North Korea: Uprising?
'North Korea is grappling with an unfavourable situation but the regime’s tight grip on its people will prevent any Arab-style uprising’, South Korea’s defence minister said Wednesday. ‘The state of affairs in the North is indeed inauspicious and anything can happen there,’ Kim Kwan-Jin said in a forum. ‘We may consider whether the Jasmine Revolution could find its way into North Korea,’ the minister added. The impoverished North suffers persistent food shortages and downpours this month battered many areas. United Nations agencies say more than six million people urgently need food aid. The South, which blames its neighbour for two deadly border incidents last year, refuses to provide government aid. Pray: that God would open avenues for Christians to serve where aid and resources are in short supply. (Is.32:3) More: http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/20/n-korea-can-avert-uprising-s-korea-minister.html
Thailand: A generation of the lost
King Rama IX of Thailand has reigned since 1946, and is Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths. ‘Daisy’ is 12 years old. Her father lives and works in Bangkok and makes the 10 hour bus ride home for visits a few times a year. Daisy likes to go to a Christian neighbours' home to play with their girls and read books. One of her favourite books is their Lao Children's Picture Bible. Recently, Daisy said she had heard that there was a house gathering of Phuan Christians in town. She said that she wanted to go so that she could learn the worship songs as Daisy loves music.
Pray: for more opportunities for Christian workers to reach the Thai people with the truth of their Creator God. (Lk.10:8-9)
More: http://www.missionary-blogs.com/christian-missions-thailand.html
Nigeria: Islamic militants increase attacks
'North Korea is grappling with an unfavourable situation but the regime’s tight grip on its people will prevent any Arab-style uprising’, South Korea’s defence minister said Wednesday. ‘The state of affairs in the North is indeed inauspicious and anything can happen there,’ Kim Kwan-Jin said in a forum. ‘We may consider whether the Jasmine Revolution could find its way into North Korea,’ the minister added. The impoverished North suffers persistent food shortages and downpours this month battered many areas. United Nations agencies say more than six million people urgently need food aid. The South, which blames its neighbour for two deadly border incidents last year, refuses to provide government aid. Pray: that God would open avenues for Christians to serve where aid and resources are in short supply. (Is.32:3) More: http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/20/n-korea-can-avert-uprising-s-korea-minister.html
Kenya: 14,000 brave rain to hear Gospel
The rains kept coming. Will Graham kept preaching. And God kept moving in Kenya. By the time Sunday night's final invitation was over, giant puddles were about the only thing remaining at the Mama Scrape Grounds where the Will Graham ‘Celebration of Peace Nakuru’ had taken place for three straight nights. On that soggy field, hundreds upon hundreds had made life-changing decisions to accept Christ as their personal Saviour in the city of Nakuru, a two-hour drive from Nairobi, and a place that over a quarter million people call home. More than 14,000 braved the sketchy weather conditions to hear what the grandson of Billy Graham had to say. ‘What now are you going to do with Jesus?’ asked Will Graham. ‘What I'm going to ask you to do is the most important decision you'll ever make in life.’
Praise: God for the success of this Celebration and the many brought to Christ. (Ps.106:8)
More: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/31498-14000-kenyans-brave-rain-to-hear-gospel
Kenya: 14,000 brave rain to hear Gospel
The rains kept coming. Will Graham kept preaching. And God kept moving in Kenya. By the time Sunday night's final invitation was over, giant puddles were about the only thing remaining at the Mama Scrape Grounds where the Will Graham ‘Celebration of Peace Nakuru’ had taken place for three straight nights. On that soggy field, hundreds upon hundreds had made life-changing decisions to accept Christ as their personal Saviour in the city of Nakuru, a two-hour drive from Nairobi, and a place that over a quarter million people call home. More than 14,000 braved the sketchy weather conditions to hear what the grandson of Billy Graham had to say. ‘What now are you going to do with Jesus?’ asked Will Graham. ‘What I'm going to ask you to do is the most important decision you'll ever make in life.’
