Christian TV gives hope to Syrian refugee children

As more and more people are fleeing Syria and arriving at refugee camps in neighbouring countries, SAT-7, a Christian satellite channel, offers on-air education to children in core curriculum subjects, alongside messages of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The ‘My School’ programme goes out five days a week teaching young children Arabic, English and Mathematics. It is also providing children and families with hope for the future amid the humanitarian crisis.

Praise:

God for his message that is reaching millions who have lost confidence in governments, lost expectation with their countries and neighbours, and lost faith in their God. (Job 5:16)

Making disciples of refugees

This week a Christian worker returned from a country where there are countless Syrian refugees in camps. He and his team talked to and prayed for the people there. He could not believe the spiritual openness and hunger! He estimated that half of those they talked to had had dreams of Isa (Jesus). They were able to share the love of God with these hurting people. They also saw God perform miracles of healing as this team ministered to the people. What an opportunity! Pray for God to open more and more hearts and lives! Many of these refugees have never heard the gospel and now they are in more open places, which provides an incredible opportunity to share the good news with them!

Praise:

God for Christian evangelists. Ask for more workers for the harvest of millions of refugees. (Ps.142:5,6a)

Referendum - stories of border controls

French finance minister Emmanuel Macron has said that France could end UK border controls in Calais and allow migrants to cross the Channel if the UK leaves the EU. Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said that propaganda was being produced by other European governments at the request of our Prime Minister ‘to try to scare people away from voting to leave’. He told BBC Radio 4 that the French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve had previously rejected claims by Mr Cameron that the border agreement with France would end if Britain voted to quit the EU. Mr Jenkin added, ‘We pay a great deal of money into the EU and it subsidises a great deal of French farming. They don't want us to leave the EU. But this is a choice for the British people not for the French government, and we're being asked to believe all sorts of ludicrous things.’

Pray:

for lies, half-truths and scaremongering to be seen for what it is by the British people. (Ps.33:10,11)

Schools Pastors

Like Street Pastors, the Schools Pastors initiative helps Christians to be relevant to and engaged with their communities. Teams are now operating in sixteen areas across the country, in secondary schools and in the post-16 sector, with more teams in the pipeline. Schools Pastors go on patrol at times and locations agreed with the school: listening, observing and looking out for young people that are vulnerable. They build links with students, parents, school-crossing patrols and other professionals. Most of all they aim to be prayerfully aware of God's direction in all that they do as they work with pupils experiencing difficulties in some area of their school life. They will build relationships with pupils who are disruptive in class, finding it difficult to participate/engage in classroom learning, regularly being excluded from class, or on final warnings for exclusion from school.

Pray:

for this initiative to spread across the nation through people under God's protection and direction, liaising with tutors and developing individual learning and behavioural support packages (Ps.40:2)

Peacemaking role of the UK Church in Sudan

On Monday Baroness Cox asked the Government what assessment they had made of the continuing offensives by the government of Sudan against civilians in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. The Bishop of Leeds and the Bishop of Salisbury have particular links with Sudan and play a key role with its Anglican Episcopal Church as peacemakers, maintaining ministry and pastoral support on the ground in these areas. She asked the Government to put pressure on the Sudanese government regarding the illegal confiscation of church properties and oppression of Christians, especially in those two states. Pray for the important role that our faith communities play in other countries experiencing war. Pray for our Government to speak more boldly, alongside faith communities, in conversations with the Sudanese government. Pray that these conversations will succeed in enabling people to live freely and practise their faith freely.

Pray:

for the Government to face up to challenging and difficult situations, making sure that the concerns raised in the House of Lords are successfully raised in Sudan. (Ps.65:4,5)

Freedom of speech and religious practice in UK

An employment appeal tribunal has heard the case of Victoria Wasteney, a senior occupational therapist, disciplined for befriending a Muslim colleague. Judgment has been reserved for a later date. Victoria is supported by the Christian Legal Centre and won permission to appeal the ruling against her last October. Last April an employment tribunal ruled that East London NHS Foundation Trust acted reasonably in disciplining Miss Wasteney for praying with a colleague, handing her a Christian book and inviting her to church events. The NHS disciplined her for harassment. In October a judge advised an employment appeal tribunal to consider whether the original ruling had properly applied the European Convention on Human Rights' protection of freedom of religion and expression. Miss Wasteney’s treatment has raised serious concerns that NHS equality policies are stifling ordinary conversations about faith and damaging healthy working relationships.

Pray:

for God to be in every detail of the final decision. For peace of mind for Victoria. (Ps.71:1)

Archbishop calls for support for children at Calais

Archbishop Justin Welby, addressing the House of Lords, said that while we would all agree that the ‘Jungle’ situation is difficult for the French authorities, he is sure it is significantly more difficult for the 300 unaccompanied children. He recently visited the Marsh Academy near Romney Marsh and saw a school and community caring with the utmost compassion for significant numbers of unaccompanied children. Given that example, he asked, does the government agree that issues of compassion should easily trump those of administrative efficiency, tidiness and narrow definitions of family links; and that we should, therefore, take more children very quickly?

