Laos: Imprisoned Christians
Laos is a communist state and one of East Asia's poorest countries. On January 4th police arrested Wanna and Yohan, pastors of two unregistered churches, and nine other Christians. Police released the nine detainees after they paid fines but Wanna and Yohan are still in prison. They were the principal breadwinners for their families, and their wives and families have no means of financial support. Several of Wanna’s children have since left school to find work. Pastor Wanna’s family say 'he has lost weight, is extremely weak and contracted an infection under the harsh prison conditions.’ Prison authorities have repeatedly told them they will ‘walk free’ when they sign documents renouncing their faith. Although there is less persecution of Christians recently, provincial authorities continue to violate freedom of religion or belief - particularly ethnic minority Protestants. The rights abuses include ‘detentions, surveillance, harassment, property confiscation, forced relocations and forced renunciations of faith'. Pray: for immediate release of the two pastors. (Ps.45:4) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/laos/article_114762.html
Nigeria: Attack on Christian mission
A bomb explosion at All Christian-Fellowship Mission in Suleja on Sunday killed one man and two women. It happened as church members were in a meeting after a church service. No group claimed responsibility, but it follows reports that the Islamic militant group Boko Haram issued warnings to Nigerians to avoid Christian, security agent’s, and government institutions, or else face death. The attack coincides with a surge in violence over the weekend. Churches remain closed following a day of violence on Saturday with multiple explosions in parts of the city. A special ambassador for Christian Solidarity Worldwide called for the protection of churches and a full investigation into reports of violence by the Joint Military Task Force, saying, ‘If the alleged Boko Haram statement is accurate and their target is now shifting increasingly towards the church, Christians are in greater danger than ever, as their places of worship provide soft targets.’
Pray: for believers and their property to be protected as the area remains on high alert against further attacks. (Ps.20:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/attack.on.christian.mission.kills.three.in.nigeria/28281.htm
INSIGHT ARTICLE: South Sudan: A new nation
To inspire our prayers for the new nation of South Sudan, please find in this week's INSIGHT article a portion of the prayers used by Revd Ron Hart of Salisbury Diocese at a vigil for South Sudan in the Cathedral last Friday, held at the celebrations in Juba the capital. He said, ‘There is much to give thanks for: The evangelisation of the North by 6th Century missionaries; the founding of the catholic Mission station of the Holy Cross in 1858, and the work of the Catholic missionaries. However, terrible things are happening in the Nuba Mountains and in Kadugli, bombing and looting. 75,000 people are displaced. Cathedral windows broken, altar burnt, along with vestments and the Bishop's official residence attacked. Priests have been arrested and tortured. The fear is of ethnic cleansing.’ Pray: that in the midst of change in South Sudan God will bring about His purposes and provisions and evil that will depart. (Job.36:16) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/SouthSudanSOMA.pdf
Scottish sexual infections treble in just ten years
Cases of sexually transmitted infections in Scotland have trebled in the space of just ten years, prompting critics to call for a re-think in sexual health policy. The sharpest rise was in cases of genital chlamydia, with the number of diagnoses rocketing from 5,676 in 1999 to 18,277 in 2009. During the same period diagnoses of genital herpes increased from 933 to 2,627, while diagnoses of gonorrhoea nearly doubled. In addition, between 1999 and 2010 the number of HIV-infected people more than doubled from 156 to 360. John Deighan, parliamentary officer for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said: ‘The more we find out about the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections the more worrying the picture that emerges. The distorted ideas of sexual liberation which have been popular for a few decades have taken a terrible toll on the lives of many people’.
Your prayer support will be all-important to the planning of this event which is intended to be a “new paradigm” for an international congress—carried out Acts 13-style—incorporating listening to God, united prayer, and strategic implementation of world-impacting action that proceeds out of that encounter with the Lord and one another.
Prayer Concerns:
1. Please pray for the eight planning task forces: Program, Logistics, Mobilization (including the Media Strategy Group), Finance, Registration/Website, Youth, Children, and Prayer Support. We need to be led of the Lord, given His creative, anointed ideas, and to all do our work diligently, joyfully, and unitedly.
2. This will not be just another prayer conference. The word “world” adds a great deal of complexity and challenge to the planning process since we hope to have 5000-7000 ministry leaders from all 220 nations. Please pray for excellent organization on the part of the Indonesians and Koreans who are co-hosting the event, for the International Coordination Team, and for the right people from every nation to hear about the WPA and be able to come to Jakarta for it.
3. The WPA Concert of Prayer in Indonesia this year on May 17, 2011. This will also serve as preparation for the WPA that is one year to follow. Please pray for further guidance, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and unity.
4. Some organizers that are key to the WPA process are: the Indonesian and Korean national committees who will co-host the event and the WPA International Coordination Team (14) that provides overall oversight. Please pray for His guidance, protection, and provision for each of us. The spiritual battle, as you can imagine, is intense.
Here are the two Scripture passages that have particularly inspired us in arranging the WPA:
• The Church Becoming United—that all followers of Christ may be one so that the world may believe. (John 17:20-26)
• Our World Being Transformed—that “the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”. (Hab. 2:14)
Thanks so much for your gracious help through prayer that will mean so much, not just to those of us doing the planning and organizing, but also to our world that will be affected by the World Prayer Assembly.
Please also help us get word of the WPA out to “ministry leaders of influence” who will represent the “seven mountains” of society (Arts/Media, Business/Marketplace, Church, Development of the Poor, Education, Family, and Government) who should be part of the WPA. Again, for more information, please have them see www.wpa2012.org where they can also register their interest in participating.
