Christians’ 500 days of prayer
The organisers of a national day of prayer are mobilising churches and networks across the UK in a season of united prayer and outreach (See Prayer Alert 2410). Last weekend’s gathering at West Ham football stadium drew some 20,000 Christians. A season of 500 days of prayer was announced that will start on August 1 to run until December 31, 2011. The 500 days of prayer will mobilise churches in prayer prior to a major prayer gathering at Wembley Stadium planned for 2011 and a year of prayer scheduled for 2012 to coincide with the Olympics in London. Individual Christians are being asked to set their alarms or mobile phones to noon every day and take one minute to pray the Lord’s Prayer over the UK. Pray: that this initiative’s momentum will continue with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. (Jas.5:16) More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=32884&PN=1&TPN=1
Halt to 'draconian' vetting
The vetting of up to nine million people who frequently work with children, which was due to start next month, was halted by the Home Secretary, Theresa May, pending a review intended to scale back the scheme to ‘common sense’ proportions. May said she had taken the decision because it was now recognised that the vetting and barring scheme was disproportionate, burdensome and infringed on civil liberties. ‘Until this remodelling has taken place, we have decided to maintain those aspects of the new scheme which are already in place, but not to introduce further elements.’ More than 66,000 employers, charities and voluntary groups are being told the details of the decision. Under the original scheme the database of people registered to work with children would have covered 11 million adults, the largest child protection database in the world. Similar action is required for hospital volunteers. Pray: for those who freely volunteer their talents and that the remodelled scheme will be widely accepted. (Ac.8:15) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jun/15/child-worker-vetting-scheme-review
Sharp rise in repeat abortions
New figures showing a rise in the number of multiple abortions among younger women have prompted criticisms of government sex education policies. A Christian doctor’s group called the statistics ‘profoundly depressing’ and blamed the government’s longstanding ‘values-free’ sex education. ‘It is increasingly clear,’ said Dr. Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, ‘that abortion is simply being used as a form of contraception by a growing percentage of girls and women, and that tired policies of values-free sex education, condoms and morning-after pills are not working.’ George Pitcher, a liberal Anglican minister, commented that the current approach to dealing with unwanted pregnancies, especially among the young, is failing to take the problem seriously. ‘You don't have to be over-cynical to feel that making the likes of Marie Stopes the principal public voice in abortion policy is like appointing a fox as gamekeeper. There needs to be a higher moral imperative than that.’ Pray: for the return of clearly taught values to sex education and an end to abortion being used as a quick fix. (Jn.8:32)
NHS chaplains
Hospital chaplains play an ‘important’ role in the NHS, and the Government values their work, a Conservative Peer has said. Speaking in the House of Lords, Earl Howe said the Government is committed to giving patients and staff in the NHS access to ‘spiritual care’. Chaplains came under fierce attack from secularists last year who launched a campaign to remove their funding. Earl Howe said the chaplains ‘play an important part in providing high-quality spiritual care services to patients and staff, and we are committed to ensuring that patients and staff in the NHS have access to the spiritual care that they want, whatever faith they may have’. The Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Revd John Hind, had earlier pointed out that ‘a chaplain often serves more patients directly each week than any other single healthcare professional working in a hospital’. Pray: for hospital chaplains and that their valuable services will be secure in the future. (Jas.5:15) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/govt-affirms-importance-of-nhs-chaplains-work/
