Kenya: Jesus brings freedom and hope

The plague of alcoholism and poverty in one Kenyan village led to the despair of the Christian chieftain who saw poverty driving hundreds of women to brew illegal and dangerous alcohol which they secretly made and sold in their homes. When Samuel spoke at a meeting the chief organised, he did not expect his audience would number almost 200 people. He challenged the men and women to choose a new course in life and told the chief to let him know if a few of the women might choose to leave brewing and attend a few days of training at the Truth Training Centre. Three days later a surprised chief called and said, ‘Samuel, there are more than 100 women who want to come for training! This is a miracle!’ When they arrived on a bright Monday morning, they did not realise that dozens of lives were about to change. Toward the end of the devotion the Spirit of God moved, and 44 women and two men gave their lives to Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

Praise:

God for the staff, who are reformed alcoholics, and for practical Christian teaching. (2Tim.3:16)

Christian professors help Omar face life outside prison

Known by some as a wrongfully imprisoned child soldier and by others as a terrorist and murderer, Omar Khadr is free after nearly 13 years in prison. The 28-year-old, accused of war crimes and imprisoned since he was 15, was released on bail on May 7. A group of Christian educators are applauding the decision, and continuing their quest to help Khadr upgrade his schooling. Arlette Zinck, a professor at The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada first heard Khadr’s story from his lawyer in 2008. He spoke of a profoundly wounded teen with a fist-sized bullet hole in his chest, who was nicknamed ‘buckshot’ by guards because of the many shrapnel wounds in his body, and made to carry heavy pails of water until his wounds wept. He experienced sleep deprivation and cruelties of cold temperatures. Despite all this he had never spoken an ill word about anyone. To read the full story of a Canadian child taken to Afghanistan click the ‘More’ button.

Praise:

God for intelligent Christian charity. (Job 29:13)

Nine days to ‘SOUND THE ALARM AND PROCLAIM GOD’S POWER’

The World Prayer Centre is inviting all Christian believers, churches, youth groups, intercessory groups, young and old to come and pray for our family of nations at what they believe is a significant time in our nations. You are invited to come for a National Day of Worship and Prayer at TRUMPET CALL 2015 at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 4 July 2015. Ian Cole, Founder of World Prayer Centre said, ‘If we, as the Christian Church, do not stand together and pray on behalf of our nations and their future generations, who will? At TRUMPET CALL 2015, we will release a powerful trumpet blast over the British Isles and beyond into Europe - an alarm that will alert us to the dangers we face, while at the same time opening our eyes and to heed God’s spirit within us to the opportunities we have to live out our Christian faith in actions and prayer for our nations.’ There are car parks near the venue and many cafes, restaurants and shops nearby. Watch the video

Pray:

for God to cover all the preparations for the event with His anointing and protection. (2Thes. 3:3)

Houses of Parliament are crumbling

In 2012 MPs were first alerted to the fact that the Grade-1 listed building needs urgent repairs. A new report warns MPs that if they stay in the buildings whilst repairs are carried out it could take 32 years and cost £7 billion. The whole structure is crumbling. Built on London clay, it is slowly sliding towards the river. There are serious problems with the roof, walls are crumbling and the foundations are cracking. MPs are facing an option to move out while the work is done, which could take 10 years and cost £3 billion. This is the surveyors' favoured option. The sorry condition of Parliament could be seen as a metaphor of Britain's crumbling moral, spiritual, economic and political state. We have undermined family life through laws allowing abortion, easy divorce, and same-sex 'marriage' and sent our soldiers to fight in wars that had little or nothing to do with our national security. We have passed laws that favour the rich and deny justice to the poor.

