Pakistan: Christian homes torched, churches attacked after jailing girl
Christians from the UK will be meeting outside the Pakistani High Commission in London on Wednesday to protest the arrest of an 11-year-old girl for blasphemy. The girl, named in reports as Rimsha Masih, has Down's Syndrome. She was accused by Muslims of burning pages of the Koran and was arrested by police after a mob surrounded her home in Mehrabadi, Islamabad. Rimsha remains in police custody and hundreds of Christians have reportedly fled the area in fear. Muslims torched Christian homes and ‘destroyed’ a church in a slum area of Islamabad while suspected militants shot at another church outside Pakistan's capital, after the jailing of a mentally handicapped Christian girl for ‘blasphemy’, witnesses said on Tuesday. President Asif Zardari has called for an investigation into her arrest. The protest in London is being organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA).
Pray: for Rimsha that her unfortunate actions will be recognised as something unintentional. Pray that the investigation by the authorities will clear the situation and bring peace. (Mt.5:9)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.christians.to.protest.arrest.of.pakistani.girl/30513.htm
Four Paralympic flames kindled around the UK
Four Paralympic flames have been kindled at the top of the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of next week's Games. They were created on Northern Ireland's Slieve Donard, Snowdon in Wales, Scotland's Ben Nevis and on Scafell Pike in England's Lake District. Four teams scaled the highest peaks of the home countries to spark the flames which will come together at Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday. The Games start the following day. The flames are being carried down in lanterns ahead of celebrations in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast over the Bank Holiday weekend. A 24-hour relay will leave Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Games, to arrive in Stratford in time for the opening ceremony in London.
Pray: that the flames will once more unite the nations.
Paralympians to celebrate Games in St Paul’s
St Paul’s Cathedral will echo with an unaccustomed sound on the Sunday after next: a three-a-side wheelchair-basketball game is to be played beneath the dome during a service to mark the opening of the Paralympic Games the following Wednesday. The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, will preside, and the service will begin when Chris Holmes, the blind Paralympian swimmer, runs in through the Great West doors with a laurel wreath, and places it on the altar. Baroness Grey-Thompson, who won 16 Paralympic medals during her sporting career, will give the address. Lord Coe and Dame Tessa Jowell MP are expected to attend. In a message to the 2700 young people who volunteered to be ‘ambassadors for Christ’ during the Games, Bishop Chartres said: ‘Without seeking to undermine the Prime Minister's emphasis on the virtues of competition, I think that you all deserve a medal.’
Pray: that the success of the Games will continue and the Paralympic Games will add to the amazing legacy already achieved. (Heb.12:1)
In the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14, we at Intercessors for America sense a renewed call from God to humble ourselves, pray, seek His Face, and turn from our wicked ways. We believe this call is deeply personal and that God wants His people to seek Him with an attitude of repentance.
The prophet Isaiah spoke against wickedness and backsliding among God's people. Still, it was a time when they were going to the temple regularly and fasting. Yet God asked "Is it a fast that I have chosen...?" (Isaiah 58). God then described specifically what He had called them to do, which required a deep personal, self-reflective look at their relationship with Him.
We invite you to join us, as we together seek God's face daily for 21 days, commencing on the anniversary of 9/11 and continuing through 10/1/2013. Each day we will send a brief devotional looking at one aspect of Isaiah 58 and the commitment to which God still calls His people.
How You Can Participate:
• Sign up to receive devotionals for 21 days to encourage you beginning on 9/11 and continuing through 10/1/2013.
Click Here to receive the Daily Emails (http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1550917-JF3YY8fxJJ)
• Set aside quality time each day to pray and seek God's face.
• View our daily devotion through email, on Facebook, Twitter, or on our website: NationalDayofRepentance.org
• Keep a prayer journal for the 21 days and record what the Lord shows you.
• Forward this email to a friend.
We believe setting dedicated time aside and giving up something as a type of fast will be profitable.
Fasting traditionally means abstaining from food for a time period, but God may lead you to fast from other things. We encourage each person participating to pray and ask God to lead you during these 21 days.
Sharing: Each day there will be an opportunity to share what God has spoken to you so that other fellow believers will be encouraged. However, we understand that in some areas, it might be too personal to share publicly what God has revealed to you. We are excited to hear and see how God reveals and draws each of us back to Himself in specific ways during these 21 days of praying and fasting. We believe that He will greatly honor this time.
It is a desperate hour in our nation's history. Repentance is the key that will unlock revival. Please join us!
