Churches get set for the Olympics
The umbrella organisation pulling together evangelistic efforts for the London 2012 Olympics has just embarked on its last church training tour before the big event begins in just a few months. More than Gold's nine-week tour will give churches in 15 cities a final heads up on effective engagement during the Games and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Get Set training days will give churches valuable advice on how to prepare high quality activities and serve their communities. Sessions will cover how to serve as lay chaplains at key transport hubs or as 'Games Pastors', how to run successful festivals and big screen events, and how to use the torch relay to engage with the community. The tour began in Sussex and in the coming weeks will visit Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast as well as the English cities of Reading, Stoke, Bath, Gateshead, Barnsley, Weymouth, Bolton, Stevenage, Nottingham, plus three London venues.
Pray: that these training days will truly equip these Christian volunteers for the task.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.get.set.for.olympics.outreach/29276.htm
Event to alert Christians to growing secularism
Christians from across the Midlands descended on Coventry Cathedral last Saturday for a special event to alert Christians to the increasing secularisation of Britain, and discrimination against those who stand up for orthodox beliefs in public life.
The ‘Awake Arise’ event on January 28 was the first to be held in an English Cathedral and was led by former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, and Christian Concern founder and CEO, General Synod member Andrea Minichiello Williams. Both spoke on the moral and social decline of our nation, with particular reference to abortion and religious freedom, and how Christians and the Church can stand for truth on these issues. Former Mayor of London candidate, and leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, Alan Craig, encouraged Christians to act on a local level by standing as Christians as councillors at parish, ward and constituency elections. To host an event in your church, you can contact Christian Concern.
Pray: that all those who attended this meeting will be enthused to speak out against the attacks on our faith.
Belarus: Online petition launched for religious freedom
An online petition was launched to repeal the amendment of Belarus criminal code, that allots two years of imprisonment for religious activity without registration, reports Christian megaportal InVictory.org. The author of the petition is Alexey Shein, co-chair of the Belarus Christian Democracy party. The goal is to collect 5,000 signatures. In his appeal, Mr Shein notes that, since 2006, 18 people have been convicted under this law. ‘There are hundreds of Christian communities and ministries that work without registration in Belarus. A lot of organizations tried to register but they were denied. At the same time, the right to freedom of association means the right to found free associations,’ underlined the author.
Pray: for a huge response to the petition and that the authorities will reconsider their amendment. (Je.1:19)
Belarus: Online petition launched for religious freedom
An online petition was launched to repeal the amendment of Belarus criminal code, that allots two years of imprisonment for religious activity without registration, reports Christian megaportal InVictory.org. The author of the petition is Alexey Shein, co-chair of the Belarus Christian Democracy party. The goal is to collect 5,000 signatures. In his appeal, Mr Shein notes that, since 2006, 18 people have been convicted under this law. ‘There are hundreds of Christian communities and ministries that work without registration in Belarus. A lot of organizations tried to register but they were denied. At the same time, the right to freedom of association means the right to found free associations,’ underlined the author.
Pray: for a huge response to the petition and that the authorities will reconsider their amendment. (Je.1:19)
Greece: Archbishop warns of social upheaval
Archbishop Hieronymos II of Athens and All Greece on 2 February warned the Greek government of a possible social upheaval if more austerity measures are ushered in by international financial institutions overseeing the sovereign debt crisis. ‘Our hearts are shattered and our minds are blurred with all that is taking place,’ he said in a letter sent to interim Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, extracts of which were published on the Greek Orthodox Church's official site (www.ecclesia.gr). ‘The phenomenon of the homeless and the famished, a reminder of WWII occupation conditions, is taking nightmare dimensions,’ wrote Hieronymos. The interim coalition government is in the midst of critical talks with the EU's International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank to secure additional funds to avert a default over Greece's huge debt burden.
Pray: for the government of Greece as they face up to this crisis. (Pr.1:20)
Greece: Archbishop warns of social upheaval
Archbishop Hieronymos II of Athens and All Greece on 2 February warned the Greek government of a possible social upheaval if more austerity measures are ushered in by international financial institutions overseeing the sovereign debt crisis. ‘Our hearts are shattered and our minds are blurred with all that is taking place,’ he said in a letter sent to interim Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, extracts of which were published on the Greek Orthodox Church's official site (www.ecclesia.gr). ‘The phenomenon of the homeless and the famished, a reminder of WWII occupation conditions, is taking nightmare dimensions,’ wrote Hieronymos. The interim coalition government is in the midst of critical talks with the EU's International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank to secure additional funds to avert a default over Greece's huge debt burden.