Pray:

that, as the physical structure of Parliament is repaired, so too will the moral and spiritual structure of our Government be turned around to God’s way forward for our country. (Ps. 11:3)

Queen 'could move out of Buckingham Palace'

The Queen may have to move out of Buckingham Palace to allow maintenance work costing £150m to be carried out. It is one option being considered by the royal household, which says the palace needs new plumbing and wiring and has not been decorated since 1952. It comes as the Crown Estate, which owns property on behalf of the Queen, returned record profits of £285m to the taxpayer last year. The publication of the royal accounts can be an uncomfortable time for palace officials. Under scrutiny is the way the Royal Family spends public funds. The palace puts the cost of funding the royals at 56p per person in the UK. It's a figure Sir Alan Reid, the keeper of the Privy Purse described as excellent value for money. Royal sources reported significant amounts of asbestos needed to be removed from Buckingham Palace in a project described as a fundamental re-service.

Pray:

the words of the National Anthem, ‘Thy choicest gifts in store on her be pleased to pour, long may she reign. May she defend our laws, and ever give us cause to sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen.’

15-year-old petitioning NHS England for life saving drug

15-year-old Lewis Brimble was recently told by the NHS that they had declined his application for Eculizumab, the only drug that could save his life. He said ‘I have had a rare kidney disease since I was nine years old which progressed into end stage renal failure. I spent two years on dialysis. When I was 11 Mum donated her kidney to me, and I slowly got back to being normal. Then after 15 months my disease came back, with damage to my transplanted kidney. Since then I have been deteriorating. Doctors said there is only one drug, Eculizumab, that can stop my disease from getting worse and forcing me to go back to a nightmare half-life on dialysis. But now, NHS England have rejected my application for the drug simply because it is ‘too expensive’.’

Pray:

for the NHS as they attempt to balance their out-of-control finances with cutbacks. Pray also that they will approve this drug and give Lewis the opportunity to live a healthy life. (Is.40:31)

Christian charity to train UK churches against IS

A British charity that provides assistance to Christians in predominantly Muslim countries hosted a training session in London on Tuesday to advise UK churches on protecting their premises and congregations against an attack by Islamic State militants. The Barnabas Fund, which says it offers ‘practical aid for the persecuted church’, invited fifty church leaders to participate in the half-day session at Westminster’s Central Hall. The charity’s international director, Patrick Sookhdeo, and police representatives were present to give advice. An email with the subject line ‘Protecting British churches from terrorist attack’ warns, ‘Given the dramatic growth of IS in the Middle East and the increased anti-Christian rhetoric and attacks from that group, plus the recently thwarted attempts to attack churches in Paris, the possibility of an IS attack on British churches cannot be discounted.’

Pray:

for God’s protection over His church in the United Kingdom and for church leaders to adopt realistic, practical measures to avert anti-Christian persecution. (Ps.5:11)

Irish pastor ready to go to jail for calling Islam 'satanic'

An elderly evangelical Christian preacher suffering from cancer and diabetes would rather go to prison than withdraw a statement he made last year during a sermon in his north Belfast church where he called Islam ‘satanic.’ In an interview, an obdurate Pastor James McConnell, who is facing a potential hate crime conviction, told the Belfast Telegraph that he is ready to serve his time in jail, unafraid to be locked up with sex offenders, hoodlums, and paramilitaries. ‘I have no regrets about what I said. I do not hate Muslims but I denounce Islam as a doctrine and I make no apologies for that. I will be pleading 'not guilty' when I stand in the dock in August.’

Pray:

against this and all prosecutions that represent a threat to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. (Luke 21:12,13)

Northern Ireland cannabis factory discovered

Detectives in Dungiven discovered a cannabis factory worth £250,000 and arrested a 38-year-old woman. Some of the plants were 4 feet high. The owner of the property - who discovered the cannabis factory - said, ‘I’m shocked, I can’t believe it.’ Detective Chief Inspector, Colin Gillis, from Crime Operations Dept. said, ‘I would like the people involved in the use and supply of illegal drugs to know that Northern Ireland is not a safe environment for them to spread their misery and destroy people’s lives. When members of the public work along with police we see time and again that successes can be made against the drugs gangs and I would actively encourage anyone with any information about the use or supply of illegal drugs to contact police on 101 to enable us to continue taking these substances off our streets.’

