Sri Lanka: Buddhist nationalism threat
Minorities in Sri Lanka are being threatened by aggressive Sinhalese Buddhist movements asserting supremacy over and leading hate campaigns against ‘ Christian and Muslim extremist groups.’ They claim minority groups pose a threat to the Sinhalese Buddhist majority. The nationalists are inciting violence - almost every week a church, mosque or Muslim business is attacked by extremists. Attacks on Muslims (10% of the population) have attracted some international media coverage but the persecution of Christians (7% of the population) has received little attention. The campaign is becoming increasingly violent. 20+ mosques and 30+ churches have been attacked and 18 churches have been forced to close. Nationalists vowed to shut down the rest. (Traditional ethical and moral Buddhist teachings are governed by avoiding any actions which are likely to be harmful to self or others). Pray that Sri Lankan Christians will powerfully demonstrate the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the wisdom of Biblical teaching at this time.
Pray: for the government to take a stand against violent incidents towards minority groups. (1Tim2:1-2)
Indonesia: Victims of volcanoes
Three villages lie in the path of a tsunami should Mount Hobalt experience a major eruption after rumbling into life on Tuesday. Officials said the area has frequently been hit by tsunamis and the warning level for the volcano was at two on the scale of four. Tuesday’s eruption is the latest in a string of increased volcanic activity in the region following eruptions from Mount Rokatenda that killed five on August 10th. Volcanic earthquakes were also recorded from Mount Werong on Tuesday with 81 shallow tremors in the space of an hour and a half. More than 800 people have been forced to flee their homes since August 7th. They join 2,750 living in temporary shelters in three camps since an eruption last year. Many in the camps are suffering from illnesses and complain, ‘the government has not provided enough assistance’
Pray: for the homeless, the frail and elderly to receive appropriate government attention to their plight, and for God to cause agencies to send appropriate aid.
More: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/volcanoes-rumble-to-life-in-ntt/#more-%27
USA: San Antonio may ban Christians from Government
The San Antonio City Council is setting the stage for an unprecedented attack on religious liberty, particularly for Christians. The City Council is considering an ordinance to add ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to the discrimination ordinances in the city code. The proposal would ban anyone that has ever opposed (demonstrated bias, by word or deed) homosexuality from being involved in city government and/or performing a city contract/subcontract. The proposed ordinance provides no exemptions for religious beliefs on homosexuality, even beliefs expressed in Church. Christianity has been clear on its teaching that homosexuality is a sin, a deviation from God’s unique design of men and women, for over two thousand years. Both the Old and New Testaments attest to this viewpoint. This makes the likely consequences of this proposed ordinance clear to see - a complete ban of Bible-believing Christians and faith-based businesses from participating in the city government. See also: http://txvalues.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SA-Ordinance.pdf
Pray: for religious freedom to be upheld in San Antonio and across the United States of America.
Global: Anti-corruption campaign
‘EXPOSED’ is aiming to collect at least a million signatures against corruption that will then be presented at the G20 meeting taking place in November 2014. The World Council of Churches is encouraging its member churches to get involved with this global campaign that highlights a trillion US dollars going missing from the global economy through bribes, dishonest deals and tax evasion - money that could be spent on lifting millions of people out of poverty
Pray: that this campaign will grow over the coming months – pray for many to respond to the issue of corruption being propagated by economic structures, value systems and greed. (Ps.45:3-4)
