Nigeria: Eleven dead after suicide attack on church
A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a St Finbar’s Catholic Church in Jos as worshippers were filing out after Sunday mass. Seven worshipers were killed and panic followed causing security guards to shoot and kill a further three. It was the second suicide attack on a church in Jos in two weeks, after a February 26 attack claimed by Islamist sect Boko Haram killed three and injured dozens. Jos, a faultline in Nigeria's Muslim-Christian divide between north and south, was tense in the aftermath of the bombing. There are rumours of reprisals from Christian youths, but it is hoped the security agents are on top of the situation. Eye-witness accounts said, ‘Boy scouts tried to stop the suicide bombers car' and ‘the security guards, who were mainly members of the Boys Brigade, tried to prevent the car from entering the compound and in the process the car exploded.’
Pray: against confusion in the aftermath of death, persecution and prejudice. (Am.5:14)
More: http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-suicide-bomber-kills-three-church-attack-145431554.html
Israel: Despite cease-fire Israeli's hit Gaza after rocket in Netivot
The Israel Air Force (IAF) struck two targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday, in response to Palestinian terrorists' violation of an informal cease-fire agreement. A fragile hours-long calm came after four days of violence with 200+ rockets fired from Gaza and 26 Palestinians killed in IAF strikes - 22 believed to be terrorists. Hostilities began Friday after the IDF killed two Islamic Jihad terrorists charged with plotting a cross-border terror attack from Sinai. Wednesday’s direct hits came in response to a Grad rocket fired into the southern town of Netivot. IDF Chief of Staff said that rocket attacks such as the one in Netivot would be met with Israeli air strikes. Schools were cancelled in towns and cities located between 7 km to 40 km from the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that ‘quiet will bring quiet’ but warned Israel would strike anybody trying to attack it.
Pray: God's protection for innocent lives caught up in this latest fracas and His wisdom in all decisions to be made. (Ps.16:1)
More: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=261773
Pakistan: Woman charged with ‘blasphemy’ for refusing Islam
A young mother has been falsely accused of blaspheming Muhammad because she rebuffed attempts by relatives, who had converted to Islam, to force her to renounce her Christian faith. Speaking ill of Muhammad is punishable by life imprisonment or death under Pakistan’s internationally condemned blasphemy laws. Police in Punjab Province, arrested and charged 26-year-old Shamim Bibi after neighbours accused her of uttering remarks against Muhammad. Her relatives accepted Islam on Feb 24th and called on her to do the same, but she did not want to convert. On Feb 27th neighbours accused her of making derogatory remarks – as yet unknown – about Muhammad while in her courtyard, the following day the mother of a 5-month-old girl was arrested. Her brother and brother-in-law said she had been wrongly accused because she had resisted pressure to convert to Islam four days before her arrest, saying she had complete faith in a living God, and that there was no reason for her to start ‘worshipping graves.
Pray: for God to give Shamim inner peace and thoughts full of hope at this time and for truthful evidence to hasten her release. (Ps.9:3-4)
More: http://www.persecution.org/2012/03/13/pakistani-woman-charged-with-blasphemy-for-refusing-islam/
Saudi Arabia: Resource now available for informed intercession
On Wednesday Window International Network launched an initiative, calling Christians around the world to pray for Saudi Arabia - the birthplace of Islam and in violent opposition to the Gospel. In the wake of the Arab Spring, with political unrest and spiritual dissatisfaction simmering in this region, WIN believes the Lord is preparing to move powerfully in Saudi Arabia and that prayer will initiate and sustain that move. ‘Pray4Saudi - Preparing the Way for the Gospel of the Kingdom’ will continue until the very foundations of Islam have been shaken and Saudi Arabia is open to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Individual intercessors, prayer networks, small groups, and churches can sign up to receive Pray4Saudi and follow it on Twitter. WIN ask us to pray for the Lord to raise up prayer warriors all over the globe to intercede for this nation and its people. (Mat.18:19)
Pray: for the Lord to guide and direct the staff at WIN giving them strategies and showing them how to proceed. (Pr. 2:9-11)
More: http://pray4saudi.com/
Haiti: Setbacks for rebuilding efforts
Prime Minister Garry Conille has resigned and existing reconstruction contracts will be honoured - but no new contracts can be signed. Only a tiny proportion of international donor money for Haiti Earthquake victims has gone to the government, largely because of corruption and unruliness; therefore 300,000 people still live in tent cities in Port-au-Prince. There has been a perverse incentive for some to remain in tents because of the high level of public services provided by international NGOs. These agencies provide basic sanitation, health and education services in the camps, but they are not set up to rebuild infrastructure for a major city. Providing public sanitation for example is the role of government. Christian Aid advocated international donors funding should go directly to the Haitian government and corruption could be allayed by careful monitoring.’
