Pakistan: Militants threaten to kill Christian lawyer
The chief lawyer defending Christian women who were reportedly sexually abused by activists of Pakistan's ruling party said that Muslim militants have threatened to kill him if he and his legal team continue with this case or others, including attacks on a Christian neighbourhood and rape. Sardar Mushtag Gill, who heads the Legal Evangelical Association Development group said he and a friend were forcibly stopped at gunpoint by three armed men last Sunday when returning from meeting the mistreated women and their family to discuss presenting a petition asking the Pattoki Court to detain the suspects, who have been linked to the governing Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N). He explained that sisters Arshad Bibi, Sajida Bibi and Sauriya Bibi, were abused by armed men and an influential landlord because goats owned by the women allegedly entered the landlord’s fields and damaged crops. (See Prayer Alert 13th June)
Pray: that the Christians' complaint will be upheld and the aggressors brought to justice pray for the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Pakistan. (Ps.86:14-17)
USA: Texas - Late-Term Abortion
Members of the Texas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a 20-week late-term abortion ban during the wee hours of Monday morning authorising a Senate Bill which will now be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration later this week. Recently Texas Governor Rick Perry said, ‘The horrors of the national late-term abortion industry are continuing to come to light, one atrocity at a time. Sadly some of those same atrocities happen in our own state. In Texas we value all life and we’ve worked to cultivate a culture that supports the birth of every child. We have an obligation to protect unborn children and to hold those who peddle these abortions to standards that would minimize the death, disease and pain they cause. The 19-page bill would tighten restrictions on abortion procedures and ban abortions after 20 weeks. Hundreds of protesters crammed into the State Capitol on Sunday night and Monday morning protesting against the bill, while pro-life supporters are praising the legislation.
Pray: that this step will prompt peaceful further stages towards saving lives in Texas and across the United States of America. (Job.1:21 & Is.44:24)
Women celebrate purity and preciousness
Milk & Honey, a non-for profit organisation and online hub for young women launched their inaugural event 'The Precious Conference' over the weekend. St Mary's Church in Marylebone opened their doors to young women aged 16 to 25 for a day of sisterhood, worship and empowerment. The conference supports the 'I Am Precious Campaign', a movement by Milk and Honey that strives to tackle the common societal pressures that 21st century women face. Guest speakers delivered hard hitting testimonies of how God has used them to win souls, and the spiritual nourishment they have received as a result of their choice to surrender. Hannah Thompson, shared her story of how God turned her life around and helped her realise the importance of acknowledging self-worth. She explained the importance of surrendering to God and discarding the past. "No matter what your past may look like, no matter what hurt, what thing you're ashamed of, God is alive in you.”
Pray: for God to to touch the lives of women around the world to affirm them in their daily lives. (Jn.1:12)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/women.celebrate.purity.and.preciousness/32946.htm
Teacher probed over her gay marriage views
A Christian teacher from London is under investigation because she refused to give a lesson telling children that all opponents of gay marriage are homophobes. The unnamed teacher didn’t think that it was a “fair characterisation of the debate”, she says, but is now under investigation at her school. She is also under suspicion for being a member of a church, and a colleague is demanding to know whether it impacts her job. ’The head teacher investigated the incident and concluded there was no case to answer. Another colleague, who is also a union rep, then followed up the complaint, and has formally raised additional concerns about the teacher's Christian beliefs and her membership of a church demanded an investigation into whether membership of the church had any negative impact on her job as a teacher. That investigation process is currently underway.
Pray: for the teachers currently being investigated and that this case will very quickly be rejected as spurious and that there is no case to answer. (Matt.5:10)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-teacher-probed-over-her-gay-marriage-views/
