European workers stage austerity protests
Workers across the European Union have staged a series of protests and strike against rising unemployment and austerity measures. Organisers of the strike urged national leaders to abandon austerity and address growing social anxiety. Strikes were in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy, with other protests planned in Belgium, Germany, France and some eastern EU states. Airlines across Europe have been cancelling and rescheduling flights. Spain and Portugal have been particularly hit, and airlines are recommending passengers to check the schedules before travelling to airports. The European Trade Union Confederation urged workers to walk out on Wednesday. The Confederation's Judith Kirton-Darling told the BBC that austerity was not working. ‘It's increasing inequalities, it's increasing the social instability in society and it's not resolving the economic crisis,’ she said. Some 40 groups from 23 countries were involved in Wednesday's demonstrations.
Pray: for the governments of the nations as they seek ways of mitigating the effects of the austerity measures and pray for all those who are suffering because of these problems. (Col.4:1)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20320993
European workers stage austerity protests
Workers across the European Union have staged a series of protests and strike against rising unemployment and austerity measures. Organisers of the strike urged national leaders to abandon austerity and address growing social anxiety. Strikes were in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy, with other protests planned in Belgium, Germany, France and some eastern EU states. Airlines across Europe have been cancelling and rescheduling flights. Spain and Portugal have been particularly hit, and airlines are recommending passengers to check the schedules before travelling to airports. The European Trade Union Confederation urged workers to walk out on Wednesday. The Confederation's Judith Kirton-Darling told the BBC that austerity was not working. ‘It's increasing inequalities, it's increasing the social instability in society and it's not resolving the economic crisis,’ she said. Some 40 groups from 23 countries were involved in Wednesday's demonstrations.
Pray: for the governments of the nations as they seek ways of mitigating the effects of the austerity measures and pray for all those who are suffering because of these problems. (Col.4:1)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20320993
Russia: Religious freedom questioned
There is a ‘Pattern of Discrimination’ emerging in Russia rooted in ideology. The government and the Russian Orthodox Church view the growing dynamic congregations of evangelicals as a threat. The country's constitution states that all religions are equal before the law, but the government is often accused of discriminating against citizens professing faiths other than Orthodox Christianity. Vladimir Ryakhovsky, who runs the Slavic Center for Law & Justice, said that this year the government has given the Russian Orthodox Church 200 building permits and in many cases the government will help fund the new churches. But a recent nightmare destruction of Holy Trinity Evangelical Church by heavy machinery while police watched reflects a threatening pattern against religious freedom. Evangelicals are concerned about the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church within the state apparatus and accuses Vladimir Putin of tearing down walls between church and state.
Pray: for the safety and continued increase of congregations facing discrimination for their faith May they continue to meet and share with others the love of Christ. (Is.33:5)
More: http://www.charismanews.com/world/34538-church-demolished-russias-fading-religious-freedom
Russia: Religious freedom questioned
There is a ‘Pattern of Discrimination’ emerging in Russia rooted in ideology. The government and the Russian Orthodox Church view the growing dynamic congregations of evangelicals as a threat. The country's constitution states that all religions are equal before the law, but the government is often accused of discriminating against citizens professing faiths other than Orthodox Christianity. Vladimir Ryakhovsky, who runs the Slavic Center for Law & Justice, said that this year the government has given the Russian Orthodox Church 200 building permits and in many cases the government will help fund the new churches. But a recent nightmare destruction of Holy Trinity Evangelical Church by heavy machinery while police watched reflects a threatening pattern against religious freedom. Evangelicals are concerned about the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church within the state apparatus and accuses Vladimir Putin of tearing down walls between church and state.
Pray: for the safety and continued increase of congregations facing discrimination for their faith May they continue to meet and share with others the love of Christ. (Is.33:5)
More: http://www.charismanews.com/world/34538-church-demolished-russias-fading-religious-freedom
Catastrophic failings in schizophrenia care
A Schizophrenia Commission report said care for people with schizophrenia requires a major overhaul. Patients spend too long in ‘demoralised and dysfunctional’ hospital wards costing £12bn a year. Schizophrenia affects thinking, feeling and behaviour. There is a need for more early intervention teams to help people before their hallucinations or delusions become severe. Teams are being cut or diluted at the moment and secure care took 19% of the 2011 mental health budget with many people staying too long in expensive units. In inner cities secure units were compared to mental institutions with nurses often overwhelmed. Better use of ‘recovery houses’ providing an alternative to hospital admission are needed. Schizophrenia affects 1 in every 100 people. Schizophrenia is believed to make people violent, but people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence by others. Pray for people with mental health problems to have the same dignified care as anyone else.
