trust. Most worryingly, the figures show a significant increase in the numbers of self-inflicted deaths in custody, the number of incidents of recorded assaults (including fights) in prison and the number of assaults on staff. Commenting, Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: (these figures are).. ‘warning signs of a prison service placed under unprecedented strain. Ministers must heed and not dismiss what the facts and figures are telling them. Slashing prison budgets while warehousing ever greater numbers in larger prisons overseen by fewer and less experienced staff is no way to transform rehabilitation.’

Pray:

for the inmates and the members of the prison service that they will be able to address these worrying concerns. (Heb.13:3)

Bishops urge David Cameron to grant asylum to Iraqi Christians

The Church of England has demanded that the British government offers sanctuary to thousands of Christians fleeing jihadists in northern Iraq, warning that ignoring their plight would constitute a ‘betrayal of Britain's moral and historical obligations’. A number of bishops have revealed their frustration over David Cameron's intransigence on the issue, arguing that the UK has a responsibility to grant immediate asylum to Iraqi Christian communities recently forced to flee the northern city of Mosul after militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) threatened them with execution, a religious tax or forced conversion. On Monday, France responded to the so-called religious cleansing by publicly granting asylum to Christians driven from Mosul. The Anglican Church argues the UK has an even greater responsibility to intervene, citing its central role in the 2003 allied invasion, which experts say triggered the destabilisation and sectarian violence that shaped the context for Isis to seize control of much of northern Iraq.

Pray:

for the British Government to respond positively to support and help these Christian Iraqis. (Gal.5:1)

TV gambling ads: ‘PM should step in so kids not bombarded’

The Prime Minister should ‘step in’ to prevent children being overwhelmed by TV adverts that ‘normalise and glamorise’ gambling, a columnist has said. Writing in The Times, Rachel Sylvester criticised the coverage of this year’s World Cup, saying that children ‘could not avoid being bombarded by a campaign to encourage them to take a punt on the outcome of every match’. She highlighted Ofcom findings, which show that four to fifteen-year-olds are exposed to an average of 211 gambling adverts a year each. She noted a 600 per cent increase in TV gambling adverts since Labour liberalised the law in 2007, allowing sports betting, online casinos and poker to be promoted on television. The Labour sports minister who introduced the liberalisation, Gerry Sutcliffe, has admitted his government got it wrong. We did not envisage so much advertising for sports betting before the 9pm watershed’.

Pray:

for the Government to rethink the frequency, timing and suitability of such TV advertising. (1Ti.6:9)

New Stonewall chief plans to target under-fives

The new chief executive of LGBT activist group, Stonewall, has called for preschool children to be taught to ‘celebrate’ being gay as part of a proposed Government-funded campaign to tackle ‘homophobia’ in schools. Ruth Hunt said she wanted Stonewall to commission a series of books ‘celebrating difference in all its forms’ to encourage under-fives to ‘think about different families’, including same-sex households. ‘I think the next step is about going into preschools,’ she said. ‘I know from all my godchildren that the quality of children’s books depicting difference is dire.’ She added: ‘I really want to commission – and this is something we’ve got to talk about as an organisation – a suite of books that celebrates difference in all its forms for under-fives, with different families in it but also mixed-race people and sent into every preschool setting. That will take time too. But that is possibly one of the most radical campaigns we could do.’

Pray:

against this proposal to impose Stonewall principles on preschool children. (1Cor.6:9-10)

Born addicted to drugs: 1,500 have ‘withdrawal symptoms’

More than 1,500 babies were born addicted to drugs last year, according to statistics uncovered by a national newspaper. Since 2009, almost 8,000 babies have been born showing symptoms of drug withdrawal, the Daily Mirror found. The figures show ‘addiction is not just about individual choice – it affects children, families, communities and public services’, according to one think-tank. The Mirror used freedom of information requests to gain figures on the issue from NHS organisations, stretching back five years. An average of over 1,500 babies a year since 2009 were born showing ‘neonatal withdrawal symptoms’, the figures revealed. Most of the babies involved were born in England – some 6,600 – with over 700 in Scotland and almost 500 in Wales. In 2013 the figure for Great Britain stood at 1,536.

Pray:

that ways will be found to teach pregnant women the importance of abstaining from drugs for the sake of the children. (Ps.25:4)

Almost two million young adults still living with their parents

New research from the housing and homelessness charity Shelter has found that 48 per cent of working 20 to 34 year olds live with their parents because they are unable to afford to rent or buy their own home. Data from the last census shows a quarter of all 20 to 34 year old working adults in England – 1.97 million people – are currently living with their parents. As the latest government figures show average house prices for first-time buyers in the UK have risen by 11.3 per cent in a year, Shelter is urging stronger action to help the 'clipped wing generation' fly the nest. Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: ‘The ‘clipped wing generation’ are finding themselves with no choice but to remain living with mum and dad well into adulthood, and those who aren’t lucky enough to have this option instead face a lifetime of unstable, expensive private renting.’

