The paradox of the rapid spread of Christianity in China

In China there are more Christians today than there are members of the 87 million-strong Communist Party. They grow by an average of 10% a year, which means there will be 250 million Christians by around 2030, making China’s Christian population the largest in the world. While in the 1980s the faith grew most quickly in the countryside, in recent years it has been burgeoning in cities. A new breed of educated, urban and socially and economically active Christians has emerged. This rapid growth of the Church is forcing an official re-think on religion. In fact, the Party is even asking Christians for their help.

Praise:

God for the increase of the believers throughout China. (Ps.148:1)

Benin: Growing tolerance, reduced persecution

The 2015 World Watch List from Open Doors ranks 50 countries where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is most severe. The worst 10 are Muslim nations, yet Christians need to be aware that not all Muslim countries persecute Christians. Take the West African nation of Benin. It's one of 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the body which describes itself as ‘the collective voice of the Muslim world.’ Benin’s president, Boni Yayi, was born into a Muslim family. However, he is now a devout Evangelical Christian. He worships at his local Pentecostal church, where he sometimes also preaches the sermon, and has expressed a desire to ‘evangelise the world’ when his presidential term ends in 2016.

Praise:

God for the growing religious tolerance in Benin and praise Him for the Muslim nations who are as nervous about extremist Islamism as are the Christians. (Mt.24:14)

Pray for Parliament

2015 celebrates 800 years since the sealing of the Magna Carta, which paved the way for the House of Commons and democracy. This week, 20 January is the 750th anniversary of the birth of our parliament In 2015 sittings in both houses commence with Christian prayers. A well-established parliamentary prayer is as follows:- ‘Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed. Amen.’ In the months leading up to the general election we can use the helpful prayers here.

Pray:

for a positive influence of God’s people throughout Government departments.(Ps.49:3)

Lord Chief Justice disciplines Christian magistrate

A Christian magistrate has been disciplined by a Tory Cabinet Minister for expressing the belief that children should be raised by both a mother and a father. Richard Page told colleagues behind closed doors during an adoption case that he thought it would be better for a child to be brought up in a traditional family rather than by a gay couple. He was shocked a week later when he found he had been reported to the judges’ watchdog for alleged prejudice and was suspended from sitting on family court cases. Mr Page, an experienced NHS manager, has now been found guilty of serious misconduct by Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling – who previously spoke in support of a Christian couple who turned away a gay couple from their B&B. He has also been ordered to go on an equality course before he is allowed back in the courtroom.

Pray:

for believers who have positions of authority and try hard to hold on to their faith against the pressures of secularism. (Ps.30:4)

School for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender pupils

A special state school could open its doors in the centre of Manchester to specifically teach LGBT young people who are struggling in mainstream schools. It might also be open to young carers, young parents and those with mental health problems. Amelia Lee, strategic director for LGBT Youth North West, the youth work charity behind the plans, said that bullying of LGBT is incredibly common in schools and causes young people to feel isolated and alienated, which often leads to truanting. A £63,000 feasibility study into the plan is under way thanks to a grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The charity has also been involved in discussions with Manchester City Council about how it can provide more alternative education for LGBT children in the area and Ms Lee hoped the school would act as a trailblazer and inspiration for more.

Pray:

for all schools wisely to support young people struggling with adolescence in the mixed school environment. (Ps.119:66)

Praying with a Muslim colleague ruined my career, says Christian NHS worker

It was intended, she says, as a simple but heartfelt gesture of comfort and support for a troubled colleague. Victoria Wasteney put her hand on her friend’s knee and, asking if she could pray for her, said simply: ‘God, I trust You will bring peace and You will bring healing.’ So when Miss Wasteney was later suspended by the NHS from her position as a senior occupational health therapist for having prayed with her colleague, she was left openly distraught and angry. East London NHS Foundation Trust suspended her for nine months on full pay, but, on Tuesday Miss Wasteney, who describes openly herself as a 'born-again Christian’, begins a legal challenge against the Trust, claiming it discriminated against her on grounds of religion and that it infringed her rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. She says she also wants to challenge what she regards as the stifling of ordinary conversations about faith in the workplace.

Pray:

for God's wisdom and guidance for all parties in this dispute. (Jas.3:17)

Income inequality is the biggest problem in Britain say Archbishops

The Church of England issues a damning judgment of the state of Britain under the Coalition as a country in which the poor are being ‘left behind’ and entire cities ‘cast aside’ In a direct and unapologetically ‘political’ intervention timed for the beginning of the General Election campaign, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, warn politicians against selling a ‘lie’ that economic growth is the answer to Britain’s social problems.They condemn inequality between rich and poor as ‘evil’ and the assumption that the value of communities is in their economic output as a ‘fundamental sin’. Britain, they argue has been ‘dominated by rampant consumerism and individualism,’ while the Christian values of solidarity and selflessness have been supplanted by a new secular creed of ‘every person for themselves’. While London and the South East forge ahead, much of the rest of the country is still ‘trapped in apparently inevitable decline’.

