Victory over Sunday working
Following the late intervention of the Christian Legal Centre, an employee of a major London tourist attraction is able to continue in his job, as his employer has now agreed to let him take Sundays off so that he can worship at church. The employee, who is involved with his local church and several volunteer schemes, had been in negotiations with his employers for over a year and a half over whether he would continue to be forced to work on Sundays. With the Christian Legal Centre's help, his employer has now backed down and has given him a new rota enabling him to spend Sundays worshipping at his church. By contrast, his employer had allowed a Muslim employee not to work on Fridays. The victory will encourage many Christians, some of whom have been under pressure to choose between working on Sundays or losing their jobs. (See Prayer Alert 08-2012)
Praise: God for this answer to prayer and pray that it would establish a precedent. (Gen.2:2)
Victory over Sunday working
Following the late intervention of the Christian Legal Centre, an employee of a major London tourist attraction is able to continue in his job, as his employer has now agreed to let him take Sundays off so that he can worship at church. The employee, who is involved with his local church and several volunteer schemes, had been in negotiations with his employers for over a year and a half over whether he would continue to be forced to work on Sundays. With the Christian Legal Centre's help, his employer has now backed down and has given him a new rota enabling him to spend Sundays worshipping at his church. By contrast, his employer had allowed a Muslim employee not to work on Fridays. The victory will encourage many Christians, some of whom have been under pressure to choose between working on Sundays or losing their jobs. (See Prayer Alert 08-2012)
Praise: God for this answer to prayer and pray that it would establish a precedent. (Gen.2:2)
Azerbaijan: Act now to save Greater Grace Church
As Baku basks in the excitement of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on May 26, members of at least one church in the Azerbaijan capital will find it hard to join in the celebrations. On April 25, a court in Baku ordered Greater Grace Church to be liquidated – the first known closure of a religious community under the controversial Law on Freedom of Religion passed in 2009. This law requires the compulsory re-registration of all religious communities in Azerbaijan. Greater Grace contends that it had no formal notice of the need to re-register – and no warning of impending legal action against it. Christians in this mainly Muslim, South Caucasian nation fear that the judge’s decision could set a worrying precedent for other churches. To date, officials have acted in secret to close down churches, raiding premises, banning worship, confiscating literature and imposing fines. Now, it’s feared they could act openly, with the backing of the law.
Pray: for the Church within Azerbaijan that this so called new Law of Freedom would be reversed. (Jas.2:12)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/saving-grace.php
Egypt:Christian's six-year sentence upheld
A judge in Upper Egypt has upheld a six-year prison sentence for Makarem Diab, a Coptic Christian wrongly convicted of ‘blasphemy’ against Islam and inciting sectarian strife. In his April 5th judgment, the judge in Assuit refused to strike down a February 29 sentence delivered to Makarem Diab, 49. The charges stem from an argument that Diab had in February with Abd Al Hameed, a fellow employee at Deer Al Gabrawy Prep School. From the start, the charges against Diab were inflated, according to his lawyer, Ahmed Sayed Gebaly. ‘I know Makarem well because we grew up together, and I know he wouldn’t do that,’ said Gebaly, a Muslim. ‘To be honest, he didn’t do anything wrong. If he did, I would have told him.’
Pray: that having been denied justice, God will set him free soon. (Am.5:24)
Iran: Temporary freedom for Pastor and other Christians
The pastor of a church in Esfahan, and nine imprisoned Christians from the city were freed on April 30 and May 1, pending their recall at a future date. According to the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), their family had to put up a lot of money as a guarantee. In addition, new charges were filed against the accused. According to FCNN, quoting Christian sources in Esfahan, Pastor Hekmat Salimi and nine others were freed after their families paid 50,000 US$ for Salimi, Meysam Hojati and Shahnaz Zarifi, and 30,000 US$ for others. These ‘security payments’ are rarely returned, and then only after very long and protracted negotiations. In addition, FCNN said, bribes are often demanded by the same Islamic Justice ministry officials who set the initial terms. FCNN said the Islamic Republic is ‘tightening its oppressive grip’ against the Christian community in Isfahan.
