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Topic: News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide
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News Room
Admin Group
Joined: 07/25/2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6560
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Posted: 09/23/2016 at 10:02am
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News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide
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Martyred Christian witnessed boldly to Jihadi
John |
IS hostage Kayla Mueller's
faith was so bold, so raw, so refreshing that 20/20 investigated her
Christianity for an episode on the modern-day Stephen. A fellow-hostage (from
Doctors without Borders) said, She was always considerate of others, even
though she herself was in a very difficult situation. She was always concerned
for other prisoners. She never stopped caring for others. Kayla was kidnapped
by IS in 2013. They told her parents she was alive in 2014, but then airstrikes
hit. Her death was announced in 2015. Despite rape, torture and further
unthinkable abuse, Mueller's fellow hostages say she refused to deny Christ and
even witnessed to Islamic State executioner, Jihadi John. The 20/20 episode
premièred last week and is available
here. |
Praise: |
God for this
story being broadcast and published. May Kaylas story witness to thousands.
(Mt.10:22) | |
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France: church attendance up after priests
murder |
You intended to harm me, but
God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of
many lives. (Genesis 50:20) In the two months since Rev Jacques Hamel was
brutally slain at the altar of his parish by an IS sympathiser, church
attendance has increased in the town, said Archbishop Dominique Lebrun. He said
that on a psychological level there is fear, but on a deep level in the soul,
there is strength. I do not think Jesus said it is stupid to be afraid, or
there is no reason to be afraid. No, Jesus said, have the courage to be afraid.
Pope Francis called the priest blessed, the step preceding sainthood.
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Praise: |
God for the
blood shed by believers that prepares the ground for renewal, and continue to
ask God to free Christians from the legacy of fear after terrorist acts.
(Ps.79:10) | |
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NHS cuts planned |
The BBC has seen draft plans
which propose ward closures, cuts in bed numbers and changes to A&E and GP
care in 44 areas. The plans, which are due to be signed off next month, are
being drawn up by local health and social care leaders. Many remain unpublished
even though up to 20% of beds may be closed. The role of community hospitals is
being questioned, and the number of mental health inpatient sites could be
reduced. There have been no consultations on the plans so far. NHS England needs
to find £22bn in efficiency savings by 2020-21 while improving patient care at
the same time. Pray for the think tanks which need to make fundamental
changes. Pray for openness to public and political scrutiny, which so far has
been lacking. In the past there has been reluctance from political leaders to
address the way things are organised in the NHS. |
Pray: |
for MPs and
the NHS to address difficult issues together and achieve positive changes.
(Ps.23:3b,4a) | |
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Prayer and action for peace and
justice |
On Monday Hinde Street
Methodist Church in London opened a life-sized copy of a border control point of
the separation barrier between Israel and Palestine. Visitors walked through a
checkpoint accompanied by photography, sound, testimony and eyewitness accounts.
It is one of many events taking place in churches around the country as part of
World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel organised by the World Council of
Churches. It is described as a week of advocacy and action supporting an end to
occupation. While peace between Israelis and Palestinians is something
Christians are actively praying for, resources provided in support of the week
are biased against Israel and fail to present Israels position on why the
security barrier is needed. Also this week, on Wednesday, the UN held the
International Day of Peace. Its purpose is to recognise those working to end
conflict and promote peace and positive change. |
Pray: |
for
peace-making, peace-building and conflict transformation in Israel and wherever
there is war and terror. Pray that God will anoint peoples and nations committed
to alternatives to war.
(Ps.87:5) | |
More: |
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Scottish Brexit and trade |
Michael Russell, the Scottish
minister negotiating with the UK Government ahead of Brexit, has said he hopes
to win the argument on staying in the single market. In a joint statement with
Mr Davis, the UK Brexit minister, he said, While we clearly come from very
different standpoints, we both recognise that a good working relationship is
vital. Meanwhile The Economist reported, The grittiest part of the Brexit
negotiations will be over trade. Brexiteers correctly argue theres no need for
a trade deal to trade, but without a comprehensive free-trade deal with the EU,
British exporters could face tariffs and non-tariff barriers, where it currently
faces neither. We can pray for our nations to be aligned and connected for
trade according to Gods design, purpose and blessing, and for ministers and
civil servants to carry Gods vision and plans. We can pray life and blessing
over all key trading links, old and new, and for doors which God desires to open
to be supernaturally opened. See
also. |
Pray: |
for Gods
anointing on commitments and treaties to be formed in the UK and globally; for
wisdom and strength for Nicola Sturgeon, Theresa May and their respective
Cabinets and advisers.
