Africa/Asia/Europe: Floods and mudslides on three continents
Sometimes areas hit by one extreme soon receive another blow. In Niger five thousand people lost their homes and crops when the River Niger burst its banks last weekend. They are already suffering from severe food shortages caused by recent drought. UN officials have warned 20,000 people are at risk of displacement in the event of further heavy rains. See In China rescuers are pulling bodies out of mudslides which has so far killed more than 1,100 people and that number is increasing daily as more bodies are carried out on stretchers. People have been assigned to disinfect the areas where human corpses, and dead animals are a concern. See: Southern Poland suffered its worst flooding in decades when heavy rains engorged rivers sending torrents of water through Bogatynia in south-west Poland and Görlitz in eastern Germany in May. Pray: for God to look down from heaven and see and hear: and send labourers to minister to physical and spiritual needs so that many are found by the Lord. (Ps.80:19) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/09/floods-mudslides-drought-extreme-weather
North Korea: Underground church leaders executed
Three leaders of an underground house church in North Korea were executed and 20 Christian associates jailed after police raided a house and arrested all 23 believers gathered for a 'religious function'. Three 'ringleaders' were tried, sentenced to death and executed soon afterwards. The other 20 were reportedly sent to prison camp No.15 in Yodok. The arrests and executions happened in May but news has only just emerged. The events were confirmed by North Korea Intellectual Solidarity, a group of North Korean defectors based in Seoul committed to raising awareness of injustice and promoting reform in their homeland. The 23 Christians had come to faith after a few travelled to mainland China on business and came into contact with Christians. Pray: that Christians in North Korea would powerfully experience God’s protective provision as they secretly worship and live in fear of their lives. (Ps.9:12-13)
Nairobi: Aid blocked
Al Shabaab, an Islamic militant group alleged three agencies were propagating Christianity and halted their work. ‘Now that they have suspended their work, it is the local people who will suffer,’ said the Pastor now in exile, of a small Christian community in Somalia. On 8 August, the Islamic group demanded that World Vision, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and Diakonia, a Swedish agency, immediately cease operations in Somalia. Pray: for God to protect and keep in His perfect peace the groups in Nairobi and elsewhere who bring emotional, physical, and spiritual sustenance where militant Islam threatens. (Ps.26:1, 12) More: http://www.eni.ch/
Dubai: Saudi al-Qaida leader urges killing of Christians
In an audio message released on Wednesday, a Saudi leader of al-Qaida has urged sympathizers in the Saudi security forces to kill Christians living in the kingdom. The audiotape posted on a website used by Islamists also repeated an often-made call to overthrow the Saudi government. ‘Those of you who work in guarding the tyrants of princes or ministers, or the compounds inhabited by Christians, or can reach them, should seek God's help and kill them,’ said Said al-Shihri. Shihri a former inmate of Guantanamo Bay who claimed his organisation has received correspondence from members of Saudi armed forces asking for ‘guidance'. During Ramadan pray for the Saudi Muslims (mainly Sunni) living in Dharan, Ras Ta-nura, Jubail, Dammam, Al-Khobar, Hofuf, Abqaiq, Udhailiya and Shayba. (Please know that you are among only a small group worldwide who has ever prayed for these cities by name) Pray: for the thousands of Saudis involved in the oil industry to come to the knowledge of Christ (2Cor.4:6) More: http://www.canada.com/news/Saudi+Qaida+leader+urges+killing+Christians/3385069/story.html
