CAPTURED!
The reports have been rolling in all week on the capture of prominent cartel and gang leaders. We salute all those courageous law enforcement and military that successfully captured and arrested these bad guys; but, most of all, we give thanks to our Heavenly Father, who has heard and answered our prayers!
• Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, known as "El Coss," leader of the Gulf drug cartel, was arrested Wednesday evening in the Gulf port of Tampico. Sanchez controls some of the most valuable and violently contested smuggling routes along the U.S. border. His capture is a major victory in the military battle against drug trafficking, but could open a power vacuum and intensify a struggle south of the Texas border in northeast Mexico, a region that has seen some of the most horrific violence in the country's six-year war among law-enforcement and rival gangs.
• The Mexican navy arrested Mario "El Gordo" Cardenas Guillen, a presumed senior member of the Gulf cartel, on Sept. 3 in Altamira, Tamaulipas state. Mario Cardenas Guillen is the brother of former Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas Guillen.
• On Sept. 2, Mexican federal police arrested David "El Comandante Diablo" Rosales Guzman, alleged Gulf cartel plaza boss, in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, a city and municipality of the Greater Monterrey Metropolitan area. Rosales Guzman is accused of ordering several attacks on bars as well as kidnappings that left at least 19 dead in Monterrey in August.
• Three suspected Hezbollah operatives were arrested in Merida, Mexico, on Sunday, September 9th. Rafik Mohammad al-Laboun is a US citizen and was extradited to the American authorities soon after his arrest by Mexican security forces. Laboun was wanted by the US prior to his arrest. The two other Hezbollah members, Justin Yasser Safa from Belize, and George Abdalah Elders, remained in Mexican custody.
• A high-level member of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa drug cartel was arrested by the Federal Police, the Public Safety Secretariat said. Adelmo Niebla Gonzalez was captured last Thursday in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. Investigators have determined that Niebla Gonzalez smuggled marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States via the Arizona desert. He was also involved in weapons trafficking into Mexico.
• Three brothers suspected of being leaders of the Jalisco Nueva Generación drug cartel were captured by Mexico's military. Ramon, Rafael and Jesus Alvarez Ayala were arrested last Thursday in a simultaneous operation staged by the army and federal police in the western cities of Guadalajara and Zapopan. Ramon Alvarez Ayala is suspected of being the cartel's No. 2 man, while Rafael Alvarez Ayala is a top member of the drug trafficking organization. Ramon Alvarez Ayala was "the main associate and right-hand man" of top cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, and he was in charge of overseeing the gang's expansion into the central states of Guanajuato and Michoacán.
• Mexican police have captured Ramiro Pozos Gonzalez, a founding member and leader of La Resistencia drug gang based in western Mexico. La Resistencia operates in Mexico City and the states of Jalisco, Michoacán and Mexico. La Resistencia was created in 2010 by former members of the Gulf, La Familia and Milenio drug cartels and later formed an alliance with the brutal Zetas drug cartel.
• Mexican State police have captured Felipe De Jesús Gastélum Castro, aka: "El Vaquero or "El Felipillo", wanted in the killings of several police officers. He is believed to be involved in the executions of over 40 people.
PRAY:
• Lord, we stand in awe of your power and might. We thank you for hearing our prayers and for guiding the authorities in capturing these violent men.
• Father God, in our role as intercessors (standing in the gap), we continue to pray for the dismantling of all drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). We ask You to shine Your light into the dark world of these drug and human traffickers, exposing where they are hiding. Mighty God, give law enforcement the needed insight and direction to capture all DTO members in Mexico and in the USA.
• We call upon You, Mighty God, to break through in this violent war on humanity and bring an end to these criminal organizations. Heal our land and restore godliness, righteousness and justice to Mexico and the USA.
• We ask for Your protection, Merciful God, upon all who are fighting to dismantle the DTOs and murderous gangs.
PRAY THAT:
1. God’s truth and glory are revealed in Turkey, the Turkic window, and the Islamic region so that they may see spiritual restoration and revival.
