Churches get set for the Olympics
The umbrella organisation pulling together evangelistic efforts for the London 2012 Olympics has just embarked on its last church training tour before the big event begins in just a few months. More than Gold's nine-week tour will give churches in 15 cities a final heads up on effective engagement during the Games and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Get Set training days will give churches valuable advice on how to prepare high quality activities and serve their communities. Sessions will cover how to serve as lay chaplains at key transport hubs or as 'Games Pastors', how to run successful festivals and big screen events, and how to use the torch relay to engage with the community. The tour began in Sussex and in the coming weeks will visit Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast as well as the English cities of Reading, Stoke, Bath, Gateshead, Barnsley, Weymouth, Bolton, Stevenage, Nottingham, plus three London venues.
Pray: that these training days will truly equip these Christian volunteers for the task.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.get.set.for.olympics.outreach/29276.htm
Event to alert Christians to growing secularism
Christians from across the Midlands descended on Coventry Cathedral last Saturday for a special event to alert Christians to the increasing secularisation of Britain, and discrimination against those who stand up for orthodox beliefs in public life.
The ‘Awake Arise’ event on January 28 was the first to be held in an English Cathedral and was led by former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, and Christian Concern founder and CEO, General Synod member Andrea Minichiello Williams. Both spoke on the moral and social decline of our nation, with particular reference to abortion and religious freedom, and how Christians and the Church can stand for truth on these issues. Former Mayor of London candidate, and leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, Alan Craig, encouraged Christians to act on a local level by standing as Christians as councillors at parish, ward and constituency elections. To host an event in your church, you can contact Christian Concern.
Pray: that all those who attended this meeting will be enthused to speak out against the attacks on our faith.
Belarus: Online petition launched for religious freedom
An online petition was launched to repeal the amendment of Belarus criminal code, that allots two years of imprisonment for religious activity without registration, reports Christian megaportal InVictory.org. The author of the petition is Alexey Shein, co-chair of the Belarus Christian Democracy party. The goal is to collect 5,000 signatures. In his appeal, Mr Shein notes that, since 2006, 18 people have been convicted under this law. ‘There are hundreds of Christian communities and ministries that work without registration in Belarus. A lot of organizations tried to register but they were denied. At the same time, the right to freedom of association means the right to found free associations,’ underlined the author.
Pray: for a huge response to the petition and that the authorities will reconsider their amendment. (Je.1:19)
Belarus: Online petition launched for religious freedom
An online petition was launched to repeal the amendment of Belarus criminal code, that allots two years of imprisonment for religious activity without registration, reports Christian megaportal InVictory.org. The author of the petition is Alexey Shein, co-chair of the Belarus Christian Democracy party. The goal is to collect 5,000 signatures. In his appeal, Mr Shein notes that, since 2006, 18 people have been convicted under this law. ‘There are hundreds of Christian communities and ministries that work without registration in Belarus. A lot of organizations tried to register but they were denied. At the same time, the right to freedom of association means the right to found free associations,’ underlined the author.
Pray: for a huge response to the petition and that the authorities will reconsider their amendment. (Je.1:19)
