Men 'plied girls with drink and drugs for sex'
A group of 11 men plied girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs so they could use them for sex, a court has heard. The offences are said to have happened in and around Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 2008 and 2009. Liverpool Crown Court heard how the men, aged between 22 and 59 and from Oldham and Rochdale, ‘acted together to sexually exploit the girls’. All deny conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16. Rachel Smith, opening the case for the prosecution, said: ‘No child should be exploited as these girls say they were.’ The Court heard that some of the girls were raped and physically assaulted and some were forced to have sex with ‘several men in a day, several times a week’. Miss Smith said the girls were given alcohol, food and money in return for sex and there were times when violence was used. The Court was told that some of the defendants also took payments from other men to whom they supplied the girls for sex.
Pray: that the authorities and the justice system would come down hard on the perpetrators of this crime. (Ps.96:13)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17117530
Lent challenge to demonstrate generosity
Stewardship is inviting Christians to do their bit in changing the world this Lent. The charity is asking Christians to take up the 40acts challenge and create a movement of generosity. The challenge is to ‘do Lent generously’ this year by taking part in 40 acts of generosity over 40 days, some of which might focus on community engagement, the environment, or stepping out from personal comfort zones. Ideas can be big and small, from inviting a neighbour to church or sending a thank you note, or picking up litter around the neighbourhood. Debbie Wright, Stewardship’s Head of Content explains: ‘Lent marks a pivotal point in the history of the Church, when Jesus prepared to give himself up as a sacrifice for all mankind. Traditionally we mark Lent by giving something up, but what if it could be more than that? What if Lent was a preparation for a lifetime of big-heartedness?’
Pray: that Church would not just ‘do Lent generously’ but make it a lifestyle change. (Dt.15:10)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/lent.challenge.to.demonstrate.generosity/29334.htm
Protests made against Mental Health cuts
Thousands of residents in Kingston upon Thames will be affected by cuts in provision for mental health patients by Kingston Council and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, according to local campaigners in the Christian Peoples Alliance party (CPA). The CPA is warning that pressure on individuals from the economic recession and stagnant jobs' market could lead to additional demands on existing services, not fewer. It has written to South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust - which delivers care at Tolworth Hospital - demanding guarantees that inpatient care will continue to be provided in the borough, following news that it is to end at Tolworth. Last year, Kingston Hospital said it was cutting £600,000 from its mental health budget. Next week, Kingston's Budget Council will consider making their own cuts this year and next of over £240,000, amounting to nearly 8 per cent of its present budget for mental health social care services.
Pray: for the situation within the NHS with all the proposed cuts. Pray that wisdom would be the guide over all the decisions. (Jas.1:5)
'Peace legacy' for Olympics sought by faith groups
Faith leaders and community groups in London are promoting 'One Hundred Days of Peace', an initiative to develop a ‘peace legacy’ for the London Olympic Games in 2012. Churches, schools and colleges, together with a coalition called London Citizens that includes more than 300 faith and community groups, are organising ecumenical programmes of prayer and a range of activities linked to the Olympics to promote peace. These include a campaign called City Safe, which aims to build a network between shops and businesses across London to fight crime. The tradition of an Olympics truce was established in 9th century BC to enable competitors and spectators to travel safely to and from the games through ancient Greece's warring city-states. The International Olympic Committee decided to revive the ancient concept of the Olympic truce with the view to protecting the interests of the athletes and sport in general, and to encourage the search for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to conflicts around the world.
Pray: for One Hundred days of peace and that the initiative will have an enduring legacy. (Ps.34:14)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16299