(1Pt.2:6) | |
More: |
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Christian comeback is coming |
US theologian Brian McLaren
is not alone when he says, Things are only now getting bad enough that
Christian faith finally has a chance of getting significantly better. In the US
and the UK most forms of Western Christian faith are shrinking, with church
movement but not church growth. However, McLaren suggests that if the Church
could rediscover its call to unconditional love and service rather than focusing
on a set of unquestionable beliefs, its future could be not decline but a new
era of powerful renaissance. While organised religion is in decline, he sees a
potential for organising religion to take its place. He describes this as
missional migration, which flows from a reaction against a Church which has
been oppressive and genocidal, rooted in a conception of God as being violent
and judgmental. Such heritage turns many away from the Church, offering nothing
for those who identify as spiritual but not religious. |
Pray: |
for the
Church to reach the unchurched through innovative activities using Gods word as
a plumb-line. (Ro.8:2) | |
More: |
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Britains opportunity for a new
role |
The following is from a
message by Clifford Hill and David Noakes: God has mercifully given Britain the
chance of deliverance from an EU marriage, and opportunities to forge a new role
in the world under His blessing. This could be a powerful witness to the nations
of the rewards available to all who seek a right relationship with God and are
prepared to love and obey Him. There are many who are fearful of the future
because they lack understanding of the word of God and lack faith in the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are many churchgoers who share that fear
because they too have never really learned to recognise the word of the Lord as
sheep recognise the voice of their own shepherd. But God is loving and merciful
and has a word for those who have been anxious about the future since the vote
to leave the EU. To read and prayerfully weigh a prophecy from David Noakes,
click the More button. |
Pray: |
for the body
of Christ to persevere in prayer that the work which God has begun will
continue. (Rev.3:8) | |
More: |
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Life-jacket graveyard |
A migrant charity took over
Parliament Square for the day earlier this week with a 'life-jacket graveyard'.
Around 2,500 life-jackets were laid out across the site usually reserved for
military memorials in an all-day protest urging the UK to do more to help those
fleeing war-torn countries by giving them a home here. It was organised by the
International Rescue Commission, whose president is David Miliband. However some
criticised the 'misjudged' display, saying it will encourage more people to risk
their lives in dangerous crossings to Europe. It came as a UN migration summit
began in New York, with 193 countries approving a new document aimed at
providing a more 'humane and co-ordinated' response to the refugee crisis. Also,
the BBC Radio 4 Today programme reported that many of the life-jackets, adult
and child sizes, were fake, and would cause the wearer to drown not float.
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Pray: |
for wisdom
and discernment for all authorities and charities working to save refugees.
(Ps.50:15) | |
More: |
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Northern Ireland: restorative justice scheme
praised |
An east Belfast initiative
with ties to the UDA (Ulster Defence Association) paramilitary group is moving
towards official recognition. A review by the Criminal Justice Inspection
Northern Ireland found that the Resolve project is making a useful contribution
in a fragmented community while delivering value for a very small amount of
money. It is believed to be the first such initiative linked to the paramilitary
group. Run on an annual budget of just £37,000, it has only two staff members,
supported by a small group of volunteers. Its main activities include mediating
neighbourhood disputes and offering non-violent solutions, helping people under
paramilitary threat, and tackling antisocial behaviour. A Police Service
neighbourhood Inspector said that while he would be happy to refer cases to
Resolve, he is unable to do so while it remains unaccredited.
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Pray: |
for the
scheme to proceed to the next stage of accreditation and be used widely.
