Afghanistan: Koran burning
The remains of burnt Korans were found by local labourers at a US airbase, enraging locals and by Wednesday four people had been killed and 20 injured as protests spread, in spite of US apologies. Taliban prisoners were using the books to pass messages to each other. Protesters shouted, ‘Death to America!’ and threw stones at Camp Phoenix. Riot police used water cannon to disperse protesters blocking the main trade routes into the capital. Witnesses said security guards were firing into the air. There were also reports of people chanting pro-Taliban slogans. One protester said, ’When the Americans insult us we will join the insurgents.’ The US Embassy in Kabul is on lockdown with all travel suspended. In Afghanistan anti-foreign sentiment is on the rise and locals claim foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or Islamic religion.
Pray: that leaders in the area would have wisdom and discernment as they work to subdue and diffuse the situation. (Pr.24:3)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464
USA: TV ad shows God a key theme for Presidents
A new television commercial airing Presidents Day weekend reminds Americans how God and religion are foundational to the country. The minute-long spot highlights quotes from Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Reagan – each focused on the foundational role that God and religion play in American rights and government. The spot is running on national cable networks between Feb. 18 and 20. It is also running in regional markets from Connecticut to California.
Pray: that during the months preceding the Presidential election for the values of Christianity to function in the nation's public life. (Deut.30:16)
More: http://www.earnedmedia.org/kofc0220.htm
The fire of faith burns bright in Bosnia
Murat and Amina were in urgent need of assistance when they arrived at an aid warehouse run by Operation Mobilisation (OM) in Bosnia. Amina’s husband was desperately sick and they had no means or money to heat their home. Supplying valuable fuel the OM workers prayed for Amina, her husband and Murat, and left them with some Christian literature to read. As the OM team distributed copies of Scripture on the streets of the town nearby, they often saw Murat. They were even more overjoyed when they heard this man from an Islamic background ask if he could join their Christian prayer meetings. Over the next weeks, Murat became a regular attender at church and made a decision to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. Today he and his new Christian wife lead a Bible study group in their home. Murat can also be found distributing portions of Scripture on Bosnia’s streets.
Pray: for Murat and Amina as they share their new-found faith that others would meet with Jesus. (Pr.7:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.fire.of.faith.burns.bright.in.bosnia/29329.htm
The fire of faith burns bright in Bosnia
Murat and Amina were in urgent need of assistance when they arrived at an aid warehouse run by Operation Mobilisation (OM) in Bosnia. Amina’s husband was desperately sick and they had no means or money to heat their home. Supplying valuable fuel the OM workers prayed for Amina, her husband and Murat, and left them with some Christian literature to read. As the OM team distributed copies of Scripture on the streets of the town nearby, they often saw Murat. They were even more overjoyed when they heard this man from an Islamic background ask if he could join their Christian prayer meetings. Over the next weeks, Murat became a regular attender at church and made a decision to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. Today he and his new Christian wife lead a Bible study group in their home. Murat can also be found distributing portions of Scripture on Bosnia’s streets.
Pray: for Murat and Amina as they share their new-found faith that others would meet with Jesus. (Pr.7:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.fire.of.faith.burns.bright.in.bosnia/29329.htm
Turkish Christians still experiencing discrimination
Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that despite some promising developments, Christians in Turkey continue to suffer attacks from private citizens, discrimination by lower-level government officials and vilification in both school textbooks and news media, according to a study by a Protestant group. In its annual Report on Human Rights Violations, the country's Association of Protestant Churches notes mixed indicators of improvement but states that there is a ‘root of intolerance’ in Turkish society toward adherents of non-Islamic faiths. ‘The removal of this root of intolerance is an urgent problem that still awaits to be dealt with,’ the report states. ‘There is still a lot of room for improvement,’ said Mine Yildirim, a member of the legal committee for the association. The report documented 12 attacks against Christians in 2011, including incidents in which individuals were beaten in Istanbul for sharing their faith, church members were threatened and church buildings attacked. None of the attackers has been charged.
