Kenya: first-ever manslaughter conviction of police officer

In a week when the UK has hosted a conference around ending corruption in high places across the nations, International Justice Mission UK reports, ‘On 28 April 2016, over six years after the initial crime, a police officer was found guilty of manslaughter for violently killing an innocent citizen. IJM Kenya supported the public prosecutor (working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) to represent the family of the deceased. There were a number of setbacks in bringing the case to trial, including the first judge disqualifying himself. After years of perseverance, IJM Kenya celebrates this ground-breaking conviction and hopes it sends a message that those in power will be held accountable in court if they abuse that power.’ The sentencing for this manslaughter conviction will take place on 18 May.

Praise:

God for victory and justice, and pray for many more similar convictions across the nations. (Dt.10:17,18a)

China frees imprisoned pastor

Christians have been praying for protection and justice for Chinese Christians who have taken a stand against the government’s forced demolition of Christian crosses and churches. Last week the authorities released a pastor who had been imprisoned for eight months for speaking out frequently against this ongoing persecution of Christians in the country. Some suggested that Zhang Chongzhu might have also been singled out for meeting a US diplomat in Shanghai last year. We can praise God for this breakthrough and continue to pray and ask God to bring about a complete end to the Communist party’s targeting of places of worship with building code bureaucracy.

Praise:

God for all who bravely speak and act on their Christian beliefs, and thank Him for their defence. (Ex.5:13)

Corruption in UK and elsewhere

A summit on corruption was held on Thursday in London. For decades Britain and the west have asked poor countries and failed states to address problems with dodgy money (money invested in western banks, stores, estate agents, and offshore). The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, came to London to lobby for help regarding tax havens in Nigeria. Buhari sent a letter to England saying, ‘We are embarked on a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. But these efforts are sadly undermined if countries such as your own are welcoming our corrupt to hide their ill-gotten gains in your luxury homes, department stores, car dealerships, private schools and anywhere else that will accept their cash with no questions asked. The role of London’s property market as vessels to conceal stolen wealth has been exposed in court documents, reports, documentaries and more.’ One third of all the trillions hiding offshore are in tax havens linked to the UK, according to Oxfam.

Pray:

for God, in His mercy, to regulate governments, city brokers, accountants, lawyers, bankers, etc. (Mt.6:10b)

Week of prayer has ‘touched a chord’

The call for Christians across England to pray for our nation to know Jesus Christ has ‘touched a chord.’ With tens of thousands of Christians taking part throughout England and beyond this week, Archbishop Justin Welby said people are ‘motivated and excited’ about praying together for those they love to know Jesus. Last November the week of prayer ahead of Pentecost was called for and this week cathedrals and churches across the traditions are hosting 24/7 prayer rooms, putting on special services, running prayer meetings, doing prayer walks and many other activities. Churches overseas have also spontaneously responded to the call, with congregations in Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and elsewhere joining the wave of prayer. In an interview the Archbishop said: ‘This week of prayer seems to have touched a chord that none of us really expected to the degree it’s happened. Port Stanley Cathedral in the Falkland Islands has joined in.’

Pray:

for this wave of motivated prayer to increase in momentum beyond Pentecost across the nations. (Mt.6:10a)

Justin Welby on evangelism

Speaking on Premier Radio, the Archbishop of Canterbury said, ‘Any church that leaves evangelism to the “professionals” is committing missionary suicide. The responsibility of demonstrating in word and works the love of Jesus Christ, in a way that is deeply attractive is the responsibility of every single Christian. Always. Everywhere.’ Archbishop Justin spoke out about how the Church has failed to equip people to share their faith for too long. ‘If you go back to 1944/5 there was a report for the Church of England called Towards the Conversion of England prepared for William Temple. It said that there will never be a conversion of England until every Christian disciple is equipped to share the good news of Jesus Christ. That has always been one of the greatest weaknesses in many churches - not just Church of England churches. We do not spend enough time equipping people to share their faith.’

Pray:

for people to be excited about their relationship with Jesus and to pray and share their faith. (Mt. 6:6)

Christian meetings in parliament

Christians in Parliament will host a reception on 8 June to mark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday. Please pray that Mark Green in his talk will communicate clearly how the Queen’s Christian faith has shaped her life and reign. On 14 June the national parliamentary prayer breakfast’s subject is ‘The Church in the Middle East'. The main speaker is the bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. Please pray for church leaders as they spend time with their MPs at the breakfast; for Bishop Angaelos as he prepares to speak, and for those praying and doing readings. Also in June Professor Don Carson will speak on 'What can Christianity contribute to politics?' Please pray for good attendance from MPs and staff. Continue to pray for the ongoing Bible study groups, and for all Christians in politics to grow in faith and make new contacts with other Christians and those not yet saved.

Pray:

according to the inscription on the floor of the central lobby of Parliament, taken from Ps.127:1.

