Syria: 22 Assyrian Christians released by IS

22 Assyrian Christians who were captured by the self-proclaimed Islamic State in February have been released, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has been told by what it claims is a 'reliable source'. The release was mediated by tribal leaders, they say. This group of Christians were taken captive in several villages on the banks of the Khabur river not far from Hassaka. The released Christians came from Tal Shamiram and Tal Jazirah. 14 of them are women, and all are elderly, reports claim. The BBC reported that 19 Christians from this group were released in February, all over the age of 50. However, Islamic State militants abducted dozens of Christians from the city of al-Qaryatain last week.

Praise:

Praise: God for the release of the 22 Christians. Pray for protection of the recent abductees, that they will know God's presence and that they too will be released unharmed. (Ex 14:14)

The Mill Gathering Statement

Back in January 2015, a number of leaders within the movement for prayer met together at the invitation of the World Prayer Centre - asking the question 'What is God saying to us in England at this time?' and 'what is our response?'.

We are reproducing the full text of the statement that came out of that gathering below:

We believe that God is preparing us for an unparalleled spiritual harvest. We also believe that there is going to be a great increase in turbulence and uncertainty as the Lord continues to shake the nations. He is calling us to mobilise prayer and be ready for action.

This is a time of awakening: a time when many will come to know Jesus and a time when many will come back to the church. This is not like anything we have experienced in our nations before. We know harvests don't just happen. They are preceded by long periods of preparation of the ground, the seed and the workers. Each of us will have a different role.

This is a time of great opportunity. Are we ready? Can we gather it in? Do we have enough capacity to cope with what is produced? Jesus warned that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9: 36-38).

Therefore, we believe we must

Purify and humble ourselves - we are called to be a holy priesthood, spending time in God’s presence, listening attentively to Him. God is calling us into greater intimacy with Him – a worshipping, holy, dedicated people.

Prepare ourselves – for a new time – standing as a united army that is equipped to stand firm in faith and trust in God, faithful in prayer and ready to work for the harvest.

Proclaim Jesus - far and wide with great boldness, praying for His Kingdom to come.

It is time to pray - believing that our God really 'is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine' in our nations in these challenging times. We have identified five key prayer themes. We encourage persistent, regular prayer for many people and situations with each of these themes:

1. It is time to pray for God’s mercy to triumph over His judgment on us His church and on our nations. We have turned away from God and His values and guidelines. Lord, have mercy and help us to turn fully back to you (2 Chronicles 7.14; Luke 3:8).

2. It is time to pray for the whole church to awaken - for all of God’s people in every expression of church (Isaiah 60:1-4; Ephesians 5:14-16).

3. It is time to pray for the unity of all God’s people - so that the world may see Jesus in His church, as we love one another irrespective of creed, colour, culture and class (John 17:21; John 13:34-35).

4. It is time to pray for the release of God’s Word and Spirit - for a bold proclamation of the Word of God and a powerful move of His Spirit - in every believer, church, village, town and city (Luke 4:18-19).

5. It is time to pray for a revival generation - with a mighty move of God amongst our children and young people running together with the older generations (Joel 2:28; Luke 1:16-17).

We believe that God’s trumpet is being sounded in our lands - to mobilise His army, to call His people to pray, proclaiming the cross of Christ and that salvation is found in no other name but the name of Jesus.

Pray:

asking God as to what should be our continuing individual and corporate responses to this summons. (2 Chr 7:14)

European Trumpet Call, Romania

Intercessors and people of prayer from across Europe and beyond are planning to gather together in Timisoara, Romania, from 31 August to 4 September to sound the trumpet and to pray for the continent of Europe.