Pray: for Christians in Turkey that God would protect them from discrimination and spiritual attacks. (Ps.86:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/turkish.christians.still.experiencing.discrimination/29341.htm
Turkish Christians still experiencing discrimination
Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that despite some promising developments, Christians in Turkey continue to suffer attacks from private citizens, discrimination by lower-level government officials and vilification in both school textbooks and news media, according to a study by a Protestant group. In its annual Report on Human Rights Violations, the country's Association of Protestant Churches notes mixed indicators of improvement but states that there is a ‘root of intolerance’ in Turkish society toward adherents of non-Islamic faiths. ‘The removal of this root of intolerance is an urgent problem that still awaits to be dealt with,’ the report states. ‘There is still a lot of room for improvement,’ said Mine Yildirim, a member of the legal committee for the association. The report documented 12 attacks against Christians in 2011, including incidents in which individuals were beaten in Istanbul for sharing their faith, church members were threatened and church buildings attacked. None of the attackers has been charged.
Pray: for Christians in Turkey that God would protect them from discrimination and spiritual attacks. (Ps.86:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/turkish.christians.still.experiencing.discrimination/29341.htm
It is amazing to think that this time last week thousands of us were gathered together at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City lifting up the name of Jesus. The unity, love, faith, passion and power that everyone walked in was awesome! Thank you again. We will never be the same. Since last Thursday, testimonies of how lives were shifted and hearts transformed have been pouring in. We are so thankful.
A PROPHECY ABOUT COMING RAIN:
The week before TheCRY, we had 2 prophecies given to us saying that there would be rain after TheCRY Hollywood and that this would be a sign that God had heard the prayers and that the land was being cleansed. When we opened the curtains on Friday morning we were greeted with, you guessed it, rain! Our team could not remember a day since January that it rained like this. Shortly there after reports came of flash flood warnings in the area as well. It seems God was giving tangible sign that He had heard our prayers. And should we be surprised, He promised He would (Mt. 18:19), and we are so full of faith as we look to the next months and years to watch the answers to prayer unfold!
Please join us in continuing to keep Hollywood and this sphere in prayer. Prayer really does change everything. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? We will be sure to keep you posted on upcoming events that carry the spirit and DNA of TheCRY Hollywood. This was not a moment, it was a movement.
Children's worker forced to resign over Sunday working
A 57-year-old children's worker who was forced to resign over her desire not to work on Sundays appeared before an employment tribunal on Monday. Celestina Mba worked for over three years at the Brightwell Children's Home in Morden, a respite home for children with disabilities. She was forced to resign in 2010 after her employer chose to no longer accommodate her Christian beliefs. Her beliefs were initially respected by her employer, the London Borough of Merton, who were informed before she started the job that she would have difficulties working on a Sunday. But the Council later changed its mind and she was forced to choose between her job or her faith. Andrea Williams, Director of the Christian
Legal Centre said: ‘This is another case where we see intolerance towards the Christian faith and a lack of willingness to make accommodation for it.’
Pray: that the ruling by the employment tribunal will be reversed and justice would prevail. (Job.9:19)
Support for traditional marriage gathers
A petition calling upon the Government to maintain the existing definition of marriage has notched up over 18,000 signatures in just one day after it was launched. www.c4m.org.uk The petition was launched by the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) in opposition to the Government's attempts to redefine marriage to include same sex unions. The coalition has the support of MPs and church leaders, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey. Lord Carey claimed the proposal to change the status of marriage ‘constitutes one of the greatest political power grabs in history’. The Government is due to begin its consultation on the introduction of same-sex marriage next month and has indicated its support for the change. A poll conducted by ComRes for C4M has found that the majority of people in Britain (51%) want the existing definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman to remain. Only a third (34%) said they supported the proposed change.
Pray: that this petition and the support given by MPs and church leaders will reverse the current trend against the existing definition of marriage. (Heb.13:4)
Welsh church leaders defend positive impact of faith communities
Welsh councils havw been told to spend two minutes thinking about the positive impact of faith in their communities. 'Start your next meeting by silently reflecting on the contribution made by the Christian voluntary sector to your community'. This is the challenge being sent by a Welsh church leader to town councils in Wales after the High Court’s decision to ban prayers within council meetings in Wales and England. It is thought that as many as half of UK local councils are believed to hold prayer sessions as part of their formal proceedings. Elfed Godding, National Director of Evangelical Alliance Wales said: ‘Thousands of Christians and adherents of other religions in Wales initiate, fund and voluntarily staff hundreds of projects that benefit the public of Wales. It would be a shame if this High Court ruling undermined this generous and sacrificial service. The joy of serving others is central to the Christian message.’ (See praise item)
Pray: for town councils throughout Wales and the UK to take seriously the proposal to consider the impact faith has in their communities. (Ps.85:8)