|
|
Topic: News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide
|
|
Author
|
|
News Room
Admin Group
Joined: 07/25/2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6560
|
Posted: 02/10/2016 at 2:12pm
|
IP Logged
|
|
|
News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sudan: pastor detained in December is
released |
Rev Kwa Shamaal, head of
missions for the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC), was arrested on 18 December.
From 21 December he was allowed home daily from midnight to 8 am, then required
to report to the office of the National Intelligence and Security Services
(NISS), where he was held from 8 am until midnight daily. But now he has been
released from this obligation and can go free. His colleague, Rev Hassan
Abdelrahim Tawor, SCOC vice-moderator, is still in detention 24/7 without
charges. NISS officials were said to have been upset with the pastors for
telling others that Christians faced persecution in Sudan, and the two pastors
were arrested from their respective homes at the same hour. No charges were
brought against them, although officials objected to their Christian activities.
|
Praise: |
God for Rev
Kwas release and continue to pray fervently for the release of Rev Hassan and
for other Christians jailed in Sudan.
(Ps.6:9) | |
More: |
|
Trafficked woman finds new hope |
Unable to cope after her
husband was imprisoned in North Korea, Min-Hee escaped to China. There,
abandoned, alone and frightened for her life, she fell prey to human traffickers
and was forced into marriage to avoid starvation. Tragically, her story is not
unusual. Many desperate, starving North Korean women are sold into marriage or
prostitution. But Jesus is still able to heal and to save. Min-hee says, After
three years, I finally joined some other ladies at a Bible study group meeting.
Previously I had a negative idea about Christianity. But the other North Korean
women in my village told me their lives had changed a lot since attending those
meetings. There I heard the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time, and I
totally opened my mind to accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I regretted that I
had not visited these Bible studies earlier. Now Min-hee is learning what it is
to follow Jesus, even in her circumstances. |
Praise: |
for God to
protect and encourage those reaching out to North Koreans, and for the safety of
new believers like Min-Hee. May their new faith grow.
(Ps.116:1) | |
More: |
|
Return to
Top | |
|
|
|
|
Official prayers for Queen's 90th
birthday |
The Queen has a strong
Christian faith and in recent years has displayed it more openly. In June she
will become Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and her 90th birthday is on 21
April. The country is expecting to celebrate these events with special church
services and street parties. Two prayers approved by the Queen herself have been
published by the Church of England, to be used in services marking these
national celebrations. The modern version of one says, Heavenly Father, as we
celebrate the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, receive our heartfelt
thanks for all that You have given her in these 90 years and for all that she
has given to her people. Continue, we pray, Your loving purposes in her, and as
You gather us together in celebration, unite us also in love and service to one
another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Two graces have also been published for
use at the start of more local celebrations such as street parties.
|
Pray: |
for God to
give wisdom to all those preparing celebrations. Pray for God to protect the
celebrations from terror attacks and continue to give Her Majesty strength.
(Ps.5:11) | |
More: |
|
Gay cake appeal postponed |
There is a potential conflict
between Northern Ireland and European law on discrimination as the attorney
general has halted a gay cake appeal hearing. The appeal was made by Ashers
Baking Company, a Christian-run bakery who refused to bake a cake embellished
with a pro-gay marriage slogan. But it was adjourned on Wednesday, following an
intervention by Northern Irelands attorney general, John Larkin QC, raising
legal issues regarding discrimination and equality legislation. He made a
last-minute request to make representations in the case about any potential
conflict between Northern Irelands strict equality legislation and European
human rights laws. The case has been rescheduled for 9 May and will involve
arguments about whether or not the local attorney general can become involved in
the case, and also about the compatibility of the regulations with European
human rights law. |
Pray: |
for Daniel
McArthur, general manager of Ashers, and their legal team, the Christian
Institute, to experience Gods leading and directing.