Pray: for the government of Greece as they face up to this crisis. (Pr.1:20)
Wycliffe responds to accusations
Over the last few weeks a good deal of mis-information has been circulating on the Internet regarding the translation of the biblical term rendered in English as ‘the Son of God’ in certain biblical contexts. Eddie Arthur, the Executive Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators writes: ‘Bible translation decisions are often controversial and it is not uncommon for people who speak the same language to disagree strongly about the way a translation is carried out. Wycliffe Bible Translators UK members who are involved in these sorts of translations are seconded to a partner organisation, SIL International. In view of the on-going concern, SIL have recently announced a halt to the publication of any related Scriptures pending an exhaustive and wide-ranging period of consultation with Church leaders and others from across the globe. Our colleagues in SIL are taking a brave step in suspending the publication of Scripture in parts of the world where controversy has been stirred up and we look forward to the outcome of their period of global consultation.’
Pray: that this consultation would bring a speedy resolution under the guidance of God’s wisdom and clarity. (Pr.4:5)
More: http://sil.org/sil/news/2012/SIL-dialogue-translation-practice.htm
Fiji: Urgent prayer need
In a personal prayer request Rev Suliasi Kurulo, Christian Mission Fellowship International (CMFI), urged Christians to pray for the Fiji Islands. He noted that four consecutive days of torrential rain in the Fiji Islands caused most towns, cities and villages to be flooded. Most villages and homes are 15 feet under water, as roads turn into seas of debris. Rev Suliasi Kurulo also wrote that people are warned to prepare for the worst if a cyclone was to hit the nation in the aftermath of the current rainfall and flooding. Local newspapers reported that the flood is worse than the one in 2009, because of the duration and disruption of services, homes, business and roads. According to National News, a leading relief organization said that they don’t have the capacity at this stage in distributing food, which is the immediate need at the moment.
Pray: with Rev Suliasi Kurulo and CMFI for God’s grace and strength that He would give them a heart of compassion in this time of national need. (Ps.37:19)
Mexico: Missionary couple slain
A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on Tuesday Jan 31, John and Wanda Casias were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and stole a safe, televisions and ministry vehicles, along with other items. The area has suffered heavily from attacks by drug cartels in recent weeks, including the murder of the mayor of El Cercado, leading to the tentative conclusion that the crime was committed by people serving narcotics traffickers. Drug traffickers in Mexico oppose the message of Christ because it turns people away from their business, and thus Christians have been among the targets of the criminals. The killers left Wanda Casias dead inside
the house and the body of her husband was reportedly found in a storage room of a small building elsewhere on the property.
Pray: that the Church would be strengthened to become a powerful witness to counteract the drug cartels. (Zec.10:12)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/mexico/article_1386234.html
Nigeria: Christians ask for protection
As Nigerian terrorist attacks continue, citizens are blaming the government for failing to protect them and asking why President Goodluck Jonathan is not doing more to save the Christians under attack by Islamist extremists. These latest calls mark a stark reverse of public opinion for President Goodluck Jonathan, hailed as Nigeria's Barack Obama when he took office in May 2010, promising to bring change and prosperity. Jonathan, a Christian and whose middle name Ebelechukwu means ‘God's Mercy’ admitted that members of his government might have sympathies toward Boko Haram, the Islamist terror group attacking churches and government offices. Citizens are so angry with these revelations that they have taken to the streets carrying mock coffins and placards calling him ‘President Badluck.’ Journalists are saying the President ‘has come across as clueless when it comes to dealing with Boko Haram.’ President of the Christian Association of Nigeria decried the government's failure to protect Christians from attacks and accused some security agents of taking sides. (See Prayer Alert 04-2012)
Pray: that ‘God's Mercy’ will be poured out over Nigeria and for the present situation to be turned around. (Ps.10:12)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/violence.puts.pressure.on.nigerias.president/29207.htm