Italy: Evangelistic festival takes the Good News worldwide

Marking the launch of a three-week evangelistic campaign aimed at the entire Latin world, FestiNapoli with Luis Palau drew thousands of individuals from the coastal city of Naples, this past Friday and Saturday for a free evangelistic festival. Packing the main plaza along the famed Via Francesco Caracciolo, the historic nature of the two-day festival could be felt by all. According to locals, it marked the first time in recent history that the evangelical community has been granted permission from city officials to host a public, outdoor evangelistic event. ‘We are so encouraged by this festival,’ said festival chairman Marcelo Simon Rodriguez. ‘This represents a great step forward for the evangelical Church in Italy.’ Joining with more than 20 local congregations, as well as a handful soccer stars and recording artists from the region, world evangelist Luis Palau shared the Good News both nights of the festival, reaching thousands of individuals in person with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

Praise:

God for the FestiNapoli and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing new life. (Rom.6:4)

Mexico: Monterrey Mayor, gives keys to city to Jesus Christ

The mayor of the Mexican city of Monterrey, Margarita Arellanes, symbolically gave the keys to the city to Jesus Christ at ‘Monterrey Ora' (Monterrey Prays), an event organized by an alliance of pastors. Arellanes made a speech in which she welcomed Jesus Christ to Monterrey and asserted that the city had been born in the name of God and should be preserved, loved and defended as such. A video of the speech, along with debate over the secular nature of the state and its institutions, has gone viral. Watch it on ‘More’ link below. ‘I, Margarita Alicia Arellanes, hand over the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León to our lord Jesus Christ, so that his kingdom of peace and blessings may be established. I open the doors to this municipality to God as the maximum authority. I acknowledge that without his presence and his help we cannot have true success,’ the mayor announced. She went on to read Psalms 40 from the Bible.

Praise:

God for the testimony of Margarita and pray for her protection from the drug cartels. (Matt.10:7)

Church of England faces fresh clash with ministers over welfare reform

The Church of England is facing a fresh clash with the Coalition over welfare reform after publishing a new report accusing ministers of acting as if they were deliberately trying to ‘destabilise’ society. In a highly critical analysis of the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s overhaul of the benefits' system, the established Church questions the ‘moral’ case for such reforms in a time of austerity. The poor and vulnerable, it claims, are bearing a ‘disproportionate share of the burden’ from recession, yet being ‘squeezed’ ever tighter by the Government - while the rich are allowed to escape ‘largely unscathed’. The comments come in a policy paper prepared for members of the Church’s General Synod which meets in York in two weeks time, where welfare will be one of the main items on the agenda alongside the Church’s difficulties over women bishops.

Pray:

for a better understanding of the needs of the genuinely vulnerable and for appropriate measures put in place to support them. (Pr.30:8)

Global and local focus as Just Festival launches in Edinburgh

The Just Festival has launched its ambitious 2013 programme in Edinburgh, with a challenge to build bridges and break down barriers between communities, globally and locally. The festival, in August this year, will feature some 129 events in 450 performances across 28 venues and will attract tens of thousands of visitors and participants. It is reckoned to be the largest inter-cultural event of its kind in Britain, with backing from civic, religious, secular, educational and charitable partners. It is supported and sponsored by the Scottish Government, St John's Church Edinburgh, the European Parliament, the University of Edinburgh, the Scottish Episcopal Church, Edinburgh City Centre Churches Together, Edinburgh Inter Faith Association, and the beliefs and values think-tank Ekklesia. 'We're not saying peacemaking is an easy process. Indeed, many of our events this year are about facing the reality of violence. But to make peace, it is important to know where you are starting,’ explained Just Festival director Katherine Newbigging.

Pray:

for all those working hard to prepare this important event. (Heb.12.14)

Teacher probed over her gay marriage views

A Christian teacher from London is under investigation because she refused to give a lesson telling children that all opponents of gay marriage are homophobes. The unnamed teacher didn’t think that it was a ‘fair characterisation of the debate’, she says, but is now under investigation at her school. She is also under suspicion for being a member of a church, and a colleague is demanding to know whether it impacts her job. The head teacher investigated the incident and concluded there was no case to answer. Another colleague, who is also a union rep, then followed up the complaint and has formally raised additional concerns about the teacher's Christian beliefs and her membership of a church, demanding an investigation into whether membership of the church had any negative impact on her job as a teacher. That investigation process is currently under way.

Pray:

for the teach currently being investigated and that this case will very quickly be rejected as spurious with is no case to answer. (Matt.5:10)

Women celebrate purity and preciousness

Milk & Honey, a non-for profit organisation and online hub for young women launched their inaugural event 'The Precious Conference' over the weekend. St Mary's Church in Marylebone opened its doors to young women aged 16 to 25 for a day of sisterhood, worship and empowerment. The conference supports the 'I Am Precious Campaign', a movement by Milk & Honey that strives to tackle the common societal pressures that 21st century women face. Guest speakers delivered hard-hitting testimonies of how God has used them to win souls, and the spiritual nourishment they have received as a result of their choice to surrender. Hannah Thompson, shared her story of how God turned her life around and helped her realise the importance of acknowledging self-worth. She explained the importance of surrendering to God and discarding the past. ‘No matter what your past may look like, no matter what hurt, what thing you're ashamed of, God is alive in you.’

