UK justice secretary says, 'I believe in redemption'

On Tuesday, justice secretary Michael Gove said his Christian faith informs his prison policies, telling critics, ‘I believe in redemption’. He was rejecting criticism from Philip Davies, who sits on the justice committee. ‘It's because I’m a Conservative I believe in the rule of law as the foundation stone of our civilisation. It's because I'm a Conservative I believe that evil must be punished. But it's because I'm a Conservative and a Christian that I believe in redemption. The purpose of our prison system is to keep people safe by making people better.’ Since May he has removed the ban on prisoners receiving books and also scrapped the criminal courts charge. He has also ditched a ministry of justice contract that would have meant the UK government was involved in constructing Saudi Arabian prisons.

Praise:

God for this generation of politicians who are standing on their Christian values as they address challenges and change. Ask God to favour Michael Gove as he prepares a British bill of rights. (Jer.29:11)

Downton Abbey actress heads new faith-based documentary

‘Many Beautiful Things’ is a film about Lilias Trotter, an accomplished artist who gave up her most cherished dream as one of history’s greatest female artists to pursue her life’s true calling as a missionary in Algeria. The film makes its debut on 6 February in Washington DC, USA, with theatrical screenings taking place around the country between 7 and 14 February. The film will be available for download and DVD from March. It features the voices of Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) and John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings) and introduces viewers to an extraordinary woman of faith who caught the eye of an art critic who promised she would become the world’s greatest living painter - but only if she gave herself completely to her art. Trotter refused. She believed God was calling her down a different path, and resolved to ‘seek first the Kingdom of God’ by becoming a missionary in Algeria.

Praise:

God for this Christian avenue into the arts. May it initiate many fruitful faith-based discussions around Mt.6:33.

Storm Gertrude: thousands without power

The Atlantic storm system brought winds gusting up to 130km/h to Northern Ireland and Ireland. Ten thousand homes and businesses were left without power after being battered by heavy winds. Road travel has been affected by fallen trees and debris while there has also been disruption to air and sea routes. In Scotland Gertrude has caused similar travel disruption: one landslide led to a 154-mile diversion. The Met Office has issued amber ‘be prepared’ and yellow ‘be aware’ warnings for Scotland and large parts of the rest of the UK with more than forty flood warnings covering areas across Scotland. Seven thousand homes across the north of Scotland have lost electricity supplies. The Met Office said the amber warning for wind across Shetland will later be upgraded to red, with gusts of 100mph expected. See also

Pray:

for hospitals working on generators, the emergency services, and the vulnerable and elderly without electricity feeling alone and helpless. (Ps.22:11)

British Legion calls for more research into Gulf War illnesses

Over 33,000 former soldiers are thought to suffer from illnesses related to their service. The illnesses come under the title of ‘Gulf War Syndrome’ and include chronic fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbances, joint pains, irritable bowel, stomach disorders, respiratory disorders and psychological problems. The British Legion said that too little was known about the condition and the Government should fund more research into it. The Ministry of Defence said it was always open to new research proposals, but the overwhelming consensus of the scientific and medical community is that the range of symptoms is too broad for this ill-health to be characterised as a syndrome in medical terms. More than 60% of the 50,000 members of the armed forces deployed in 1991 now suffer from illnesses related to the conflict. Nearly 10,000 receive a war pension, the only financial aid any ex-service personnel with an illness due to service can get.

Pray:

for Government investment into research so that the lives of those affected can be improved. (Ps.20:2)

No home for persecuted Pakistani Christians

At present there are only a handful of Pakistani lawyers in the UK, and many Pakistani Christians desperately need shelter and refuge in Britain. The suffering of Pakistan’s Christian minority is well documented, but people are not aware of the tragic way in which many of those who muster up the courage to seek refuge in the West are turned away at the door. There is a need for the Pakistani church in Britain to work in tandem with the church in Pakistan to ensure that members of their flock know in advance what support is available for them from the church and where they can turn upon arrival in a foreign and bewildering land. For many, their poor English makes receiving guidance from a British advisor a daunting challenge. Even if they are able to find a fellow Pakistani to assist them, the advisors tend to be Muslims and so the problem of distrust arises.

