Violent extremism Europe's top security threat
Violent extremism, which is at its highest level in Europe since World War II, is becoming the continent's top security threat, the European Union's executive body has said. In a speech on the eve of talks on how to detect and prevent extremism, the EU's commissioner for home affairs Cecilia Malmstroem urged the EU 'to stand up and protect our values that are now being challenged in many countries in Europe'. She said that 'there has been a growth of extremism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, hatred and nationalism'. According to News 24, she added that 'not since World War II have extreme and populist forces had so much influence on the national parliaments as they have today. In some countries even neo-Nazis have been elected'. She said that if the trend continues, next year's European elections might further strengthen these forces, threatening the entire European project.
Pray: against this growing trend of extremism across Europe. (2Sam.22:3)
Violent extremism Europe's top security threat
Violent extremism, which is at its highest level in Europe since World War II, is becoming the continent's top security threat, the European Union's executive body has said. In a speech on the eve of talks on how to detect and prevent extremism, the EU's commissioner for home affairs Cecilia Malmstroem urged the EU 'to stand up and protect our values that are now being challenged in many countries in Europe'. She said that 'there has been a growth of extremism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, hatred and nationalism'. According to News 24, she added that 'not since World War II have extreme and populist forces had so much influence on the national parliaments as they have today. In some countries even neo-Nazis have been elected'. She said that if the trend continues, next year's European elections might further strengthen these forces, threatening the entire European project.
Pray: against this growing trend of extremism across Europe. (2Sam.22:3)
Malaysia: Threat to burn Bibles - Sultan’s ban on word ‘Allah’
A threat this week to burn Bibles in the Malay language is the latest in a series of attacks on the Christian faith in Malaysia. A note sent to a Christian priest in Butterworth on Tuesday, 22nd January 2013 said a Bible-burning pesta or festival would take place in the town’s public park on Sunday 27th January. Butterworth is sited on the mainland across from the tourist island resort of Penang. The note, written in Malay, ends with a sinister warning in English: ‘Let’s teach ‘em a lesson.’ The Police have been informed of the threat. Whether the threat materialised is uncertain but it has had the desired effect of adding to the despair of Malaysian Christians. A fortnight ago defying practice and convention in the country the Sultan of the State of Selangor forbade Christians to use the word ‘Allah’ which has been used in Bibles in the Malay language and Christian litany for more than 400 years.
Pray: that the threat against the Word of God will be halted. (Neh.4:9)
More: http://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/english/country/malaysia/2026538
Pakistan: Blasphemy appeal for Pakistani Christian adjourned
Younis Masih, a Pakistani Christian, who was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy – he had asked some Muslims to ‘turn down the music’ of a Muslim religious song - and has been suffering in prison for more than seven years, has had his appeal against the death sentence adjourned until February. Mr Masih, who suffered a serious heart attack on January 8, 2013, was in court on January 23, 2013, and one eye-witness, Mr Sardar Mushtaq Gill, an advocate with the Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD) team later told Wilson Chowdhry of the British Christian Pakistani Association, about the intimidation that occurred in the courtroom during the hearing. ‘When the call for arguments was made, there were about 40 Muslims present wearing black turbans and were makings gestures and comments with intent to cause fear and apprehension,’ he said.
Pray: that the appeal against Younis would lead to His freedom and release from any further suffering. (2Tim.1:8)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13010125.htm
Iran: Ayatollahs make anti-Christian comments
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, influential figures of the Islamic regime, especially Ayatollahs affiliated with the regime, have frequently tried to provoke government and security authorities to take action against Christians by making negative comments. According to a story by the Iranian Christian news agency Mohabat News, some Ayatollahs have made anti-Christian remarks because one of the greatest concerns of the Islamic clerics in Iran is the growth of Christianity in the county. Mohabat News said by so doing the Ayatollahs hope to decrease the growth of both Christianity and house churches in Iran. According to Mohabat News, in a statement, Ayatollah Noor-Allah Tabarsi, the Friday Prayer Imam in Sari, defamed Christianity and called today’s Christians ‘a shame for Christianity.’ Mohabat News said that Tabarsi, who is also the Supreme Leader's representative in Mazandaran province, claimed that all the corruption in the West was due to the inappropriate application of Christianity.
Pray: for Christians in Iran that they would be protected against the extremes of the Islamic regime.