Pray:

for continued public awareness and reporting of suspected illegal drug factories and distribution networks. Pray also for those trying to support and rehabilitate addicts. (Ps.73:12 & 19)

Azerbaijan: Central Asia hosts European Games

In a somewhat geographically and culturally challenging development, the first ever European Games began on 13 June in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is usually identified as a Central Asian country, but the European Union considers it to be in what it calls its ‘European Neighbourhood’ – what others in the world would call ‘our backyard’. This might be shorthand for ‘an area close enough to us that what happens there affects our peace and stability’ - Ukraine is another country in the ‘Neighbourhood’. Just days ahead of the Games, on Tuesday, Amnesty International was ordered to leave Azerbaijan after it launched a report, ‘Azerbaijan - the Repression Games’ in which it highlighted human rights abuses in the country. But what about rights to freedom of religion or belief in Azerbaijan, and, more generally, across Central Asia? The Games and the surrounding publicity offer a reason to take a closer look at the region.

Pray:

that the Games’ publicity will continue to highlight issues that need addressing in the region, and for these issues to be resolved. (Pr.21:15)

Albania: Opposition cries foul in election result

The Albanian opposition condemned voting ‘irregularities’ in Sunday’s local elections, that were a test of the Balkan country's fragile democracy. The first official results to elect mayors and councillors in 61 municipalities were not expected until Monday, but the opposition Democratic Party quickly cried foul after polling stations closed. ‘There have been irregularities and manipulations, as well as pressure and threats against voters from the right,’ senior PD lawmaker Edi Paloka said in a statement, while also claiming a clear win for his party. Since the fall of communism Albanian elections have been marred by violence and accusations of fraud from all sides. ‘More than the results, the real importance of these elections are the values of democracy which must triumph,’ said parliamentary speaker Ilir Meta. Albania is extremely poor and only obtained EU candidate status last year in a move to fight against corruption and organised crime.

Pray:

for Albania as the country struggles to establish the rule of law. (Job 19:7)

Afghanistan: Parliament attacked by Taliban suicide bomber and gunmen

A woman and child were killed and 40 civilians were injured in a brazen bomb and gun attack on the Afghan parliament in Kabul. A suicide car bomber and six gunmen were also killed in the attack. MPs were evacuated to safety amid chaotic scenes. The speaker of the parliament, Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, managed to continue talking during the blast in a moment of calm under fire, captured live on TV. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack that was timed to coincide with the appearance in parliament of Afghanistan’s new defence minister. The attack raises new questions over Afghanistan’s ability to maintain security without Nato’s help. Over the weekend Taliban forces took control of Chardara district in Kunduz. The continued insurgency also suggests divisions within the Taliban as it occurred soon after some senior Taliban figures entered talks in Qatar.

Pray:

against the Taliban offensive that has increased across the country in recent weeks, and ask God to protect and strengthen the government presence in Kunduz and Helmand provinces. (Ex.23:27)

USA: Charleston response to killings

The shooting in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, has raised new concerns about racism and gun violence. On Wednesday night, 21-year-old Dylan Roof walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and after sitting for some time with the congregants, shot and killed nine people. Federal officials are investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime. The family of Dylan Roof posted on Twitter that they extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to families of the victims, saying, ‘Words cannot express our shock, grief and disbelief as to what happened that night. We offer our prayers and sympathy to all of those impacted by these events. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those killed this week. Our hope and prayer is for peace and healing for the families of the victims, the Charleston community and those touched by these events throughout the state of South Carolina and our nation.’ See also

Pray:

for the grieving families, the Roof family, and the community to continue to know God’s love and peace. Ask God also to prevent any further violence breaking out as a result of this tragedy. (Ps.121:7,8)

Pakistan: Bid to reduce false accusations of blasphemy

In a move to prevent the abuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the government has drafted a bill attempting to reduce false accusations. A mandatory death sentence for the crime of ‘defiling the name’ of Muhammad makes false accusations a serious risk to non-Muslims; they are often used to settle personal grudges. The mob violence that sometimes follows an accusation poses a risk to whole Christian communities if one of their members is accused. If passed, the bill would impose penalties for false accusation and also make it necessary to prove that a person accused of defiling the name of Muhammad had done so intentionally. Pakistan has a secular legal system and an Islamic one based on sharia. According to the constitution, the Federal Shariat Court has the power to decide whether any of the country’s laws are ‘repugnant to the injunctions of Islam’ - the president must then ‘take steps to amend the law’.

