Married couples 'will be in the minority by 2050’
Married couples will be in the minority in little more than a generation, a new report has claimed. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found marriage was increasingly the preserve of the middle and upper classes, while only about 50 per cent of new parents on low incomes were married this rose to nearly 80 per cent for couples earning £21,000 By 2050, families headed by married couples will be in the minority, according to the think tank set up by Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary. The CSJ criticised the Government’s ‘failure’ to do more to tackle family breakdown, saying it was ‘deeply dismayed by the lack of progress’ since the Coalition was formed in 2010. Tim Loughton, until recently Minister for Children, said ‘the Government needs to get family policy back on track and ‘rediscover’ its commitment to family stability. ‘We fail to do so at our peril, socially and economically.’
Pray: for the ‘family’ as a unit and for the Government to provide much stronger support for families. (Pr.18:22)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9593369/Married-couples-will-be-in-the-minority-by-2050.html
Yorkshire churches enter groundbreaking partnership
Anglican and Methodist churches in Yorkshire have entered into a groundbreaking regional partnership.
The Church of England and Methodist Church nationally have been committed to greater cooperation since signing a national covenant in 2003, but this is the first time a covenant has been signed between the two Churches at regional level in Britain. The Covenant Area Partnership, between the Leeds Methodist District and the Ripon and Leeds Anglican Diocese was inaugurated at a special celebration at Trinity Methodist Church in Harrogate last Saturday. The partnership covers 85 Anglican parishes and 65 Methodist churches who will work together in mission and ministry, and consult each other on the deployment of staff and resources throughout the region. ‘The lives of both Churches have already been greatly enriched by our determination to work, worship and grow together,’ said the Rev Julian Pursehouse, ‘It is a fantastic opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to one another and to live out our calling to serve our communities in a more dynamic and coherent way.’
Pray: for this new partnership and for those tasked with making it work. (Heb.10:25 )
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/yorkshire.churches.enter.groundbreaking.partnership/30752.htm
Colombia: Pastors being assassinated
20-30 Church leaders are assassinated each year in Columbia. The most recent murder was of pastor Henry Rodriguez, 44, who was shot dead as he left United Pentecostal Church in Bogota’s afternoon service on September 16th .The reasons behind the murder are unknown but it was carried out by what appeared to be professional hit men using a moped, a method commonly used in professional hits in Colombia. While the assassination of a pastor is extremely unusual in Bogota, countrywide church leaders are frequently targeted by illegal armed groups. The Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches Peace said leaders are targeted because of their refusal to cooperate or support the objectives of the illegal armed groups; however, the reasons behind the murder of Pastor Rodriguez are unclear, as he had not reported receiving any threats prior to Sunday. Rodriguez, who was on course to graduate from seminary in October, is survived by his wife and three children. CSW is calling for a full investigation.
Pray: that the Colombian authorities would carry out a full investigation into this and similar assassinations and for those responsible to be brought to justice. (Ps.45:3-5)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2012/09/pastor-shot-dead-in-colombia-where-20-30-are-assassinated-each-year/#more-2209
Middle East: Terrorism and criminality
The political turmoil which has swept the Arab world has benefited terrorism and criminality, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers head, Mohamed Ben Ali Koumane, said on Wednesday. ‘The preachers of terrorism have profited from the security deficit in the region’, Koumane said. ‘The spread of weapons and explosives has allowed terrorists to get hold of the tools of death and destruction.’ He was speaking at the start of a meeting of Arab security officials on the fight against terrorism, held at the Tunis headquarters of the council, which was set up in 1982 with the agreement of the Arab League. ‘Since last year the Arab region has witnessed political changes that have resulted in acute security crises, directly linked to a rise in crime.’ Koumane said. The deteriorating security situation has provided fertile ground for organised crime, illegal migration plus human and drug trafficking.
Pray: against the wave of violence and lawlessness afflicting Arab countries and for God to bring about His purposes and provision for Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. (Is.59:19)
USA: Human trafficking
On Oct. 19, a conference in Des Moines hopes to recruit an army of Christians to combat the abduction of thousands of children each year. The Preventing Abuse Conference will inform, equip and organize people to be part of the solution to the rampant human trafficking problem of 1,000,000 children reported missing each year - 60,000 to 80,000 are abducted by nonfamily members. The problem is made worse by child pornographyto be an increasingly sexualized culture and the spread of drug cartels smuggling children across the border. The FBI reported child pornography the fastest growing form of pornography on the Internet. Organisers of the conference said, ‘Our conference is focusing on the church. No law enforcement agency can match the vast reach of the church and the church has a moral mandate from God to relieve the oppressed and set the captive free. Once the American church is educated about warning signs of a predator they can make the call that could lead to rescuing a victim.’
