Restoring worth in Kenya

In August one hundred women will gather in Eldoret and Meru, Kenya. These women are wives of pastors and missionaries, the support behind the public face of native missions. They don’t often get much attention, but for a few days they will get all the attention from a Ministry Mates Matter (MMM) team. Advancing Native Missions sends these MMM teams of staff and volunteers to encourage and refresh women who face many hardships without relief. God esteems such women as ‘far above rubies.’ Ministry Mates Matter teams travel around the world to encourage the unsung heroines of missions - native missionary wives and women in ministry. These women are the forgotten ones.

Praise:

God for these ladies; may they be refreshed renewed and encouraged as they set time aside to be with the Lord and others He has called to minister in His name. (Pr. 31:10)

Athletes publicly speak of their Christian faith

Zach Johnson, winner of this year's British Open, told reporters of his Christian faith and the encouragement the Bible gave him during the tournament. ‘I’ve been reading bits of scripture to myself all week. I thank God for the talent he has given me and I take it seriously.’ On 18 July Jason Robinson, a former rugby international, told ITV News how he came to faith in Jesus Christ. He described how he considered suicide but through the life and testimony of a New Zealand player was drawn to Jesus. ‘The very reason that I became a Christian is because I'm not perfect, I need help, and I can't do it on my own.’ On 24 July Paris Saint Germain, defender and ex-Chelsea player David Luiz, was baptised in a team-mate’s swimming pool and said on Instagram that he will abstain from sex until after he is married to girlfriend Sara Madeira. He captioned his Instagram post quoting 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Praise:

God for all who use the media platform to tell of their relationship with Jesus Christ. (Ro. 8:38,39)

Legal aid cuts will cause ‘huge amounts of injustice’

Barristers began striking on Monday in solidarity with defence solicitors protesting over cuts to legal aid. The legal aid system pays lawyers from public funds to provide representation for people facing legal proceedings. James Bogle, a Christian barrister, said the Government's cuts to legal aid will cause ‘huge amounts of injustice’ to people who cannot afford to be represented in court. His message for the Government is: ‘If you want to save money, this is not the way to do it. Very little money will be saved but huge amounts of injustice will be done. People’s reputation, their life and that of their family, could be on the line if they're unable to get proper representation. They may find themselves convicted, even though they are innocent. Conversely, people who have committed serious offences may get off.’ The cuts will create a two-tier system that favours the better-off. Those who cannot afford to pay for a solicitor are suffering at the hands of the Government. See also

Pray:

for a way forward to be found so that all who seek legal aid will receive it. (Pr. 29:7)

Soldiers’ deaths in training accidents

Figures released under Freedom of Information laws have showed that a British serviceman dies in a training accident every six weeks, and there have been 125 deaths during armed forces exercises in the past fifteen years. Compare this to the Iraq War, when 179 British service men and women died. Troops have been shot dead in mock battles, crushed by armoured vehicles and drowned during river crossings. The death toll reflects the need to prepare for war with dangerous equipment and hostile conditions, but it also reflects the need for more care to be taken. A military injuries specialist said, ‘This is a shocking number of deaths. It is not enough to say, well, they are using guns, or we put them in hazardous situations. There are detailed guidelines which stress the fact that, if the risk factors are assessed properly and appropriately managed, nearly all injuries can be prevented.’

Pray:

for effective challenging, and that risky military training will continue but with improved safety measures implemented. (Nu. 31:49)

Edinburgh Festival euthanasia machine not a joke

Controversial assisted dying activist Dr Philip Nitschke, dubbed 'Dr Death', will perform at the Edinburgh Fringe festival using his euthanasia machine. Dr Nitschke will ask his audience - some of whom may be terminally ill - to try his 'Destiny' machine, to show them 'a peaceful and reliable means of death'. His apparatus is a version of the Deliverance machine he used in Australia, where he successfully campaigned to have a legal euthanasia law passed in the 1990s. At the time he helped four terminally-ill people end their lives. The law was overturned in 1997 by the Australian parliament. Last month police questioned Dr Nitschke amid concerns about the show's content. He was eventually cleared to perform at the Fringe throughout August. With seven days until his show opens, Scottish lawyers have been appointed to ensure he does not breach laws on advising, counselling or assisting others to commit suicide.