Pray:

for the law to be changed in favour of truth, humility and justice. (Pr.16:7)

Vatican State: Pope speaks out on climate change

On 18 June Pope Francis called for a radical transformation of politics, economics and individual lifestyles to confront environmental degradation and climate change, criticising consumerism and irresponsible development and calling for swift and unified global action. The vision he outlined in a 184-page papal encyclical is sweeping in ambition and scope: he describes relentless exploitation and destruction of the environment and says apathy, reckless pursuit of profits, excessive faith in technology and political short-sightedness are to blame. The most vulnerable victims are the world’s poorest people, who are being dislocated and disregarded. He places blame on overuse of fossil fuels and human activity, while warning of an ‘unprecedented destruction of ecosystems’ with ‘serious consequences for all of us’ if swift corrective action is not taken. Developed countries are mostly responsible and are obligated to help poorer nations confront the crisis. See also article below and read the full encyclical here

Pray:

that nations would hear and act on the remarks by Pope Francis on ecological degradation and recognise our ‘ill-considered exploitation of nature by humankind’. (Ps.65:9)

Lebanon: Year of prayer

As Muslims fast and pray during Ramadan, we pray for them. ‘The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon.’ Christians in Lebanon are asking us to pray Psalm 92:12-13 with them. Lebanon still does not have a president. This could lead to bigger issues. Pray for a strong godly leader to move Lebanon forward. Pray for the local churches reaching out to Syrian refugees. Pray for them to grow deeper in Jesus, pray for them to have strength to continue to reach out and to be bright lights in this darkness. Without a central ruling government, the refugee camps and the large population create an economic burden for the country. In the midst of this, Christians are trying to bring physical care and support to the poor. Pray for Christian brothers and sisters as they minister to the suffering.

Pray:

that the Lord will answer the prayers of His workers and draw many to His kingdom power. (Ps.20:2)

Pakistan: Searing heatwave

224 people are believed to have died so far during Pakistan's heatwave in southern Sindh province (nearly 1,700 people died in a similar heatwave in India last month). Most of the deaths have been in Karachi, with temperatures of 45C (113F) in recent days. The city has seen power cuts caused partly by increased electricity demand for air-conditioning. Many of Pakistan’s victims are elderly people who have been suffering from fever, dehydration and gastric problems. The morgue reports an increased number of bodies being brought in. Hundreds of patients suffering from the heatwave effects are being treated at government hospitals. The body's normal core temperature is 37-38C. If it heats to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C, heat exhaustion is likely - and above 41C, the body shuts down. Chemical processes start to be affected, body cells deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure.

Pray:

for the thousands of poor who have no air-conditioning and have to work in extreme heat. (Jonah 2:2)

Australia: Same sex marriage might put government senate seats at risk

Anti-gay marriage forces inside the Abbott government are circulating election polling surveys claiming that at least three Senate seats, and potentially five, would be at risk if MPs were allowed a conscience vote and that the Coalition would face a backlash from ethnic ­communities. The information is being used to fight back against a growing view that it is inevitable same-sex marriage will become law. The Senate seats could be lost if the preferences of the family and Christian parties, which are strongly against gay marriage, were redirected away from the Liberal Party. Supporters of same-sex marriage blasted the figures as propaganda and said it was too simplistic whilst acknowledging there could be ‘some potential impact at the margins’.

Pray:

that God will cause the voices of those who oppose gay marriage to be heard and understood at the next election, and that any conscience vote will have a positive impact on the Senate. (Ps.18:29)