Pray:

for the example of Romney Marsh to become a template for communities facing the burden of vulnerable people in their midst. Pray for wisdom for Church and Government. (Ps.133:1)

‘Gay cake’ update – Attorney General now involved

On Thursday, Northern Ireland's Attorney General was given the green light to become involved in a Christian-run bakery's appeal against being found to have discriminated against a gay customer. Senior judges in Belfast issued notices of devolution following legal arguments from John Larkin QC about the lawfulness of legislation at the centre of the case. They decided he had raised an arguable case that sexual orientations regulations in Northern Ireland directly discriminate against those who hold religious beliefs or political opinions. The move gives Mr. Larkin authorisation to make representations when Ashers' Baking Company seeks to overturn the verdict against them at a full hearing in May. The bakery, run by the McArthur family, is appealing the outcome of legal action over its refusal to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan. See also

Pray:

for God to give the McArthur family peace of mind and for the verdict to go their way as conflicts between Northern Ireland and European laws are discussed and judged. (Ps.147:5,6)

SNP has questions to answer about ‘named persons scheme’

The Scottish Government’s ‘named person’ scheme has faced fresh criticism from the ‘Scotland on Sunday’ newspaper which wrote that there is growing concern over the scheme ahead of its statutory introduction in August. The paper was responding to recent analysis of the scheme’s complaints procedure by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Jim Martin. The proposals, contained in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, aim to give everyone under 18 a named person, usually a teacher or health visitor, to oversee them from August next year. He or she would be a contact point if welfare issues needed to be raised with police or social services. In a letter to MSPs, Mr Martin expressed fears that the complaints procedure being introduced by Holyrood is too rigid and so could become outdated. Many are saying that most children already have guardians, and children at risk are identified through social workers.

Pray:

that the safeguarding strategies for children abused or at risk of danger will be fit for purpose. Ask God to watch over children’s minister Aileen Campbell as she addresses discrepancies. (Pr. 24:14)

Germany: refugees have no voice

‘Christians and Muslim converts to Christianity have no voice’, says Pastor Gottfried Martens, whose church in Berlin is a ‘drop-in-centre’ for more than 1,000 Christian refugees. ‘In the refugee homes many Christians live in fear of Muslims who harass them verbally and physically, assault them, threaten them, and treat them as infidels or as animals. The Open Doors organisation is now conducting a nationwide survey in refugee homes and local communities on the conditions under which Christians have to live, and the results will be brought to the attention of the public. Although newspapers and television are now reporting on serious attacks, there is a thick veil over the hearts of our people such that there is no outcry against these crimes. Unfortunately the main churches are also not speaking out for the rights of Christian refugees and converts from Islam.’ Note: three state elections on 13 March have been turned into a type of referendum on the chancellor’s refugee strategy.

Pray:

for Christian refugees to be accommodated in safety and security and to be protected from political injustice. Pray also for the elections on 13 March, and praise God for the help that Open Doors are giving to Christian refugees. (Pr.31:8)

Europe: summits on refugee crisis

Europe’s migration crisis is hurtling towards a potentially defining turning point this month, with the pillars of the EU’s policy under sustained assault and German chancellor Angela Merkel facing the first electoral test of her refugee policy. EU leaders are preparing for emergency migration summits on 7, 17, and 18 March against the backdrop of desperate scenes at the Greece-Macedonia border, where migrants have been beaten back with tear gas. Four crucial components of Europe’s migration response are at stake: the centrepiece effort to stem irregular migration from Turkey; the capacity of Greece to cope with tens of thousands of migrants trapped on its territory; the willingness of Europe to unite behind a common policy; and the political patience remaining in Germany, the main destination for migrants reaching Europe. Intense diplomacy over the next fortnight may dictate whether the EU is able to get a grip or fracture and fall back on national defences against an expected influx this spring and summer.

Pray:

for God to keep His hand on the diplomats looking for workable strategies in these uncharted waters. For more help and better living conditions to be given to innocent, vulnerable people. (Ps.9:18)

Algeria: pray for a church under threat

Kabylie church, affiliated to the Protestant Church of Algeria, received a letter from the district authorities last week requiring them to cease all religious activities on the grounds of breaching a 2006 decree regulating non-Muslim worship. The authorities threatened to commence legal proceedings against the pastor if Christian worship continues in the church building. The letter provides no further detail about the alleged infringement nor any time-frame within which steps should be taken to ensure compliance with the law. This situation reflects a long-standing legal difficulty faced by churches in Algeria. The 2006 decree stipulates that permission must be obtained before using a building for non-Muslim worship and that such worship can only be conducted in buildings specifically designated for that purpose. In practice, the authorities have failed to respond to almost all applications by churches for places of worship.

