South Africa: 1,462 come to faith through prayer

650 people gave their lives to Jesus during a week of 24-7 prayer in South Africa which culminated on New Years Eve. And that was just the beginning of an incredible January for Peter Sekhonyane who mobilises prayer in giant tents around the South African townships. ‘Speak about the power of prayer,’ he says. A few days later they launched three nights of prayer in Johannesburg, and these continued for two weeks! ‘Out of that time of prayer we ended up with 812 conversions and no single shop was attacked,’ says Peter. Such stories demonstrate, once again, the powerful transformational relationship between prayer, mission (more than a 1000 people saved in January alone through prayer meetings), and justice (protection on businesses in a deprived and volatile part of the world). More about Peter Sekhonyane's remarkable story in this video on the ‘More’ link.

Praise:

God for the further evidence of the growth of His Church. (Ps.18:49)

Christian worship rises amid Vanuatu destruction

Christians gathered to worship this weekend in Vanuatu, only a week after a deadly cyclone killed nearly 20 people. Pastor Barry Phillips told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that they have joy despite the circumstances. ‘The cyclone is the biggest one in but people are still happy. They have joy because they know that God is with us,’ Phillips said. ‘The trees are damaged, the buildings are damaged, but surely it will be rebuilt.’ Rebuilding efforts are underway on the Pacific Island nation. All-though there's concern that many of the outlying islands still don't have any way to communicate with the outside world and many people are still worried about basic necessities like water, shelter, and food.

Praise:

That the needs of the people will be provided and God’s praises will continue to rise.

Theresa May receives death threats from IS

The UK will no longer tolerate the behaviour of Islamist extremists who ‘reject our values’, Home Secretary Theresa May has said. She invited individuals, families and communities to join a ‘partnership’ to tackle the issue head on. Mrs May said everyone in Britain had ‘responsibilities as well as rights’, and must respect laws, institutions and the rights of others. Speaking in London, she also outlined plans to ban hate preachers. She announced Tory plans for a review of Sharia courts in England and Wales to examine whether they are compatible with British values.' We will no longer tolerate your behaviour. We will expose your hateful beliefs for what they are.’ An Islamic State fighter has called for the death of Home Secretary Theresa May following the speech she made on Monday in which she called on British Muslims to help defeat extremism.

Pray:

for the protection of Theresa May as she speaks out against extremism. (Ps.5:11)

RE teacher recruitment drive backed with cash offer

A campaign to persuade more graduates to become religious education (RE) teachers has been launched. The Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC) wants to raise awareness of bursaries of up to £9,000 available to cover training costs. RE has grown in popularity, with entries to the full course GCSE rising 19% since 2012. A-level entries have also increased more than any arts, humanity or social science subject over the past 10 years. The Beyond the Ordinary campaign is the first to specifically target potential trainee RE teachers and is being funded by donations from charitable trusts. More than 800 teacher training places will be available in the subject from September. Successful candidates with firs-class honours degrees will be eligible to receive training bursaries of £9,000, with £4,000 per year available for graduates with upper second class degrees.

Pray:

that the campaign will be successful and lead to a gifted group of candidates. (Pr.13:14)

Government drops plans to monitor Christian Union talks

Government has dropped the key section of ‘anti-terror’ guidance which threatened freedom of speech at university Christian Unions. Widespread concern had emerged over the draft guidance for the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, which said that university societies in Britain would be forced to hand over external speakers’ talks two weeks in advance for vetting. It has been suggested that specific guidance on the issue of external speakers may be published before the General Election but it would not have any legal force. The Christian Institute welcomed the change, while student charity UCCF said: ‘We are profoundly thankful to the Lord for overruling in this.’ The issue concerns the Prevent strategy which aims to counter terrorism by addressing ‘extremism’. In January, Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights warned that the ‘legal uncertainty’ about the definition of ‘extremist’ will have a seriously inhibiting effect on bona fide academic debate’. (See also Prayer Alert 04-2015)

Pray:

that this change in guidance will lead to freedom of speech about God’s word. (2Cor.3:17)

Up to 500 West Midlands children 'at risk of sex exploitation'

Almost 500 children across the West Midlands were victims of, or vulnerable to, sexual exploitation in the first half of last year, figures have revealed. A report found some children were trafficked by gangs and often passed between offenders. It is thought to be the first time data has been compiled for the whole region. Stephen Rimmer, a senior civil servant who led the project, said it would help improve support for children. He said it provided ‘a proper picture for the first time of the scale and nature’ of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the area. ‘I think society has been slow to recognise that child sexual exploitation is insidious, it's spread right across the country - victims are often terrified and they will not be comfortable working with police and other agencies,’ he said.