Pray:

for Police Scotland and the Crown Office to take a comprehensive look at his performance. (Ex. 30:13)

Fear of talking about our faith to friends

Simon Edwards, Assistant Chaplain of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, says that in Acts 24 they talked about Jesus wherever they went. When we think of evangelism, we think of sermons, crusades and events. But in Acts the gospel spread through relationships. Why is it a challenge talking to our family, friends and work colleagues about our faith? Ephesians 6 says that we are in a spiritual battle. Satan doesn't want us to share the gospel with others. In the UK, with a massive Christian heritage, why is there so much pressure not to talk about our faith? There’s social pressure in Britain to keep our faith private. There is also an inner instinct of self-preservation - the fear of being rejected, of offending, of being misunderstood, or being thought of as strange; and then there is an underlying fear that God is not going to show up.

Pray:

that we Christians will meet the challenges we face in talking about Jesus with our friends regardless of the world, the flesh and the devil. (1Tim. 3:16)

What does ‘taken into care’ mean?

Some of the worst cases of child abuse have been uncovered in recent years, causing some social workers to put caution before common sense. Recently children are being taken from their parents on the slightest whiff of abuse, which for today’s social workers involves any sign of corporal punishment. But what happens then? The BBC website is carrying a video of an interview with Danielle, taken into care aged 11 in 1998 after marks from a belt were seen on her back. If that were punishment, it sounds excessive, but what subsequently happened to Danielle makes it seem like the ultimate in compassion. Danielle, now twenty-seven, was moved six times in six weeks, had twenty-nine moves by age sixteen, was raped three times whilst ‘in care’, and had an attempted rape aged eleven in a children’s home. She ran away aged thirteen but was brought back. The BBC report reveals shocking outcomes of many children in care.

Pray:

for God to prompt a government rethink of best practice across the social work sphere. (Ps. 12:5)

Three council employees charged in West Lothian drugs raid

Police launched an operation on Tuesday after reports of council employees being involved in drugs misuse at a number of West Lothian Council premises. The men, aged 49, 43 and 34, were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act and will be reported to the procurator fiscal. A spokesman for the council said it was ‘co-operating fully’ and it was not appropriate to comment further. Both drug and alcohol misuse are major public health problems in Scotland. On 30 June NHS Scotland reported, ‘The illicit use of opiates, benzodiazepines and psychostimulants causes significant problems within Scotland. These problems can be social in nature (crime, unemployment, family breakdown and homelessness) or associated with health problems (dependency, overdosing, mental health problems, injecting-related injuries and the transmission of communicable diseases).’ See also

Pray:

that all who abuse their positions of authority will be caught and prosecuted. (Ps. 34:13,14)

Northern Ireland Update: Man arrested in major human trafficking probe

An arrest followed the ‘rescue’ of five human trafficking victims in Belfast last week (see last week’s Prayer-Alert). A man was detained in the city and is being quizzed by specialist detectives about human trafficking, labour exploitation, gangmaster offences, and money laundering. Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Human Trafficking Unit worked with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and local PSNI officers to carry out the rescue operation. Sixteen other men and women aged between 18 and 45, believed to have been trafficked from eastern Europe, were also rescued from agricultural premises in south Armagh during a separate raid. The victims are being cared for by Migrant Help and Women's Aid as part of the Department of Justice's human trafficking support network.