(Ps.119:105) | |
More: |
|
An EU referendum |
The EU referendum is likely
to be four months away. Some say the Prime Minister is depriving the Out
campaign of time to organise themselves into a credible opposition. Others say
an early date is to limit the potential for unexpected events - an economic
crisis, terrorist attack, Brussels scandal. Whatever the reason, there is now a
draft agreement between the UK and the EU which will be presented to EU members,
paving the way for an early vote. Less than a third of Conservative MPs and as
few as five cabinet members will endorse withdrawal. Theresa Mays support for
Camerons deal leaves Boris Johnson as the only front-rank Conservative who
could yet oppose him. Tory MPs on both sides speak of their desire to avoid a
rerun of the 1990s Maastricht debates when the prospect of election defeat
encouraged rebellion. |
Pray: |
for God to
lead all decision-makers through honest negotiations and decisions and
protection against deception, intended or otherwise.
(Ps.77:19) | |
More: |
|
Netflix introduces televangelist
shows |
Alongside programmes like
Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards, Netflix now offers users another
type of content - Christian sermons. The online video streaming service has
added lectures by four popular Christian pastors. Many believe that some of the
most powerful sermons only reach as far as the church door and do not touch the
public. Preachers using Netflix to share the love of God hope to bring
Christianity to the popular media in whatever forms technology provides, saying
that Jesus was the most creative communicator in history and that we should take
a page from his instruction-book and be the most creative entity in the
universe. |
Pray: |
against
predictions that the sermon series will only attract Christians, and for God to
use this marketplace effectively to reach those who never go to church. (2
Cor.10:13) | |
More: |
|
Age UK faces probe over energy
deals |
Age UK has warned that
pensioners are struggling to heat their homes, but it appears that the charity
earns £6million a year promoting expensive energy deals. Energy regulators will
investigate claims that Age UK unfairly pushed pensioners into taking out more
expensive energy tariffs with E-ON on a rate that was £245 a year more expensive
than the cheapest available. Last year, more than 150,000 customers were on the
higher rate. In return for promoting the rate E-ON gave Age UK a commission of
£10 per customer. The charity strongly rejects the interpretation of figures.
While it is perfectly legal to accept commissions, the regulator takes a harsh
line on any hint that customers have been misled. |
Pray: |
for energy
companies to treat consumers fairly when they are marketing and selling energy.
(Ps.17:1a) | |
More: |
|
Care
for creation is 'inextricably part of responsibility to the
poor' |
Caring for the environment
is not an optional extra, the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams
said at the launch of a scheme to encourage churches to prioritise green
concerns. He said that looking after Gods creation was inextricably part of all
Christians responsibility to their brothers and sisters worldwide, especially
those living in poverty. The Eco Church initiative is backed by the Church of
England, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, Christian Aid,
Tearfund and others who question whether we want to pass on a liveable world to
our children and grandchildren. Some in the Church would argue that they could
not afford the time or money to consider ecological concerns. Lord Williamss
response is that we cannot afford not to. The Eco Church website provides a
survey to see how environmentally aware churches are in areas of worship,
teaching, buildings, land, community and lifestyle. See also
|
Pray: |
for an
awakening to protecting Gods world as a gospel imperative.
