
Christians living and doing business were said to have been warned earlier in a letter to leave the area or risk being attacked. Then 10 Christians were killed in Kupwal village on Saturday in to be Syrian chemical weapons facilities. See: US intelligence detected signs that the Syrian regime was moving their chemical weapons components around various sites in recent days, according to a senior US defence official and a second US official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters. Last February Al-Jazeera television reported that gas masks were being distributed to Syrian refugees in camps located along the Turkish-Syrian border and humanitarian activists were worried about the possibility of the Syrian regime using unconventional weapons against Syrian refugees. See:
Pray: that the Syrian Government will not resort to chemical warfare. (Pr.29:7)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10555850
In March NGOs started withdrawing medical care in Afghanistan and we were asked to pray that medical advances would not be lost to people in rural areas that those delivering medical care would know God's provision. Today we hear that in some provinces the number of women dying during childbirth is dropping significantly because more local women are being trained as midwives and then returning to their villages to provide care before, during and after delivery. However there is still concern for some women with difficult cases requiring long journeys to hospital over very poor roads who are not surviving the trip. Please pray for more opportunities for similar organizations and trainers to develop in the country, and that existing programmes are implemented in more provinces; pray also that the midwives and the women they care for would be introduced to the One who is the Father of all Life.
Pray: that throughout Afghanistan all women and children would receive the care they need to live healthy, productive lives (Ps.95:7)
More: http://www.afghanrelief.org/aro-projects/midwife-project
It's a situation being ignored by the international media and governments around the world. In May 2012 violence broke out between Buddhists (Rakhine people) and Muslim (Rohingya people) Although the Myanmar government says the situation is normal, violence continues to occur and between 80,000 - 200,000 people have been displaced. The Rakhine people consider the Rohingya illegal immigrants living in their land, even though many of the Rohingya have lived there for many generations and have no other home. People have set up shelters along the road and the refugee population is swelling into a humanitarian crisis with small children and infants dying on a regular basis. A Christian organization called Partners Relief & Development (PRAD) reported that those needing care is growing every day and there is a need for more teams to go to Myanmar with aid and more world governments to speak loudly against what is happening.
Pray: for light in this very dark place, may the situation come to the attention of world governments and for relief to be released to the starving, dying and homeless. (Ps.4:1b)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/17966
Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi say they will continue their demonstration against a controversial draft constitution and Morsi’s decree granting himself wide-ranging new powers. Police fired tear gas on Tuesday to disperse them. Mr Morsi's Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement has called for demonstrations in his support outside the palace. Some anti-Morsi protesters have erected tents around the perimeter wall after Tuesday saw tens of thousands of demonstrators besiege the palace and clash with police. Eighteen people were injured in the brief burst of violence, the Mena news agency reported. At one point, the security forces issued a statement saying President Morsi had to be hustled away for his own safety. It was another sign of how deeply divided this country is as a referendum on a new constitution approaches in less than two weeks. Several newspapers refused to go to press on Tuesday in protest at what they said was the lack of press freedom in the constitution.
Pray: for peace and not war to dominate. (Ps.122:7)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20605134
More than 320 people have died in the southern Philippines after Typhoon Bopha swept across the south of the country. The total number of fatalities, which stood at around 90 on Tuesday, jumped as rescuers on Wednesday reached remote mountain villages cut off by floods and landslides. A government spokeswoman, Fe Maestre, told the Associated Press news agency that at least 151 people died in the worst-hit province of Compostela Valley. That included 66 villagers and soldiers who died in a flash flood that swamped two emergency storm shelters and a military camp as Bopha devastated New Bataan town the day before. Maestre said an unspecified number of villagers remained missing in New Bataan. Bopha swept across the island of Mindanao, destroying homes with 210km per hour gusts on Tuesday before headed towards the South China Sea.
