Iran: Christians fear attack at Christmas
‘Evangelical Christians in Iran fear a massive crackdown by security forces around Christmas and Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may be executed earlier than authorities suggest’, said Firouz Khandjani a council member of the pastor's Iranian Church. Iran's judiciary uses the Christmas time to detain and harass Christians thinking the world may forget the believers as everyone is busy with Christmas shopping. He warned that official suggestions that Pastor Nadarkhani's execution for abandoning Islam would be postponed may be a trap to confuse the international community. Last week observers close to the case said judges were ordered to ‘do nothing’ for one year - however Firouz Khandjani stressed ‘It has become clear that Iran's government may want to execute him earlier and saying he will be held one year more does not necessarily mean an earlier execution isn't possible.’
Pray: for Pastor Youcef to be continually aware of God's presence and protection and for Iranian Christians to know the fullness of Christ’s peace and joy at this time. (Ps.146:7-9)
Nigeria: Threats to disrupt Christmas in Jos
The Plateau State capital of Jos was targeted by a series of bombings last weekend, in which one man died and 11 people were injured, including one woman. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said threats to disrupt Christmas celebrations in the area have been circulating for two weeks. Commenting on the weekend's events, the Chief Executive Officer of CSW Nigeria said, ‘I believe that northern elders could contribute more towards ending these frequent attacks on innocent citizens. It is rather worrying that the recently concluded northern Nigeria peace summit produced no statement regarding the Boko Haram militia, which has unleashed violence in several states of Northern Nigeria.’
Pray: for stronger security in both Plateau and Kaduna States, and for peaceful Christmas celebrations in Jos. (Ps.23:4,5)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11120073.htm
Falklands: Unrest between UK and Argentina
The Foreign Office has hit out at Argentina following the decision on Tuesday by Argentinia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil (a South American trading bloc) to ban boats with a Falkland Islands flag from their ports. British diplomats warned, ‘Britain's determination to protect the overseas territory should not be underestimated.’ Urgent discussions are being carried out with countries in the region to establish what concrete effect the ban would have. But tensions have been raised by this symbolic rebuke to Britain. An agreement circulated by the Argentine foreign ministry stated the four countries vowed ‘to adopt all the measures it is possible to impose to impede the entry of boats flying the illegal flag of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands.’ José Mujica, Uruguay's president said, ‘We hold nothing against the U.K. but we have a lot in favour of Argentina.’
Pray: that this disagreement will not escalate, for wise advice to be given and adhered to, and for sailors and merchants to continue unhindered. (Pr.12:15)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/21/falklands-boat-ban-row-argentina
China: No religion in politics allowed
‘There is no room for religion among the members of the Chinese Communist Party.’ said the vice president of the United Front. There is a real concern within the United Front that many members of the party, disillusioned by the fall in ideals, corruption, and materialism are discovering or rediscovering a religious dimension. It is not unusual for at least one third of party members to visit a Buddhist master on weekends, or meet up with a Catholic bishop, or start praying in a Protestant community. Some believe the Maoist tone of the above comment regarding religion is a sign of an internal power struggle ahead of the imminent change of leadership of the Communist General Secretary and Premier of the People's Republic of China.
Pray: that Chinese politicians will not use religion to gain attention and orchestrate agendas in the lead up to elections next year. (Ps.107:16)
North Korea: Uncertain future
With North Korea's Kim Jong-Il’s death there is fear and uncertainty. Only God knows what will happen next but we can pray for His purposes to be fulfilled through this event. North Korea is the world’s worst persecutor of Christians, the following statements are from a Prayer Alert INSIGHT article published earlier this year. ‘Those discovered to have any kind of faith or religious belief (and their families to three generations) are executed or sent to concentration camps for life; a North Korean concentration camp survivor told Congress North Korea’s No.1 enemy is God; a nuclear holocaust would be inevitable if South Korea engaged North Korea in war.’ See Open Doors requests prayer for the ‘Secret Christians’ within the government to gain more power and influence, for Christians to share about Jesus without fear of retaliation, and for the 50,000 Christians in prison camps.