(Ps.19:1,2) | |
More: |
|
UN
panel rules Assange should be allowed to go free |
Wikileaks founder Julian
Assange was arrested in 2010 under a Swedish-issued European arrest warrant for
the crime of rape. He claimed asylum inside the Ecuadorian embassy, after the UK
Supreme Court ruled that he should be deported to Sweden on charges of sexual
molestation. Today, a UN panel has stated that Assange is being arbitrarily
detained; he should be allowed to go free and compensated. However, the Foreign
Office say that the panels ruling is not binding, and it intends to contest it
formally. Previous such rulings have gone against countries with some of the
world's worst human rights records, such as Saudi Arabia, Myanmar and Egypt. So
this decision against Sweden and Britain in favour of Mr Assange is
controversial. |
Pray: |
for justice
and honesty to triumph through international legal actions. (Amos
5:15a) | |
More: |
|
Return to
Top | |
|
|
|
|
Europol - public information on
IS |
A Europol document released
last week stated that investigations indicate IS is going global with the
possibility of attacks against member states of the EU in the near future. IS
has developed an external action command trained for special-forces-style
attacks in the international environment. IS terrorist cells currently operating
in the EU are largely domestic and/or locally based. Recruitment and
radicalisation is being done through social elements of peer pressure and role
modelling. Suicide bombers see themselves more as heroes than as religious
martyrs. A significant portion of foreign fighters have been diagnosed with
mental problems prior to joining IS, and a large proportion have criminal
records. An increasing phenomenon is Islamist brotherhood gatherings, similar
to Bible camps - a relatively new concept for Muslims. |
Pray: |
for God to
inspire all agencies and governments as they gather intelligence
(1Tim.2:1-2) | |
More: |
|
Italy: protests and debates on same-sex
unions |
Thousands of people rallied
in Rome on Saturday against a proposed bill giving gay couples legal recognition
and adoption rights. Organisers estimated that two million had attended from
across Italy for the Family Day rally, which featured conga-dancing Catholic
priests. Last Thursday parliament began considering proposals to give
heterosexual and homosexual partnerships rights, including being allowed to
adopt each others children and to inherit their partner's pensions. Last week,
Pope Francis entered the debate, defending traditional marriage as the family
God wants. Hence this rally was named Family Day as opposed to rallies across
Italy last week demanding legal recognition for same-sex couples. Italy is the
last major Western nation not to give legal recognition to same-sex couples.
Many of those attending the rally held up banners saying It is wrong even if it
becomes law. See
also |
Pray: |
for the
Italian parliament, which is expected to vote on the proposals later this month.
(Ps.78:1) | |
More: |
|
Return to
Top | |
|
|
|
|
Global: many harvest workers needed to serve across
cultures |
Across the nations, people
are crossing barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ and are
expressing His love and compassion among those who live and die without Him. SIM
is just one of many mission agencies. Originally known as Sudan Inland Mission,
in the 1980s SIM joined other mission agencies and became known as Serving in
Mission .It has 4,000+ workers in 70+ countries serving God among many diverse
people groups in every continent. These workers are an international community
of seventy nationalities, in a wide variety of career fields. Please pray for
more peoples with a variety of skills and who love Jesus to be willing to use
their skills on a ministry team in a foreign country. Pray for more
Christ-centred churches to be birthed. Pray for those working together with
established churches to fulfil Gods mission across cultures locally and
globally. |
Pray: |
for a
witness to Christ's love where He is least known, to fulfil the vision of a
redeemed Church from all tribes, languages, peoples and nations.
(Mt.9:37) | |
More: |
|
Global: steps taken to eradicate Zika-carrying
mosquitoes |
The Zika virus, already
common in parts of Africa and Asia and linked with hundreds of severe birth
defects, is now spreading with alarming speed in the Americas. The World Health
Organisation (WHO) has now declared this an international public health
emergency of alarming proportions, requiring a coordinated international
response. Brazils president Dilma Rousseff has issued a decree allowing public
officials to enter abandoned or empty homes, by force if necessary, to eradicate
the breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito (which carries the virus). The
officials will carry out educational campaigns and create public guidelines.
They will target the mosquito breeding grounds in the north-eastern states,
whose governors attended a teleconference with the president on Friday, along
with the governors of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states. After the
teleconference Rousseff admitted that Brazil is losing the fight against Aedes
but vowed that it will not lose the war. |
Pray: |
for there to
be no limits to the resources that the Brazilian and other governments make
available in the fight against Zika.
(Mt.6:26) | |
More: |
|
India: steps taken to develop vaccine for Zika
virus |
Amid the scare over the
mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been declared an international public
health emergency by WHO, scientists in Hyderabad say they have developed not one
but two vaccines, using a live Zika virus imported officially. This is claimed
to be the world's first vaccine for the virus, which is spreading rapidly in
Latin America. WHO officials have expressed concern that Zika could hit Africa
and Asia as well. Dr Krishna Ella, chairman and MD of Bharat Biotech Ltd, said,
On Zika, we were probably the first vaccine company in the world to file a
vaccine candidate patent (about nine months ago). Dr Soumya Swaminathan,
director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, said that they would
investigate the feasibility of taking it forward and that the vaccine could be a
good example of a 'Made in India' product. |
Pray: |
for God to
be working in and through all processes to develop a vaccine and cure.