The invitation is to you, your church, your prayer ministry, your mission agency to come together and stand united on one great promise. ‘When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.’ (Numbers 10:9)

A great shift is happening and many are aware of it. It is time. It is time to gather, to move forward together, to lift our voices and rejoice together in prayer. God is calling His people to come together to blow the trumpets for the whole continent of Europe for:

PRAYER. There’s nothing more powerful than when saints pray and seek the Kingdom, standing in the gap for the lost. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

RECONCILIATION. We are ambassadors of Christ, coming in His name, calling out the lost to come into His marvellous Kingdom of light.

UNITY. In the mighty name of Jesus we will speak unity among brothers from different nations. 'Behold how good and how pleasant it is, for brothers to dwell together.. there God commands a blessing.' (Psalm 133)

ANTISEMITISM. We are not led by the world’s standards and thoughts but by the Bible that teaches us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. So our focus will be to bless the nation of Israel.

THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. Our leaders need wisdom and support from Heaven. “Prayers, supplications, intercessions and thanksgivings should be made for kings and all in high positions. It is pleasing in the sight of God, our Saviour.” (1 Tim. 2:1-3)

Pray:

for the European Trumpet Call, that as the supremacy of Christ is proclaimed, and the trumpets sound, we will see significant breakthroughs across Europe. (Num 10:9)

Burundi update: 500 take part in Christian mission

Following a request for prayer for Burundi in last week's Prayer Alert, readers will be encouraged to hear there were only a few deaths after the assassination of Burundi's second most powerful man. Locals feared many more. Our contact in Burundi reports that most days in the capital there is gunfire and great fear, and the economy is totally decimated. Burundi is one of the world's poorest countries. It has one of the lowest GDP per capita of any country and has faced terrible genocides rooted in tribal tensions, like Rwanda but far less publicised. Over 300,000 people died between 1994-2005 in ethnic conflict. The country faces an ongoing battle with corruption, poor access to education and the effects of HIV/AIDS. We are asked to pray for the Great Lakes Outreach as they are sending out 500 Christian evangelists this week, into all but two of the provinces. Among the activities organised will be 75 outreach events, film showings and hospital/prison visits.

Pray:

for continuing calm following the assassinations; for peace; and for the protection and equipping of the 500 evangelists. (Matt 5:9)

China - Tianjin explosions: 112 Dead, 95 missing

The number of people confirmed killed in Wednesday's blasts in Tianjin, China has risen to 112. Ninety-five people, 85 of them firefighters, are still missing (at the time of writing), and hundreds have been hospitalised. The explosions, in a warehouse containing hazardous chemicals, were so powerful that few of the recovered bodies have been identified. At a news conference on Sunday morning, officials said they had identified 24 of the dead. Experts are carrying out DNA tests to help identify the rest of the victims. At least 21 firefighters are among the dead. Of the 721 people injured, 25 are in critical condition and 33 are serious. Dozens of relatives of the missing and local residents have held a number of angry protests at a hotel used for official news conferences. They say they have not received enough information from the government about what chemicals are at the site. Homeowners are also demanding compensation for damage to their properties. Also on Sunday a senior military officer, Gen Shi Luze, became the first named official to confirm the presence of the toxic chemical sodium cyanide at the site, saying that ‘several hundred tons’ had been identified at two locations in the blast zone. Residents within a 3km radius of the blast site were evacuated on Saturday, amid fears of chemical contamination. However, Greenpeace said that surface water tests carried out at the site had not found high levels of the chemical.

Pray:

for the bereaved, the injured, and those involved in the clean-up operation. For any potential harm from the chemicals and gases to be neutralised without further loss of life. (Psalm 34:18)

Invitation to pray with WPC for five nations

We would invite our readers to join the rhythm of prayer at the World Prayer Centre this coming week, by praying for the countries listed below on the allotted weekdays:

Thursday 20 August: Persecuted church in Afghanistan More 1: | More 2:

Friday 21 August: Benin More 1: | More 2:

Monday 24 August: Persecuted church in Sudan More 1: | More 2:

Tuesday 25 August: Bermuda More 1:

Wednesday 26 August: Persecuted church in Iran More 1: | More 2: