INSIGHT: Doctors tell stories of miracles
Following last weeks Prayer Alert item highlighting a conference for Christian doctors on June 11-12, this Praise INSIGHT provides some of the stories of miracles that Christian doctors have seen over recent years. Many of the medics pray for their patients as well as giving medical treatments and some related stories of seeing Christian prayer heal their patients. A Philippines-born doctor spoke of a Korean Christian called Deacon Han diagnosed with gastric cancer following an endoscopic study. He was told that he should undergo an operation for gastric cancer, but he didn’t because he had a belief in God. Han then travelled to the Manmin Central Church in Seoul where he received prayer for his sickness. From that moment, he gained weight and was healed. For more encouraging stories of miraculous healings click the info button and see:
Praise: God for miracles beyond normal medical expectations.
Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/praisestories1.pdf
Denmark: Helle is learning to do miracles
Torgen Sondergaard is a young evangelist from Denmark. He believes that when people start following Jesus, it's important to teach them right away to live the commands of Jesus. Take Helle, a young Danish woman who came to Christ three weeks ago and was baptized immediately. Torben invited her to come to the city and pray for people who are sick. ‘Jesus told us to make disciples of all people,’ Torben explains. ‘Baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded us to do. And one of these commands is to preach that the Kingdom of God is near and heal the sick.’ What happens next is quite surprising. Helle, who has almost no Bible knowledge, prays a simple prayer: ‘Father, I thank you for healing and for removing all pain right now, in Jesus' name. Amen.’ To her own amazement and to the surprise of the people she prayed for, they get healed. Praise: God for the way he used Helle and pray that her testimony would encourage others to step out in faith. (Heb.11:1)
Denmark: Helle is learning to do miracles
Torgen Sondergaard is a young evangelist from Denmark. He believes that when people start following Jesus, it's important to teach them right away to live the commands of Jesus. Take Helle, a young Danish woman who came to Christ three weeks ago and was baptized immediately. Torben invited her to come to the city and pray for people who are sick. ‘Jesus told us to make disciples of all people,’ Torben explains. ‘Baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded us to do. And one of these commands is to preach that the Kingdom of God is near and heal the sick.’ What happens next is quite surprising. Helle, who has almost no Bible knowledge, prays a simple prayer: ‘Father, I thank you for healing and for removing all pain right now, in Jesus' name. Amen.’ To her own amazement and to the surprise of the people she prayed for, they get healed. Praise: God for the way he used Helle and pray that her testimony would encourage others to step out in faith. (Heb.11:1)
Pentecost Festival embraces London
This year’s Pentecost Festival looks set to be the biggest yet. Organisers are anticipating that as many as 30,000 will be reached in the 10-day Central London event which started last Friday. Now in its fourth year, this is the first time the finale, hosted by Holy Trinity Brompton, Hillsong and Jesus House, will take place at the 17,000 capacity O2 arena. The festival sees more than 100 arts-based events with performances from X-Factor finalist Beverley Trotman and US group Spoken Groove, comedy from Andy Kind, John Maloney and Paul Tonkinson, and theatre which addresses issues of injustice. There will be science debates, seminars on faith and fashion and a political evening looking at the impact of the message of Pentecost hosted by Baptist minister the Revd Steve Chalke. Andy Frost, festival director, said 'Once again it will show people that the church is not just about Sunday mornings. 'It's engaging with what's happening culturally. It's representing God's heartbeat.'
Pray: for those leading this event and for its success in reaching out to those who have not received the Gospel message. (Ps.107:22)
More: http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/news3.htm
Universities are now breeding grounds for terror
England's universities have become breeding grounds for extremism and terrorist recruitment, according to a government report. Officials have identified 40 English universities where ‘there may be particular risk of radicalisation or recruitment on campus’. A soon to be published report, prepared by Home Office officials, – seen by the Daily Mail – will point to a string of examples of students going on to commit terrorist acts against this country or overseas. It warns of hard-line Islamic groups specifically targeting universities which have large numbers of Muslim students in order to peddle a message of hate. It says the universities are not doing enough to respond to this threat to national security. Fewer than half of universities are engaged with the police. Universities UK replied saying that universities ‘are places where ideas and beliefs can be tested without fear of control’, and that they act as a safeguard against ideologies that threaten Britain’s open society. Pray: that, if these finding prove to be true, measures will be taken to curtail such activity. (Isa.1:16) More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394625/40-UK-universities-breeding-grounds-terror.html
Inter-faith peace pilgrimage planned for Southall
An inter-faith reconciliation walk will take place this Saturday 11 June 2011 in what is being called by the organisers the ‘holy city’ of Southall, West London. The 26th Annual Multi-Faith Pilgrimage for Peace is being sponsored by Westminster Interfaith, an agency of the Catholic Diocese of Westminster, which works in cooperation with a range of other religious and civic bodies. Many religions will be represented in the pilgrimage, which will pass by or enter different places of worship in Southall, including Christian churches, Islamic mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, and Sikh gurdwaras. This year's pilgrimage commemorates the first such event, which was organised by Brother Daniel Faivre, a committed inter-faith worker, in 1986. Jon Dal Din, director of Westminster Interfaith comments: ‘The aim of Westminster Interfaith is to increase understanding, co-operation and respect between Christians and people of different faiths, and in particular to promote greater awareness through dialogue, prayer and action.
