The Middle East has a long history with Christianity as its birthplace. Now, many Christians are leaving the region due to the growing instability there. The five families of churches represent about 13 to 15 million Christians (approximately 9 million residing in the Middle East)*
1. The Oriental Orthodox churches, which includes the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, the Armenian Apostolic Church living in various Arab countries, and the Syrian Orthodox Church. Each is fully self-governing, though they are in communion with one another.
2. They Byzantine Orthodox churches, often referred to as the Byzantine Orthodox Churches or Eastern or Greek Orthodox. These churches are linked in doctrine, liturgy and canon law with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul (formerly Byzantium or Constantinople) and belong, therefore, to the wider family of Orthodox churches in Russia, eastern Europe and elsewhere.
3. The Catholic churches of the Middle East. These churches all accept the supreme ecclesiastical authority of the Pope and the doctrine of the Catholic Church. Only a small percentage of them are Roman or Latin Catholics. Most can be grouped together as Eastern-rite Catholic churches. The largest of these is the Maronite Church in Lebanon.
4. Assyrian Church of the East is one of the most self-contained of the Middle East churches. It is sometimes called the Church of the “East Syrians” or the Church of Persia. It exists in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
5. The Anglican, Lutheran, and Protestant churches. Like the Eastern-rite Catholic churches, these churches came into being as a result of Western missionary activitiy in the Middle east in modern history. Many new independent and denominational groups have joined this grouping of churches in the Middle East as recently as the 19th century.
*Information provided by Dr. Miltiades B. Efthimiou, Protopresbyter, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople care of Leonard Rodgers of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding.
Please pray our brothers and sisters in Christ to be strengthened and encouraged in their lives and in the fulfillment of the mission the Lord has given them to bear witness to the majority of their region who are from Islamic background and belief. It will take great courage, love and perseverance to do this.
Today, a Christian leader from Jordan called to ask us to pray for his nation, which is being overwhelmed by 300,000 refugees from Syria. Iraqi and Palestinian refugees were already camped there for years. The new refugees need more food, clothing and heaters in the winter cold. Nearly 200,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Lebanon, more than 153,000 in Turkey, 69,300 in Iraq, 13,000 in Egypt, and upwards of 5,000 in North Africa, according to the United Nations, which expects their number to rise to 1.1 million by June if the war continues.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jan-17/202575-jordan-seeking-aid-boost-for-syrian-refugees.ashx#ixzz2IMAulMyb
(The Daily Star: Lebanon News: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Please pray for them and for the provision of these needs by the international community through the government, the U.N., humanitarian agencies. Pray also that many of them will come to the knowledge of the Lord during this difficult ordeal for them and their nation. May a just peace and order be restored to Syria soon!
“To pray unceasingly is to think, live and speak in the presence of God…Prayer is an outward, careful attentiveness to the One who invites us to unceasing conversation.” -Henri Nouwen
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, our partners in prayer throughout the world,
Hope you are experiencing a joyful and blessed New Year. It is time to update you on some key things that are happening in the international prayer movement and to ask if you could please intercede with us concerning these initiatives.
Here are a few prayer concerns for 2013 we would appreciate your keeping in mind. Will you join us in seeking the Lord for these things?:
1) God’s peace, reconciliation and healing for the Middle East region - Please continue to pray for His peace and healing of those Middle East nations that are now in conflict and turmoil. Over the last 100 years, there have been scores of conflicts in this region, a land of ancient cultures, beautiful peoples and their cultures, but tragically, so often torn by terrible divisions, hatreds and wars.
During the next three weeks, accompanied by a colleague or two here and there, I will be meeting with senior church leaders in four countries of that region about developing a regional strategic prayer focus that will connect people of prayer across the region and Christian traditions, with the support of those who can share this burden of concern from around the world. We will also confer with Middle Eastern leaders about the World Prayer Coalition described below. Please pray for hearts and doors to open and for His wisdom and guidance to know how best to carry out such a united prayer focus during 2013.