(Pr.21:15) | |
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Hungary: government office to tackle Christian
persecution |
This week, Hungary, which has
during the past year come under pressure for its handling of Europes mass
migration crisis, has become the first government to open an office specifically
to address the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and Europe. Today,
Christianity has become the most persecuted religion, where four out of five
people killed for religious reasons are Christians said Hungarys Minister for
Human Capacities, Zoltan Balog. 200 million Christians live in areas where they
are discriminated against. The move sets a precedent on the international stage.
It comes after Hungarys right-wing conservative Prime Minister, Viktor Orban,
drew criticism in the EU by saying Europe should focus on helping Christians,
before helping millions of Islamic people coming into Europe. If we really want
to help, we should help where the real problem is. We should first help the
Christian people before Islamic people, Orban said. |
Pray: |
for this
government office to contribute towards helping Europe preserve its Christian
roots. (Dt. 24:17a) | |
More: |
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Sweden: TV advert says accept
multiculturalism |
Swedes need to give up their
identity and integrate with migrants because being Swedish needs to be about
more than skin colour and place of birth. In a new TV advert from Swedish
charity organisation IM, Swedes are called on to create Det nya landet (the
new country). The English text from their website says, There is no turning
back. Sweden will never be what it was before. It is an understanding of what
the world actually looks like that Sweden is needed as a safe place for people
who need refuge. Some yearn back to how it used to be. Its okay to miss the
past and talk about it but we have to seek ways forward and find a way for
everyone to live together. Because now we have a Europe and a Sweden that is
what it is: in a state of change. |
Pray: |
for
countries to accept different cultures, languages and customs, and promote
inclusiveness. (Job
8:20a) | |
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Israel: Netanyahu holds security
meeting |
Prime minister Benjamin
Netanyahu is assessing the security situation ahead of the Tishrei holidays -
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. He has increased police presence in the
Old City and Temple Mount to prevent attempts to violate public order, increased
watchfulness for PA Arab incitement on social networks, and established a
response team to refute disinformation about Israeli policy about the Temple
Mount (such as claiming the Jews are plotting to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque). It
appears that the wave of terror that the security personnel thought was behind
them is back in full force. In just one day, 18 September, a 50-year-old
policeman and a 30-year-old policewoman were stabbed near Jerusalems Flower
Gate, an IDF officer was wounded inside the town of Efrat in a terror attack,
and an Arab woman pulled out a knife on two IDF soldiers near the town of
Itamar. See
also |
Pray: |
for the
motivation to attack Israelis to be removed and for the situation to stabilise.
(Ps.36:10) | |
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Syria: aid delivery to Aleppo to
resume? |
Yesterday the UN said it was
ready to resume the delivery of life-saving aid to Syria, days after an attack
on a humanitarian convoy killed 20 people and triggered the suspension of
much-needed relief operations. The UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs said, The preparation for these convoys has now resumed,
and we are ready to deliver aid to besieged and hard-to-reach areas as soon as
possible. The UN continues to call for safe, unconditional, unimpeded and
sustained access to all Syrians in need, wherever they are. However, today this
hope now looks increasingly unlikely, following the collapse of talks between
the USA and Russia and a resumption of the Syrian governments attacks on
Aleppo. |
Pray: |
for aid to
reach the Syrians still without any supplies, for Gods protection over the
humanitarian workers and the communities they work in, and for an end to
civilian massacres.
(Nu.6:26) | |
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Iraq: US pastor gives $4,000 for weapons for Christian
militia |
Pastor William Devlin of
Infinity Bible Church in New York City gave $4,000 from his own pocket to buy
weapons for the Christian militia fighting IS. He bought grenades,
rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and AK-47 assault rifles for the Nineveh
Plain Protection Units, saying that weapons are much needed by the Christian
militia in their battle against terrorists. However, many believe this raises
the serious issue of what forms of aid and intervention Western Christians
should offer to help their Middle Eastern brothers and sisters. How we engage
has wide repercussions and demands deep reflection. Although the US has provided
training for weaponry, the American government has not supplied weapons.
