Yemen: First UN aid ship in four months in Aden

Last week Prayer-Alert readers prayed for an end to the situation where Yemen was being blockaded by a Saudi-led military coalition that was preventing 21 million Yemenis receiving urgent humanitarian assistance in a deteriorating war situation. This week local fighters and army units took control of the last district of Aden still held by the Iran-allied Houthi militia and its allies. Assisted by Saudi-led air strikes, the local forces have now broken months of stalemate in Aden by seizing the airport and advancing into parts of the port city held by Houthis and forces loyal to the ex-president. On 21 July the first UN aid ship in four months docked in Yemen's devastated city of Aden, bringing desperately needed relief supplies. See also

Praise:

God for the aid that is now getting through; pray also for an end to chaos. (Ps.55:8,9)

World Special Olympics begin

On 25 July, the World Summer Games in Los Angeles kick off with 6,500 Special Olympians competing. Across the world people working with adults with special needs recognise the power of sport to inspire hope, build confidence and courage and change the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities. On 19 June Pope Francis held an audience for Italy's 150 Special Olympics athletes who are travelling to Los Angeles to compete. Pope Francis reflected, ‘It is beautiful and meaningful that young people and adults of every ability find in sport and participation in competitions, including at an international level, an incentive to live their life fully.’ Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the German Special Olympics athletes and coaches at the Federal Chancellery before they left for Los Angeles and wished them good luck for their participation. Special Olympics Great Britain is sending 115 athletes to the games.

Praise:

and thank God that society is now giving people with varying mental capacity opportunities to develop their skills, excel and make new friends through sport. (1Th.5:11)

Ministry of Defence

In recent years, defence has fallen low on the list of national priorities. While other government departments have ring-fenced budgets, that of the MoD is completely unprotected. On Monday Lord Richards, a former chief of the Armed Forces, said, ‘Britain must accept that sooner or later ground troops and tanks will have to be sent into combat to overcome IS.’ He said that David Cameron needed to put the country on a ‘war footing’ and rethink its military strategy to extinguish the threat posed by Islamic State militants. See also

Pray:

for the Government to be aware of the balance between spending and what is required by our forces to keep us safe. (Ps.23:4,5)

Wheelchair services 'are failing'

One of Great Britain's Paralympians has said that wheelchair services across England are failing on every level. There are 1.2 million wheelchair users across the UK. Some wait years for the right wheelchair (an ill-fitting chair causes hip dislocations and pressure sores, and may worsen disabilities). There are stories of people with life-limiting conditions, such as Motor Neurone Disease, dying before they get their wheelchair. Krystyn Jarvis, of the National Wheelchair Managers' Forum, said wheelchair services were not seen as an important part of the NHS. ‘We have been asking for change for 20+ years. We know the situation isn’t acceptable.’ NHS England agreed the whole system needed change. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has launched a national charter to improve wheelchair services across Britain. Pray that services, clinical commissioning groups and NHS trusts will sign up to it.

Pray:

for the NHS to have the funding and manpower to give quality care to the disabled. (Job 8:7)

Government to crush home-grown extremism

David Cameron has set out the Government's strategy to defeat the ‘poison’ of Islamist extremism in the UK. He pledged to tackle conditions that lead to hundreds of Britons joining IS militants. Mr Cameron said the four areas needing attention are: countering warped extremist ideology, the process of radicalisation, the drowning out of moderate Muslim voices, and addressing the ‘identity crisis’ among young British-born Muslims. The BBC assistant political editor noted, ‘Tackling the ideology of IS in the UK involves confronting people over intolerance, prejudice and hostility to British values, and Mr Cameron’s speech offered relatively few specific policies’. The Muslim Council of Britain urged the Prime Minister to ‘put his words into action’ and engage with ‘all sections of the community including mainstream Muslim organisations and those who have differing views’. See also article below.

Pray:

for God to bless David Cameron with much wisdom as he works towards implementing ideas that will be acceptable to all sections of the community. (Pr.1:5)

Justin Welby calls for ‘face-to-face encounters’ to defeat IS threat

Western politicians and religious leaders should prepare the ground for talks with IS through ‘face to face encounters’ with their Muslim counterparts, the Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested. He said the group which calls itself Islamic State represented a lethal danger to the human values on which civilised life depends. While ruling out direct talks with IS at present, he signalled his support for setting up informal ‘back channels’ with the group, similar to the secret communications with the IRA which paved the way for the Northern Ireland peace process. He also warned that a basic ignorance about Islam from western figures was making the situation in the Middle East worse. He offered his support to Mr Cameron’s efforts to address extremism, adding, ‘He sees the intelligence, he has to make the hard decisions.’