Pray:

against the inequality between rich and poor and that a balance could be achieved. (Pr.11)

Women keep the faith as majority of men say they do not believe in God

Muslims have the strongest faith in modern Britain while only one in six who identify with Anglicanism or other mainstream protestant churches are convinced of the existence of God. Women are almost two-thirds more likely than men to believe in God, a major study of attitudes among middle-aged Britons has found. Atheism and agnosticism are now the majority creed among the male population but almost two thirds of women believe in Heaven or an afterlife. The findings also suggest that Muslims have by far the strongest faith , with Christians from smaller evangelical churches the only group coming close to the same levels of certainty. By contrast only one in six members of the main Protestant denominations say they believe without doubt in God. Just a third of Roman Catholics in the study said the same compared to 88 per cent of Muslims and 71 per cent of those categorised as evangelical Christians.

Pray:

that God will stir up faith in the believers through a move of the Holy Spirit. (Ac.8:15-19)

Anti-Semitism on the rise

Middle East expert Pinchas Inbari writes that he has met with several senior European officials who said they see the Israeli-Palestine issue as the most pressing matter for Europe. The logic goes like this: The problem upsets Muslims and Arabs and drives recruitment to Islamic State, which is a direct threat to Europe; so they intend to force Israel to submit to Palestinian demands, believing a Palestinian state would somehow solve the Islamic State problem. Hate crimes strike fear into Jewish communities. In just one week last year eight synagogues were attacked in France and Kosher businesses are regularly smashed and looted as crowds chant ‘Death to Jews’. In Germany recently molotov cocktails were lobbed into the Bergische synagogue and Imam Abu Bilal Ismail called on Allah to ‘destroy the Zionist Jews'. A Dutch' anti-Semitism watchdog had 70+ calls from alarmed Jewish citizens in just one week last year. Organisations recording anti-Semitic incidents say the trend is inexorable. See also

Pray:

for God to keep, shepherd and protect Jewish people (Jer.31:10) and confound His enemies (Ps.129:5,6)

EU pledges better cooperation with Muslim countries in the fight against terror

‘The threat is not only the one we faced in Paris, but also spreading in many parts of the world, starting in Muslim countries. We need to share information more. We need to cooperate more. We are determined to do what is necessary to keep Europe safe from the terrorist threat,’ said British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Monday (January 19). He was among 28 EU foreign ministers attending a meeting in Brussels. There, delegates pledged to adopt better strategies at home and abroad in an effort to counter radicalised Muslims returning from Syria and Iraq. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini called for better collaboration between EU member states, but also with Muslim countries. ‘We took a decision with the Foreign Affairs Council to coordinate in a much more active way than has been the case so far.’

Pray:

that cooperation between EU member states and Muslim countries in counteracting terrorism will bring lasting success. (Ps.118:25)

Anti-Semitism across continents last year

In Argentina swastikas were etched on a Jewish community centre, a Jewish cemetery was desecrated while swastikas were painted on Rabbi’s homes, Synagogues and Israeli Cultural buildings. In Australia swastikas were painted on a Central Synagogue. Flyers were placed in mailboxes of Jewish neighbourhoods inviting people to join Squadron 88, a white supremacist group. In Antwerp, Belgium, a rabbi walking to Synagogue was stabbed in the throat and a Belgian doctor refused to treat a Jewish woman. In Brazil swastikas were painted on a Jewish cultural centre In Bulgaria ‘death to Jews’ and a swastika were painted on Sofia’s Synagogue. In Canada obscenities and swastikas were painted on bus shelters, playgrounds, schools and synagogues. In Holland a Holocaust monument was desecrated, an apartment displaying the Jewish flag was firebombed and the country's Chief Rabbi’s home was attacked. In Ireland Mexico, Morocco Russia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and New Zealand Jewish communities are being targeted.

Pray:

for the recent events in Europe to serve as a sobering wake-up call to the world to do something about the dangerous resurgence of anti-Semitism. (Ps.33:8-12)

Yemen: Coup threatens country's stability

On Monday a wave of violence that closed embassies and businesses engulfed the poorest country in the Arab world and could reshape its political landscape. Street battles raged between Shiite Houthi rebels and government forces in Yemen's capital and talks between President Hadi and representatives of the Houthi rebels broke down. (Houthis rejected a draft constitution dividing Yemen into six regions.) On Tuesday, Houthi rebels shelled the presidential palace and seized the state-run media. The commander of the Presidential Protection Force said, ‘what is happening is a coup.’ The powerful Houthi rebel movement dominates northern Yemen and seeks to strengthen the rights of the Zaidi sect (20-30% of the population). Clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels may strengthen Al Qaeda's position. Yemen is number 14 on Open Doors World Watch List of persecutors of Christians.

