Africa: One in four Christians has superstitious beliefs
Roughly one in four Christians in sub-Sahara Africa believes sacrifices to spirits or ancestors can protect them from bad things happening, according to a recent 19-country survey on religious attitudes in Africa. Sizable percentages of both Christians and Muslims - a quarter or more in many countries - say they believe in the protective power of juju (charms or amulets). In Tanzania and South Africa more than half the people surveyed said they believed that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits could protect them from harm. Many people also say they consult traditional religious healers when someone in their household is sick, and sizable minorities in several countries keep sacred objects such as animal skins and skulls in their homes and participate in ceremonies to honour their ancestors.
Pray: for the Holy Spirit to invade the mindset of all who are deceived and for all who call on the name of Jesus Christ to be correctly birthed into God’s family. (Ps.96:5 & Jn.3:3)
Thailand: Thai protest stand-off intensifies
The Thai government is blaming unnamed ‘terrorists’ for explosions which hit commuters in Bangkok on Thursday night, amid deadlock in the Thai capital. Early on Friday, hundreds of riot police crossed a major road to confront red-shirt anti-government protesters. But the police later stepped back from confrontation and the reds agreed to move further away from their barricade. Britain, the US and Australia have issued new warnings against travelling to Thailand in the attacks' aftermath. Six weeks of red-shirt protests have severely challenged the Thai government. The protesters are occupying swathes of Bangkok's shopping hub and have built barricades, the largest of which faces police in the Silom business district. Pressure is rising on the government to find a way out of the conflict but room for negotiation appears to be slim, correspondents say. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said through a spokesman that it was ‘a moment requiring restraint on all sides’.
Pray: against extreme measures on all sides and for restraint to allow for peaceful negotiation. For Christians working in Thailand to have freedom to share the Gospel. (Mt.24:12-14)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8638942.stm
Pakistan/Afghanistan: Peace process
President Karzai will visit the White House next month and then participate in an international peace conference between Afghanistan and Pakistan. About 1,400 Afghans representing the nation's ethnic, regional and political factions are scheduled to gather for a peace jirga next month to reach a national consensus for talking with insurgents to end a 9-year-old war. Jirga is a term for a decision making assembly of male elders used in criminal cases rather than by laws or police. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed on Wednesday to revive the joint grand jirga process to develop a strategy for reintegration and reconciliation. Jirga could be the way forward to restore peace as the two countries redefine their ties and engage with the Taliban to restore peace and end years of suspicion and political feuds. The US visit is extremely important as the US doubt this is the right time for talks with top Taliban leaders who think they are winning the war.
Pray: for God's purposes to regulate the White House meetings and for His intervention in Jirgas to bring internal peace for the area. (Is.32:3)
More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9F7PPUO0
Iran: House-church pastor assaulted and arrested in Karaj
The Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) says that that on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at 4:30 pm, several plain clothes security officers, introducing themselves as ‘agents of the Ministry of Information,’ invaded the home of a local house-church pastor in the city of Karaj, which is situated about 13 miles west of the capital of Tehran, and after threatening those who were present there, assaulted and arrested the pastor, named Behnam Irani, and transported him to an undisclosed location. ‘Sources in and around the city of Karaj report than approximately 10 young men had gathered to fellowship and practice their newly found faith by studying the Bible, void of any political or current issues, when this attack occurred,’ said a FCNN spokesperson. ‘Each attendee was informed that they had attended an illegal meeting and in the coming days they would be called and summoned for further questioning by the authorities.’
Pray: for the believers in Iran that the Lord would protect them and uphold those who are being imprisoned for their faith. (Ps.32:6-7)