Pray:

for Britain to understand the level of persecution that Pakistani Christians experience, and for more Christian lawyers to be available who know the asylum process and speak asylum-seekers’ languages. (Jer.31:3)

Scotland: Trypraying

Last week we highlighted Trypraying’s launch of ‘forty days of prayer’ for Lent, and Parliamentary Prayer Scotland’s promotion of a forty-day prayer call prior to the Holyrood elections on 5 May. We continue, with Prayer for Scotland, to pray for David Hill and the Trypraying team as they seek to finalise all the details for Lent, the March bus adverts and the ‘Use it and Lose it’ booklet campaign. Pray for the money needed to place adverts on buses throughout Scotland: may it miraculously come in. Pray that the information meetings for leaders in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen in late January and the launch event on 10 February in Edinburgh will be successful. Pray that many in Scotland will grasp the vision for praying for their family and friends, themselves and the nation through Lent, and that many will take the Trypraying booklet and use it to share their faith.

Pray:

for wisdom and energy for the teams as they finalise details for the forty days of prayer and encourage praying folk in every community to ‘raise a prayer shield’ over their area. (Jude 1:20)

'Speak up before there's nothing left' - National Libraries Day

Libraries face closure around the UK. A week of events and a nationwide celebration of libraries on 6 February is supported by campaigners and writers highlighting the importance of the public service. Bestselling author Ann Cleeves has urged people to go out and join their local library next week. She said that she wouldn’t have been a writer without a library and that lots of authors will tell you the same thing. There should be equal access to books, information and facts for everybody. Campaigners will lobby Parliament on 9 February calling for ‘a port of call’ for books, local information, human contact, internet access, newspapers and magazines; a safe and quiet environment, help with form-filling, advice, and the countless other little things that all add up to bigger things. More than 100 libraries closed last year; the public library service is in the middle of its worst-ever crisis.

Pray:

for God to run this campaign and initiate the action needed to secure the future of libraries. (Pr. 29:26)

Mali: Swiss nun kidnapped by British militant?

A video released by al-Qaeda features a militant with a British accent claiming responsibility for kidnapping Swiss nun Beatrice Stockly in Mali. She was taken on 7 January when armed militants surrounded her home in Timbuktu. Beatrice is accused of ‘declaring war against Islam’. A man with a British accent said, ‘We, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, declare our responsibility for the kidnapping of this Christianising kaffir Beatrice Stockly, who by her work drove out many from the fold of Islam by seducing them with crumbs of this worldly life.’ The sister was previously kidnapped in 2012 but broke her conditions of release by refusing to stop preaching the gospel. Beatrice appears in the video wearing a hijab and next to a flag. The group also claimed responsibility for the terror attacks two weeks ago on a hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso when thirty people were killed.

Pray:

for God in His mercy to reveal himself powerfully to Beatrice, with encouragement and protection. (Heb.4:16)

Disability benefit cuts

The Government has been defeated in the House of Lords over plans to cut the benefits of people with illness and disabilities. Ministers wanted to cut Employment Support Allowance (ESA) by £30 a week to spur new claimants to return to work. But Labour, Lib Dem and independent peers joined forces to block the move, arguing it would make it harder for those affected to pay for the support that might allow them to find work. The Government may try to overturn this decision at a later date in the House of Commons. Mencap's Rob Holland, who is chair of the Disability Benefits Commission, said: ‘The Government wants to get more disabled people into work, but as a sector we have warned that cutting ESA and Universal Credit will directly undermine that commitment, whilst pushing disabled people further from work and closer to or into poverty.’

Pray:

for the Government to recognise the struggle adults with physical and learning disabilities have just to get by and to make ends meet, so as to be integrated in society. (Ac.20:35)

Older people are being 'let down by NHS’

English and Welsh health leaders say, ‘Older people in need of urgent help are being failed by the NHS’. Too many over-65s end up in Accident and Emergency unnecessarily because of a lack of help when they fall ill. Once in hospital, they face longer stays and losing some of their independence. The leaders call for radical steps, including providing urgent care at home and getting doctors to carry out ‘ward rounds’ in care homes. They say that older people need more help navigating the complexities of the health and care system. They point to an Age UK scheme in Cornwall, where the frailest people have coordinators helping to organise their care. Their report also highlights a scheme in north-east London where hospital and ambulance staff are working together to provide emergency care in people's homes. Nurses and paramedics assess and treat older people who have fallen but not suffered a fracture. Equipment such as walking frames can be arranged.