Pray: that people of many faiths will support the pilgrimage in large numbers promoting understanding, co-operation and respect for one another. (Ps.84:5)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14896
Political correctness is restricting Christians
The newly installed Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland lamented the lack of tolerance shown towards Christianity in society. Dr Ivan Patterson told his Church’s annual assembly in Belfast that Christians may encounter challenges for living out their faith. ‘Jesus speaks about going extra miles; welcoming strangers; loving enemies; forgiving those who do us harm,’ he said. ‘In our society Christians have had their wings clipped in our politically correct world. It would seem that any philosophy is tolerated except that centred on Jesus Christ.’ He pointed to the example of Christian doctor Richard Scott, who is being investigated by the General Medical Council after suggesting to a patient that he consider turning to Jesus as part of the healing process. (See Prayer Alert 21-2011) Dr Patterson was installed as Moderator during the opening session of the week-long General Assembly, which is being attended by 1,200 Church members. Pray: that the message from Dr Patterson will be heard and widely accepted by all. (Ti.1:9)
CARE welcomes review on sexualisation of childhood
Christian social policy charity CARE has welcomed the findings of a major review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children. The review, headed up by Mothers’ Union chief Reg Bailey, makes a number of recommendations aimed at tightening up regulations on sexualised media, marketing and retail. They include putting age restrictions on raunchy music videos and banning sexy billboard ads near schools. The Bailey Report also recommends an end to the sale of inappropriate clothing for children such as padded bras or T-shirts emblazoned with provocative slogans such as ‘porn star’. Magazines and newspapers with sexualised images on the front page should be kept out of the sight of children and parents should be given the right to choose at the point of purchase whether they want adult content on their home internet, laptops or smart phones. Broadcasters will also be under pressure to pay greater attention to the concerns of parents.
Pray: for the authorities to increase the pressure on all those who seek to gain from sexualisation of children. (Mk.7:20-22)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/care.welcomes.review.on.sexualisation.of.childhood/28105.htm
Catholic adoption agency continues fight
Catholic Care, a Catholic adoption agency operating in the diocese of Leeds, has appealed a ruling made by a Tribunal last month that they must offer their adoption services to homosexual couples. The charity has long refused to place children with homosexual couples, stating that such a practice goes against the teaching of the Catholic Church and would result in a significant loss of funding, since most donors are Catholics themselves. Benjamin James, the lawyer representing Catholic Care, said that he had identified a number of errors with the judgment. Catholic Care had previously argued that the Equality Act 2010 allows for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation if it is 'a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'. If ‘leave to appeal’ is granted, it will be the eighth stage of what has been a lengthy case. (See Prayer Alert 3410, 2010 & 1110) Pray: that ‘leave to appeal’ is granted and will lead to a successful conclusion. (Pr.21:30)
Those at Headley Court recovering from injuries
The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court admits Service Personnel, many of them recovering from injuries sustained whilst deployed on operations. The aim of rehabilitation is to restore a patient’s lost function and maximize their capacity and independence. DMRC Headley Court has extensive gardens and orchards and a large greenhouse. A Christian physiotherapist Major has obtained permission to use a small part of this area for horticultural therapy. The Headley Walled Garden project seeks to broaden and diversify the rehabilitation already on offer, creating a space where physical, psychological, cognitive and neurological rehabilitation can occur in synchrony.
Pray: for courage and energy for the patients as they work to return to ‘normal’ life; for their families as they adjust to life with a severely disabled family member; that through the gift of creation and growth, God’s message of hope will speak out to the patients involved in the Walled Garden project. (Is.40:31)
More: http://britisharmy.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/reality-check/