Pray:

that the many potential victims of sexual exploitation will be protected from this insidious problem. (Pr.22:22)

Housing costs prevent young people from starting families

The cost of housing is preventing nearly a quarter of 24 to-39 year-olds from starting a family, new research shows. Figures from the housing and homelessness charity Shelter and YouGov showthat prospective parents across the UK are putting off having children because housing is so expensive, with 57 per cent waiting for up to five years to start a family. The survey also revealed that 16 per cent of people know someone who has moved in with a partner quicker than they would have liked to during the past year, because they could not afford to live alone. One in 10 of those surveyed admitted that they would like to leave their partner but have not done so because they could not afford another place to live. Shelter has called on politicians of all parties to commit to building more affordable homes, so that young people have the chance to start a family in a safe and stable home.

Pray:

that the necessary support will be found for those wishing to start families to be able to get on the housing ladder. (Ps.12:7)

50% of British children don't eat veg each day

More than half of Bristsh children don't eat a single portion of vegetables a day, according to Newsround's food survey. The Government recommends that everyone should have at least five portions of fruit and veg a day. But the survey shows 52 in every 100 children don't have any veg, and 44 in 100 have no fruit on a daily basis. What we're eating is a big issue at the moment because one in three children in the UK is obese or overweight. That figure has trebled in the last 25 years. The survey was of 1,432 boys and girls, aged 7 to 12, across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also showed that lots of children are trying to make positive changes to their diet. It suggested that eight in 10 children have made changes like drinking more water and eating more fruit and vegetables recently.

Pray:

for children to eat a healthy and balanced diet (Pr.15:17)

Search operations continue at French Alps crash site

Churches have opened their doors in the wake of Tuesday's Germanwings Airbus crash in the French Alps, which killed all 150 people on board. Sixteen of those who died were teenagers on a Spanish exchange programme from Joseph-Koenig school in Haltern am See, Germany. Two of their teachers were also on the plane. The local Catholic church in Haltern, St Sixtus, was reportedly open all night for mourners. Hundreds of people visited the church after the news broke yesterday to light candles and write messages of condolence to the families of those who died. At the school just 1.5km away, residents covered the entrance with flowers and red and white candles. Deputy Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Sylvia Loehrmann, told reporters on Wednesday: ‘We can only share that pain and maybe some comfort can grow from that sharing. All of Germany is mourning with us and the whole world is sending us messages.’ At least three Britons were also killed.

Pray:

for all those who have lost loved ones in this disaster pray for God's blessings as they come to terms with their grief.(Ps.31:9)

Poland fears Russian invasion

Russia’s intervention in Ukraine is a big concern for Poles who fear Moscow might be planning an invasion of their country. This has reportedly resulted in increasing numbers of Poles joining volunteer paramilitary groups that provide basic military training. Up to now, the Polish government has ignored unofficial militias. Now it is reportedly seeking a way to harness the 120 volunteer groups that boast a membership of 10,000. Some 800 members of paramilitary groups gathered in Warsaw on March 20 to attend a meeting hosted by the defence ministry. Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak announced the government’s decision to pay the wages of 2,500 people who would form the backbone of local volunteer units to be mobilised in the event of a war. In an interview with Reuters, the Polish President's chief security adviser, General Stanislaw Koziej, said the new approach had been prompted by the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine, where Russia is accused of fighting alongside pro-Moscow separatists.

Pray:

for those who are fearful and pray that both Russia and the Poles, each side of the potential conflict will hold back and seek reconciliation. (Pr.6:14)

Nigeria: Voting this Saturday - Sharia or Christian country?

Muhammad Buhari wants to replace the current Christian President of Nigeria. Buhari has said in the past, ‘Sharia should be introduced across Nigeria. I will continue to show openly and inside me total commitment to the Sharia movement. God willing, we will not stop agitating for total implementation of the Sharia in Nigeria. God has given us a legal responsibility to continue to uphold the practice of Sharia wholeheartedly and educate non-Muslims that they have nothing to fear. What remains for Muslims in Nigeria is for them to redouble their efforts, educate Muslims on the need to promote the full implementation of Sharia law.’ Buhari’s comments were interpreted as a call for the imposition of Sharia even in the mainly Christian south. Also in the run-up to federal elections Nigerian journalists have been attacked and beaten at political rallies, and fear attack from militants. See also

Pray:

for peace in Nigeria’s election season that finishes on 11 April and for Mr Jonathan to repeat his 2011 presidential election result (22 million votes against his major rival's 12 million). (Ps.109:21)

Syria: 31 March ‘Aid Conference’ - 12 million people need help NOW

Syrians feel ‘increasingly abandoned by the world’ as global attention focuses on IS militants while violence and government bureaucracy hinder delivery of aid and medical supplies to 12 million people. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said a lack of accountability during the four-year civil war has also led to a rise in allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights abuses. While aid is reaching several million people, the situation for 4.8 million people in hard-to-reach areas (especially 212,000 people in besieged areas) was of ‘grave concern. Hospitals and schools are being attacked and international aid funding has failed to keep pace with needs. The UN is seeking $8.4 billion to meet humanitarian needs in 2015, after only securing half the funding it asked for in 2014. Mr Ban ki-moon said at a pledging conference in Kuwait on 31 March is crucial.