Pray: that the Government would consider mental health a priority and improve out-patient care and in-patient units. (Is.32:4, 17-18)
75,000 children without homes at Christmas
More than 75,000 children in Britain will wake up on Christmas Day without a home, warns the housing and homelessness charity Shelter as spending on homelessness falls. Shelter is highlighting the figures to raise awareness of the increasing numbers of homeless families in Britain this Christmas and is particularly concerned about the number of families forced to live in bed and breakfast accommodation, which has increased by 57 per cent in the last 12 months. This can mean parents and children living together in one room, with limited cooking or laundry facilities in conditions that are often appalling. This year more than 3,000 children will spend Christmas Day living in this way, says Shelter. In Dec 2011, Shelter helped more than 1,000 people facing homelessness during the festive period. This Christmas, the number of people with nowhere else to turn is expected to be even higher. The main triggers for homelessness include relationship breakdowns, job losses and landlords ending rental tenancies.
Pray: for all those who will be homeless this Christmas that God through His people will be their Provider. (Tit.3:14)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17368
Christianity not necessarily for public good
The Charity Commission, Britain’s charity watchdog has put the charitable status of the nation’s churches in question after it ruled that a congregation in Devon did not exist for public benefit. Under charity law, churches and other organisations must show that their existence has some form of ‘public benefit.’ But in a letter to the Plymouth Brethren, the Charity Commission explained its refusal to grant charitable status to one of the denomination’s churches in Devon. Head of legal services for the Commission, Kenneth Dibble, stated: ‘This decision makes it clear that there was no presumption that religion generally, or at any more specific level, is for the public benefit, even in the case of Christianity or the Church of England.’ A committee of MPs is currently investigating the Charity Commission. Some of these MPs have expressed concern that the Charity Commission is engaged in a ‘politically correct’ campaign aimed at suppressing Christianity.
Pray: that the investigation into the Charity Commission will over-ruleand the understanding that the role of churches is not of public benefit should be reversed. (Heb.8:3)
Thousands of Muslims receive 'Bible Chip'
Bringing the Gospel to the Middle East is a risky enterprise, but the Bible Chip, developed by Bible League International and the Digital Bible Society, reduces this risk significantly. It’s a small data card of the size of a stamp that contains several Bible translations, audio files, hundreds of books, and over 200 hours of video on evangelism and discipleship, all in Arabic. It’s programmed not to leave any traces on a PC or mobile phone. Wagih Abdelmassih, pastor of the Agape Arabic Christian Centre (AACC) in London, calls the Bible Chip an answer to prayer. He distributed thousands of copies to Arabic speaking visitors to last summer’s Olympic Games. While printed Bibles would not be easily accepted, the Bible Chip turned out to be a much wanted gift. During one-on-one conversations a total of 12,600 Arab Muslims received a Bible Chip. Source: Joel news
Praise: God for the opportunities we have to use digital media to spread His Word. (2Tim.2:8-9)
More: http://digitalbiblesociety.com/DBS2010/english/index.htm
Thousands of Muslims receive 'Bible Chip'
Bringing the Gospel to the Middle East is a risky enterprise, but the Bible Chip, developed by Bible League International and the Digital Bible Society, reduces this risk significantly. It’s a small data card of the size of a stamp that contains several Bible translations, audio files, hundreds of books, and over 200 hours of video on evangelism and discipleship, all in Arabic. It’s programmed not to leave any traces on a PC or mobile phone. Wagih Abdelmassih, pastor of the Agape Arabic Christian Centre (AACC) in London, calls the Bible Chip an answer to prayer. He distributed thousands of copies to Arabic speaking visitors to last summer’s Olympic Games. While printed Bibles would not be easily accepted, the Bible Chip turned out to be a much wanted gift. During one-on-one conversations a total of 12,600 Arab Muslims received a Bible Chip. Source: Joel news
Praise: God for the opportunities we have to use digital media to spread His Word. (2Tim.2:8-9)
More: http://digitalbiblesociety.com/DBS2010/english/index.htm
Update on revival spreading throughout Egypt
During the first weekend in Oct, 10,000 young people gathered in the desert 60 miles north of Cairo to sing, pray and worship the Lord. (See Prayer Alert 43-2012) The youth gathering was followed up with an even larger event at the same location - on Oct 25-28 ‘Count It Right’ Christian rally which drew 45,000 people. Included in the numbers reported by a Christian leader are: • 25,000 - estimated number of people who gave their lives to Jesus: • 8,000 - cards filled out by people who requested follow-up visits by churches: • 2-3 million - estimated number of people who followed the rally on two Christian satellite channels: • 1,000 - children participating in a special programme prepared for them: • 5,000 - people attending a one-day parallel festival on Oct. 25 in the Coptic Orthodox Cave Church: • 6,000 - people attending another similar gathering from different churches on Oct 28 in Assiut, a city located six hours south of Cairo. ‘Big numbers, but most important of all, a great harvest!' Source: via email. See also ‘More’ link.
Praise: God for the work of the Holy Spirit among the Egyptian people. (2Cor.13:14)
More: http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5138667adad5222600bae0e66&id=80671a63ac&e=947657d957#mctoc1