Meanwhile the Iraqi ministry of the interior revealed that security forces had
seized four trucks carrying explosives in southern Baghdad. They had come from
Syria and entered Baghdad in collusion with some local authorities, paying
$13,000 per truck. See
also |
Pray: |
for further
political and military collaborations and ceasefires as Middle East churches
consider their future in the region amidst calls for a Christian homeland in
Iraq (see next article).
(Nu.6:26) | |
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Middle East: church summit |
Last week, Jordan hosted the
11th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches. Presidents of
churches from Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Cyprus, Lebanon, Egypt and Iran
reflected on common challenges facing Christian communities in the region and
met with King Abdullah who gave his support by saying, Christians in the Arab
world are an integral part of the Arab social fabric and protecting their rights
is a duty of all. At the close of the three-day assembly, the leaders said how
they appreciate the support of Muslim leaders in the region and value their
combatting extremism. They asked for intervention to stop the war in Syria and
to give support to the regions refugees, and urged the speedy election of a
president in Lebanon. In Lebanon, the constitution requires the president to be
a Christian but the post has been vacant for over two years as the sides cannot
agree on a candidate. |
Pray: |
for the IS
threat to be eliminated and for Christians to be allowed to choose an area where
they can settle and live in safety. Pray for Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds and
Christians to live in peace.
(Nu.6:24,25) | |
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Pakistan: plight of minorities |
The European Organisation for
Pakistani Minorities organised Plight of Pakistani Minorities at the 33rd
session of the UN Human Rights Council. International speakers came from the
European Parliament, International Forum for Rights and Security and the
Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies. They expressed deep concern over growing
intolerance in Pakistani society, aggravated by the actions of the Pakistan
government. They believe the government and military should realise that their
policy to sustain and use extremist elements in certain neighbourhoods to
achieve their own ends will sooner or later not only destabilise Pakistan
internally but also spread to other parts of the world. Pray that the
international community will recognise and work towards resolving this crisis,
which has not been adequately addressed in the past. |
Pray: |
for an end
to killing journalists, lawyers and students who speak out against persecution.
(Pr.12:20) | |
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Africa at the UN General Assembly, 20 to 26
September |
Thirty-two African heads of
state are debating Sustainable Development Goals at the UN. Some major
concerns are: Chad - continues to fight Boko Haram. Malawi - respect for basic
human rights as they open doors to refugees from neighbouring countries. Also
millions need food assistance due to climate change. Tunisia - promoting
security and human rights but needs support to improve its economy, emphasising
Tunisias commitment to build a prosperous, united Africa. South Africa -
developmental progress in line with the African Unions agenda, also called for
inclusive growth where countries put global interests ahead of national ones.
Nigeria - anti-corruption stance and effects of the global downturn on the
country, also pointed out that climate change effects are threatening
livelihoods of 30 million people. Uganda - preventing discrimination based on
religion, gender and political orientation. Ghana - Africa does not need
sympathy or overseas aid, it needs a fair chance to trade with the rest of the
world and amongst ourselves. |
Pray: |
for
developed and underdeveloped countries as they implement development goals.
(Php.3:14) | |
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Iran
and Saudi Arabia |
You must understand that
Iranians are not Muslims, they are sons of Magi (Zoroastrians), and their
hostility toward Muslims, especially the Sunnis, is an old one. These words
were delivered on 6 September by the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul-Aziz Al
Sheikh, as a response to the Haj message which the Iranian supreme leader
released the preceding day. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had stated, Saudi officials
are trying to cover up their enmity and hatred of the faithful and revolutionary
people of Iran by talking about politicisation of the Haj. They are small and
pitiful devils who are very afraid of jeopardising the interests of the big
Satan, the United States. Although Iranian president Hassan Rouhani came to
power in 2013 with the promise of easing tensions between Iran and other
countries in the region, what is currently taking place between Tehran and
Riyadh cannot in any way be considered a de-escalation. |
Pray: |
for an
easing of tensions between these two countries, in a culture where a perceived
insult can lead to unrest.
(Is.2:4a) | |
More: | | Source: Prayer Alert - World Prayer Centre UK
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