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)
Archbishop gives thanks for Queen who 'does' God
The Archbishop of Wales has expressed his thanks to the Queen for continuing to uphold the Christian faith in national life. In an address at the start of the Queen's two-day visit to Wales, Dr Barry Morgan praised the Queen for 'doing God' in public in spite of changing public opinion. ‘Over the last 60 years, amidst all the shifting sands of public opinion and different viewpoints, you have regarded the Christian faith as the rock on which you have been able to draw strength and comfort,’ he said. ‘It is a reminder to the rest of us that this country has been shaped by the Christian faith and that that faith is still important in our national life.’ More than 600 people were at Llandaff Cathedral for the service of thanksgiving to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Praise: God for the example of our Queen. (Ps.119:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/archbishop.gives.thanks.for.queen.who.does.god/29765.htm
Archbishop gives thanks for Queen who 'does' God
The Archbishop of Wales has expressed his thanks to the Queen for continuing to uphold the Christian faith in national life. In an address at the start of the Queen's two-day visit to Wales, Dr Barry Morgan praised the Queen for 'doing God' in public in spite of changing public opinion. ‘Over the last 60 years, amidst all the shifting sands of public opinion and different viewpoints, you have regarded the Christian faith as the rock on which you have been able to draw strength and comfort,’ he said. ‘It is a reminder to the rest of us that this country has been shaped by the Christian faith and that that faith is still important in our national life.’ More than 600 people were at Llandaff Cathedral for the service of thanksgiving to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Praise: God for the example of our Queen. (Ps.119:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/archbishop.gives.thanks.for.queen.who.does.god/29765.htm
Syria : Protecting and listening to Christians
Extremist Islamist forces in Syria's opposition movement have attacked local Christians due to the belief that they back the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. According to a report by the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission the country's largest denomination, the Syrian Orthodox Church, recently highlighted an ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians. The action was allegedly by members of an al-Qaida-linked militant Islamist group, Brigade Faruq, in the city of Homs, an opposition stronghold. Catholic news agency Fides has reported that over 90 percent of Christians in Homs have fled to Jordan and their homes have been grabbed by the militants. The report stated that Christians elsewhere in Syria are not safe either due to threats and incidents of targeted abductions, killings and bombings.
Pray: for the 10% Christian and the 80% Alawite and Muslim population to find and follow the path of peace and know God’s way forward for the region. (Is.30:21)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12040146.htm
Mali: ‘Counter coup' repelled
It has been just over a month since a group of soldiers toppled Mali's democratically elected president. After a counter-coup attempt Mali's ruling military leaders said yesterday in a message aired over state television that they are in control of the state broadcaster building, the airport and the military base in Kati near the capital Bamako. The television message said, ‘Elements from abroad, supported by some obscure forces within the country, carried out these attacks. Some of them have been arrested,’ A witness to the fighting saw a large convoy of military vehicles heading to the town of Kati just outside Bamako, where the junta has set up its headquarters. The US embassy in Bamako, through its Twitter account, reported shooting, but did not specify the groups involved. A former executive of Microsoft for Africa, was appointed along with former national assembly speaker, as the interim president, to lead the country ahead of elections later this year.
Pray: for the country to return completely to constitutional rule. (Ps.45:4)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/05/2012514022453752.html
Egypt: Call for prayer as elections loom
Release International has called for a month of prayer for Christians in nations caught up in the Arab Spring - especially in Egypt where persecution looks set to grow after the presidential elections and Christians brace themselves for increased persecution. Release reported, ‘This is a hugely significant time for Christians in the Middle East and North Africa as their countries undergo seismic shifts in their political structures. Hard-line Islamist groups are making significant inroads into the political process. While there are great opportunities for Christians to contribute to the development of their societies, they need our prayers for protection and wisdom like never before.’ Release has produced a prayer guide, focusing prayer throughout May on Egypt, Libya, Syria, Morocco, Yemen, Tunisia and Bahrain. See:
Pray: for the 100,000 Christians who have left Egypt since last year’s uprising. Pray that this exodus will stop. Pray that those who remain will have a fresh revelation of God as their rock and salvation (Ps.62:2).
Kenya: Grenade Attack on Church
On Sunday a grenade explosion killed 27-year-old university student Kelvin Walumba at God’s House of Miracles International Church in Nairobi. Sixteen people were also injured. Islamic extremists from al Shabaab rebels in Somalia have embarked on a series of attacks in Kenya after the Kenyan military invaded Somali territory last autumn in an attempt to quell al Shabaab violence at tourist destinations. Speculation that the attack stemmed from a land dispute were untrue, as the dispute with the church was resolved in court last year. Four church members are in a critical condition: Leonida Mbogo, Julia Mumbi, Ezekiel Muthini and Shalom Koronge. Mbogo sustained serious injuries to her leg, which was broken. The explosion comes a week after the U.S. Embassy in Kenya issued a possible terror attack warning. It also comes less than a month after a similar explosion took place in Mtwapa, claiming one life and injuring 30+.
Pray: against anti-Christian violence, and may Kenyan troops and government win the battle against al-Shabab. (Ps.12:7)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/kenya/article_1522556.html
China: Support for Chen Guangcheng
An open letter from Women's Rights Without Frontiers has been sent to President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Locke, on Behalf of Chen Guangcheng stating, ‘The American people and the people of the world cry out for freedom for Chen Guangcheng. If you deliver him back into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, he will no doubt be imprisoned, tortured, possibly killed. Would you use this noble man as a bargaining chip in trade talks? To do so would be to sell the soul of our nation.’ Chen is an activist for the lives of women and babies in China; a man of inconceivable bravery. Poor, blind, beaten and detained, he stands alone against the crushing brutality of the communist regime’s One Child Policy. The women of China have suffered the torture of forced abortion and involuntary sterilization at the hands of the Chinese population control machine for thirty-two years.
Pray: as Secretary Clinton travels to Beijing next week - may she speak out on the world stage for Chen and women's rights. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/index.php
Iran: IMF Pressured to Suspend Accounts
A New York-based advocacy group that has pressured companies and organizations to halt business with Iran because of its disputed nuclear program is urging the International Monetary Fund to close its account at Iran’s central bank and suspend Iran as a member. Mark Wallace, president of United Against Nuclear Iran, a group whose founders include current and former administration officials, has sent a letter to IMF managing director Christine Lagarde criticizing the IMF’s relationship with Iran. Iran’s central bank, also known as Bank Markazi, has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the European Union. Wallace’s group is attempting to isolate Iran and pressure it to give up its uranium enrichment activities and to cooperate more fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IMF’s chief spokesman, William Murray, said the Fund isn’t violating any laws and is following its normal rules toward member nations. The U.S. Treasury and EU spokesmen declined to comment on the call for Iran to be suspended from the IMF.
Pray: for God to move the heart of the Iranian leadership – enabling them to engage with the rest of the world. (2 Ch.36:22)
Nigeria: Help needed to fight militants
Chad's leader has called for the urgent creation of a regional force to tackle Nigerian Boko Haram militants. The Islamist group operates in northern Nigeria, but President Idriss Deby said it was posing a threat to its neighbours around Lake Chad. ‘Our basin is exposed to insecurity because of the permanent threat posed by Boko Haram,’ he said. Nigeria has been struggling to contain attacks by the militants who want to impose Islamic law in the country. Barnabas Fund reported Tuesday that around 300 Christians have been killed in one diocese in the past three weeks. Last Sunday 3 church services in Northern Nigeria were targeted leaving 27 dead. See:
Pray: for the creation of a joint African deterrence force to protect the Christian community in Nigeria. (Ps.17:8-9)