Praise: God for the success of this Celebration and the many brought to Christ. (Ps.106:8)
More: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/31498-14000-kenyans-brave-rain-to-hear-gospel
Christians have the right to follow conscience
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has determined that Christians should be given more freedom to follow their beliefs in the workplace. The UK’s equality watchdog said judges had interpreted the law 'too narrowly' in cases where Christians claimed religious discrimination. It said yesterday (11 July) that: ‘The way existing human rights and equality law has been interpreted by judges is insufficient to protect freedom of religion or belief. The courts have set the bar too high for someone to prove they have been discriminated against because of their religion or belief.’ The EHRC is now seeking to intervene on behalf of Christians in four religious discrimination cases soon to appear before the European Court of Human Rights. The four Christians who will have their claims heard before the European Court are: Gary McFarlane, Nadia Eweida, Shirley Chaplin and Lillian Ladele. (See Prayer Alert 2311) Praise: God for this positive development and pray for its ongoing success. (Ps.5:11)
Christians have the right to follow conscience
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has determined that Christians should be given more freedom to follow their beliefs in the workplace. The UK’s equality watchdog said judges had interpreted the law 'too narrowly' in cases where Christians claimed religious discrimination. It said yesterday (11 July) that: ‘The way existing human rights and equality law has been interpreted by judges is insufficient to protect freedom of religion or belief. The courts have set the bar too high for someone to prove they have been discriminated against because of their religion or belief.’ The EHRC is now seeking to intervene on behalf of Christians in four religious discrimination cases soon to appear before the European Court of Human Rights. The four Christians who will have their claims heard before the European Court are: Gary McFarlane, Nadia Eweida, Shirley Chaplin and Lillian Ladele. (See Prayer Alert 2311) Praise: God for this positive development and pray for its ongoing success. (Ps.5:11)
India: Dalits forced to leave church
Dalit, which means ‘trampled upon,’ refers to lower caste Indians treated as ‘untouchables’ in Indian society. They perform menial jobs while living in segregation from upper castes in rural areas. A Catholic bishop in south India has admitted that Dalit Christians are being forced to forsake their faith due to continued discrimination against them under Indian laws. Bishop Anthony Poola told a seminar at Hyderabad on 1 July that the Government is acting as missionary agent of Hinduism. An estimated five million Christians have left their faith due to this continuing discrimination. In 1950, the government gave Hindu Dalits Scheduled Caste status in an effort to improve their social standing, but it has been denied to Christian Dalits, who account for two-thirds of the 27 million Christians in India.
Pray: for true justice and acceptance for Christians in India and for Christian Dalits to know God's provision for them. (Ps.54:1-4)
More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5007
Eritrea: Christians arrested for meeting to worship
Open Doors reported, ‘Eritrean military officials arrested 35 Christians suspected of gathering for worship in Assab, a port city in Eritrea, on 3 July. The group, which included 17 women, was taken to the Adi-Nefase military camp, where conditions are notoriously harsh. At least two Christians imprisoned for their religious activities are known to have died while under arrest at Adi-Nefase since 2007. Meanwhile, the government continues to exert pressure on the sanctioned Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and Islamic groups to enrol religious workers under the age of 30 for compulsory military training. Until now, church workers from these faiths have been exempt from military service because of their religious duties. More than 3,000 Orthodox priests, 10 Evangelical Lutheran pastors and 41 Muslim religious teachers have been inducted into Mitire Military Training Camp, but the Catholic Church is resisting the sign-up calls.’ And ‘We can thank God for the many imprisoned Christians who faithfully share Christ with their fellow prisoners.’ Pray: that many will come to know Jesus in the prisons through Christian witness and for God to sustain the families and friends of imprisoned Christians. (Ps.79:11)
West Bank: Muslims oppose Christian youth centre
A Christian mission in Bethlehem faces opposition from neighbours and city leaders over a youth centre it established in a Muslim neighbourhood. Pastor Steven Khoury of Holy Land Missions said his father, Naim Khoury, was summoned to the courthouse recently and warned that carrying out Christian work in the town of Shepherd’s Field would lead to trouble. But the trouble had already begun. Muslim extremist neighbours of an HLM youth centre have verbally attacked two youth leaders and vandalized the building’s locks. They also threatened to attack Pastor Naim and said they would ‘break the legs’ of anyone who enters the youth centre. Outreach and prayer meetings are scheduled to begin at the youth centre next week. Also Israel’s UN ambassador, Ron Prosor, told the Security Council during a debate entitled ‘Children in armed conflict’ that Hamas is using Palestinian children to carry out acts of terror against Israeli children. See
Pray: for evangelical Christians working in the West Bank to know God's peace and protection. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.persecutionblog.com/2011/07/vom-usa-prayer-update-for-july-8-2011.html