2. Help Turkish believers and Christian workers to be united and filled with the Holy Spirit and the heart of the Lord.
3. Churches would be planted in every province and everyone would carry the Gospel freely. Particularly, plant churches in the 50 provinces without a single church
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. May the armed conflict on the Syria - Turkey border not escalate to war. Pray that the Kingdom of God would come upon the Middle East Nations and ease tension.
2. These days, there is a surge of anti-American and anti-Christian sentiments in Islamic region, supported by films like "Innocence of Muslims" (on YouTube). May the negative sentiments stop spreading among Islamic region and not disturb the spreading of the gospel.
Wycliffe's World Day of Prayer is held on November 11th. Well, it's that time of the year again when we ask the Body of Christ to join in united prayer for the ministry of Bible translation. I have attached a document that gives suggestions on how to pray for this ministry, especially on this day.
Thanksgiving and Praise
In 1999, Wycliffe Bible Translators and key partners embraced the vision that, through working in partnership under God’s direction, a Bible translation project will be in progress by 2025 for every people group that needs it. Since then, “more than 250 New Testaments have been published with Wycliffe involvement and new work has begun in almost 700 languages” (www.wycliffe.net). You may want to see the videos you will find at the two links below. Thank God for the progress of Bible translation.
Prayer Concerns
Here are a couple sources of requests for your prayer time. Please follow the links.
• Prayer Focus Bulletin (http://www.wycliffe.net/home/tabid/37/language/en-US/Default.aspx) This weekly bulletin of seven selected prayer requests is available in seven major languages.
• Prayer Library (http://www.wycliffe.net/prayer/tabid/63/Default.aspx?library=T) This is an up-to-date list of current prayer requests related to Bible translation ministries of Wycliffe and key partners worldwide.
Dr. Lloyd P. Estrada
Prayer Advocate
Wycliffe Global Alliance
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.wycliffe.net
Brennan Manning is a former Catholic priest who has written many books. This is a powerful, encouraging video which only lasts 3.5 minutes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQi_IDV2bgM
Bishop’s call for marriage tax break
The Bishop of Chester has called for the Government to honour its pledge to recognise marriage in the tax system. Bishop Peter Forster said if plans were not introduced in the next Budget, it was unlikely there would be time to bring in the tax break before the election. He said 'a financial recognition of marriage would send a powerful symbolic message into society.' Initiating a debate on children in the House of Lords, he said: ‘At the end of the day, Governments cannot simply wash their hands when moral issues are presented, because government is intrinsically a moral activity. To recognise marriage in the tax system would say something important about the wider importance of marriage to society.’ He asked Baroness Garden of Frognal, who was responding to the debate for the Government: ‘Can the Minister please tell us when this pledge - I underline the word pledge - in the coalition agreement will start to be implemented?'
Pray: for the Government and the Opposition to understand the importance of family and to actively support it in their legislation and the tax system. (Pr.11:29 )
More: http://religiousintelligence.org/churchnewspaper/?p=28708
Churches pray for healthcare workers
Churches across the UK are said prayers last Sunday for doctors, nurses and others working in healthcare. Healthcare Sunday is held each year by the Christian Medical Fellowship, Christian Nurses and Midwives, and the Healthcare Christian Fellowship. It is an opportunity to show their support for healthcare workers as they live out God's call to care for the sick. Dr Peter Saunders, Chief Executive of Christian Medical Fellowship, said: ‘Many more people pass through our hospitals and GP surgeries than through our churches, and Christian doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers play a key role as Christ's hands and feet with the opportunity to touch people's lives at what can be their greatest time of need. ‘They also face big ethical and moral pressures in a workplace which is often hostile to Christian faith and values. As ordinary Christian disciples facing these challenges and with their own personal, spiritual and emotional needs, they need our prayer and encouragement.’
Pray: for all those who work in healthcare often under severe pressure of work, and for some, of their faith too. (Pr.16:24)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.pray.for.healthcare.workers/30832.htm
Sentamu: We're at a moral crossroads over care for elderly.
