Glasgow Kirk quits Church of Scotland over gay clergy row
A Glasgow Kirk has become the first to split from the Church of Scotland over the issue of gay clergy. St George's Tron Church said it had taken the decision after more than 12 months of thought and prayer.The decision to formally secede from the Church of Scotland was taken by the congregation on Monday. Last year, the Kirk's General Assembly voted to accept gay clergy provided they had declared their sexuality and were ordained before 2009. The 500-strong St George's Tron congregation believes this decision ‘as marginalised the bible’. The decision to formally secede from the Church of Scotland was taken by the congregation on Monday. Rev Dr William Philip, minister of the church which is based in Buchanan Street, said: ‘Our decision to separate from the Church of Scotland is the culmination of careful thought, sincere discussion and prayer for over 12 months’.
Pray: that the decision by St Georges Tron would not lead to conflict or division amongst the churches. (1Cor.12:25)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18441172
Italy: Ministry to refugees
Increasingly Europe is hosting refugees from Islamic countries. The following example is from Italy, ‘Our outreach is in Milan. Italy has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe and is becoming increasingly dependent on immigration to maintain the economic status quo. 40% of immigrants are Muslims coming to Rome and Milan seeking work. This year the Milan government gave official recognition to 17 mosques (there are more illegal ones). Most of the mosques are run by the Muslim Brotherhood, a fundamentalist organization - so Muslims immigrating here are indoctrinated into a fundamentalist Islam. Yet Christian outreach to Muslims is practically non-existent. We have been operating since February out of a local Pentecostal church, witnessing during the days, distributing literature in different languages and holding prayer times with the believers. 10-15 Muslims a day take NTs in their own language .
Pray: for evangelistic European believers to have wisdom as they befriend Muslims, pray for many Bangali, Urdu, Farsi and Arabic church plants.
Germany bans Islamist group amid nationwide raids
German officials launched searches on extreme Islamist groups last Thursday, raiding homes and mosques across the country. The raids resulted in a ban on one Islamist organization, and prompted authorities to open investigations on two others. Authorities say these groups threaten Germany’s security with their adherence to Islamic sharia law and advocation of violence. ‘Such an understanding of Islam has no place in Germany,’ said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich. The Salafist organization Millatu Ibrahim was outlawed because it calls on Muslims to rise up against Germany’s ‘constitutional order,’ Friedrich said. The Dawaffm and dwr are being investigated to determine whether evidence exists to outlaw them as well. Friedrich said a ‘comprehensive collection of evidence’ had been seized, including laptops, videos, cellphones and other items. This evidence is to be evaluated over the coming days to determine if the two organizations in question should be banned.
Pray: that the authorities will be given wisdom and discernment to handle extremists of all persuasion. (Dt.4:6)
Germany bans Islamist group amid nationwide raids
German officials launched searches on extreme Islamist groups last Thursday, raiding homes and mosques across the country. The raids resulted in a ban on one Islamist organization, and prompted authorities to open investigations on two others. Authorities say these groups threaten Germany’s security with their adherence to Islamic sharia law and advocation of violence. ‘Such an understanding of Islam has no place in Germany,’ said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich. The Salafist organization Millatu Ibrahim was outlawed because it calls on Muslims to rise up against Germany’s ‘constitutional order,’ Friedrich said. The Dawaffm and dwr are being investigated to determine whether evidence exists to outlaw them as well. Friedrich said a ‘comprehensive collection of evidence’ had been seized, including laptops, videos, cellphones and other items. This evidence is to be evaluated over the coming days to determine if the two organizations in question should be banned.
Pray: that the authorities will be given wisdom and discernment to handle extremists of all persuasion. (Dt.4:6)
Nigeria: Three weeks of church bombings
Suicide bombers attacked Christians during Sunday worship for the third week running, killing 50+ in a familiar pattern of a suicide bomber ramming a car into a church. This week it was the Winning All church in Kaduna on Sunday killing 24 and wounding 125. Within a few minutes explosives were detonated at Christ the King Church in Zaria killing 16+ and injuring dozens - some of them critically and many were children. Then Shalom Church in Kaduna was bombed killing 10+. Boko Haram have claimed responsibility for all attacks – as they did for attacks in Plateau and Borno states on June 10 and in Bauchi state on June 3. Riots in Kaduna sparked by Sunday's bombings killed 52+ and a 24-hour curfew was implemented on Sunday to restore order. Pray for an end to extremist violence which has claimed more than 500 lives in Nigeria this year. Pray too that those living in affected areas will not seek reprisals.