London: Europe-focused conference

Believers from around the world gathered in London for the Empowered21 European Congress from 11 to 13 May. The event is intended to have an impact on Europe. Organisers said, ‘Europe is perhaps more in the world's view than it has been in decades, with the migrant crisis and terrorist attacks.’ Delegates prayed for God to do something fresh in Europe today - there are great signs of revival in Europe. They went on to say they intended to fan that flame of revival and encourage people to get involved and become agents of renewal in the UK. Their focus was addressing the rise of Islam, financial crises and terrorism with scholars focusing on the theology of grace and the Holy Spirit. Also on the agenda was ‘reaching this generation in the digital revolution’, and changing the way in which we engage with the most distracted and disrupted generation in history.

Pray:

for God to reinforce all that was of Him in the hearts and minds of delegates as they return home. Pray that He will wake up His people to His enabling power across our nation and Europe. (Jn.3:4b,5)

Invictus Games winner praises NHS

An American soldier has given her Invictus Games gold medal to the hospital team that saved her life at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire. The swimmer, 25, from Arizona, became gravely ill when she collapsed with a lung condition on the eve of the first games in London in 2014. ‘They absolutely saved my life and I can't thank the UK enough for having that kind of medical support and taking such good care of me. So I gave Prince Harry one of my medals and hope it will find its way back to Papworth.’ She also paid tribute to the NHS, saying, ‘Thank you. I'll never be able to repay you, but what you're doing is wonderful.’

Pray:

for all who work for the NHS to prosper. Thank God for their commitment across the country. (Jer.29:11)

Short-term migration and national insurance 'gap'

Discrepancies between stated number of migrants and national insurance records have fuelled accusations of a pro-EU cover-up. A claimed ‘missing million’ long-term EU immigrants to Britain have been proved to be a phantom army, according to a special analysis by the Office for National Statistics in the run-up to the EU referendum. The ONS says short-term migration – EU citizens coming to Britain for less than a year and sometimes for as little as a month – accounts for recent gaps between the official net migration figures for long-term immigrants to Britain and the number of national insurance numbers issued to EU nationals.

Pray:

for an end to unhelpful, untruthful and misleading statistics and statements in the run-up to the referendum. (Ps.55:9)

Germany: Christian refugees abused

Open Doors workers in the country claim that believers, many of them Muslim converts, are sometimes a tiny minority and so are easy targets for insults, being punched, spat at and sexually assaulted. After surveying 231 people earlier this year, Open Doors Germany said Muslim security staff and translators joined in targeting Christians, some of whom reported being too scared to wear a cross or carry a Bible in public. Thomas Muller from Open Doors Germany said that grouping Christians together in the camps and hostels and having more staff from minority groups (Christians and Yazidis) might afford them greater protection. He said, ‘Someone shows a ten-second beheading video and then says, “You're next”.’ Christians who had hoped to be able to live their lives in freedom said, 'We came to Germany and found there is no difference from our home countries at all.’

Pray:

for refugee camps to provide better protection for the vulnerable and to stamp out religious discrimination. (Dt.23:1a)

Rome: plot to attack Vatican and Israeli embassy

Last Thursday Italian police thwarted an alleged plot by Moroccan nationals to attack the Vatican and the Israeli embassy in Rome. Four people were arrested. Three men and three women, one an Italian, escaped to Iraq and Syria. The transcript of a wire-tapped phone conversation between three of the suspects indicated their link with Islamic State. They discussed possible attacks on the Vatican and the Israeli embassy in Rome. After the attacks in France and Belgium, Italy and neighbouring countries have tightened security resulting in the arrest of people suspected of having a predisposition towards IS ideology or planning assaults. Last month police detained a 22-year-old Somali asylum-seeker working as an imam, suspected of planning an attack in Rome. One line of the transcript read as ‘I swear I will be the first to attack them in this Italy of crusaders, I swear I'll attack it in the Vatican, God willing.’

Pray:

for the continued protection of destinations for Christian and Jewish pilgrims. (Ezr.8:31b)

Israel: IS planning attack from Sinai

A German newspaper reports that IS is planning a massive attack against Israel from the Sinai peninsula. Such an attack could include tanks and artillery. The Sinai-based Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis terrorist organisation has pledged allegiance to IS in Syria and are training hundreds of terrorists, reportedly waiting for the order to attack. Israel has bolstered security on their Egypt border as a result of IS’ build-up. IS has already attacked civilian targets in southern Israel, and affiliated groups have solidified their presence, creating instability in the Israel-Sinai border region. Since 2011, there has been an unprecedented growth in terror groups operating from the Sinai, taking advantage of the chaotic situation in the area. Israel recently held a two-day large-scale naval drill which simulated a multiple-pronged IS attack on Eilat, including the hijack of a civilian vessel.

