Pakistan: Attacks on Christian minority groups
Suspected Islamic militants attacked The Assembly of God (AoG) Pentecostal church in the Swati gate area of Peshwar north western Pakistan early on Friday amid heightened tensions over minorities in the region. Christians said the two attackers tried to enter the building where pastors gathered for a refresher training course. They were stopped by a police guard who was shot three times and died at the scene. They then took his gun, fired at the AoG church building and fled. Christians said the attack followed threats against the AoG prompting local authorities to send two police officers to the church for security. But there was only one on duty during Friday's attack. He’s the latest casualty in an on-going ‘war against terror’ in the province where over 22,000 people have been killed in the past five years. Islamic militants, who rights activists claim have links to government officials, often described Christianity as a ‘Western religion’ and accused Christians of having ties to ‘Western occupiers.’
Pray: against a culture of state sponsored Islam and social and legal repression of Christianity. Pray also that God will protect and sustain Christians. (Ps.140:4-7-8)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/12480-pakistan-militants-attack-pentecostal-church-1-killed
Police Facing 'Serious Drag' On Morale
A string of scandals and budget cuts have left police morale and public confidence at an "all time low", says the Police Minister. Damien Green said recent allegations involving the improper behaviour of the police have had a "really serious drag" on serving officers as well as harming public confidence in them. Speaking to Sky News, the minister said that despite complaints by the Police Federation that cuts are harming frontline officers, crime is falling. Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, added: "I talk to my officers and they’ll say absolutely, morale is low. Yet what I see, day in day out, is officers going to extraordinary lengths, working ridiculous hours, taking personal risks to try and serve the public." Home Secretary Theresa May, said: "The vast majority of police officers are out there and they are working with integrity and honesty, and doing the job that the public wants them to do.
Pray: for all serving police officers as they undertake increasingly demanding work. (2Ti.2:15)
More: http://news.sky.com/story/1112504/police-facing-serious-drag-on-morale
Child abuse apology from Church of England
The Church of England's parliamentary body has apologised to victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Anglican clergy, noting its failure to prevent it and respond effectively. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said addressing the issue had been "absolutely agonising". Speaking in a meeting of the General Synod in York on Sunday, the Archbishop admitted some victims had been "badly treated" by the Church. He said there needed to be a "complete change of culture and behaviour" in the Church of England. "We cannot in 20 years be finding ourselves having this same debate and saying 'Well we didn't quite understand then'," he said. "There has to be a complete change of culture and behaviour and in addition there is a profound theological point. We are not doing all this, we are not seeking to say how devastatingly, appallingly, atrociously sorry we are for the great failures there have been for our own sakes, for our own flourishing, for the protection of the Church.
Pray: for all those affected by this issue and that both they and the church will be able to move on. (2Pe.3:9)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/child.abuse.apology.from.church.of.england/33106.htm
New Vice-President urges Methodists to fight poverty
The newly inaugurated Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Dr Daleep Mukraji, called on the Methodist people to "speak out, take sides," and "stand up for justice" in his inaugural address to the Methodist Conference last Saturday. Urging Methodists to become "agents of change", Dr Mukarji said that the UK had not seen higher levels of poverty and inequality since World War Two. One out of five people in the UK live in relative poverty including around 3.5 million children who are more likely to live in a low income household than the population as a whole. "Working with others, people of faith or no faith, we need to work for justice, inclusion and development that benefits the poor and marginalised here in the UK and across the world," he said. "This requires that we be prepared for the education, organisation and equipping of our members so that we build the necessary energy and commitment to see changes in our society."
Pray: for us all to become agents for change and to work to overcome poverty. (1Jn.3:17)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18618