The Archbishop of York has urged David Cameron to tackle the ‘great injustice’ of care for the elderly, warning we risk growing into a ‘sick society’ if there are no improvements in the way vulnerable pensioners are treated. Speaking out in support of the Daily Mail’s Dignity for the Elderly Campaign, Dr John Sentamu said it was wrong that tens of thousands of pensioners are being forced to sell their homes to pay for care which is often less than adequate. He said the Government has reached a ‘moral crossroads’ and must decide whether to build a society that supports the vulnerable or ‘one where individuals face whatever life throws at them on their own’. In a separate intervention, the former Liberal Democrat care minister Paul Burstow also challenged Mr Cameron to act quickly to fix the ‘broken system’ amid signs that the Government is planning to delay introducing a cap on the cost of care.
Pray: for the elderly and especially those who are most vulnerable and in need of a well-planned system of care and support. (Ps.71:18)
More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2221184/Sentamu-moral-crossroads-care-elderly-sick-society-improvements.html
QC: Demoting Christian housing manager was ‘over-reaction’
A housing trust’s decision to demote a Christian after he said on Facebook that gay weddings in churches were ‘an equality too far’ was described as an ‘extraordinary over-reaction’ in court yesterday. Adrian Smith lost his managerial position and had his salary cut by 40 per cent after his employer, Trafford Housing Trust, said his Facebook comments amounted to gross misconduct. Yesterday Mr Smith’s lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, QC, said: ‘The whole thing is a huge and extraordinary over-reaction’, as he also raised suggestions of entrapment. Mr Smith is trying to recover his lost earnings, and his case is supported by The Christian Institute, a national charity that protects the civil liberty of Christians. The court will decide whether the Trust breached Mr Smith’s employment contract and interfered with his right to free speech. The case is set to conclude this week although judgment is expected at a later date.
Pray: for Mr Smith and for the outcome of this case. (1Pe.3:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/qc-demoting-christian-housing-manager-was-over-reaction/
Israel: Muslim leaders discuss Jerusalem
In a Tehran meeting between senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar and Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Mr Salehi said, ‘The wave of Islamic Awakening in the Muslim world, especially in regional countries, is a great opportunity and valuable potential for Palestine. This comment followed a conference last month entitled ‘Resistance - Islamic Awakening and Liberation of Palestine.' The Iranian Foreign Minister noted that with the establishment of popular governments in Muslim countries the regional nations and countries will strongly continue their efforts to defend Palestine until the liberation of al-Quds (Jerusalem). Salehi said, ‘Iran did its best to make the summit adopt powerful stances on Palestine and the final result of those efforts were quite favourable.’ Al-Zahar expressed hope that during the presidency of the Islamic Republic, the rights of the Palestinian nation would be defended stronger than before, emphasizing that the Palestinian people will continue their resistance against the Zionist regime of Israel and will not withdraw from their rights and principles.
Pray: for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps.122:6,7)
More: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/260498.html
Iran: Massive arrests of Evangelicals
‘Between 100 and 400 Christians have been detained over the last 10 days in Istahan, Shiraz and Tehran by the intelligence service. ‘Protestant Christians are now viewed as enemy number one of the state,’ said a spokesman for the Iranian Church. ‘We need urgent prayers,’ he added when asked what believers need most. At least seven members of the Church of Iran in Shiraz, have been detained including Mohammad Roghangir, Sister Roxana Forughi. (this is the second time for her) Others were identified as Suroush Saraie, Eskandar Rezaie, Bijan Haghighi, Mehdi Ameruni and Shahin Lahooti. They were taken to the notorious detention centre Plaque 100 of Iran's Intelligence Ministry.Seven received suspended five year sentences for ‘action against the national security.’ Many detainees have been forced to say they will no longer attend church services in exchange for freedom. There was no immediate response from Iranian officials.
Pray: for all who are suffering ‘various medical problems’ because of prison mistreatment; pray also for international outcry to shame Iran into ceasing its persecution of their 100,000+ Christians. (Ps.31:1)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/24042-breaking-news-iran-launching-massive-arrests-of-evangelicals