Pray: that those who have received their freedom pending recall would be fully released soon. (2Cor.3:17)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=39609&PN=1&TPN=1
Afghanistan: Growing number of Christians
A growing number of Afghans, including politicians, are embracing Christianity and meet in ‘house churches’ despite death threats and attacks by Islamic militants, according to Christian rights activists and news reports monitored by BosNewsLife on Friday, May 4. Mohabat News, a Christian news agency, quoted ‘informed Afghan authorities’ as saying that ‘Christianity has obtained a special place among youth and other ‘layers in society.’ House churches ‘are growing tremendously,’ the officials reportedly said. Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), an advocacy group assisting Christians living in difficult areas, explained that it learned from an ‘independent Shi'ite website’ that an Afghan official concluded ‘There is evidence of widespread Christian propaganda in Afghanistan’. The unidentified official was quoted as saying it had been proven that at least ‘more than 10 churches operate secretly in residential houses.’
Pray: for this marvellous growth of the Church despite difficulties to continue its growth. (2Cor.12:10)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/21453-growing-number-of-christians-in-afghanistan-despite-death-threats
USA: Anti-bully activist under fire for bullying Christians
Anti-bullying campaigns have been grabbing headlines for months, mainly fighting bigotry against homosexuals. Now Dan Savage, a top anti-bullying advocate, has been caught up in an incident that some say is hypocritical at best. Savage is a gay man who founded one of the most popular anti-bullying websites, ItGetsBetter.com. But he was recently captured on tape doing some bullying of his own, attacking the Bible and targeting Christian students at a high school event. ‘We can learn to ignore the bull---- in the Bible about gay people, the same way we have learned to ignore the bull---- in the Bible about slavery, about shellfish, about dinner, about farming, about menstruation, about virginity, about masturbation, we ignore bull---- in the Bible about all sorts of things,’ he says in the tape. Many students walked out in protest of Savage's diatribe against the Word of God, sacred to both Jews and Christians.
Pray: that those who object to Dan Savage’s ideas will overrule and promote Christian Biblical ideals. (Col.2:20)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=39610&PN=1&TPN=1
Burma: Reforms offer no respite for ethnic Christians
Amid global euphoria over reforms in Burman-majority parts of Burma, life has changed little for more than 3 million Christians and other minorities left to suffer from one of the world’s longest running civil wars. Headlines around the world hailed the induction on Wednesday (May 2) of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi into parliament as the beginning of a new era in Burma, officially known as Myanmar. But for the 150,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP) living in eastern Karen state’s 4,000 IDP camps, life is still about landmine blasts, gun and mortar attacks, and the possibility of a final war between armed insurgents and the Burma army. Burmese President Thein Sein, a former military general, has introduced political reforms – the release of hundreds of political prisoners, new laws allowing labour unions and strikes and a gradual easing of media restrictions – and has reportedly ordered troops to stop offensive in ethnic areas, but senior military officials have not heeded his orders.
Pray: that the President’s instructions would be obeyed by the military authorities in respect of the Karen people. (Mt.8:9)
More: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/stories/index.php?newsitem=0&date=04may2012
Call to Prayer for the World Prayer Assembly, May 14-18, 2012
The World Prayer Assembly is a response to God’s movement of prayer around the world. While the WPA will serve as a catalyst for the growth of this movement, we believe that prayer for the WPA and those who are involved in the planning process is absolutely essential. Please join with us in prayer for the World Prayer Assembly as teams work together in several critical areas. We must be united in prayer for the WPA if we are to see God do what only He can do. Keep in mind that the WPA is intended to be a 'new paradigm' 'for an international congress, carried out in Acts 13 style, incorporating listening to God, uniting in prayer and seeking to implement strategically the world-impacting actions that proceed out of our encounter with the Lord and one another.
Pray: that the Holy Spirit will bring unity as the intercessors and delegates seek God to let a ‘New Wave’ of His Glory Fill the Earth! (Jn.17:20)
More: http://www.wpa2012.org/content/call_to_prayer
Churches get behind Wembley 2012
Tens of thousands of believers from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG ) were invited to the National Day of Prayer and Worship later this year. Around 50,000 Christians are reported to have attended the all-night Festival of Life at the Excel Centre in London's Olympic borough of Newham last weekend. Some days before, Pastor Agu Irukwu and other leaders had urged over 2,000 RCCG leaders to get behind the initiative and mobilise their churches to come to Wembley stadium September 29, when up to 80,000 Christians are expected to gather for a historic National Day of Prayer and Worship. He said: ‘RCCG are keen to collaborate with others for the expansion of God's Kingdom through Wembley 2012.’ Earlier in the week the General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye met with GDOP London Convener Dr Jonathan Oloyede to lend his support and prayers towards Wembley 2012. He prayed earnestly for the National Day of Prayer and Worship and reassured Dr Oloyede that RCCG were backing the event..
Praise: God for the Festival of Life and pray that the wider church will get behind the proposed National Day of Prayer and Worship. (Ps.29:2)