Pray:

for God to direct the path of religious and military leaders to bring about change. (Pr.4:26)

Northern Ireland police rescue trafficking victims

Sixteen potential human trafficking victims were rescued in south Armagh. Officers searched premises in Newtownhamilton last Friday and spent a number of days working with colleagues in partner agencies to identify the individuals who may have been trafficked. The operation focused on eastern Europeans working in the agricultural sector. Detectives from the PSNI Human Trafficking Unit are working with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and local police. The potential victims, men and women aged between 18 and 45, are being cared for by Migrant Help and Women's Aid as part of the Department of Justice's human trafficking support network. They will be assessed for referral to the UK Human Trafficking Centre, which is run by the National Crime Agency. In a separate investigation, in Belfast, five potential victims of trafficking were identified and are being looked after by police and partner agencies.

Pray:

for the continued success of agencies working together to apprehend traffickers and protect potential victims. (Job 29:17)

Prison smoking ban could cause 'stability issues'

The Government intends to ban smoking in all prisons in England and Wales to reduce health risks. It is currently allowed in prison cells and exercise yards. The move follows a series of legal challenges by prison officers and inmates who have complained about passive smoking. Ministers are drawing up plans to convert the first jails to be smoke-free next year. Prison Governors’ Association president Andrea Albutt cautiously welcomed the move but said it must be done in a safe and staged way as 80% of prisoners smoked. An ex-prisoner said, ‘There is a black market in any banned goods. Tobacco will be a currency. Tobacco is a way of dealing with stress. If you take away tobacco it’ll become a war of attrition within the prison system and there will be violence. They tried it in Australia recently and there was an immediate riot.’

Pray:

for safety and security to be top priorities in the prison service. (Dt.17:11)

Community centre hosts caliphate class

A community centre in Rochdale hosted a men-only course on the correct understanding of an Islamic State. Posters for the ‘Khilafah Course’ promised discussion on foreign policy, the judicial system and the treatment of non-Muslims in an Islamic caliphate and lectures entitled ‘Is fighting the method to establish a state?’ and ’The conditions of a Khilafah.’ Those attending the course at Castlemere community centre in Rochdale were also encouraged to attend the Manchester Khilafah Conference organised by Hizb ut-Tahrir, which government ministers have threatened to ban but remains legal. See also

Pray:

against chaotic extreme ideas taking root in the United Kingdom. (Is.5:20)

Greece: First bailout instalment on 17 August

If the expected timeline runs on schedule, Greece could be seeing the first instalment of the 86 billion euros of bailout money on 17 August. Bloomberg reports that an official ‘with knowledge’ said that negotiations between the Greek government and international creditors should be concluded by 6 August. If the Greek parliament agrees to the deal by 7 August, the Euro Working Group and the Eurozone‘s finance ministers will endorse the programme by 11 August. The national parliaments of other countries must also approve the bailout package by 13 August. Please pray for the Greek government to implement reforms despite fierce opposition, and for the unity of the nation. Pray also for obstacles to be removed and investments to be made so that there will be employment for the many young people who are in their late 20s and early 30s and have not yet worked.

Pray:

for the will of God to be done for Greece. (Ps.10:12)

Ukraine: US general backs lethal weapons

The United States should ‘seriously consider’ providing Ukraine with lethal weapons and putting US air strike controllers near combat areas in Iraq, said General Mark Milley (who is nominated to be the next US Army chief of staff) on Wednesday. He agrees with Marine Corps Commandant Joe Dunford that Russia poses the greatest threat to the United States because of its large nuclear arsenal and its ‘very, very aggressive’ behaviour. Milley said, ‘I would be in favour of providing Kiev with lethal defensive equipment.’ The United States has resisted equipping Ukraine with lethal weapons due to concerns about escalating the conflict, but Milley's statement is a sign that the Pentagon may now be considering it. On Wednesday the Ukrainian President appointed a new head of Luhansk ‘military-civil administration’ and Russia said it is working on developing a heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, with surface-to-air tests starting in 18 to 24 months. See also

Pray:

for military leaders and those entering new contracts to exercise restraint. (Ps.2:10,11)

Israel: IS reach Jerusalem

Stories are breaking of a group linked to IS distributing anti-Christian leaflets in the east of Jerusalem. Part of an English translation of the original leaflet reads, ‘Our people, Muslims, salute your resistance and your jihad and we ask you to report the location of Christians living among you who are working clients for the Zionists and the west, spreading debauchery and secularism and keeping Muslims away from their religion. Islamic State knows where some of these Christians live, and strike forces will work to cleanse the Islamic neighbourhoods of Christians.’ The above was translated by a local man from Jerusalem who says that it is important that the world realises that yet another threat is visiting the Christian community in the only Middle East state that has true religious freedom.