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13010128.htm
Egypt: Army chief warns of 'state collapse' amid crisis
Egypt's armed forces chief has warned the current political crisis ‘could lead to a collapse of the state’. General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, in comments posted on the military's Facebook page, said such a collapse could ‘threaten future generations’. He made his statement following a large military deployment in three cities along the Suez Canal where a State of Emergency has been declared. More than 50 people have died in days of protests and violence. In response, President Mohammed Morsi has cut short a planned European trip. On Monday night, thousands of people in Port Said, Ismailyah and Suez - where some of the worst unrest has been - ignored a night-time curfew imposed by Mr Morsi and took to the streets. Thousands were again on the streets of Port Said on Tuesday for the latest funerals of those killed, with mourners calling for the downfall of the president. This Friday marks two years since the first fire of the January 25 Egyptian revolution.
Pray: that the projected unrest for this weekend would not take place and that further unrest ceases.
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21241753
Israel: Palestinians attack Israeli bus in Jerusalem
A series of Palestinian attacks against Israelis occurred in and around Jerusalem over the weekend, a clear reminder that the tension-wracked capital remains ready to explode despite relative calm in recent months. On Sunday evening, a bus travelling from Jerusalem to a Jewish community just north of the city was damaged in a Palestinian stone-throwing attack. Because the stones managed to penetrate the bullet-proof glass, it was at first reported as a shooting attack. Also on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israeli security forces in at least three separate incidents caught would-be Arab assailants in possession of pipe bombs. Israeli security officials have noted a significant rise in the number of attacks in and around Jerusalem in recent months, both armed attacks and ‘popular’ attacks, which means the assailants use Molotov cocktails and stones instead of guns and knives.
Pray: for the peace of Jerusalem and that all would live together in peace. (Rom.12:18)
More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=9089&this=Palestinians_attack_Israeli_bus_in_Jerusalem#
Yemen: Forgotten Christians
When one thinks of Yemen - the impoverished Arab country that begat Osama bin Laden, and is cushioned between Saudi Arabia and Somalia, (with the Bay of Aden between) two of the absolute most radical Muslim nations - one seldom thinks of Christians, primarily because they are practically nonexistent in such an inhospitable environment. Most tallies, in fact, suggest that Yemen's entire non-Muslim population is less than one percent. A new Arabic report , however, discusses the existence of Christians in Yemen, and their plight - one that should be familiar by now, given the situation wherever Christian minorities live under a Muslim majority. Unofficial statistics suggest that there are some 2,500 indigenous Christians in the nation, practicing their faith underground even as hostile tribes surround them. According to human rights activist, Abdul Razzaq al-Azazi, ‘Christians in Yemen cannot practice their religion nor can they go to church freely. Society would work on having them enter Islam.’
Pray: for our brothers and sisters in Christ that they would be protected from hostile beliefs. (Lk.2:14)
More: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3563/yemen-christians
South Korea: Christians hear call to be peacemakers
The head of the World Council of Churches has used a visit to South Korea to appeal to the country’s Christians to be peacemakers. The Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit challenged Christians to believe God’s promise of peace in Psalm 85 ‘God will speak peace to his people’ despite the divide between South and North Korea for the last 60 years. ‘Peace is something radical, something that has to be told and has to be believed, so that it may become possible,’ he said. ‘The Korean people have been longing for a final peace to be settled, a peace that can bring life together, make life together in peace on this peninsula possible again.' He reflected on the global need for peacemakers in light of the fighting in Syria, and recently between Israel and Palestine. ‘We live in a time when life is threatened, when injustices in the world are a reality, even a threatening reality,’ he said.
Pray: for the promises of God’s peace to be manifest through His people, (Ps.85:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.in.korea.hear.call.to.be.peacemakers/31545.htm
The Resurrection is a major motion picture that will tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events of the forty days that lead up to his ascension into heaven.
News stories about The Resurrection Project:
• http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-resurrection-hollywood-producer-aims-for-gods-sequel-to-the-passion-72127/
• http://mobile.wnd.com/2012/11/passion-of-the-christ-sequel-looking-for-you/
More information about the project: http://myresurrectionproject.com/deals/the-resurrection-project/
Executive Producer – David Wood
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Let’s pray that the Lord would be glorified in this effort to portray His resurrection. Pray for unity, wisdom and provision for the planning team and for David Wood who is coordinating this effort.