Pray:

for these and other best-practice schemes to be adopted across the nation by the NHS. (1Th.5:14)

Germany: police and internal security

240,000 police take care of the internal security of Germany, upholding public order and playing an important role in maintaining the trust of citizens and ensuring their safety. The influx of large numbers of refugees presents a huge challenge for the police and calls for much sensitivity and intuition. They quickly come under criticism and seldom get recognition for their service. They are exposed daily to attacks and are themselves frequently victims of crime. There is an increasing lack of respect from the public. Criticising the state and complaining about officials is now perfectly acceptable in social circles. Because of the shortage of personnel the police cannot always adequately respond to demands. Consequently danger is rising in cities and crime goes unpunished with a state of lawlessness. Upholding the law is a major challenge. Every loss of control leads to public unease. Please pray for respect for the police, and for their work to be restored. (2 Pe.2:9-10)

Pray:

for more support for the police in both political actions and judicial decisions, for protection of the police from attacks, and for a wise and skilful approach in all situations. (Ps.20:2)

Sweden: adults posing as ‘refugee children’?

Back in July 2015 the Gatestone Institute reported that the fastest growing refugee group in Sweden is the so-called unaccompanied refugee children. The number of children seeking asylum has exploded because children are granted asylum quicker than adults, and Sweden cannot always verify the age of these ‘children’. Refugees are allowed to bring their entire family to Sweden once they get residency status - even if they claimed to be alone in the world when they arrived. This week a 'child refugee' has been arrested, accused of murdering Swedish aid worker, Alexandra Mezher, at a shelter for unaccompanied young asylum seekers. Although claiming he is only 15, he is suspected of being an adult posing as an orphan. Alexandra is said to have earlier warned that she was caring for 'big powerful guys' aged up to 24. Miss Mezher's mother said 'orphans' at the centre often lied about their age. See also

Pray:

for the Swedish immigration service to release the funding to provide creative new types of screening and ‘homes’ for suspected dishonest applications into the country. (Ps.10:14)

Australia: national call to prayer

On 7 February, designated as National Day of Prayer and Fasting, Christians of all denominations will unite, pray, and fast for revival and transformation in Australia. The Prayer Day team have a vision for a country where children can flourish and play safely in the streets; marriages produce happy families and build a strong and vibrant nation for the greater good of all; the contribution to the local community by people of faith is valued; and the Judeo-Christian ethics and values that Australia was built upon are the source of national prosperity for future generations. Their vision statement says, ‘We live to see a society where justice, fair play and the common good provide the foundation for the legal, governmental and social framework that protects every Australian, and the same protection is afforded to the ageless institutions of marriage and family and the Judeo-Christian heritage and traditions that our nation has been built upon.’

Pray:

for thousands to invite friends, family and church members to participate and pray powerful nation-changing prayers. Pray for the forty days of prayer and fasting following the National Day. (2 Chron. 7:14)

Ethiopia: worst drought in fifty years - how can we let this happen again?

Ethiopia's northern regions have been hit by a drought that is estimated to be more terrible than that of 1984, which led to the deaths of over one million people. The United Nations and Save the Children are appealing for funds to save lives and ensure that Ethiopia's current developmental momentum remains on track. But how could this happen again? Thirty years ago a global humanitarian appeal raised many millions, and foreign NGOs established a host of infrastructure projects designed to prevent such a disaster recurring. Donor fatigue? The harsh truth is that Ethiopia is competing for international funds against the likes of war-torn Syria and Yemen, and a migrant crisis. In addition, the cogs of the bureaucratic donor system are not renowned for turning quickly. 400,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and ten million more need food aid.