Pray:

for the rest of the perpetrators to be caught and prosecuted. Pray for an end to people-trafficking in Northern Ireland. (Job 29:17)

Finland: Asylum seekers situation chaotic

The number of asylum seekers entering Finland this year has already surpassed the average for previous years. Officials in southwest Finland had processed over 600 asylum applications by the beginning of July, compared to 400 for all of 2014. Many applications are successful, but even unsuccessful applicants remain in Finland if their security elsewhere cannot be guaranteed. So they receive subsidiary protection on humanitarian grounds. Asylum seekers entering Finland come from the conflict and destruction of Islamic State or their migration might involve family feuds or political persecution. Some Albanians say they are seeking better living conditions. More often than not there is some kind of persecution behind many of the applications. There is increasing overcrowding at reception centres. The high demand for asylum services has caused police in southwest Finland to redirect resources from other police responsibilities to help ease the bottleneck in the system.

Pray:

for more manpower and funding for reception centres operated by the Finnish Red Cross. (Deut. 25:4)

Cyprus: United States of Cyprus?

President Nicos Anastasiades expressed hope that there would be a solution to the Cypriot divide and the island’s name could be ‘United States of Cyprus’. In an interview with a Turkish newspaper he said that both he and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart had the same vision on solving their problems, and this was the first time there was so much hope that this could be done. For the first time in the island’s Greek/Turkish history, both leaders have the same vision. They want to reach an agreement taking into account their mutual concerns. Please continue to pray that negotiations continue to be held in a positive atmosphere over the most difficult matters of property and territory. Some matters have been agreed on while others have not.

Pray:

that these latest negotiations between Turkey and Greece will heal the Cypriot divide, and that a united Cypriot state will be an example to other feuding countries in the area. (Is. 25:5)

Iran: Iranian house churches helped to face adversity

Iran’s Christians face persecution daily, and choosing to accept Jesus Christ means living a life of secrecy and constant fear. SAT-7, a Christian satellite television service to the Middle East and North Africa, created ‘God and the Persecuted’ to equip Iran’s house churches to persevere through persecution and develop techniques of endurance. The hosts are Rev Albert Aslan and Rev Edward Hovsepian. They use the Gospel and stories from church history to encourage underground believers in Iran through the television program. Each episode focuses on a topic relating to modern-day persecution, using stories from centuries of church history to show that this isn’t the first time that Christians have faced severe persecution, nor will it be the last. Pray for the Iranian house churches to be strong and continue to grow as they face adversity in a godly way.

Pray:

for Iranian Christians to grow in hope, grace, and strength. Pray also for SAT-7 and other Christian ministries reaching out to Christians in closed countries. (Job 5:16)

Syria: ‘IS-free zone’

The United States intends creating IS-free corridors in southern and northern Syria, and needs Turkey's cooperation on the northern corridor. The perceived goal is to wedge IS between the two corridors, erode it with air attacks and then eliminate it with offensive ground operations by the Free Syrian Army, the PYD militia, and Assad’s forces, with close US air support. The zone will be 100 kilometres wide and 40 kilometres deep. Calling it an ‘IS-free zone’ sends a message about its purpose and alleviates concerns of Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Ankara security says talks are ongoing on the status of the Kurdish PYD under the new plan and the nature of Turkish army actions inside Syria.

Pray:

for the protection of communities in the area. Pray against a vortex of violence. (Is. 42:4)

Syria: Patriarch says extremists are seizing West's military support

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III, head of the largest Catholic community in Syria, says money and weapons given to moderate groups are reputedly being used by IS in the struggle against President Bashar al-Assad. The Patriarch’s comments came after Mr Assad said on Sunday 26 July that the opposition’s increased strength meant he could not fight on every front against IS, the Al-Nusra Front and other militant groups. Hitting out against the West’s Middle East policies, Patriarch Gregorios said, ‘If the West helps moderates in Syria it is helping IS in an indirect way. Giving money or arms to the weak, moderate groups gets into the hands of the powerful militant groups the next day. We see this happening all the time.’ His comments come after the US-led coalition delivered military aid to help Syrian Kurdish forces fighting against IS in Kobani on the Turkish border and offered support to the Free Syrian Army despite concerns that the aid was being passed - and even sold - to extremist groups.