Pray:

for God to touch the lives of women around the world to affirm them in their daily lives. (Jn.1:12)

Law Society and Christian group reach agreement over marriage conference

A Christian group has reached an agreement with the Law Society after its marriage conference was cancelled at the last minute. Christian Concern was due to hold a conference in May last year at the Law Society's headquarters exploring the nature and meaning of marriage, but the booking was cancelled after a member of the society complained that the conference was ‘anti-gay’. As part of a mediation process, Christian Concern and the Law Society met last week to discuss the cancellation. A joint statement released after the meeting said that both organisations ‘uphold the right and freedoms of other members of society based on the principles of a democratic society and debate’. The Law Society has announced it will organise a full debate on the issue of same sex marriage joined by a speaker from Christian Concern, and that it welcomes bookings from the Christian advocacy group in the future.

Pray:

that, following the meeting between the two organisations , a meaningful open debate will allow Christian views to be discussed. (Ps.119:137)

Muslim prison numbers soar as staff warn of Islamic ‘gang culture’ in jails

Prison officers have warned of Islamic ‘gang culture’ in jails after figures showed the number of Muslim inmates has rocketed compared with other faiths. Stats obtained by the Sunday People reveal convicts in England and Wales who say their religion is Islam have passed the 11,000 mark for the first time. The total for Christians is 43,235, according to data given out under freedom of information laws. Prison officers’ association general secretary Steve Gillan said: ‘There is clear evidence of gang culture and a radicalisation of young men. They use the name of religion as an excuse to behave badly and in a threatening manner. Muslims in jail numbered only 3,681 in 1997 but last year there were 11,278. ‘Terrorists in maximum security jails have increased dramatically in number. It puts pressure on prisons at a time of cost cuts and overcrowding. This has been reflected in problems involving some Muslim gangs.’

Pray:

against any growth in gang culture and radicalism amongst the prisoners. (Heb.13:3)

New EU guidelines on religious freedom welcomed

The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) has welcomed the European Union's adoption of guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion. The guidelines were adopted by the foreign ministers of all 27 EU member states at a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday. They were developed in consultation with the European Platform on Religious Intolerance and Discrimination (EPRID), founded in 2006 by the EEA, Open Doors International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The focus of the guidelines is on the external policy of the European Union related to understanding, monitoring and promoting freedom of religion or belief and raising awareness of this right in non-EU countries. The EEA said the guidelines would strengthen the EU's capacity to defend religious freedom by addressing the causes of violations and formulating responses. Victims of religious freedom violations will also be in a stronger position to ask EU delegations and member state embassies to intervene on their behalf.

Pray:

that the adoption of these new guidelines will strengthen the EU’s capacity to defend religious freedom. (Jam.2:12)

France: Police swoop on Islamist terror suspects

French police are holding nine suspected Islamists as part of an anti-terrorism investigation. Three were arrested last Tuesday in southern France. The other six detained last Monday in the Paris area have been described by the Interior Minister Manuel Valls as ‘particularly dangerous’. They are being questioned by anti-terrorist investigators at Levallois, north of the capital. By law they can be held for up to four days. Monday’s raids by anti-terrorist police took place in three towns around Paris. Four of the six suspects are French, one is from Benin and the other from the Comoros Islands. They are all said to be aged in their twenties and thirties. They are thought to have been involved in armed robberies including a hold-up at a bank near the capital in April. Since the murders by one individual of seven people in Toulouse last year, several terrorist cells have been dismantled, according to the interior minister. France raised its domestic terror alert level after its military intervention in Mali.

Pray:

that the authorities will continue to be successful in thwarting the terrorist activities. (Pro.2:7)

NIGERIA: Militants force thousands to flee

Refugees say Islamic extremists threatening a bloodbath are forcing thousands of people from villages in northern Nigeria where the fighters have regrouped following a month-long military crackdown. People who escaped through the bush to the Borno state capital of Maiduguri say the Boko Haram terrorist network have also written letters warning government workers to resign their jobs or face death. Some villagers fled to neighbouring Cameroon. In a separate operation in Kano state police say they have rounded up 400 migrants and are deporting those who do not have the necessary documents. A state of emergency and military and police crackdown since May 14 have failed to crush the extremists blamed for the killings of more than 1,600 people since 2010. Meanwhile Amnesty International received credible reports that the authorities in the State of Edo in southern Nigeria have hanged four men in Benin City Prison on 24th June – the first known executions in the country since 2006. See also http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18587

Pray:

for the Government of Nigeria to know God’s way forward and for God to empower them with His wisdom in all decisions at this time. (Is.30:21

India: Floods

Every summer hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus make the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage to four temple towns in Uttarakhand, returning before monsoon rains begin in July. This year early monsoon rains,the heaviest in 80 years, swept away entire villages in Uttarakhand along with thousands of pilgrims. The Army has evacuated 100,000 stranded people. The Air Force is conducting search and rescue operations with 45 helicopters - but bad weather has hampered progress. They were unable to fly to the temple town of Badrinath where 5,000 pilgrims need rescuing. Officials said they must get to the affected areas urgently - time is running out for survivors. Thousands have no shelter, fresh water or food. On Wednesday morning Air Force Chief NAK Browne visited Uttarakhand to boost the morale of pilots a day after a rescue helicopter crashed near a pilgrimage site. More than 800 have died in the floods so far.