Pray:

for protection for our fellow-Christians living in the Old City of Jerusalem, especially those who have converted from Islam. (Jn.17:15)

Liberia / Sierra Leone: Ebola orphans

Ebola has left 18,000+ children in West Africa without one or both parents. Many are destitute because of the stigma attached to Ebola. One team of charity workers in Liberia found almost 200 children abandoned and alone after their parents died of Ebola. The volunteers fed, clothed and cared for them. Orphans in rural areas have survived against all odds, but are traumatised and facing stigmatisation. There is still a great deal of fear and suspicion around survivors. ‘We have cases of children being rejected from their communities, especially survivors of Ebola,’ said Isatu Kamara of Unicef. ‘People are scared of them. They just don't trust that these children are safe to touch and go near so they drive them far away. See also

Pray:

for God to increase compassion in neighbours and relatives so that they invite orphans back into their communities. Pray also for funding for Ebola aftercare and orphanages. (Ps.4:8)

Mexico: Women rally against rampant domestic violence

Congresswomen and activists demonstrated in front of Mexico's Interior Ministry in Mexico City by lying on the ground, imitating a crime scene, with chalk outlines around their bodies and chanting ‘gender alert in the State of Mexico’. The ‘gender alert’ was created after reports of widespread violence against women. The initiative hopes to reinforce protection and provide more help for victims. The protesters called for the setting up of a ‘gender alert’ mechanism across Mexico State. Mexico is among the world’s twenty worst countries for violence against women with endless crimes of passion and unidentified female body parts floating in sewage canals. Six women are killed in Mexico every day. Only 24% of 3,892 ‘femicides’ the group identified were investigated by authorities, and only 1.6% led to sentencing.

Pray:

for this initiative to stimulate better protection for women living in bitterly tough and unfair situations. Pray for a greater proportion of perpetrators to be convicted. (Ps.64:2 &7)

Lebanon: Reaching ‘an unreached people-group’

Deaf children in the Middle East are neglected because of their impairment. They miss out in family life, education and economic opportunities. Many Muslim parents believe deaf children bring shame to the family. There are an estimated 21,000 deaf Lebanese to whom no one is proclaiming Christ. Now, by introducing sign-language into existing outreaches to the Muslim people in Lebanon, 90 deaf people have already come to Christ. Last year the same mission group were involved with a child protection programme that exposed the need for education to protect children from various forms of abuse. The ministry plans to hold five conferences to educate deaf children, their parents and schoolteachers about sexual abuse, kidnapping, child protection resources and children's rights. They also intend translating their highly successful leadership training into sign-language. Those who come to Christ would then be equipped to reach other deaf people with the message of Christ. See also

Pray:

for God to continue to bless this outreach and release more ministries to engage with those who are unreached because of their disability. (Ps.25:3,4)

Nigeria: USA backs Nigeria but a pledged $5 million is in jeopardy

On Monday President Barack Obama met Nigeria's new leader Muhammadu Buhari and discussed ongoing plans to defeat Boko Haram. Obama praised Buhari's integrity and Buhari claimed to have a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram extremists inside his country. The Obama administration has pledged $5 million to Nigeria's military since Buhari's election earlier this year. Obama said Nigeria is ‘one of the most important countries’ in Africa and he and Buhari discussed combatting corruption, public health concerns and climate change. On Wednesday it was discovered that the US Leahy Law which prevents the government selling arms to countries which fail to tackle human rights abuses applies to Nigeria. However the Nigerian military does not possess appropriate weapons and technology to address the ‘human rights violations’ and the two president’s agreement would have released this technology to Nigeria. On Thursday President Buhari said, ‘Unwittingly, and I dare say unintentionally, the application of the Leahy Law Amendment by the United States government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorists.’

Pray:

that God would cement this partnership. Pray for appropriate technical support and help to rebuild damaged communities in North East Nigeria. (Ps.127:1)

India: ‘Untouchable’ Christians told ‘convert or be denied benefits’

Hindu nationalists have converted 39 people from Dalit Christian families to Hinduism in a controversial ceremony aimed at making them eligible for a government benefits programme. ‘We are moving ahead with our initiative and more families from other religions will be reconverted to Hinduism soon. Many people want to come back to their original faith,’ said the District Chief. The Dalits, known as the ‘untouchables,’ make up India's lowest caste and are eligible for certain government benefits if they identify as Hindus. International Christian Concern (ICC) noted that Christians from low-caste backgrounds are soft targets for Hindu nationalists seeking to take advantage of the government benefits programme and lure people of other faiths into Hinduism. ICC said as many as 25 million poverty-stricken Dalits who have converted to Christianity are being forced to choose between their Christian faith and eligibility for benefits.

Pray:

for the millions of Dalits who may have to choose between following Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and receiving government benefits that take their families out of poverty. (Ps.3:3)

Burundi: Vote count under way in controversial poll

At the time of posting this article, election results have not been announced but incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza is widely expected to win a third term in office. Shortly before voting started on Tuesday, a policeman and a civilian were killed amid a string of explosions and gunfire in the capital, the epicentre of three months of anti-government protests. 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote. The opposition and civil society groups claim the elections are not free and fair and Nkurunziza should stand down after his two five-year terms in office. Pierre Nkurunziza is a rebel leader turned president, a born-again Christian, was a sports teacher, is married with two children, and his father was killed in ethnic violence in 1972. The UN Secretary-General called on all parties to refrain from acts of violence that could compromise the stability of Burundi and the region.

Pray:

for the election results to end the violent protests, not escalate them. (Nu.6:26)