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
Labour’s three-line whip on gay marriage is illiberal
Ed Miliband tells the Evening Standard today that Labour will give ‘wholehearted’ backing to gay marriage and says that churches and religious bodies should be allowed to conduct these ceremonies. At the same time Labour has let it be known to the Standard that the party is ‘highly likely’ to impose a three-line whip on the gay marriage bill, though it can’t say so for certain until it knows the wording. Same as the Lib Dems, then, but unlike the Tories, who are allowing a free vote. As Mr Miliband says, ‘I think whether you’re gay or straight, you should be able to signify your commitment, your love, with the term ‘marriage’.
Pray: for the Labour Party to allow its MPs a free vote on this important matter. (2Co.1:12)
John Sentamu snubbed - Church may take months to name new Archbishop
John Sentamu, the charismatic Archbishop of York, appears to have been snubbed in the hunt for a successor to Rowan Williams, amid claims that church leaders are in ‘deadlock’ and could take months to nominate a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Speculation about who will be the next head of the Church of England went into overdrive after the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) failed to announce a decision. The CNC had been widely expected to send a two-name shortlist to the Prime Minister on Friday. The PM then recommends the leading candidate to the Queen. But instead, the commission released an opaquely worded statement saying ‘its work was continuing’. Leading contenders such as Dr Sentamu and the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, were thought to be out of the running Tuesday, with new favourites including the ‘compromise candidate‘ Graham James, the Bishop of Norwich and dark horse Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham. (See item 5 below)
Pray: for wisdom and God’s guidance for those charged with the responsibility of the selection of the new archbishop. (1Sa.16:7)
EU squanders our aid millions
An aid minister has accused the EU of squandering hundreds of millions of pounds of British taxpayers’ cash on countries that are too wealthy to need help. Alan Duncan said that while he shared the public’s anger over the massive spending, the UK was being ‘forced’ to hand over huge amounts of money – but then has no say over how it is spent. One sixth of Britain’s aid budget – some £1.4billion – goes straight into EU coffers. Much is spent in relatively rich nations such as Barbados, Iceland, China and Brazil; which the UK refuses to fund directly. Some £800,000 of the EU aid budget is going on a water park and tourist complex being built in Morocco by the French owners of Center Parcs. The cash is being spent to ensure L’Oasis de Noria, on the outskirts of Marrakesh, is ‘environmentally friendly’.
Pray: for action to ensure our aid budget directly helps the truly needy and vulnerable around the world. (1Jn.3:17-18)
More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2210751/EU-squanders-aid-millions-says-minister--years.html
British banks face heat from on high
The beleaguered British banking industry has faced angry politicians, regulators and consumers. This Autumn, a new player has joined the inquisition: a bespectacled bishop wearing a cross made of nails. The Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, (See http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3554265.ece ) is grilling top bankers as part of a new parliamentary inquiry into ‘banking standards’ that represents the U.K. government's latest attempt to shake up the industry. The inquiry was established in July on the heels of news that several banks allegedly sought to rig interest rates such as the London inter-bank lending rate, known as Libor. Bishop Welby, a former oil executive who sits in Britain's House of Lords, has joined nine other lawmakers in assembling a report that will consider new rules on everything from corporate governance to conflicts of interest. The inquiry also involves a series of public hearings already under way.
Pray: for God’s wisdom and justice to guide those researching this report. (Lev.19:35)
More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444752504578024833471492280.html?KEYWORDS=welby
Church of England sets sights on growth
The Church of England is encouraging people to engage in its Church Growth Research Programme. The programme is exploring the factors behind spiritual and numerical church growth. The Church of England is working with researchers at the University of Essex, Cranmer Hall, St John's College Durham, the Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology, and Ripon College. A website has been set up with case studies and literature on church growth. Visitors to the site can sign up to the discussions forum to share their views and experiences of church growth. Discussions include Fresh Expressions and church planting, how to measure church growth, and experiences of decline. The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, said: ‘There are many communities and parishes that are growing and we want to identify the levers and drives of this growth. In addition to the information gathered via the website, researchers will survey 4,000 Church of England churches’.
Pray: that the work of the Holy Spirit will be recognised as central to the growth of the Church. (1Cor.6:19)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.of.england.sets.sights.on.growth/30736.htm
Government drugs chief criticises Channel 4
The Government’s chief drugs adviser has heavily criticised a Channel 4 programme showing volunteers taking ecstasy. Professor Leslie Iversen, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, said the programme may ‘glamorise’ drug-taking as a ‘form of entertainment.’ The Oxford University professor made the criticisms in a letter to The Daily Telegraph. He said: ‘Viewers were repeatedly told this was groundbreaking research that had never been done before.However, a search of scientific literature reveals that there have been no fewer than 68 human studies of Ecstasy using brain-imaging techniques.’ The programme showed 25 volunteers, including a former MP, being given an MDMA tablet (pure ecstasy) or a placebo. They then underwent tests including a brain scan. Almost 2 million people watched the programme, and campaigners accused the show of being an advert for drug taking.