Pray:

for governments to take note of what the Patriarch has observed. Pray for Syrian Christians to fulfill their role of mission and dialogue, and pray for the 450,000 displaced Syrian Christians. (Job 5:13)

Egypt: Christians still being persecuted

Egyptian believers were asked, ‘Have the constitutional changes adopted in 2014 made any difference to you?’ The responses in Cairo were positive where a great deal of security is provided. However outside Cairo people told of attacks on their homes and businesses, with many families having to flee to safe havens. But even in ‘safe’ places they receive threatening messages and phone calls, and Christian girls are kidnapped for ransom. Religious extremism and Egypt's informal legal process of ‘reconciliation sessions’ can result in Christians being expelled from their communities as part of collective punishment when one person has been accused of wrongdoing. With a lack of government security or the support of religious figures, many fanatics push their agenda to cleanse whole villages and towns of Christians. Despite, or perhaps because of, persecution the Egyptian Church is growing. Pray for them as they unite and become a powerful witness to God’s love. See also

Pray:

for God to strengthen and come alongside those facing homelessness, deprived of their sources of income and stripped of their savings. (Is. 43:2)

Pakistan: 69 deaths, hundreds rescued, tens of thousands homeless

A heavy monsoon is affecting various parts of Pakistan. Medical check-ups and free drugs are being provided to flood-affected people at medical camps, and ration packs and tents are being distributed. The Army is rescuing people by boats and helicopters, and are setting up free medical camps to provide further medicine packs and ration packs. Medicines were provided to 1,000 people, and 150 ration packs distributed. A further 522 people were rescued in Muzaffargarh. Hundreds of thousands have had to flee their homes and tens of thousands are now completely homeless. Link roads and bridges have been swept away, leaving families stranded. Thousands of acres of crops ready to harvest have been destroyed, leaving farmers without a source of income and unable to feed their families. Christian Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, and Community World Service Asia are closely monitoring the situation. See also

Pray:

for the many agencies giving relief to desperate, homeless flood victims. Pray for opportunities for Christians there to reach out, meet physical and emotional needs, and share Christ. (Ps.103:4)

Burundi: Vulnerable refugees need our prayers

Burundians living in refugee camps in neighbouring Rwanda are being recruited to join Rwandan rebel groups. Several people in Mahama refugee camp in Eastern Rwanda have reported being approached to join the group fighting the Burundi government. They said dozens of men had left the camp. Meanwhile in Tanzania, Burundi refugee facilities are at breaking point, and more refugees are expected to arrive as tensions spill over about the disputed presidential election. The UNHCR reported that 79,000+ Burundians have arrived in Tanzania since May. The UN estimates 500 Burundians fleeing unrest are now arriving in Tanzania every day. Médecins Sans Frontières reported that the Nyarugusu refugee camp is simply not coping with the number of new arrivals. Aid agencies are struggling to provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to those in need, with a promised second camp yet to be built. See also

Pray:

that God will release all that is needed to end this critical situation. Pray that He will powerfully use the Christians already working in these areas as they minister His love and salvation. (Ps.145:9)

China: Christians protest over campaign to tear down crosses

Christian leaders, including an 89-year-old bishop, took to the streets of eastern China protesting against an ‘evil’ campaign to remove crosses. They see it as a coordinated Communist party attack on their faith. Activists say more than 1,200 crosses have been stripped from churches in Zhejiang province since the government initiative began in late 2013. There has been a spike in such actions in recent weeks. Last Friday twenty Catholic clergy staged a rare public demonstration in Wenzhou (a city known as ‘the Jerusalem of the East’). A banner unfurled outside government offices by the group read, ‘Maintaining religious dignity and opposing the forced removal of crosses’. Chinese police monitored the two-hour protest but did not break it up. Authorities say they are attacking illegal building practices not religion. Meanwhile Christian Today reports, ‘Occult beliefs are on the rise among China's communist leaders.’ See also

Pray:

for the protection of preachers who are encouraging their congregations to oppose the removals peacefully by placing homemade wooden crosses in their homes or on their cars. (Eph. 6:12)