Pray: that this and similar conferences would lead to the rescue of thousands of children and the arrest of predators. (Mt.10:16)
More: http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/taking-the-war-to-the-sex-traffickers/
Uzbekistan: Pastor urgently needs prayer
Protestant churches in Karakalpakstan are illegal. Pastor Makhset is a housechurch leader and has been to court six times, his family’s apartment was raided in 2007 and they fled to Kazakhstan where they initiated the process of seeking asylum through the United Nations. The UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees determined the family to be refugees who would face prosecution in Uzbekistan because of their Christian faith. - The Kazakh government disagreed and ruled against Makhset. His case now rests before the country’s highest court, which has yet to set a date for his extradition hearing. On September 2nd Kazakh authorities arrested Makhset, prosecutors are responding to Uzbekistan’s request to return him to face charges. Open doors are asking for Christians to send a message to the Kazakh Ambassador to the United States, asking that the Kazakh government may not forcibly return Makhset to Uzbekistan! We are asked to pray.
Pray: that Makhset, his pregnant wife Aigul and their four children will not be repatriated and that Makhset will be free to preach and practice his faith. (Acts14:22)
More: http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=59821.0&dlv_id=85841
Sudan/South Sudan: Buffer zone
Last week Sudan and South Sudan signed nine agreements settling some disputed issues and established security cooperation between the two governments to stop rebel attacks from both sides through a number of measures including a 14 mile buffer zone of pasture land on the common border. Some Dinka think they have been abandoned by their government, believing this agreement gives another opportunity for the marauding Murahaleen to resume their rustling; while others view it as a trading off of their land for a region that initially in terms of law and administration chose not to be part of South Sudan. Meanwhile, although they welcomed these agreements, the rebel alliance Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) said they are determined to bring down Khartoum's regime. An SRF spokesperson said they doubt Khartoum's regime will implement what is agreed in Addis Ababa. See also: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210030016.html
Pray: for peace between the two Sudans and for speedy implementation of all the agreed provisions. (Lk.6:37)
More: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210020985.html
Nigeria: Gunmen kill Mubi students
At least 20 people, mostly students, were killed by unknown gunmen in north-eastern Nigeria at a student hostel. One Mubi resident said more than 40 students had been killed but there is no official death toll. The killing comes days after a major operation against the Boko Haram militant group in the town. BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says mobile phone masts in the area were recently attacked by the militants, so getting information from Mubi is difficult. ‘Everybody is scared.’ A resident who did not want his name to be used told the BBC that men in military uniform asked the students to line up and say their names. Some were then shot and others stabbed with knives and their bodies left in lines outside the buildings. He said it is not clear why some were killed and others spared. Some of those killed were Muslims and others Christian.
Pray: for all those living in fear in Nigeria to have a sense of God’s presence in their lives daily. Pray for Nigeria to come into the inheritance that God has provided for her. (Ps.27:13-4) & (Ps.35:20-23)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19801814
Iran: Currency and Human Rights
In July we prayed for poverty stricken Iranians abandoning traditional eating habits which were too expensive; and for shortages of medicines because of sanctions. The crisis is worsening. The currency plunged to less than two-thirds of where it stood a week ago. Iranian authorities are blaming (and threatening) currency speculators. Iranians say the government is at fault. This week a petition of 10,000 names was addressed to Iran’s labour minister amid wide-reaching public outcries over the economy, and alleged Government mismanagement. Some are saying a Tahrir-style uprising could erupt in Tehran in the run-up to the presidential elections next summer, and Khamenei is considering a constitutional change to cancel the office of ‘president’. Meanwhile Mohammad Ali Dadkhah begin a nine-year prison sentence at Evin prison on trumped-up charges. He was Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s lawyer. Mohammad Ali Dadkhah co-founded Iran’s Center for Human Rights Defenders (CHRD). Several other leaders of congregations remain behind bars and need advocacy. See:
Pray: that the people of Iran would experience a better quality of life physically, emotionally and spiritually. Pray for true law and order in Iran and for God’s comfort, provision and protection for the Iranian church. (Tit.3:1-2)
More: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/irans-economy-sours-currency-plunges-as-sanctions-bite/article4581735/
NDOP Wembley submerged by waves of prayer and praise
Wembley stadium was overtaken by a wave of prayer and praise when over 32,000 gathered for the National Day of Prayer and Worship on Saturday September 29th. Tens of thousands more were able to join the day through live broadcasts and streams via GOD TV, Revelation TV, OHTV, Premier Radio and UCB. During one of the key moments of the day as 300 young Christians in red hoodies were being commissioned to carry on the baton of prayer into the next generation, a Mexican wave of united prayer engulfed the whole stadium as tens of thousands were believing for a new wave of revival to hit the UK. The day carried the theme of the Lord’s Prayer and began with a time of thanksgiving for the fulfilment of a 17 year old Wembley vision, the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics, More Than Gold and for Government.
Praise: God for the many thousands who gathered in fulfilment of the Wembley vision, especially the young people. (Ps.89:19)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12100001.htm