Christian tells UN Assembly, ‘God raised me from the dead’

On 22 April Pastor Lee Stoneking stood in front of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York City to address the problem of violence taking place around the world in the name of religious ideology. Stoneking did just that, but first he shared his story of resurrection. He had suffered a massive heart attack and paramedics tried to revive him but he was declared dead and put into the ambulance as a corpse. After being clinically dead for 45 minutes, Stoneking’s heart started to beat. The paramedics and doctors were amazed by this miracle. A doctor discovered his DNA had been altered to strip heart disease from his genetic makeup. ‘You have defied all laws of medical science,’ he told Stoneking. Stoneking replied, ‘I didn’t but I know the one who did. His name is Jesus.’ In his UN address he went on to preach the gospel. His UN speech is on YouTube and has been viewed 3 million times.

Praise:

God for the gift of boldness to preach the gospel and the tools for spreading the Good News. (Ro.15:20,21)

Atheist geneticist turned to faith after trying to disprove God

The current head of the National Institutes of Health, Francis S Collins, told a CNN news reporter that he came to faith after he set out to disprove God. ‘I had always assumed that faith was based on purely emotional and irrational arguments and was astounded to discover that one could build a very strong case for the plausibility of God. My earlier atheist’s assertion that "I know there is no God" emerged as the least defensible.’ Collins' work gave him a spectacular view into the magnificence, order and finely-tuned perfection of the DNA molecule, God’s software for every living thing. He also reported to the National Geographic, ‘At the most fundamental level, it’s a miracle that there’s a universe at all.’

Praise:

God that faith can complement science. Pray for more evangelistic Christian scientists. (Gal.1:11,12)

God bless Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge had an 8lbs 3 oz baby girl at 8.34 am last Saturday. Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is the fourth in line to the throne. Her great-grandmother has held, and her grandfather, father and brother will all in turn hold, the title of, 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.' The Church of England website has published the following prayer for the new royal arrival: ‘Lord of all, we offer our deep thanksgiving for the gift of new life, and especially for the daughter born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, sister to Prince George. Pour your blessing upon the whole family, and be their light and guide in all that they are called to be and do in life. Enfold them in your love and hope, now and always, we pray, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.’

Pray:

for the Duke and Duchess in their enormous privilege and responsibility of parenthood. (Ps.90:1)

Praying for the next government

To those of us within the UK: we have the responsibility of standing guard in prayer over the whole process that will now roll out on this Election Day and beyond - what a privilege! Use 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 and Ephesians 3: 10-12. Let’s continue to worship Jesus as Lord; thank Him for His goodness; seek His forgiveness; release the blessing of Father, Son and Holy Spirit into the whole process and pray for His Kingdom to come and His will be done. Pray for: 1. God’s mercy on the UK - we have done much to grieve God’s heart. | 2. God’s plans and purposes for the UK to be fulfilled. | 3. Safety from terrorism – up to and beyond the election. | 5. God to call new Christians into our assemblies, parliaments & in local government. | 6. Wise & unbiased reporting by the media. | 7. Many people to turn out and use their votes wisely - in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland (James 1:5). | 8. Wisdom in the formation of a new government in Westminster and in the start of the next season in the Assemblies in Northern Ireland and Wales and Parliament in Scotland (Prov. 14:34; Prov. 11:14).

Muslim and Gay prayer services in churches

A leading liberal clergyman (Rev Giles Goddard, vicar of St John's Waterloo) who had defended his right to offer services of thanksgiving for gay weddings and hold a full Muslim prayer service in his church has now apologised for the ‘great consternation’ and offence caused by his comments. When the Bishop of Southwark issued a statement expressing his sorrow at the infringement of Church of England guidelines, it was thought that was the end of the matter. However on Saturday the Dean of Westminster defended the choice of a prayer in which the prophet Muhammad was described as 'The Chosen One' at the Abbey as ‘within orthodox Christian worship’. See also the statement from THE MILL GATHERING in January 2015

Pray:

for all denominations of the Church in England to proclaim faithfully the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (1Tim.2:5)

Methodist, CofE, Catholics and Quakers - energy and climate justice

The Methodist Church has deep roots in UK mining and manages £1.1bn of investments for charities and pension funds. Under a new climate policy announced this week, those funds could exclude investment in coal used for power generation, tar sands and companies whose business model is dedicated to finding and exploiting new fossil fuel reserves. The Church of England has announced it will end investments in heavily polluting tar sands oil and thermal coal. A third of Catholics say they will make their lifestyle greener if Pope Francis makes an official statement on climate change, ahead of a significant publication from the Vatican on the environment. (See article 1 in this week’s Europe section) The Quakers in the UK are disinvesting their money from fossil fuels and want an end to unconventional fracking and tar sands oil. See also