(Mt.6:10) | |
More: |
|
China: conflicting signals |
Legally registered churches
are under attack while illegal house churches are being invited into official
dialogue. Is China heading for another Mao-era persecution or opening up to
religious freedom? With conflicting signals across a range of social, economic
and political issues, nothing is certain. There is, however, reason for
optimism: the gospel is alive and something must happen. Gu Yuese has served as
the senior pastor at Chinas largest government-approved Protestant church, a
megachurch with ten thousand members. He has also held a leadership role in
Chinas state-approved denomination, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM).
In January the TSPM and China Christian Council forcibly removed Gu from his
Church in a move to move one step closer towards the proper self-construction
and management of church locations and sort out the relationship between the
province and the two municipal Christian organisations. Gu was arrested and sent
to a black jail (a facility falling outside the established penal system)
where he is undergoing a criminal investigation. |
Pray: |
for Gu and
his wife, Zhou Lian Mei, who has also been arrested. Pray for the Lord to turn
these conflicts into Christian growth in China.
(Ps.118:7) | |
More: |
|
World horrified as scores of children
massacred |
Last weekend, Boko Haram
burned children alive in Nigeria, and IS bombed schoolchildren in Syria. Homes
were reduced to piles of ashes and left smouldering in the Nigerian village of
Dalori following a Boko Haram rampage. For four hours heavily armed gunmen and
at least three suicide bombers attacked, setting much of the village aflame.
Children were burned alive in their huts. Two nearby refugee camps were also
attacked. Nigerian army troops arrived, but were outmanned and outgunned by
terrorists. 3,000 miles away, IS detonated two suicide car bombs in a
neighbourhood south of Damascus protected by Hezbollah. As people gathered to
help dead and injured children, an IS terrorist wearing a suicide vest set off
another blast. 45 were killed and 110 wounded. |
Pray: |
for the
Syrian peace talks to resume, and for all those contesting terror in Nigeria.
(Ps.118:5) | |
More: |
|
Egypt: Christian students on trial for insulting
Islam |
Three Christian students went
on trial yesterday in Egypt for allegedly insulting Islam. A thirty-second
video, filmed by their teacher, showed one student kneeling to pray while
reciting verses from the Quran and two others standing behind him laughing. One
student ran his hand under the praying students chin, as if beheading him. At
the time of writing this article, the outcome of the trial is not yet known;
however, the teacher has already been sentenced to three years in prison. Coptic
Christians have long complained of the injustices they have suffered in this
predominantly Muslim country. Christians make up 10% of Egypts population.
Egypts president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has vowed to crack down on extremism and
to get rid of harsh blasphemy laws, but such blasphemy charges have increased in
recent months. |
Pray: |
for God to
preserve and increase the Christian heritage in Egypt. Pray for these and other
persecuted Christians, and for the families of those martyred for their faith.
(Mt.10:22) | |
More: |
|
Syria: churches responding to
atrocities |
Christians are facing
atrocities not only from the so-called Islamic State but also 45 other different
terrorist groups in Syria ;some are linked with Al-Qaeda. Since 2011 it has been
clear that terrorist groups have wanted to take over and create an Islamic
state. Their actions affect Muslims and the infrastructure of society as well
as Christians, but Christians are worst affected. Churches were not prepared to
deal with persecution or oppression and did not know how to respond, but they
are catching up rapidly. At least five church networks in Syria are very
involved with humanitarian aid to both Christians and non-Christians in their
areas. Caring for people of other faiths was not a priority before, but now
social action and evangelism are going hand in hand. Most churches are now
reaching out with aid and education services for the displaced, the poor and
those impacted by war. Social action is becoming a priority.
|
Pray: |
for the Holy
Spirit to sweep across Syrias churches with social action revival.
(Is.60:15) | |
More: |
| | Source: Prayer Alert - World Prayer Centre UK
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first
login
If you are not already registered you must first
register
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|