NHS changes may increase risks to vulnerable children
The Government's NHS reform bill could increase the dangers facing vulnerable children, according to a survey of the risk assessments produced by primary care trusts in response to the legislation. The analysis of the risk assessments drawn up by the 54 PCTs, the organisations that manage and pay for patient care in England, found children in danger of being physically abused could suffer because of problems and weaknesses caused by the restructuring. They claim child protection procedures are threatened by issues such as fragmentation between new organisations that are being created in the shake-up, making it hard for staff to swap information about sensitive or complicated cases where there is suspicion of neglect or abuse by relatives or carers. The danger is classified as a 'possible' risk which, if it occurred, would have 'catastrophic' consequences. Any such failings may mean that the NHS organisations concerned were in breach of their legal duties to protect at-risk children.
Pray: for a review of this matter and that, at the very least, proper safeguards are put in place to protect vulnerable children. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/04/nhs-health-bill-child-protection-risks
Church leaders gather to discuss church planting in Wales
Over 200 church leaders from a range of Welsh churches met recently in Newtown to collaborate on evangelising the nation. The gathering was hosted by Waleswide, a network of evangelical churches which works with leaders to see churches established especially where there is no evangelical church presence, and where churches need to be strengthened in their effectiveness. David Ollerton, Chairman of Waleswide said: 'The people who gathered all had a common cause to see Jesus honoured in Wales and for churches to reflect Him. The greatest challenge facing church leaders in Wales is to develop intentional Gospel communities, new churches, or within alreadyexisting ones, that are more interested in reaching out to people with few or no Christian links instead of maintaining existing structures.’ A poll of over 260 Welsh church leaders found that during the first decade of this millennium 5,728 people became Christians in their churches.
Pray: for God to empower His church in Wales (and throughout the UK) so that more people will hear and receive the Gospel message. (Ac.16:5)
Olympic mega-mosque opposition campaign re-launched
Opposition to 9,500 capacity mosque and Islamic enclave of homes, shops and business units unveiled at recent site exhibition. This week sees the launch of a new campaign against the proposed 9,500 capacity mega-mosque at West Ham, close to the site of the Olympic Stadium and Park. Volunteers from the MegaMosqueNoThanks campaign started leafleting commuters at the nearby West Ham station and residents living in the area around the site of the proposed mosque. The campaign website will also be re-launched; see ‘More’ link. At a recent site exhibition, the Islamic sect behind the proposed mosque, Tablighi Jama'at, revealed a development that includes an eight-storey high mosque, 45 metre-high minarets, apartments, and retail and business units. Visitors were informed that the formal planning application is to be submitted imminently. ‘People think wrongly that the mosque project is dead but it has never gone away,’ said Alan Craig, leader of the MegaMosqueNoThanks team. ‘It went off the radar for some months but now it's back.’
Pray: for the success of this new campaign against a proposed mega-mosque by the Tablighi Jama'at sect. (Nu.10:9)
Turkey: Indictment of ‘masterminds’ of murders expected
Judges in Turkey’s southeastern city of Malatya have announced the preparation of an indictment in the case of three murdered Christians that is expected to reveal a shadowy network that incited five young men to carry out the crime. The Third Criminal Court of Malatya is expected to announce the indictment on April 9, followed by a week of witness testimony that judges believe will link the five murder suspects to the ‘masterminds’ who prompted them, plaintiff lawyers said. The brutal murders of Turkish Christians Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel and German Christian Tilmann Geske at the Zirve Publishing House by five young men in 2007 are believed to be part of a conspiracy to overthrow the current pro-Islamic government.
Pray: that this case will at last be resolved and justice be done. (Pr.18:5)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/turkey/article_1421958.html