Pray:

for industry and politicians to hear the religious voices regarding climate and justice.(Pr.17:24)

NHS - Care Pathway still being used

As a nation we have turned away from God’s values and His guidelines when it comes to taking and giving life. The Liverpool Care Pathway was meant to be phased out last year following concerns that it was being abused by NHS staff. But recently, nurses have warned that it is still being used by hospitals under a different name. The LCP is a practice whereby foods and fluids are withdrawn from patients who are thought to be close to death. They are usually sedated and given a 'do not resuscitate' order. An inquiry overseen by Baroness Neuberger ordered the practice to be phased out and the practice was banned last summer. But earlier this year nurses and cancer charities told MPs on the health select committee that the pathway was still being used by hospitals - although not by that name.

Pray:

that the abuse suffered by patients by the use of this practice will end. (Pr.12:28)

Threat to bomb new hospital over prayer room

Medics at a Glasgow hospital were terrorised by a colleague who threatened to bomb the building when told there was no prayer room for him to practise his faith. Police were called to the Southern General in Govan when he became abusive and threatened to blow up the hospital. It is understood that the man is a temporary porter at the five-storey laboratory building, part of the new £842m South Glasgow University Hospital. The incident sparked fears that the new 1,365-bed, 14-floor, South Glasgow University Hospital could be a target for terrorists. Medics told the Evening Times that they fear for their safety after details of the incident on 10 April emerged this week. One doctor, who asked to remain anonymous, said, ‘There are no security staff on site. The new building is due to open soon and could potentially be a target.’

Pray:

for the safety of the South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children. (Pr.26:2)

Keeping abortion illegal in Northern Ireland

Democratic Unionist Party MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who is a Stormont Junior Minister, said the Department of Health has - for the first time - published guidance to health professionals in Northern Ireland on terminating pregnancy. Such guidelines have not been previously in place as abortion remains illegal in NI, except when the mother's life is at risk. He said, ‘We will not be liberalising the law on abortion here.’ The Royal College of Midwives has said they will bring greater clarity to the legal position of staff who take part in terminations. Although the move will not change the law, and the guidelines will merely make clear what is and is not permitted, Jeffrey Donaldson has already said he and his party colleagues were unhappy with some of the guidelines. ‘We had a number of concerns that we raised with the Health Minister,’ he said.

Pray:

for clear moral guidelines with regard to unresolved issues around uncomplicated births. (Ps.71:6)

Vatican City: Pope Francis comments on global climate change

For about a year, Pope Francis has been meeting with scientists and policy experts to get their advice on addressing the environmental degradation caused by climate change. This process will culminate in June or July, when he will deliver a highly anticipated papal encyclical on the environment. An encyclical is the highest teaching issued by a pope. It is essentially a church policy paper, meant to offer guidance on specific issues for the bishops, priests and faithful who make up the family of about 1.2 billion Roman Catholics worldwide. The pope finished writing his ‘eco-encyclical’ in late April. It will be the first time a Catholic leader has dedicated an entire encyclical to environmental issues. The Vatican’s speaker on climate change said Pope Francis will frame the issue of climate change in moral terms regarding the accelerating burning of fossil fuels that power our economic engine and disrupt the earth’s delicate ecological balance on an almost unfathomable scale. See also article 4 in Prayer-Alert British Isles section.

Pray:

for the moral issues relating to climate change to be clearly understood by global fuel agencies. (Ps.8:6)

Germany: ‘March for Life’

Seventy years ago the Nazi regime was falling to the invading allied armies, and Nazi SS officers attempted to prevent foreign soldiers from seeing the horrifying conditions in concentration camps. They gave orders for the emaciated Jews, Russians, Poles, Gypsies and other slave workers to leave the camps on ‘Death Marches’ towards the areas where the German army still had control. Many died from the cold and exhaustion or were simply shot for not being able to walk or refusing to obey orders. In 2015, in many German cities, a ‘March of Life’ has been or is being organised by Christian groups, in cooperation with Jewish communities and survivors of the Holocaust, to ask for forgiveness, promote reconciliation and bring new life to their cities and communities that had experienced the curse of death.

Pray:

for the May marches in Bonn, the capital of West Germany after the war, and Berlin. (Deut.30:19)

Nigeria: Turning point in Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram

Last week Prayer-Alert reported the release of 234 women and girls from Boko Haram. The total number of hostages released in the past few days has risen to 700. This marks a revival of fortunes for Nigeria’s military. More hostages have been freed in the past few weeks than in the past six years of the Boko Haram insurgency. This is due to the military receiving vital equipment and more support from the Nigerian people, who gave valuable information to track down the insurgents. Getting the Nigerian people on the side of the army would have been unlikely a few months back, given the military's appalling human rights record in the north east. The imminent arrival of Muhammadu Buhari as President has piloted a new sense of confidence. The former military strongman has vowed to crush the Muslim extremists. As the assault on Boko Haram’s stronghold continues it is hoped more victims will be released.