Pray:

that action by the authorities will bring changes that meet the needs of so many young adults and homeless. (Ph.4:19)

Ethics panel for Greater Manchester Police moral 'grey areas'

An ethics committee has been set up to tackle moral issues faced by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the area's police and crime commissioner. The independent committee is one of the first of its kind in the country and aims to make recommendations on moral and ethical dilemmas. It will look at issues such as surveillance operations and the use of body cameras and water cannon. Members of the public can make referrals to the committee. The panel of 13 is chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev David Walker. It includes retired NBA basketball player John Amaechi - who has helped organisations deal with ethical issues - and Ruth Bromley, ethics and law head at Manchester Medical School. GMP Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: ‘There are lots of grey areas in policing.’

Pray:

for the success of this ethics committee that will be a model for the rest of the country. (Ph.3:17)

East Ukraine danger increasing, warns UN

Civilians in eastern Ukraine are facing increasing hardships, with wrecked infrastructure and limited access to power and water supplies, the UN says. UN humanitarian chief John Ging said ‘immediate action’ was needed to halt the conflict and prevent the situation from putting more people in danger. At a UN Security Council meeting Russia blamed Ukraine for the hardships, but the UK said it was Russia's fault. More than 1,500 people are believed to have been killed since April. The crisis erupted when well-armed pro-Russian gunmen took over various cities and attempted to break away from Ukraine. They have been slowly beaten back and the fighting is now focused on the two rebel strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk. Heavy fighting once again erupted on Tuesday in a suburb of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Mr Ging told an emergency meeting of the Security Council that the lack of a political solution in Ukraine would only lead to more people being killed.

Pray:

that a political solution will be found to bring peace. (Ps.34:14)

France: Move border checks back to Britain

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has been warned that measures designed to keep illegal immigrants out of Britain could collapse unless he pledges to address a new immigration crisis. As violent clashes took place in an illegal refugee camp in Calais, French officials wrote to Mr Cameron to say they would no longer support British border officials working in France. Philippe Mignonet, the deputy mayor and immigration chief at Calais, told The Telegraph he was losing patience with a treaty which allows British border guards to check passports in France before passengers board ferries or Channel Tunnel services. The British border was moved to France in 2003 as part of a deal to close the infamous Sangatte refugee camp, and to stop illegal immigrants reaching British soil to claim asylum. ‘We are suffering in Calais. Calais is a city, not a country. We are suffering by having the English border on its territory,’ said Mr Mignonet.

Pray:

that a solution will be found to solve the problem of illegal immigrants. (Dt.1:12-13)

West Africa: Ebola enters Nigeria as World Bank pledges financial support

Lagos has eight suspected cases of Ebola with one case confirmed, all came into contact with Nigeria's first victim who died. On Tuesday the World Bank pledged $200 million towards containing the virus. A doctor in Lagos is the second case in the sprawling city. The doctor attended to a man working for Liberia's finance ministry who contracted the virus from his sister before travelling to Lagos for a meeting of West African officials. Seventy people who came into contact with the deceased are being monitored. Three show signs of the disease. World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, himself an expert on infectious diseases, was deeply saddened at the breakdown of already weak health systems in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The funding will provide medical supplies, pay healthcare staff and manage priorities to try to contain the epidemic and prevent future outbreaks. Reports from Liberia say corpses are being dumped or abandoned and bodies of victims rot in the streets or in their homes. See also

Pray:

for the nations as they unite to reorganise their fight against the epidemic. Pray for Government and NGOs working in isolated communities as they give healthcare advice and medical aid. (Jas.1:5)

Middle East: Ceasefire and negotiations

At the time of preparing this article the latest Gaza ceasefire enters its second day. There is tentative relief to millions on both sides and Palestinian and Israeli teams prepare for tough talks in Cairo. Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian foreign minister, said he expected the ceasefire to expand beyond 72 hours. The small teams of delegates bring conflicting demands. Palestinians want open border crossings. (Not only Israel has closed borders. The Egyptian regime is hostile to Hamas and suspicious of political Islam. Only 140 injured Gazans have gone to Egyptian hospitals since 8 July. See also. Meanwhile Israel wants Gaza fully demilitarised. The US is also due to participate in the Cairo talks. ‘We are determining at what level and in what capacity and when,’ said the US State Department spokesperson in Washington. Riyad al-Maliki complained to The Hague of war crimes committed by Israel. Israel said it did its utmost to avoid civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of putting people in harm's way by launching rockets from densely populated districts.