Pray:

for the thousands who still need rescuing from remote mountain areas, for the children, elderly and vulnerable who are most at risk. (Neh.9:17b & Ps.86:15)

Congo: Women and children at risk

Tearfund says mothers and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are in need of vital help. Fighting has worsened in the last year and 2.7 million people were forced to leave their homes. ‘Again and again we are seeing families uprooted in waves of tragic turmoil,’ said Tearfund's International Director. ‘People continue to leave their homes in fear of the sexual violence which is widespread in the eastern DRC where armed groups frequently use rape as a weapon. Women and children have suffered unimaginable horror and yet they also show amazing strength, resilience and dignity. The DRC has been plagued by conflict since 1998. More than 5.4 million people have been killed and communities have been devastated.' Tearfund said fighting was only prolonging poverty in the country and hindering its development.

Pray:

for an end to the continuous outbreaks of violence. Pray also for NGO’s ministering to the displaced, fearful and hurting Congolese people. (Ps.9:13)

South Africa: Learn to let Mandela go

The Archbishop of Cape Town said he is glad people are offering heartfelt prayers for the recovery of Nelson Mandela but he also welcomes the growing acceptance that the former South African President, aged 94, in hospital with a lung infection and in a critical condition, cannot go on forever. Writing in a Sunday newspaper Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said it was time for South Africans to break the taboo of death and learn to deal with mortality. It troubled him that people had become so poor at addressing this fundamental part of what it means to be truly human. ‘I was glad to see that alongside our heartfelt prayers for his recovery, there is also growing acceptance that he cannot go on for ever - we must learn to let him go. This is both good and necessary for Madiba's sake and for ours. In fact a more honest attitude to our own mortality helps us all in the daily business of life.’

Pray:

for our brothers and sisters in South Africa as they pray for Nelson Mandela; may he have peaceful days and a good end. (Mt.6:10)

Pakistan: The Turi tribe

The Turi tribe inhabit Kurram Valley, Pakistan with a smaller number in Afghanistan. They are known for their resistance to Taliban, Al Qaeda and Haqqani supporters who seek to launch attacks against Kabul which is only 90 km away. They have suffered brutal attacks, been killed byTaliban landmines, faced a shortage of food and other supplies - the prices of which have skyrocketed since the blockade, while education and other services have deteriorated. The Turis refuse to be sacrificed to government strategies and accuse the Pakistani Government of failing to support them, despite their loyalty, because they are Shia. Christians ask us to pray that the Turi tribe will be strong as they take a stand against the forces of extremism in the region. May they know God’s blessing & protection and come to know Jesus Christ as Lord. Three years ago the BBC reported them as being the ‘tribe that has taken on the Taliban’ and they continue to do so.

Pray:

that the Government would support the Turis. Ask God to enable them to be used in bringing life & truth to the surrounding region. (2Cor.10:16)

Pakistan: Militants threaten to kill Christian lawyer

The chief lawyer defending Christian women who were reportedly sexually abused by activists of Pakistan's ruling party said that Muslim militants have threatened to kill him if he and his legal team continue with this case or others, including attacks on a Christian neighbourhood and rape. Sardar Mushtag Gill, who heads the Legal Evangelical Association Development group said he and a friend were forcibly stopped at gunpoint by three armed men last Sunday when returning from meeting the mistreated women and their family to discuss presenting a petition asking the Pattoki Court to detain the suspects, who have been linked to the governing Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N). He explained that sisters Arshad Bibi, Sajida Bibi and Sauriya Bibi, were abused by armed men and an influential landlord because goats owned by the women allegedly entered the landlord’s fields and damaged crops. (See Prayer Alert 13th June)

Pray:

that the Christians' complaint will be upheld and the aggressors brought to justice pray for the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Pakistan. (Ps.86:14-17)

USA: Texas - Late-Term Abortion

Members of the Texas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a 20-week late-term abortion ban during the wee hours of Monday morning authorising a Senate Bill which will now be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration later this week. Recently Texas Governor Rick Perry said, ‘The horrors of the national late-term abortion industry are continuing to come to light, one atrocity at a time. Sadly some of those same atrocities happen in our own state. In Texas we value all life and we’ve worked to cultivate a culture that supports the birth of every child. We have an obligation to protect unborn children and to hold those who peddle these abortions to standards that would minimize the death, disease and pain they cause. The 19-page bill would tighten restrictions on abortion procedures and ban abortions after 20 weeks. Hundreds of protesters crammed into the State Capitol on Sunday night and Monday morning protesting against the bill, while pro-life supporters are praising the legislation.

Pray:

that this step will prompt peaceful further stages towards saving lives in Texas and across the United States of America. (Job.1:21 & Is.44:24)