Pray:

for the pastor and leaders of the church to know the peace of Jesus, the wisdom of the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in dealing with authorities so that the closure order is lifted. (Pr.3:5-6)

Egypt: Al-Sisi’s defective political reality

President Al-Sisi is making Egyptians live through a nightmare. Their currency is deteriorating, investments are declining, there are no employment opportunities, and security is poor. Al-Sisi is either marginalising or criminalising his opponents. In return these opponents are doing their utmost to destroy the country that does not recognise them as citizens. The cement blocks surrounding many government buildings as protection from terrorists reflect the present narrow ruling mentality. These blocks are not only physical barriers; they also form a mental barrier which only allows decision-makers to see security from one angle. Meanwhile terrorists are finding many vulnerable targets to attack and regrettably quite successfully. Al-Sisi’s authoritarian style requires a stricter compliance with religious affairs legislation. This is not to the advantage of the large Coptic minority, who have been tolerated but now are being targeted. In the midst of this change there is a small but growing community of Christian converts. See also

Pray:

for Al-Sisi (Lk. 22:26), and for Muslim-background believers bearing the brunt of persecution. (Ps.9:10)

Israel: video of axe assault goes online

The family of Israeli security guard Tzvika Cohen, critically injured in a West Bank terror attack last week, expressed dismay as security camera footage of the attack was shared via social media and on the internet. In the grainy video clip, the attacker can be seen swinging wildly at Cohen, who was unarmed, as he lies on his back on the floor trying to fend off the blows with his arms and legs. The attacker fled the scene and was later arrested by security forces. ‘Children are passing the horrible, uncensored pictures from one to the other,’ the victim’s brother, Moshe Cohen, told Army Radio. The eight-year-old son of Rahamim, one of Tzvika Cohen’s brothers, was sent the clip of the attack via WhatsApp; Rahamim himself has been traumatised since he was the victim of a stabbing attack in 2000.

Pray:

for an end to the violence, and for God to heal broken hearts and spirits damaged by terror. (Is.57:19)

Haiti: refugees in the Dominican Republic

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share both the island of Hispaniola and a painful and controversial history. On Tuesday the former Guatemala president said that the international community has abandoned Haiti to its fate and left the Dominican Republic to deal with the consequences of political instability, an economic crisis and the human drama of refugees crossing the Hispaniola borders. He drew the international community’s attention to Haiti’s suffering and asked for major powers to help the Dominican Republic assist the hemisphere’s poorest country. ‘The country on the east of the island, with its own problems, cannot withstand the burden of another poor sister nation.’ The Haitian people’s only escape is the Dominican Republic ‘because all the world’s doors have been closed and that has a huge impact on the economy. Uncontrolled migration strikes directly at health care and education, and contributes to job insecurity.’ Voodoo and Roman Catholicism are the official religions of Haiti. See also outreach ministries to Haiti

Pray:

for Christian agencies in the land evangelising through education and medical care. Pray for refugees caught between a country that doesn’t want them and one that can’t support them. (Ps.6:9,10)

Brazil: containing and researching the Zika virus

Today a week-long meeting by officials including the director-general of the World Health Organisation and the director of the Pan American Health Organisation has ended. They met with top Brazilian officials, including the minister of health. They were working to support the country’s efforts to respond to the outbreak of the Zika virus and to exchanging experiences on epidemiological surveillance and treatment of cases of the virus across various nations. They studied the issues surrounding possible neurological complications associated with the virus. Their mission was to enhance the capacity of countries to respond to Zika in the Americas. In addition, a group of experts convened in Colombia last week to support that country’s efforts towards eradicating the virus. To date there have been 107 cases of Zika among US travellers returning from infected areas.

Pray:

for the organisations developing strategies to help countries lessen the impact of Zika virus, for strong detection methods and effective communication of risks to the public. (Ps.107:6, 20)

India: new partnership to catch traffickers

A US anti-trafficking organisation, in partnership with a Nepalese NGO, has just completed a first-of-its-kind raid and arrest of two major traffickers. For the first time, the Indian Police Special Task force partnered with US and Nepalese organisations in this way. The Kathmandu Post reported, ‘After a tip-off received by the crime branch of the Indian Police, officers raided an apartment in New Delhi on Friday and rounded up two suspected traffickers and eleven women. This was after Shanti Peace Rehabilitation Centre and Free for Life International, organisations working against trafficking, had given information about the trafficking of Nepali women to various Gulf countries via New Delhi and Colombo.’ It has now been revealed that the two traffickers had been sending up to forty trafficked women a month to Iraq and Kuwait. See also

Pray:

for more cross-continent border monitoring to be established. (Pr.13:17)

USA: Trump and Israel

Following Donald Trump’s ‘Super Tuesday’ win of eight US states in the primary contests, the question of what a Trump presidency would mean for Israel is being discussed. He told CNN, ‘As president there is nothing I would rather do than to bring peace to Israel and its neighbours. I may not be successful in doing the toughest negotiation in the world, so it doesn’t help if I start saying I’m very pro-Israel.’ Trump has also expressed scepticism over achieving a two-state solution, and said he would know within his first six months in office whether a deal can be made. His deepest tie to the Jewish community comes from his daughter, Ivanka, who converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner. Meanwhile, Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan who has a long history of anti-Semitism, recently praised Trump for his refusal to take ‘Jewish money’ as Farrakhan backed his presidency campaign.

Pray:

for all US presidency candidates to state honest clear values and philosophies. (1Ti.2: 1,2)