Pray: that the change of leadership would bring about a shaking and eventual removal of North Korea’s tyranny. (Ps.10:14,15)
Egypt: Good news amidst concerns
Ramez Atallah the General Director of The Bible Society of Egypt writes, ‘Now when they had departed - behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.’ (Mat. 2:13) For many centuries Egyptians have been proud that when God’s Son needed refuge He came to their land for shelter and security. Today as the bright sunshine of the Arab Spring is being overshadowed by darkening clouds of the Arab Fall many Christians and moderate Muslims are seeking to flee from Egypt for freedom.’ For Ramez comments regarding ‘why Islamist parties have a majority of the votes’ and ‘unprecedented breakthroughs for the gospel’ in Egypt click the 'More' button for encouragement and prayer.
Pray: for God to continue to flood his Egyptian church with the love of Christ, that casts out all fear. (1 Jn. 4:18)
More: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/829923/8286a76943/1566502707/71f8713e24/
Cameron calls for return to Christian values
David Cameron has declared that ‘Britain is a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so’, in a speech to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Mr Cameron told Church of England clergy gathered in Oxford that a return to Christian values could counter the country's ‘moral collapse’ and blamed a ‘passive tolerance’ of immoral behaviour for this summer's riots, Islamic extremism, City excess and Westminster scandals. His words will delight traditionalists in his party and Christian groups that claim believers are increasingly marginalised. He said the King James Bible was as relevant today as at any point in its history. He went on to say ‘We are a Christian country. And we should not be afraid to say so. Let me be clear: I am not in any way saying that to have another faith – or no faith – is somehow wrong but that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.’
Pray: for such views to be reflected in Government policy and public life. (Lk.8:21)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/16/cameron-king-james-bible-anniversary
Methodist project wins cultural approval from Olympic organisers
The London 2012 Organising Committee has given the go-ahead for a community arts project linked to the Methodist Church to feature as part of the Cultural Olympiad. LOCOG awarded an Inspire Mark – its official seal of approval – to the Outside/In project, which will see young people and adults from different parts of Newcastle telling stories about themselves, their history, culture and communities through art. The artists’ work will feature as four exhibitions at The Holy Biscuit from March through to July 2012. The Holy Biscuit (formerly Shieldfield Methodist Church) is a community arts space partnered with The Methodist Church and The Biscuit Factory – an independent art gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne. Ish Lennox, Olympic and Paralympic Games Coordinator for the Methodist Church said: ‘It’s fantastic that a Methodist project has won an Inspire Mark. We are completely committed to engaging with the Cultural Olympiad. Methodist Christian Discipleship is life-long and whole life.'
Pray: for this project and all those involved in running it in 2012 and beyond. (Ps.5:12)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=548
One in four young women admit they had underage sex
More than a quarter of young women today lost their virginity when they were below the legal age of consent, an NHS survey has revealed. According to the study 27 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds had underage sex. By comparison, just four per cent of women now aged 55 to 69 first had sex when they were underage. NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: ‘The survey paints a picture of sexual behaviour which is changing over the generations, with younger women beginning to have sex younger.’ Across all age groups, the statistics show that 14 per cent of women lost their virginity before the age of 16 compared with 20 per cent of men. The average age for losing virginity was 17, although for those now aged 16 to 24 it was 16. Diane Abbott, the Shadow Public Health Minister, commented: ‘The rising numbers of girls having under-age sex is alarming.’
Pray:that ways would be found to reverse these statistics and improve moral standards. (1Cor.6:9)
More:http://www.christian.org.uk/news/one-in-four-young-women-admit-they-had-underage-sex/
Jennifer Saunders criticises sexualisation of pop music
Comedienne Jennifer Saunders says she does not like the sexualisation of pop music and is concerned about the effect of online pornography on boys. The actress, who is married with grown up daughters, criticised the sexual content of music videos, saying: ‘I don’t think it helps society’. Miss Saunders also commented that the proliferation of pornography on the internet is fuelling a wrong attitude towards women. She told Stylist magazine, in response to a question on pop’s sexualisation: ‘I don’t like it. I find the whole R’n’B sexual videos stuff really annoying.’ She said: ‘I think they are having to re-educate boys on how to treat women in schools, because of the internet and the amount of porn they see. I think that’s a shame.’ Last month a leading head teacher said the ‘liberal dogma of the past’ has left us with the ‘moral abyss of the present’, as she hit out at the sexualisation of children.
Pray: that more people at all levels of our society would speak out against our falling moral standards. (Jas.1:21-22)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/jennifer-saunders-criticises-sexualisation-of-pop-music/