Pray:

for God to bless the Israeli authorities as they work to improve their responses to possible incidents of terrorism. (Dt.23:14a)

The church in the Middle East

Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter a month later than western Christians. One beautiful Orthodox tradition is the ceremony of lights in Jerusalem: Christians light their candles in the ancient city and take the fire back to their homes. Meanwhile, the Middle East conflict continues to impact Christians alongside their fellow-citizens. From Aleppo, the Aid to the Church in Need agency shared the heart-breaking words of Franciscan priest Father Ibrahim Alsabagh: ‘Never, since the beginning of this terrible war, were things as bad as they are now. I have no words to describe all the suffering I see on a daily basis. When the bombs do stop falling, there is an eerie silence, like in a cemetery. When will the world community finally wake up and put an end to this new Sarajevo?’ A London-based Syrian Orthodox priest, Revd Nadim Nassar, said he was ‘furious’ with the global Church for its failure to speak out against the atrocities in Syria.

Pray:

for nations to support our Middle East family of believers and for them to be strong as they face hostility. (Job 5:21)

Japan: G7 summit

Faith leaders and scientists have written to ask President Obama ‘to take nuclear risk-reduction steps’ during the G7 summit next week (26/27 May). ‘Heightened tensions between the United States and Russia, and the growing risk of nuclear use worldwide, are all the more reason for the president to take meaningful steps to strengthen national and international security’, the letter read. Reducing nuclear weapons has been a key goal of Obama's presidency, and is one of the reasons he was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He has rebuked Donald Trump for suggesting that Japan and South Korea should consider developing nuclear weapons. The president will visit Hiroshima but there will be no apology for the bombing in 1945 that killed 140,000 people. The G7 agenda will cover uncertainty in global economy and trade; freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights; counter-terrorism; the Middle East, Ukraine, North Korea; and climate change and energy. See also

Pray:

for the leaders to have wisdom as they work towards shaping today’s world for the next generation. (1 Ki.10:8)

Iran: British-Iranian detained without charge

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker, was visiting her family in Iran. Her husband Richard has said: ‘She was at the airport returning to the UK on 3 April when the Iranian Revolutionary Guard arrested her, transferred her to an unknown location in Kerman Province and now holds her in solitary confinement. Gabriella, our 22-month-old daughter who has British citizenship only, has had her passport confiscated and is stranded in Iran with her grandparents. Nazanin has not been allowed access to a lawyer or her daughter; has not been able to call out of the country to speak to me; the Red Cross have not been able to make contact; she has been made to sign a confession under duress, its content unknown. Her family have been informed that the investigation relates to an issue of “national security”. There have been no charges.’ See also

Pray:

for Nazanin, who has now been in solitary confinement for over forty days. Pray for God to soften the hearts of the Iranian leaders. (2Ch.36:22b)

Iraq: over 100 killed in bomb attacks

On Wednesday 93 people died in three car bomb attacks in Baghdad. The deadliest killed 64 and wounded 87. Later two suicide bombers targeted police checkpoints, leaving 29 dead. IS claimed responsibility for the attacks - the worst day of violence in Baghdad so far this year. ‘It was a thunderous explosion, jolting the ground,’ said a witness. Many victims were women inside a beauty salon, including several brides who appeared to be getting ready for their weddings. The bodies of two men believed to be grooms were found in an adjacent barber’s shop. There is an acute political crisis in Baghdad : the parliament is unable to meet, and the government is paralysed by factional disputes. Survivors blame politicians for failing to protect them. A Chaldean priest who oversees hundreds of Iraqi Christian refugees displaced by IS blames the USA for not protecting them and their ancient communities from attacks by terrorists. See also

Pray:

for God to comfort survivors and families of the dead; for government, police and military to succeed in securing vulnerable communities; and for Christians in Iraq to be strengthened and encouraged. (Is.40:29)

Algeria: vulnerable Christians

Algerian Christians face increasing restrictions as the government is pressured by Islamist groups to implement more Islamic legislation. Only Muslims are allowed to hold public assemblies, and individual churches are often denied registration. Though some historical churches are allowed church buildings, Muslim-background believers (ie almost all Algerian Christians) have to worship in secret. Converting someone from Islam is illegal. Islamist terrorist movements are increasing as militants, particularly in the south, use organised crime to finance their operations. Please pray for Christians from more conservative Muslim communities who have to hide their faith or risk being rejected from schools and universities, and remember those who are being monitored by authorities or who have been thrown into jail for owning Christian literature.

Pray:

for God’s protection over the Church from Islamist militants and criminal factions. (Ps.32:7)

DR Congo: more Christians killed

A night-time assault on 3 May at a village in majority-Christian eastern DR Congo left seventeen dead. By 6 May the death toll had risen to 34, as those seriously wounded succumbed to their injuries. It is suspected that the attack was carried out by the Ugandan Islamist group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). They managed to get past army positions and slash the throats of peaceful residents in their homes. ADF rebels have carried out numerous bloody attacks on the mostly Christian population in this area for years. After the event thousands fled the area. A local Christian worker said, ‘It was eerie. Hundreds of houses abandoned and thousands of people displaced. I saw people carrying their mattresses and belongings in cars, on motorcycles, on foot. Hundreds of homes along the road are abandoned. Where there was a thriving community, there is now a ghost town.’ ADF settled in eastern DR Congo after being expelled from Uganda.

Pray:

for an end to such attacks, and for the relationships between ADF, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and al-Qaeda to be weakened. (Dt.28:7a)