Pray: that TV shows such as this will be halted and not be allowed to glorify drug taking. (1Jn.5:19)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/government-drugs-chief-criticises-channel-4-show/
Netherlands: Haarlem coffee-shops offer alternative to weedpass
Coffee-shop owners in the city of Haarlem have reached an agreement with the mayor, which they believe will make the introduction of the weedpass unnecessary in their city. Under the covenant, the owners have pledged to monitor who enters their coffee-shop, bar minors from entering, provide reliable information about soft drugs and ensure that there aren't any disturbances or troubles in the immediate area around the coffee-shops. The mayor of Haarlem is pleased with the measures. But he says, if the weedpass is introduced throughout the Netherlands on January 1, 2013, it will also go into effect in his city. The weedpass was introduced in the south of the Netherlands in May. Only Dutch residents can now legally purchase soft drugs in coffee-shops. Foreigners are barred. The measure has led to a surge in the illegal trade in soft drugs in the southern part of the country.
Pray: for the government to be sensible in its decisions and not make judgements that increase the use of drugs.
More: http://www.rnw.nl/english/video/haarlem-coffeeshops-offer-alternative-weedpass
Netherlands: Haarlem coffee-shops offer alternative to weedpass
Coffee-shop owners in the city of Haarlem have reached an agreement with the mayor, which they believe will make the introduction of the weedpass unnecessary in their city. Under the covenant, the owners have pledged to monitor who enters their coffee-shop, bar minors from entering, provide reliable information about soft drugs and ensure that there aren't any disturbances or troubles in the immediate area around the coffee-shops. The mayor of Haarlem is pleased with the measures. But he says, if the weedpass is introduced throughout the Netherlands on January 1, 2013, it will also go into effect in his city. The weedpass was introduced in the south of the Netherlands in May. Only Dutch residents can now legally purchase soft drugs in coffee-shops. Foreigners are barred. The measure has led to a surge in the illegal trade in soft drugs in the southern part of the country.
Pray: for the government to be sensible in its decisions and not make judgements that increase the use of drugs.
More: http://www.rnw.nl/english/video/haarlem-coffeeshops-offer-alternative-weedpass
Egyptian Christians request prayer for a number of cases involving allegations of "insulting Islam and its prophet". Several are new, whilst for others we requested prayer in August.
Egyptian Christians request our prayers that:
a. Bishoy, Makrem and Gamal and, together with their families, will know the peace and presence of Jesus throughout these ordeals
b. A way will be found to challenge Bishoy, Makrem and Gamal's unjust imprisonment
c. Nevien will be exonerated from any wrong doing
d. The situation in Marko in AL Fashen will be defused
e. Laws and practice will be changed to grant all Egyptians greater freedom of expression, and that the law will be applied equally to all citizens
f. All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.
www.meconcern.org
The recent anti-Islamic film that caused the death of the US ambassador to Libya, has once again added fuel to an already dire situation in Egypt. The unpredictability of the political and religious situation in Egypt has caused an atmosphere of uncertainty to settle across all spheres of life. If a civil war should break out in Egypt between liberal and conservative Muslims , Christians will undoubtedly be caught in the middle, as was the case in Libya and is currently in Syria.
Up to 100 000+ Christians have already left Egypt in fear of radical Islam under the Muslim Brotherhood. If Egyptian Christians are caught in a civil war within the next two years, thousands more will flee the country, bringing Christianity in Egypt closer to the brink of extinction
Pray that Christians will not lose heart and continue to work towards forgiveness (towards those who persecute them). Pray that Christians will have the strength to stay in Egypt and be bold in sharing their faith. Pray for the new leadership in Egypt under President Morsi.
(INcontext Ministries: www.incontext.webs.com)
A PRAYER LEADER EXHORTS US TO PRAY:
As we see the Muslim world getting more and more violent in these last few weeks we need to remind ourselves that our battle is not against flesh and blood, there is a bigger battle and that battle is in the heavenly realms. Behind the people (M people) is a very powerful religion that leads over a billion people away from the Lord Jesus.
Jesus’ radical call for believers is still to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us. Lord, help us to love Muslims right now.
Lord, we enter into the battle in the heavenly realms and ask for Your hand to be moving forward these events with the end result that more people would call upon Your name and be saved. You are the only answer! Lord, break down this power of Islam.
Lord, we pray for our people looking to take Your good news to Muslim nations. We know this is a trying time, but it is also a time of ministry, we ask for Your wisdom to be with them.
Lord, we lift up the governments of the Muslim nations. We ask that you give them wisdom in dealing with these situations. Help them to bring peace to their nations.
Lord, we ask for your fame to be known in all the world. We ask people would have a hunger to know Your name and know You. Send dreams and visions across the Muslim world.