North Iraq-Kurdistan
Praise God for Christian outreach in difficult environments. God is calling people supernaturally and releasing Christian workers to visit, counsel, encourage and disciple new believers. We have been asked to pray into the problem of finding suitable wives for new believers. There are situations where husbands come through but the wife is not yet believing. Thank God for open doors to minority sects of Islam, one is the Yezhide, who worship the ‘peacock god’ believed to be a fallen angel. Pray for Christian outreach groups to be established in their midst. Another Islamic sect believe in the Psalms and there is speculation they were formerly Jews. They are very open and there are believers in their midst, but they are very persecuted by majority Muslims. Hundreds of this tribe have been murdered by terrorists and there are many orphans and widows. Pray: for more believers with a burden to help these new believers, and for the protection of those who face persecution and loss in Iraq and Kurdistan. (Ps.112:4)
Opportunities for the church in Cameron’s ‘Big Society’
Christians have welcomed the launch of Prime Minister David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ initiative as a way of getting everyone involved in their communities. Spelling out his vision in Liverpool on Monday, Cameron hailed the Big Society as ‘the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power from elites in Whitehall to the man and woman in the street’. He wants to see more people at the grass-roots level work together to improve the quality of living for all through voluntary work. Initiatives include the local buy-out of a rural pub and the recruitment of volunteers to keep museums open. Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, said Christians are already at the heart of serving their communities, and should grasp this opportunity to get further involved. Steve Chalke, founder of Faithworks and Oasis, welcomed the thinking behind the ‘Big Society’. ‘This is what the church has always been about so there are enormous opportunities for churches in all of this. Pray: for Christian groups to prayerfully consider how this opportunity can be used for God’s work. (1Th.5:15) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.see.opportunities.for.the.church.in.camerons.big.society.pla
Christians unfairly targeted for hate crime prosecutions
Christians in Britain are being unfairly targeted for hate crime prosecutions, according to a new report by the Civitas think-tank. The report, entitled A New Inquisition: Religious Persecution in Britain Today, also warns that existing hate crime legislation poses a danger to freedom of speech. Jon Gower Davies, the report’s author, said: ‘Some police forces and the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] seem to be interpreting statutes in favour of ethnic and religious minorities and in a spirit hostile to members of the majority population, defined as ‘White’ or ‘Christian’.’ Many of the prosecutions have been for causing ‘religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress’ under the Public Order Act. The report’s findings are likely to be welcomed by many Christians who have become increasingly alarmed at the growing number of Christians encountering problems with over-zealous police officers. Critics of such offences say they are open to being misapplied, so that otherwise lawful behaviour is wrongly criminalised. Pray: for the balance to be redressed and that which was considered normal Christian debate can once again be deemed acceptable. (1Th.2:4) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christians-unfairly-targeted-for-hate-crime-prosecutions/
Archbishop of York launches new national charity
The Archbishop of York launched the Acts 435 charity nationally at the General Synod. The charity helps churches to make a practical difference in their local communities helping those who are going through tough times financially. In the face of further government austerity measures the Archbishop has said it is important for the Church to reach out to those in need. He said: ‘Acts 435 is designed to help us fulfil Christ’s calling and give to those in need. I hope and pray that it will be a wonderful blessing to those on the receiving end of these gifts of love. May it also be a source of joy to the donors as they see the immediate impact of their generosity on those struggling to make ends meet.’ Acts 435 is a Christian Charity, within the Church of England to bring immediate help to people in financial need. It works by matching up those who want to give with those in need. Pray: for this innovative new approach to the operation of a charity and for its success. (1Jn.4:11) More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/2934