David Kubal
President/CEO
Intercessors for America
Discipleship in the North of England
The Archbishop of York is inviting 120 young adults from across the north of England to Cranmer Hall for a residential conference on the 19th-20th September. It is hoped that all present will be encouraged and equipped by worshipping and praying together, sharing vision, skills, imagination, and energy - and by having the opportunity to hear some key speakers and take part in relevant and engaging seminars. Archbishop Sentamu will speak at the event on the subject of: ‘Is the Church really up for this?' There will also be contributions from Gavin Calver (National Director YFC) and Bishop Justin Welby (Bishop of Durham). The organisers pray that the Holy Spirit will use the event to direct those attending and equip them to share Christ wherever they are across the north of England. Attendance, accommodation, and food at the conference is free to those invited. If you would like to be invited please email Malcolm Macnaughton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Pray: for a growing number of young people to take up the Gospel message and seek discipleship. (Php.2:3-4)
More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2591/discipleship-in-the-north-of-england
Sainsbury’s chief and Church leaders criticise plans for Sunday trading reform
The head of Sainsbury’s has stepped into the row over Sunday trading with a warning to ministers not to extend opening hours all year round. Justin King, the group’s chief executive, said the restrictions on opening hours — suspended during the Olympics and Paralympics — were ‘a great British compromise’ and should not be abandoned. In a second attack, the Church of England teamed up with a union and a shopkeepers’ group to call for curbs on opening hours to remain in place. The interventions come as some Conservative ministers seek to scrap the law that restricts big stores to six hours’ trading on Sundays, in a measure aimed at boosting economic growth. Mr King says the regime has ‘great merit’ for both shoppers and workers. ‘Maintaining Sunday’s special status has great merit for our customers and our colleagues, and relaxing Sunday trading laws is certainly not a magic answer to economic regeneration.’
Pray: for any move to further extend the Sunday trading hours will be firmly rejected by government. (Ex.20:8)
Christian radio ad ban decision can be appealed
A Christian radio station has been given the go-ahead to appeal a court decision which upheld a ban on an advert asking Christians whether they are being sidelined at work. In its decision to grant the appeal, the court said the radio station’s case is ‘Arguable and important’. Premier Christian Radio had criticised the decision in April this year as ‘reminiscent of a totalitarian state’. The Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC) stopped it from being aired, claiming that it was ‘directed to a political end’. But lawyers for Premier said: ‘The advertisement was not a political message but a request for information which could then be used as part of the normal democratic process, where ideas and views are expressed in public discussion, contradicted, answered and debated.’ The ad quoted surveys showing that 60 per cent of active Christians were being increasingly marginalised at work.
Pray: for this case when it is heard at the Appeal Court as it underlines the erosion of free speech of faith groups. (2Co.10:5)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-radio-ad-ban-decision-can-be-appealed/
Olympics choir at special Paralympics Mass
The choir that performed at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will sing a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the Paralympics. The Dockhead Choir will be accompanied by an orchestra at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on 8th September. ‘It will be a slightly different version of Jerusalem on this occasion to that sung at the opening ceremony,’ explained Canon Maclean, Dockhead's parish priest, who will be directing the choir. ‘However, above all the young people - and their parents - are both delighted and honoured to be taking part in this special liturgy.’ He added, ‘being a part of the Mass in thanksgiving for the Paralympic Games is equally as great an honour for us all as being the first voices to be heard at the opening of the 30th Olympiad singing in worship of God is what the choir does best.’
Pray: for all Christian messages and activities throughout the Paralympics to touch thousands of hearts, minds and spirits. (Mt.5:16)
Churches see 'incredible results' in outreach
Jon Burns, UK director of More Than Gold said other nations have picked up ‘real gems’ from their London experience. Countless churches have used the Games as opportunities to serve communities. One church in the East End hosted a holiday club that’s been packed with Muslim children, and parents were saying they want their children to ‘hear this stuff.’ Mr Burns commended cross-denominational groups for working together and gave the examples of five churches in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire who attracted crowds of 6,500 to watch the opening night on big screens. Volunteers operated on a ‘traffic light’ system - working in a LOCOG or ‘red area’, they simply served the community - working in a church area ‘green area’ they talked openly about their faith.
Pray: that the Christian legacy of unity will continue long after the Olympic and Paralympics finish. Pray also for even more success as churches build up towards the Paralympics big screen and holiday club events. (Jn.17:20)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.see.incredible.results.in.outreach/30463.htm
Bishop hails Olympics ‘goodwill legacy’
After the spectacular closing ceremony, the Bishop of Chelmsford praised the Olympic Games for the positive impact they are having on community life. The Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell welcomed the way in which the Olympics and the Paralympics, due to start in a few weeks, had regenerated a deprived area of East London, saying, ‘The vast and impressive buildings of the Olympic Park and the Olympic Village will indeed bring much needed regeneration. But I am beginning to wonder whether the Olympic legacy may bring a further change as well - a legacy of good will. ‘Last week I met a 17 year old who is on duty at Stansted airport every other morning. There is nothing very glamorous about this. But she wanted to be part of something bigger than herself. She is spending her summer welcoming strangers.’ Bishop Cottrell also said that many people had rediscovered a desire to celebrate with their neighbours through the Games.
Pray: for the volunteers who have learnt new skills and flair through serving the Olympics that they grow as they discover new ways to use and develop talents and gifts. (1Cor.12:4-6)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/bishop.hails.olympics.goodwill.legacy/30461.htm