You have an opportunity to shape history by participating in the World Prayer Assembly!
WPA 2012 will be a “new wave” to strategically connect and empower the global prayer and mission movements as 5000-6000 Christian leaders from up to 220 nations join with the Lord and each other through united prayer, leading to Spirit-inspired action to transform our world. It is being arranged and co-hosted by leaders of the Indonesian and Korean prayer movements, two of the most powerful prayer forces in the world, with the support of international prayer networks such as the International Prayer Council and the Global Day of Prayer.
The ultimate goal of the World Prayer Assembly is two-fold: to see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord filling the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14) and the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer that His followers become one so the world will know He is its Creator and Savior (John 17:21).
WPA 2012 will learn from and build upon what the Body of Christ has experienced through the worldwide explosion of prayer efforts since the last International Prayer Assembly (Korea,1984), by linking together prayer, mission and marketplace ministries from all church traditions, denominations and social spheres. In the spirit of Acts 13, together we will seek to hear from the Lord of the Church His plans to engage and direct the global prayer movement, so that every nation, city and rural area throughout the world becomes filled with ongoing intercession and Spirit-inspired action until His Kingdom’s values are fully manifested there.
Prayer networks and ministries worldwide will meet with those who are prayerfully working for transformation in all spheres of society such as government, education, business/marketplace, arts and media. Ministry leaders will learn from one another and plan new strategies. They will coordinate their efforts to advance world evangelization and the reaching of the unreached, ignite spiritual revival of the Church, as well as champion social justice and humanitarian efforts- so that His glory will fill the earth.
WPA 2012 will also encourage and launch the next generation to become cutting-edge leaders for Christ’s global prayer and mission movement, as children and youth take their positions as equal partners in helping to lead it.
In fulfillment of Jesus prayer in John 17, the WPA will unite a large proportion of Christ’s Body to cry out to God for breakthrough in the urgent issues of our time. On May 17 evening, during the WPA, 100,000 believers of all denominations, including 20,000 trained child intercessors, will gather in the national stadium of Jakarta for a massive prayer meeting. It will be linked live to 200 cities of Indonesia where there will be similar gatherings estimated at 2 million. Combining with the Global Day of Prayer broadcast through satellite TV, tens of millions of additional people will take part from other parts of the world, uniting their prayers to shape the history of our world!
For more information about the World Prayer Assembly or to register your interest in participating, please see the website at www.wpa2012.org or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Africa America Asia:Drought
Christian agencies warn that millions face famine in the Horn of Africa and surrounding areas experiencing their worst drought in sixty years. Methodist minister Paul D. Critchley called on Christians everywhere to respond to the worsening situation in East Africa through prayer, action and giving. Meanwhile in Kabul a Christian outreach project had its working water well go dry because the water table has dropped. Since the floods in both Afghanistan and Pakistan there has been no hint of rain. In fact, Christian workers said, ‘it is comparable to previous seasons associated with ‘five to six year droughts’. Also fourteen US states, stretching across an area from North Carolina to Arizona to Texas, are currently in the midst of devastating droughts where conditions are crushing records set in 1917. Many Americans are seeking emergency disaster aid. See
Pray: for God in His mercy to bring about all that is needed in our ecosystems to sustain life. (Job.38:34-35)
The U.S. National Prayer Committee announces the release of its new magazine, Prayer Connect. “Can Prayer Save America?” is the timely theme of the premiere issue, which will release the week of July 4. Orders are being taken now at www.prayershop.org. Click on “Prayer Connect Magazine”. (if you want to use a hot link directly to the product page of the issue, use this URL:
http://www.prayershop.org/Can-Prayer-Save-America-p/pcm-0711-mg-001.htm
Inquiry to be held - Equality law concern by Synod
A Christian MP, Gary Streeter, is arranging for an inquiry to be held over the autumn looking at discrimination against Christians in the UK. The inquiry comes amidst increasing concern over the erosion of religious freedom in the UK and will examine how the law currently affects believers. Gary Streeter MP said that the panel would invite submissions from legal professionals, businesses, individuals and social policy groups from faith and non-faith backgrounds. They will be asked to evaluate hate crime and equality legislation in the light of the need to protect freedom of belief. The inquiry will be open to the public. The issue was raised at the General Synod, the Church of England’s national assembly, last weekend. Dr Philip Giddings, chairman of the Church of England’s public affairs council, warned that employers too often failed to respect religious rights interpreting the law in ways which seem to assume that reasonable and respectful expressions of faith are, almost by definition, offensive.
Pray: that the Government will listen and respond positively to the submission from general Synod. (Job.34:2)
Belfast riots: Appeals for calm
Police and community representatives are appealing for calm after trouble in west and north Belfast. An investigation is under way into the possibility that shots were fired in west Belfast during the trouble. Petrol bombs and other missiles have been thrown at police during rioting in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast. The trouble broke out after police in riot gear took up position ahead of an Orange parade walking past the Ardoyne shops on Tuesday evening. Stones, bottles and fireworks were thrown at police. Water cannon was used to push back the crowd of about 200 people. Community worker Robert McClenaghan, from the Falls Residents Association, said the violence was organised by nationalist youths. Crowds of nationalists threw petrol bombs and masonry at police who fired plastic bullets in the Broadway and Oldpark areas. Mr McClenaghan said the violence was ‘nothing but thuggery’.
Pray: against this annual violence and pray for a cessation of hostilities and reconciliation. (2Co.5:19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14128807