Victory over Sunday working
Following the late intervention of the Christian Legal Centre, an employee of a major London tourist attraction is able to continue in his job, as his employer has now agreed to let him take Sundays off so that he can worship at church. The employee, who is involved with his local church and several volunteer schemes, had been in negotiations with his employers for over a year and a half over whether he would continue to be forced to work on Sundays. With the Christian Legal Centre's help, his employer has now backed down and has given him a new rota enabling him to spend Sundays worshipping at his church. By contrast, his employer had allowed a Muslim employee not to work on Fridays. The victory will encourage many Christians, some of whom have been under pressure to choose between working on Sundays or losing their jobs. (See Prayer Alert 08-2012)
Praise: God for this answer to prayer and pray that it would establish a precedent. (Gen.2:2)
Victory over Sunday working
Following the late intervention of the Christian Legal Centre, an employee of a major London tourist attraction is able to continue in his job, as his employer has now agreed to let him take Sundays off so that he can worship at church. The employee, who is involved with his local church and several volunteer schemes, had been in negotiations with his employers for over a year and a half over whether he would continue to be forced to work on Sundays. With the Christian Legal Centre's help, his employer has now backed down and has given him a new rota enabling him to spend Sundays worshipping at his church. By contrast, his employer had allowed a Muslim employee not to work on Fridays. The victory will encourage many Christians, some of whom have been under pressure to choose between working on Sundays or losing their jobs. (See Prayer Alert 08-2012)
Praise: God for this answer to prayer and pray that it would establish a precedent. (Gen.2:2)
Azerbaijan: Act now to save Greater Grace Church
As Baku basks in the excitement of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on May 26, members of at least one church in the Azerbaijan capital will find it hard to join in the celebrations. On April 25, a court in Baku ordered Greater Grace Church to be liquidated – the first known closure of a religious community under the controversial Law on Freedom of Religion passed in 2009. This law requires the compulsory re-registration of all religious communities in Azerbaijan. Greater Grace contends that it had no formal notice of the need to re-register – and no warning of impending legal action against it. Christians in this mainly Muslim, South Caucasian nation fear that the judge’s decision could set a worrying precedent for other churches. To date, officials have acted in secret to close down churches, raiding premises, banning worship, confiscating literature and imposing fines. Now, it’s feared they could act openly, with the backing of the law.
Pray: for the Church within Azerbaijan that this so called new Law of Freedom would be reversed. (Jas.2:12)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/saving-grace.php
Egypt:Christian's six-year sentence upheld
A judge in Upper Egypt has upheld a six-year prison sentence for Makarem Diab, a Coptic Christian wrongly convicted of ‘blasphemy’ against Islam and inciting sectarian strife. In his April 5th judgment, the judge in Assuit refused to strike down a February 29 sentence delivered to Makarem Diab, 49. The charges stem from an argument that Diab had in February with Abd Al Hameed, a fellow employee at Deer Al Gabrawy Prep School. From the start, the charges against Diab were inflated, according to his lawyer, Ahmed Sayed Gebaly. ‘I know Makarem well because we grew up together, and I know he wouldn’t do that,’ said Gebaly, a Muslim. ‘To be honest, he didn’t do anything wrong. If he did, I would have told him.’
Pray: that having been denied justice, God will set him free soon. (Am.5:24)