Pray:

for God in His mercy to assist administrators of funds, aid and assistance in the drought’s aftermath. (Ps.33:19)

South Africa: worst drought on record

The parched landscape of Free State in South Africa has whirlwinds tossing huge spirals of dust into the sky. Usually January brings tremendous thunderstorms, with up to 90mm of rain falling on this traditional farming heartland of the country. But South Africa is experiencing the worst drought in recorded history. Small-scale farmers, who are mostly black, are worst affected; unable to plant crops, many are forced to kill or sell their livestock at below market value prices. Increased food prices, a stagnating economy and 25% unemployment have created a scenario for social unrest. Some commercial farmers fear that the country could see widespread social disturbances. They are concerned that the drought could precipitate land occupations similar to those in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Members of the ANC Youth League recently travelled to Zimbabwe to research Zimbabwe’s land reform programme. Four thousand white-owned farms have been occupied since the land grabs began in Zimbabwe fifteen years ago.

Pray:

for God in His mercy to send rain and for late planting to yield sufficient crops. Pray against unrest. (Ps.34:6)

Syria: peace talks or military solution?

The UN special envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, hopes to start peace talks in Geneva today between the government and opposition groups. The sides will not talk directly to each other to begin with, but negotiators will move between them. Priorities are to agree a general cease-fire, stop the IS threat, and clear the way for humanitarian aid. On Monday, the day the talks were originally scheduled to start, Mr de Mistura said, ‘We want to ensure that when and if we start, it will be on the right foot. It will be uphill.’ Turkey's foreign minister said that any participation of Kurdish forces in these peace talks would be dangerous and spell the end of the UN-led initiative. Meanwhile US vice-president Joe Biden said that the United States and Turkey are prepared for a military solution against IS in Syria if the Syrian government and rebels fail to reach a political settlement. See also

Pray:

for God to work through this initiative by Mr de Mistura to help to end the five-year-old war. (Ro.8:28)

North Korea

For fourteen years North Korea has been the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. Believers face arrest, torture, imprisonment and death for daring to think there is a higher authority than Kim Jong-un. Many follow Jesus in secret. Parents don't even tell their children about their faith, for fear they will be revealed. Thousands of Christians are trapped in horrific labour camps, prison camps, and isolated closed villages. Most will stay there until they die. Despite the risks North Koreans are still choosing to follow Christ. A social stratification system called 'Songbun', similar to the Indian caste system, divides people into three classes: the loyal, the wavering and the hostile. These are further divided into 51 subclasses. Christians are part of the 'hostile' class, with Protestant Christians being number 37 and Catholic Christians number 39. Food and basics are often scarce, so pray for protection for those who smuggle food, medicine and Christian material into the country.

Pray:

for comfort and strength for those facing daily horrors of labour camps, for secret believers protection and wisdom for them to know who to trust. Pray for successful Christian radio broadcasts. (Rev.2:10b, 11)

Iran's president asks the Pope to pray for him

Pope Francis met the Iranian president on Tuesday, joining in discussions touching on the nuclear accord and Iran's role in the region. Before these discussions, the two men met privately for forty minutes. The Vatican described the talks as ‘cordial’, with good Iranian-Vatican relations. After the meeting President Rouhani asked the Pope to pray for him. The Vatican meeting was a key part of an Iranian effort to take a more prominent place on the world stage after a nuclear deal with Western powers. The Vatican said that Iran was also urged to help fight arms trafficking. Rouhani's visit to the Holy See saw the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. He is on a four-day European visit to boost Iran's image abroad as well as to rehabilitate economic ties with a continent that had been a big trade partner before sanctions.

Pray:

for God to bring about change as a result of this visit: for a calm positive relationship with potential trading partners in Europe, and a softening of Iran’s attitude towards Iranian Christians. (Ps.46:10)

South Sudan: urgent support needed

An alert from the Integrated Food Classification (IPC) states that in some areas of South Sudan the situation has reached ‘catastrophic’ and ‘emergency’ levels. Over a third of the population are experiencing severe levels of hunger, and many are eating wild foods and drinking unsafe water to survive. In Unity State, one of the three areas worst affected, Christian Aid is supplying fast-maturing vegetable seeds, fishing nets and water purification tablets. To prevent the spread of disease, they are also distributing hygiene kits which include soap, sanitary products, jerry cans for transporting and storing water, and mosquito nets. Unless the response can be scaled up, livelihoods and lives will be lost. Further catastrophe can be averted. Christian Aid and other NGOs urgently need more funding to respond to this humanitarian crisis.

Pray:

for God to help all those working to bring dignity and well-being to the people, and those supporting the Church in its historic and important role in speaking truth in power and preaching messages of peace. (Ps.18:16,17)