Pray:

for Christians to clothe themselves with the full armour of God, and remain at peace (Eph.6:10-23).

Australia: Paris terrorist attack renews racial discrimination act debate

The murderous attack on the office of French magazine Charlie Hebdo has renewed the debate in Australia about Section 18C of the federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Free market think-tank, the Institute of Public Affairs, has called on the Abbott Government to repeal Section 18C. The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has also backed calls for the Government to revisit the debate about freedom of speech. ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said all public debate should be conducted respectfully but it should not be against the law to ‘insult’ or ‘offend’. ‘Inciting hatred or violence would still be an offence, but not ‘insulting’ or ‘offending’,’ Mr Shelton said.

Pray:

for free public debate on insult or offence to be preferred to violence on the streets. Pray also for an end to religious vilification laws which lead to unnecessary litigation. (Ps.35:19,20)

Central Africa Republic: Prayer request

Towns in the provinces have experienced a return of armed confrontations. There is no let-up for the civilian population and people are continuing to cross over the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo to seek refuge there. Fighting is reported between the Seleka and anti-Balaka in Dékoa, fierce fighting in Djimbi between Goula and Runga tribespeople (all Seleka) has lead to a number of deaths with townspeople hiding in their houses. Muslims and French Sangaris troops have been locked in mortal combat in Bria. Sadly this is the climate in which preparations are being made for the Bangui Forum which is supposed to be a national dialogue that will restore peace to the CAR. Delegations including representatives of different religions will go up and down the country holding preparatory talks in different places. (Including areas where fighting is going on).

Pray:

for God to achieve His purposes through the work of these delegations. (Phil.2:13) Pray against the irresponsibility of the different armed militia groups. (Ps.3:7)

Niger: Charlie Hebdo publication protests and 70+ churches destroyed

The Christian community in Niger experienced weekend violence that claimed the lives of ten people and led to the destruction of dozens of places of worship and Christian homes. The protest started in the country’s second city, Zinder, quickly spreading to surrounding areas. Ten people died, and more than 70 churches were destroyed, along with Christian schools, organisations including an orphanage run by the Assembly of God Church. Forty orphans are under the care of police. Over 30 Christian homes were looted and burnt. Those affected are left them with ‘only the clothes on our e backs.’ Lack of security forces intervention turned Christians and their properties into easy targets for the protesters and looters. Niger’s president said, ‘Those who plunder places of worship, persecute and kill their Christian compatriots, or foreigners living on the soil of our country, did not understand anything about Islam’. The church has called Christians to respond with the love of Christ.

Pray:

that Christians in Niger will find the grace to forgive and forget, to love Muslims with all their heart, to keep up the faith and to love Christ like never before. (Mt.5: 43-48)

Indonesia: Waves of Islamist violence

Since last November the Indonesian town of Poso and the surrounding province have seen an escalation of targeted attacks and barbarism causing increasing ‘panic’ among people and appeals to the government to assure safety. Recent weeks have seen kidnappings, assassinations by Islamic Tendency with the barbaric mutilation of bodies. In spite of the 2001 peace agreement to end years of bloody clashes between Muslims and Christians, the region looks set to fall into chaos again. The situation is delicate, so much so that the police and local authorities invite citizens - for security reasons - not to leave their homes. The prohibition is extended to the farmers, who cannot tend their fields. In an attempt to end the violence, activists and human rights groups in the area have promoted a peace initiative, calling for the state to intervene to ensure the safety of citizens.

Pray:

for peace and security to replace religion-rooted violence. Pray for the media to avoid fuelling sectarian divisions that exacerbating the situation. (Ps.9: 5a & 13)

USA: Fox News accused of giving misleading reports

News articles have an enormous marketplace and give a platform to share ideas, draw attention to incidents, communities and situations that need change. They give educated comments and decision and we rely on reporting to be honest with educated comments. However the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, plans to sue an American news network, Fox News, for inaccurate reports about Muslim 'no-go areas' in the city, claiming the people of Paris had been insulted and the city’s image had been damaged. Recently Fox News network ran multiple reports describing areas of Paris and British cities that were governed by Sharia law and off-limits to non-Muslims. Her comments came as a senior US politician said that in some European countries immigrant communities lived outside the reach of the law and the police.

Pray:

for God to bless this litigation with international publicity, so that we see less foolish fact-finding and more truthful and trustworthy media reporting globally. (Ps.9:16)