Pray: for political stability and discernment, for wise government management and distribution of donor funding. (Is.34:22)
India: Plight of Christians from Burma
On March 6th a Washington report, ‘Seeking Refuge’ highlighted 100,000 Chin People seeking refuge in Mizoram State, India. Leading refugee and human rights experts are calling on Mizoram State to respond to the protection and humanitarian crisis. The refugees face serious problems related to livelihood, health, and education. The Chins seeking refuge make up almost 10% of Mizoram's population, which is 95% Christian. The Chins in Mizoram have been out of sight and out of mind from the international community because of long standing travel restrictions to the region and because UNHCR has had no access to Mizoram. The delegation responsible for this report was only able to assess the protracted, urban refugee situation after the central government of India lifted the travel restrictions. Chins from Burma have no status or protection under the law and many suffer chronic economic insecurity, lacking adequate and stable shelter, food security, health and education.
Pray: that God will lead Mizoram State and the Indian Government into avenues of humanitarian ministry to its refugees. (Joel 2:19)
More: http://www.worldea.org/index.php/news/3905
OM raising funds to keep ship ministry afloat
Through the generosity of a partner of OM's ship ministry, a 1 to 2 matching grant of up to $3 million has been made available to keep Logos Hope sailing into the future. Having recently celebrated three years of active service, OM's flagship Logos Hope requires significant technical work to ensure the vessel can continue to bring knowledge, help and hope to the one million people that the ship ministry reaches on average every year. OM Ships International began in 1970 as part of the global Christian training and outreach movement, Operation Mobilisation (OM) and is well-known for providing educational and Christian literature in ports around the world. To enable completion of this critical work, over $8 million in funding is needed for this year's planned dry-dock work and the Power Up Logos Hope project, which will replace two generators and the electrical switchboard on the ship in 2013, and install a heat recovery system..
Praise: God for the amazing work of OM’s ship ministry and the many thousands that have been ministered to over the years. Thanks also for the generosity of the partners' funding. (Pro.11:25)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/om.raising.funds.to.keep.ship.ministry.afloat/29415.htm
OM raising funds to keep ship ministry afloat
Through the generosity of a partner of OM's ship ministry, a 1 to 2 matching grant of up to $3 million has been made available to keep Logos Hope sailing into the future. Having recently celebrated three years of active service, OM's flagship Logos Hope requires significant technical work to ensure the vessel can continue to bring knowledge, help and hope to the one million people that the ship ministry reaches on average every year. OM Ships International began in 1970 as part of the global Christian training and outreach movement, Operation Mobilisation (OM) and is well-known for providing educational and Christian literature in ports around the world. To enable completion of this critical work, over $8 million in funding is needed for this year's planned dry-dock work and the Power Up Logos Hope project, which will replace two generators and the electrical switchboard on the ship in 2013, and install a heat recovery system..
Praise: God for the amazing work of OM’s ship ministry and the many thousands that have been ministered to over the years. Thanks also for the generosity of the partners' funding. (Pro.11:25)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/om.raising.funds.to.keep.ship.ministry.afloat/29415.htm
Iran: One prayer - twenty Muslim hearts reached!
After watching a Christian evangelistic broadcast recently, an Iranian family prayed to ask Christ into their hearts. But they were worried they might not have prayed ‘correctly’. So they made an audio recording of their prayer and sent it to Voice of the Martyrs ministry broadcast partner, Iran Alive, to make sure they had done it right. Their prayer was sincere and heartfelt, and Iran Alive wrote the family to tell them their prayer was a wonderful way of entering Christ's family. The family in Iran then told their Muslim friends about Christ and played the recorded prayer for them. Within a week, 20 more Muslims had come to know Christ! Click the 'More' button to hear the prayer.
Praise: that in the midst of unprecedented persecution God is revealing Himself to millions through technology. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://deaconjohn1987.blogspot.com/2012/03/iran-one-prayer-twenty-muslim-hearts.html
Iran: One prayer - twenty Muslim hearts reached!
After watching a Christian evangelistic broadcast recently, an Iranian family prayed to ask Christ into their hearts. But they were worried they might not have prayed ‘correctly’. So they made an audio recording of their prayer and sent it to Voice of the Martyrs ministry broadcast partner, Iran Alive, to make sure they had done it right. Their prayer was sincere and heartfelt, and Iran Alive wrote the family to tell them their prayer was a wonderful way of entering Christ's family. The family in Iran then told their Muslim friends about Christ and played the recorded prayer for them. Within a week, 20 more Muslims had come to know Christ! Click the 'More' button to hear the prayer.
Praise: that in the midst of unprecedented persecution God is revealing Himself to millions through technology. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://deaconjohn1987.blogspot.com/2012/03/iran-one-prayer-twenty-muslim-hearts.html