2) World Prayer Coalition - The Global Christian Forum as well as some Catholic and Orthodox leaders have been considering our proposal to unite praying believers of all traditions in prayer for our world and in answer to Jesus’ prayer of John 17 for the unity of His Body that will result in the world believing that the Father sent Him. This initiative was inspired by the World Prayer Assembly which saw Christians from Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox backgrounds praying together for His Church and its mission and our world. It is such a daunting effort to bring together such diverse traditions and denominations to pray in one accord! How we need your prayer support! Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will touch these leaders and give them a heart to engage with us in the IPC and WPA. Such joint prayer, with increasingly united hearts among God’s people, could change the atmosphere of our world for great good, enabling many other Kingdom initiatives to go forward.
3) Afghanistan-Pakistan Prayer Focus for 2013 - in 2014, the Coalition forces will pull out of Afghanistan. It is likely the violent Taliban rebel movement will be able to gain control of that nation and with other Islamic radicals also subvert Pakistan which has nuclear weapons that could threaten India, the West and other parts of our world. The IPC is launching a year-long prayer focus, asking many around the world to pray for the dissolving of the Taliban and the restoration of protection and peace for these two broken yet strategic nations. Please see the fuller article below and pray with us for a massive response by the Body of Christ and for His deliverance of both countries from the threat of the Taliban and radical Islam.
4) United Nations Prayer Initiative - Several organizations have been in talks about cooperating to put on another international prayer initiative for the UN, which dearly needs our prayers. We have decided to do this November 18-20 of this year and to focus on “Children and Youth: Investing in the Future” in connection with the UN Universal Children’s Day (Nov. 20). Venue will be the United Nations in New York City. Connected with the UN initiative, there will also be a third global Children in Prayer consultation in New York, November 16-18. The two will fit well together.
Please pray for His favor with UN officials and ambassadors as planning team colleagues begin to approach them now; for strong and wide international participation by Christian NGOs working with children and youth; as well as by prayer leaders and child and youth leaders worldwide; and for our planning team to work in a united and effective way together.
Thanks so much for your partnership in this way. Your support in prayer is a great blessing and help!
All His best for 2013
Study shows 1.4 million falling behind with rent or mortgage payments
A new YouGov survey for the housing and homelessness charity Shelter reveals that 1.4 million people in Britain are falling behind with their rent or mortgage payments. The number of people struggling to pay their rent or mortgage each month has increased by 44 per cent over the past year, to 7.8 million people. The research also reveals that over the past year almost a million people used a payday loan to help pay their rent or mortgage and 2.8 million people used an unauthorised overdraft. Of those, 10 per cent did so every month. With austerity measures set to affect even more families this year, Shelter is urging anyone struggling with their housing costs to visit their free, online advice pages, to avoid putting their home at risk. The charity is also warning of the dangers of turning to short-term, high interest credit as a way to help meet housing costs.
Pray: for all those who find themselves under severe financial pressure and that they will receive good advice and support. (Ps.121:1-2)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17736
NHS reforms to be recommended by report into Stafford Hospital
Wide-ranging reforms of the National Health Service will be recommended by a public inquiry into serious failings of care at Stafford Hospital. The £11 million review of what went wrong at Stafford Hospital between January 2005 and March 2009 will suggest hospitals that cover up mistakes by doctors and poor treatment of patients should face fines and possible closure, the Sunday Times said. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said that the NHS needed a "change of culture. Patients must never be treated as numbers but as human beings, indeed human beings at their frailest and most vulnerable," he wrote. "A culture of targets and performance management defined the NHS under Labour - with the unintended and tragic consequence that organisations cared more about meeting top down targets than focusing on the needs of patients."
Pray: for all NHS staff most of whom work hard and professionally. Where deficiencies arise pray that they can be addressed quickly. (Rev.21:4)
More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wideranging-nhs-reforms-to-be-recommended-by-report-into-scandalhit-stafford-hospital-8439947.html
UK among worst nations for family breakdown
The UK has one of the highest levels of family breakdown in the developed world, a new league table shows. Family campaigners called it an “epidemic” and said it is high time “timid politicians” took action to back marriage and stop playing politics. Only Belgium, Estonia and Latvia have a higher level of broken families than the UK, according to a survey of 30 developed nations. The survey was carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Just 68.9 per cent of children live with both parents in the UK, compared to an average of 84 per cent in the 30 nations surveyed by OECD. Christian Guy, of the Centre for Social Justice, said: “Timid politicians are becoming numb to Britain’s sky-high family breakdown rates. “Yet, as these OECD figures show, broken families are not some inevitable feature of modern society or social progress.