Pray:

for God’s provision to be in every detail of the coming uphill diplomatic battles. (Ps.31:21-22)

Lebanon: Hamas/Hezbollah - who’s inspiring whom?

Hamas had been digging tunnels in Gaza for decades. The Lebanese Shiite organization has used tunnels and underground bunkers since the IDF withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. Now there’s concern that Hezbollah has expanded its network of tunnels inside south Lebanon, to enable offensive infiltration into Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu said the Hamas cross-border tunnel network had the ‘catastrophic’ potential of gunmen emerging into southern Israel near army positions, kibbutzim and settlements. Israeli communities on the Lebanese border have in the past reported hearing muffled sounds underground, which they believe indicate Hezbollah tunne-digging. Now, such reports are gaining new resonance and the Israeli security establishment is taking their concerns seriously. An article published on Hezbollah’s website cited that ‘security elements’ spoke of booby-trapped tunnels prepared over the past two years inside southern Lebanon, allowing fighters to move easily from place to place during battle. Last month, Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that the exchange of knowledge between Hamas and Hezbollah on Israel is ongoing.

Pray:

for a supernatural breakthrough in the Israel/Hamas war. Pray also for cross-border tunnels used for cover and launching pads for military operations to be detected and eliminated without further innocent casualties. (Joel 2:21)

Africa: A prayer request for un-reached people groups

An evangelist reports, ‘1,536 adults and 1,808 children attended activities during our Botswana & Namibia outreach, where we explained the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people living in remote areas and small villages. A hundred Bibles and a few thousand tracts were distributed, as well as different topics from Jericho Walls International Prayer Network on prayer and Bibles studies. We worked with nearby churches in these remote areas. Using guides and translators is always key to the age old problem of follow-up programmes to isolated groups.’ Pray for the reached communities and the participating churches to experience God’s blessings and be greatly encouraged as they grow in God’s Kingdom.

Pray:

for all in the mission fields of Africa, asking God for their protection and wisdom and for a spiritual break- through in the remote regions of Botswana and Namibia. (Lk.10:19)

Nigeria: Kidnapped girls – trauma rises

For the families of the missing girls kidnapped more than a hundred days ago, another trauma has emerged. Eleven of the grieving parents have died, many after heart attacks and stress-related illnesses. President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to secure the girls release during his first meeting with parents recently. Parents pulled out of previous meetings believing they were being used for political reasons. Despite the support of the USA, France and the UK the whereabouts of the girls is still unknown. President Jonathan reassured parents, appealing for patience, understanding and cooperation. ‘Anyone who says we are aloof and not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful. Our commitment is to get the girls out and to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria.’ Please pray for security in the area; there are concerns of a humanitarian disaster as Christians flee Boko Haram. See also.

Pray:

for the heartbroken families. Ask God to protect communities against the onslaught of fear and hopelessness. Ask God to remind them that He has a future and a hope for them. (Lk.1:50-51)

Pakistan: Christian persecution drastically increases

Christians make up 4% the population in Pakistan and are targets in the rapidly increasing violence against minorities. Pakistan's blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal scores. ‘It's not safe for Christians in this country.’ said the bishop emeritus of Peshawar. ‘Everyone is ignoring the growing danger to Christians in Muslim-majority countries.’ Increasing persecution is causing panic. 16,000+ Christians have fled to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. In an attempt to end this mass exodus authorities illegally removed 1000+ Pakistani Christians from their flights in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Sri Lanka detains them as refugees. Pakistan has moved to number 8 on Open Doors World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians in the world. Pray and ask God to soften the hearts of extremists, convict them of their sins against humanity and to provide protection over Christians in Pakistan.

Pray:

that the unjust blasphemy laws will be repealed in Pakistan. Ask God to help the Christians to continue to show love and kindness to their Muslim neighbours even when persecuted. (Rom.8:35)

USA: 1,000 Congolese children and their US adoptive families

This week the U.S. Senate passed a resolution requesting the Democratic Republic of Congo to stop blocking the 1,000 Congolese children who have been adopted, or are in the process of being adopted, from uniting with their adoptive families in the USA. The Congolese government stopped processing adoption cases last September. On Monday this week nearly 50 African heads of state and government, including DRC President Joseph Kabila, gathered for a meeting in Washington. Both Ends Burning told The Christian Post reported that the resolution called for prioritizing the processing of inter-country adoptions, which were initiated before the suspension and accelerating the adoptions which involve medically fragile children. ‘Families have done everything asked of them during what has become a long and arduous process and are eager to be united with their children so that these children can begin their life in a safe and nurturing family.’ See also.

Pray:

that all governments involved in the international adoption process will act as advocates for children needing permanent loving families abroad rather than becoming barriers to the process. (Ex.22:21)