Pray:

for adequate treatment to be put in place to deal with cases of post-traumatic stress disorder.(1Pe.5:7)

Nepal: Christian minority responds to earthquake

Less than 3% of Nepal’s population is Christian. After years of intense persecution, Nepalese Christians now have freedom to meet, though proselytising remains illegal. Baptist Global Response reported that local churches were pooling limited resources to become community hubs for disaster relief. They offer shelter, clean water, and food to neighbours who are now sleeping in the streets. Rescue Network Nepal, an indigenous Christian organisation, have activated volunteers whom they had already trained through local churches to provide first aid and trauma care in rural regions. Samaritan’s Purse and Convoy of Hope are dispatching teams and supplies to the region and offer relief in conjunction with church networks in local communities. Nepal Christian Relief Services and Tearfund, along with other Christian agencies, have workers currently hard at work distributing food and other items to affected families.

Pray:

for Christian workers giving love and support to those who have lost everything. (Ps.94:17-19)

Nepal: Quake female survivors exposed to sex trade traffickers

NGOs are warning that criminal networks using the cover of rescue efforts are targeting rural communities that were devastated by the earthquake. Each year an estimated 15,000 girls and young women from poor communities are trafficked and forced into sex work. Now tens of thousands more young women from earthquake-devastated regions are in danger of being abducted and forced into the trade to supply a network of brothels across south Asia. The UN and local NGOs said that this is the time when the brokers go in the name of relief to kidnap or lure women away, and they are making people aware that someone might come with that aim. ‘We are getting reports of individuals pretending to look for people and rescue them.’ Trafficked sex slaves from Nepal are taken to South Korea, South Africa and India. The majority go to Indian brothels, where tens of thousands work in appalling conditions.

Pray:

for God to intervene in this state of affairs through disaster relief organisations. (Ps.56:1,8,9)

Libya: Now a ‘failed state’

Since Qaddafi’s downfall Libya’s newly formed, militia-run police force terrorises religious minorities, officials and workers who previously served under Qaddafi. This has prevented tens of thousands of experienced government workers from providing millions of Libyans access to any form of government programme or service. Currently, daily life for Libyans is both dysfunctional and untenable. Libya has tumbled to the point of being a ‘failed state’ with no security force to protect its people. The country’s perpetual state of civil war has brought about desperate living conditions, food scarcities, a collapsed economy and groups of armed militias roaming the streets carrying out acts of terror against the people. Tens of thousands of working people are fleeing the country using any means at their disposal. For facts concerning Libya’s people smugglers who sell refugees hopes of a better life see also

Pray:

for God in his mercy to turn Libya around from death to life. (John.3: 10)

North Korea: Willing to be martyrs for national freedom

While speaking at a North Korea Freedom Week forum on Capitol Hill, the first North Korean defector to be ordained as a Methodist minister asserted that Korean Christians not only want to topple the regime of dictator Kim Jong-un but want the unification of North and South Korea to occur through the Gospel. Kang Chul-ho, who established the first North Korean defector church congregation in South Korea (and is also the vice president of the North Korean Christian Association) spoke at a forum entitled ‘Ending the Kim Regime's Reign of Terror in North Korea: What Must Be Done,’ and explained that the socialist regime fears the power of the North Korean defectors more than it actually fears the military strength of South Korea. Kang says that Kim Jong-un fears those who risk death in search of freedom and dignity because he knows they will eventually come back to liberate their homeland.

Pray:

for God to fulfil the Christian vision of unification through the Gospel. (Mt.24:14)

Australia: Planned closure of indigenous communities

Christianity has influenced Aboriginal spirituality in many ways and many Aboriginal people are Christians. Prior to invasion Aboriginal people owned all of Australia but courts today successfully turned down their land claims. This week there's been an outcry across Australia over the conservative government’s plan to cut services to more than 150 remote indigenous communities in Western Australia. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the government could not ‘endlessly subsidise lifestyle choices.’ Between 500 - 1000 attended a Perth rally and thousands more protested in Sydney, Canberra, Darwin, Adelaide, Alice Springs, and 1,000 in four New Zealand cities against funding withdrawal from remote communities. Kimberley Land Council says the proposal contravenes the UN declaration on the rights of the indigenous person. For material on Aboriginal culture, see also

Pray:

for a fair deal for the Aborigines. (Is.10:1,2)