Pray: for greater support to encourage stability in family life in the UK. (1Tim.5:8)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/uk-among-worst-nations-for-family-breakdown/
Wycliffe fundraising for new aircraft to support Bible translation
Wycliffe Associates USA is seeking to acquire a specially designed aircraft to support Bible translation efforts in Papua New Guinea. The organisation is raising funds to purchase a fourth Kodiak aircraft for service in Papua New Guinea, home to 830 different languages. Air travel is a vital part of Bible translation work in there because of the country's difficult terrain of mountains and jungles. Most Bible translators rely on air travel to get around and reach remote translation locations. “Without an aircraft, reaching some language groups can take up to five days. It is a critical tool to reach language groups who are crying out for God’s Word,” says President and CEO Bruce Smith, who is a former missionary pilot. “Insurmountable mountain peaks, dense rainforests, and hard-to-reach islands in Papua New Guinea make sharing the truth and hope of God’s Word time-consuming and extremely difficult.” The Kodiak has been developed with missionary work in mind.
Pray: for Wycliffe, their work and the current need for a new aircraft. (Matt.28:19)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/wycliffe.fundraising.for.new.aircraft.to.support.bible.translation/31389.htm
Children forego birthday gifts for vulnerable children
A brother and sister decided to sacrifice their birthday presents this year in aid of children in care. Instead of their usual birthday parties this year, Elsie Parlor, 7, and her younger brother, Alfred, 5, held a joint fundraising disco in Newport Pagnell. In place of gifts, guests were asked to put a donation for St Francis’ Children’s Society in a bucket. Donations from the night raised £260 to help find adoptive parents for children in care. Dominik Byrne, fundraising officer at St Francis’ Children’s Society said: ‘The whole team was moved when we heard about this party. Although parents often generously make donations, many of us are guilty of forgetting that children are often eager to help too. Elsie and Alfred are the first to have such a party – what a brilliant idea. They’ve inspired us to create party packs containing goodies, literature and a collection box for any other children who’d like to help.’
Praise: God for these caring young people and their idea; may many others be inspired to give. (Ps.100:1)
Children forego birthday gifts for vulnerable children
A brother and sister decided to sacrifice their birthday presents this year in aid of children in care. Instead of their usual birthday parties this year, Elsie Parlor, 7, and her younger brother, Alfred, 5, held a joint fundraising disco in Newport Pagnell. In place of gifts, guests were asked to put a donation for St Francis’ Children’s Society in a bucket. Donations from the night raised £260 to help find adoptive parents for children in care. Dominik Byrne, fundraising officer at St Francis’ Children’s Society said: ‘The whole team was moved when we heard about this party. Although parents often generously make donations, many of us are guilty of forgetting that children are often eager to help too. Elsie and Alfred are the first to have such a party – what a brilliant idea. They’ve inspired us to create party packs containing goodies, literature and a collection box for any other children who’d like to help.’
Praise: God for these caring young people and their idea; may many others be inspired to give. (Ps.100:1)
India: Unique film released in Hindi
A six hour Hindi film, ‘Christayan’ (the journey of Christ) was released in Indore Madhya Pradesh in early December. It was directed by Father George, a Catholic priest, who worked seven years on it with a team of 200 amateur actors, scientists, technical staff, professors, doctors, teachers, social activists, farmers, atheists, students, media persons, priests and religious sisters. They visited 10 states including the north-eastern part of India. Ankit Sharma, a Hindu young man, acted as Jesus. Over 80% of the team were ‘friends of Jesus’. ‘Christayan’ has an eastern flavor with Indian socio-cultural backgrounds and aesthetics interwoven with various genres of Indian music by some of the best Asian singers and musicians of our time. Father George wrote the script, lyrics and also supervised makeup and costumes. He was a missionary in the interior villages of the state, and believes ‘Jesus, the living and loving God, is present with us and within us.’
Praise: God for this film; may it spread throughout India. May peoples' spiritual eyes be opened to see Jesus the Son of the Living God. (Ps.24:5)
More: http://persecutedchurch.info/2012/12/05/six-hour-long-hindi-film-on-jesus-released/