Pray: for God to bless the efforts of those who are working to build bridges between Christian and Muslim communities, and may the grieving and injured draw near to God and receive His strength. (Ps.18:16,17)
Arab Spring: Christian challenges
Christians in the Arab Spring counties face many different challenges as their societies take on new values and viewpoints. Egyptian Christians are bracing themselves for increased persecution, but are making the most of what they see as a ‘window of opportunity’ before the new regime is fully established. Libyan Christians with a Muslim background have been forced to worship in secret in recent months and we are asked to pray for God to reveal to them His ‘plans of hope’ (Jer. 29:11). Syrian Christians have been kidnapped and murdered since the anti-government unrest began, and in Tunisia it was recently reported that a Muslim background Christian was beheaded for converting to Christianity, see: As the Arab Spring moves into a new season may Christian values of love and justice be reflected in the societies emerging from political upheaval.
Pray: that church leaders will seek and be guided by the Holy Spirit, and know to how to lead their congregations in such a time as this(Est. 4:14)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/media/prayershield/prayershield67lores.pdf
Libya: Elections
Candidates for Libya's first national election will have 18 days to campaign from June 18 until July 5 ahead of July 7 polls to choose a national assembly. During his 42-year rule Gaddafi banned elections calling them bourgeois and anti-democratic. The UN envoy for Libya said, ‘In a post-conflict situation it would be unrealistic to believe there would be no security problems, but I am encouraged that there were no serious security incidents around voter registration.’ However gun battles raged on Monday between fighters supporting the revolution and former Gaddafi loyalists, killing 60+ people. Elsewhere on Sunday troops imposed a ceasefire as fighting spilled into a seventh day. Other clashes this month centred on the southern city of Kufra and in the Nafusa mountain region west of the capital Tripoli. Libya has also witnessed a series of attacks on Western targets in recent weeks, mostly in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Pray: for fair and peaceful campaigning and elections that enable Libya to have the future God purposed for them. (Pr.11:3)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/06/201261813164556680.html
Iran: Hidden evangelism
The following is from a testimony of an Iranian Christian, ‘My mother was born blind and educated at an Anglican school for the visually-impaired. Despite her disability she was a great help to my father and me very godly standards. When I was 13 my father was executed in Mashad prison on the orders of a Muslim ombudsman who was investigating my father’s activities. He was buried in an area where we were not allowed to put a headstone. After such a tragedy I could have become full of self-pity but my father’s martyrdom strengthened my faith. I knew he had died as a soldier in God’s army. After finishing secondary school I studied psychology, then God called me into full-time Christian ministry. So I went to Bible college in England. I’m determined to follow in my father’s footsteps and minister to my fellow Iranians.
Pray: for Rashin and others like her who bravely follow God’s call on their lives and step into Christian ministry in Iran. May they be encouraged refreshed and protected continually. (Ps.23:4)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/media/Release_magazine/2012/R67.pdf
North Korea: Labour camps
200,000+ North Koreans, including many Christians suffer brutal conditions in labour camps for political prisoners. Camp 14 is known as a ‘complete control district,’ meaning its 50,000 prisoners will work there until death. Camp 22 also holds 50,000 is the size of Los Angeles and thought to be used for human experiments. Camp 25 holds felons, religious leaders, spies and their families, and is controlled by the secret police. Very few survive a labour camp. The average sentence is 15 years, the average labour camp life expectancy is seven years. Up to three generations of entire families have been detained in government efforts to ‘root out class enemies.’ Christian workers along the border and inside the country face the continual threat of arrest and the subsequent consequences. Yet additional workers are in training for this dangerous work. Voice of the Martyrs request prayer for North Koreans, their team of workers and the North Korean underground church.
Pray: that God will guard the hearts of North Korean Christians and mission workers.(Ps.17:8,9)
More: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june152012/korea-religion-pk.php
Global:Discussion on gay marriage
The Australian parliament is about to have a federal debate on a bill allowing gay marriage. Meanwhile in the UK 300,000 people used an online poll telling a parliamentary inquiry what they think about two pieces of legislation to legalise same-sex marriage. The Scottish Government’s consultation on redefining marriage revealed widespread opposition. See this weeks British Isles article 7. Tokyo advocacy groups for Gay Rights responded positively to American President Barack Obama’s public announcement of support for same sex-marriage in the US. Asian gay rights issues have started slowly but surely moving into the public domain. see: Denmark, the first country to allow gay couples to enter into civil unions now allows homosexuals to have full wedding ceremonies at church. Eight out of the eleven countries with legalised same-sex marriage are situated in Europe. Fourteen European countries have legalised civil unions.
Pray: against a growing deluge of proposed concessions to redefining marriage.(Lev.18:22)