Pray:

that the Kuwait conference will release access to medical supplies and equipment. (Ps.40:10,11)

Global: Unrest inside IS

Eleven medical students and doctors of Sudanese origin went to Syria to provide medical assistance to IS. Members of the group sent text messages saying they were treating hospital patients. An estimated 20,000 foreign fighters and supporters have flocked to Syria and Iraq to prop up IS. The Washington Post reported special treatment and better pay for the foreign recruits have made local fighters resentful. Foreign fighters live in cities where there’s less chance of airstrikes while Syrian fighters serve in more vulnerable rural outposts. IS is paying foreign fighters $800 a month, but Syrians half that amount causing mounting unrest in IS. Meanwhile nine members of IS were killed during infighting after they tried to flee over the Turkish border. It is not the first time that IS has killed its own members. They killed 120+ of their own fighters in two months, mostly foreigners trying to return home.

Pray:

against the global radicalisation of young academics and for the destruction of IS. (Is.10:1,2)

Mexico: Protestants imprisoned and displaced

Two Protestant cousins, Casto Hernández and Juan Placido Hernández, were imprisoned and then expelled from their community with their families after refusing to renounce their religious beliefs. Christian Solidarity Worldwide said they were imprisoned for 30 hours by village officials and the efforts to expel the men were led by local leaders. A campaign targeting the Protestant minority in this region of Mexico began in April 2014 when village authorities attempted to force Protestants to sign a document prohibiting them from belonging to any non-Roman Catholic religion. They refused, but village leaders signed the document and claimed it was binding on the community. Religious freedom violations are common n iHidalgo state where local leaders often try to force conformity to the majority religion. State officials tasked with upholding the law, including human rights protections enshrined in the Mexican constitution, rarely intervene to protect religious freedom.

Pray:

for the State Governor to ensure the families can return to their homes practise their faith in peace, and that those responsible for their illegal imprisonment are held to account. (Pr.21:15)

Iraq: Raising awareness of the plight of Christians

A symbol targeting Christians has sparked a movement. IS painted the Arabic letter for ‘N’ (to indicate Nazarene or Christian) on the homes of believers in Mosul. Residents were then told to convert to Islam, pay a high tax, leave the area or be killed. The Voice of the Martyrs is serving Iraqi Christians who fled the terrorists by providing them with daily necessities and assessing their future needs. Many of these believers fled with only the clothes on their backs. To raise money to sustain work supporting Christians facing Islamic extremism they created an ‘i-am-n’ T-shirt featuring the same Arabic symbol that marked Christians’ homes in Mosul. Proceeds will help Christian refugees. In England a pianist, Carl Bahoshy, raised £33,000+ from 71 piano and organ recitals at churches, schools and cathedrals to raise money and awareness for Iraqi Christian refugees. 22 more concerts will follow. See also

Pray:

for more aid and prayer for persecuted Christians. (Ac.4:32)

Yemen: Saudi Arabia building up military near Yemen border

In February you were asked tprayed for suo pray for sucessful political negotiations to bring stability in the Yemen where armed men roam the streets and a few thousand Christians live. Saudi Arabia is now moving heavy military equipment to areas near its border with Yemen, raising the risk of being drawn into the worsening Yemeni conflict. The build-up follows a southward advance by Iranian-backed Houthi Shi'ite militants who took control of the capital, seized the central city of Taiz at the weekend and moved closer to the new southern base of US-supported President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The slide toward war in Yemen has made the country a crucial front in Saudi Arabia's region-wide rivalry with Iran, which Riyadh accuses of sowing sectarian strife through its support for the Houthis. The conflict risks spiralling into a proxy war with Shi'ite Iran backing the Houthis, whose leaders adhere to Shi'ite Islam, and Saudi Arabia and the other regional Sunni Muslim monarchies backing President Hadi.

Pray:

that the turmoil will not spill across the porous 1,100 mile-long border. Pray against an Iranian stronghold in a failed state along Yemen’s border. Continue to pray for successful external intervention in Yemen. (Ps.2:1,8)

Thailand: Police arrest 400 Christian refugees

Police in Thailand have arrested more than 400 Pakistani Christian immigrants, including children. Several pastors in Bangkok said many of the Christians fled Pakistan because they were either accused of blasphemy or threatened by radical Muslims. They have sought work and refugee status, and many reportedly have interview appointments scheduled with the United Nations. Some of the Pakistani Christians are converts from Islam. Since arriving in Thailand, they've depended on churches and others for food and housing. The Thai government says they are illegal immigrants and should be deported. The Christians say they thought Thailand would provide a safe haven for them after they escaped religious persecution.

Pray:

that Thailand will support and not further persecute Christians fleeing oppression. (Ps.5:8)