Pray: for the people of the Philippines, for those who are suffering and need relief. (Lam.3:56)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/12/201212553732512410.htmlChibok
A planning application for a massive ‘mega-mosque’ in West Ham has been recommended for refusal. Newham planning officers will ask local councillors to refuse the application in a meeting to be held on Wednesday 5th December 2012 reports the London Evening Standard. Christian Voice members have been meeting for prayer at the site of the proposed development on the first Saturday morning of every month since January 2007. They will be meeting this morning at 10.30am. Stephen Green, National Director of Christian Voice, said this morning: ‘We must pray councillors agree with their planning officers on Wednesday evening despite what will be massive pressure from Muslims supporting the proposal.’ (See Prayer Alert 37-2912) Latest: Council has refused planning permission.
Praise: God for the recommendation and pray once again that the outcome regarding this mega-mosque will be guided by God’s Spirit. (2Th.2:13-14)
More: http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/2012dec01westham/
A planning application for a massive ‘mega-mosque’ in West Ham has been recommended for refusal. Newham planning officers will ask local councillors to refuse the application in a meeting to be held on Wednesday 5th December 2012 reports the London Evening Standard. Christian Voice members have been meeting for prayer at the site of the proposed development on the first Saturday morning of every month since January 2007. They will be meeting this morning at 10.30am. Stephen Green, National Director of Christian Voice, said this morning: ‘We must pray councillors agree with their planning officers on Wednesday evening despite what will be massive pressure from Muslims supporting the proposal.’ (See Prayer Alert 37-2912) Latest: Council has refused planning permission.
Praise: God for the recommendation and pray once again that the outcome regarding this mega-mosque will be guided by God’s Spirit. (2Th.2:13-14)
More: http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/2012dec01westham/
The UK has seen 150 Prayer Spaces in schools this year and the movement is crossing borders with schools in Germany, Australia and Uganda catching the vision. The Prayer Spaces in School website is full of amazing testimonies and the following are just two of them. ‘The feel of this room is so peaceful - does not feel as though I am at school! Let’s you escape + just contemplate about yourself, others + life. We do not allow for us to take time to do this at school. Thank you for touching so many girls lives + allowing them to contemplate + be themselves.’ and, ‘Much of what we do in school is on a horizontal level in terms of human to human but to actually get a chance to stop and think about that vertical relationship, about humans and our relationship with God. It's a privilege really. It's just wonderful to be able to do it for the children.’
Praise: God for the 24/7 prayer movement and may communion with God continue to be an important part of the lives of our school children. (1Ki.8:28)
More: http://www.24-7prayer.com/features/1905
The UK has seen 150 Prayer Spaces in schools this year and the movement is crossing borders with schools in Germany, Australia and Uganda catching the vision. The Prayer Spaces in School website is full of amazing testimonies and the following are just two of them. ‘The feel of this room is so peaceful - does not feel as though I am at school! Let’s you escape + just contemplate about yourself, others + life. We do not allow for us to take time to do this at school. Thank you for touching so many girls lives + allowing them to contemplate + be themselves.’ and, ‘Much of what we do in school is on a horizontal level in terms of human to human but to actually get a chance to stop and think about that vertical relationship, about humans and our relationship with God. It's a privilege really. It's just wonderful to be able to do it for the children.’
Praise: God for the 24/7 prayer movement and may communion with God continue to be an important part of the lives of our school children. (1Ki.8:28)
More: http://www.24-7prayer.com/features/1905
A Swedish ban on mentioning Jesus in school Advent services has been attacked by Government ministers – with one calling it ‘ridiculous’. Last week the National Agency for Education in Sweden said end of term services in church were allowed, but prayers, blessings or declarations of faith were prohibited. However, Education Minister Jan Björklund said ‘pastors should be able to read the Christmas gospel, refer to the Bible, and explain why we celebrate this Christian holiday’. He criticised the agency’s interpretation of the law, and commented: ‘If this ridiculous debate continues year after year, I’m ready to review the Education Act’. Social Minister Göran Hägglund said he was ‘tired’ of having the discussion, commenting: ‘The National Agency for Education is straining out gnats and swallowing camels.’ Mr Hägglund said Swedish students have bigger things to worry about’.
Pray: against those who attack our faith; and pray that the Education Minister will use his influence to bring about changes in the law. (2Tim.1:13)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/row-over-swedish-school-ban-on-mentioning-jesus-at-advent/