Iran: Persecution increases Christianity’s appeal
An increase in the arrest of Iranians converting from Islam reveals an abundant harvest resulting from evangelism by clandestine house churches in the Islamic state, according to Iranian Christian leaders. ‘Persecution has escalated to an unprecedented level,’ said Abe Ghaffari, executive director of Iranian Christians International. The increase in persecution is believed to be directly proportional to the number of Iranian Muslims converting to Christianity with numbers estimated in the thousands; many of those conversions may have begun after the Islamic state lost credibility in the disputed 2009 national elections. ‘Before the revolution, the clerics were promising that once Iran becomes an Islamic state, it would be utopia, it would be brotherhood, and everything would be fine,’ said Dibaj, but Iranians ‘have seen nothing but war and fighting and international isolation and hatred: now they are thirsting for change.’ Government persecution is making Christianity even more attractive, said Elam's David Yeghnazar. Praise: God that out of persecution come God’s blessings. (Dt.23:5) More: http://www.worthynews.com/10262-iranian-persecution-increases-christianitys-appeal-among-muslims
Iran: Persecution increases Christianity’s appeal
An increase in the arrest of Iranians converting from Islam reveals an abundant harvest resulting from evangelism by clandestine house churches in the Islamic state, according to Iranian Christian leaders. ‘Persecution has escalated to an unprecedented level,’ said Abe Ghaffari, executive director of Iranian Christians International. The increase in persecution is believed to be directly proportional to the number of Iranian Muslims converting to Christianity with numbers estimated in the thousands; many of those conversions may have begun after the Islamic state lost credibility in the disputed 2009 national elections. ‘Before the revolution, the clerics were promising that once Iran becomes an Islamic state, it would be utopia, it would be brotherhood, and everything would be fine,’ said Dibaj, but Iranians ‘have seen nothing but war and fighting and international isolation and hatred: now they are thirsting for change.’ Government persecution is making Christianity even more attractive, said Elam's David Yeghnazar. Praise: God that out of persecution come God’s blessings. (Dt.23:5) More: http://www.worthynews.com/10262-iranian-persecution-increases-christianitys-appeal-among-muslims
Australia: Christian doctors to prescribe ‘spiritual healing’
Christian doctors and medical professionals will be travelling from many different countries around the world to prescribe ‘spiritual healing’ as an answer to sickness in the 21st Century, during a unique conference in Brisbane, Australia from June 11-12, 2011, reports Assist Ministries. The doctors will examine actual case studies of miracles presented by various respected doctors as they search for evidence of Divine Healing at the 8th Annual International ‘Spirituality and Medicine’ Conference to be held for two days at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Brisbane plans to welcome hundreds of Christian medics who will be examining data presented by their peers about ‘miracles’ that they believe prove that God has intervened in impossible situations. The event is being sponsored by the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN), an interdenominational organization composed of Christian medical professionals from around the world who believe in divine healing.
Praise: God for this conference and that it will bring glory to God and greater understanding within the medical profession. (Jer.8:22)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue13030.html
Australia: Christian doctors to prescribe ‘spiritual healing’
Christian doctors and medical professionals will be travelling from many different countries around the world to prescribe ‘spiritual healing’ as an answer to sickness in the 21st Century, during a unique conference in Brisbane, Australia from June 11-12, 2011, reports Assist Ministries. The doctors will examine actual case studies of miracles presented by various respected doctors as they search for evidence of Divine Healing at the 8th Annual International ‘Spirituality and Medicine’ Conference to be held for two days at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Brisbane plans to welcome hundreds of Christian medics who will be examining data presented by their peers about ‘miracles’ that they believe prove that God has intervened in impossible situations. The event is being sponsored by the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN), an interdenominational organization composed of Christian medical professionals from around the world who believe in divine healing.
Praise: God for this conference and that it will bring glory to God and greater understanding within the medical profession. (Jer.8:22)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue13030.html
Syria: Violence
Situations needing prayer: Many Syrian refugees are fleeing to Turkey from the violent Assad-regime. Tanks and troops are under orders to advance on and attack Jisr al-Shugour after the government accused armed bands there of killing security men. Residents report the incident as an army mutiny by troops refusing to kill citizens. The UN Security Council are reportedly drafting resolutions on Syria condemning murder and torture of peaceful protesters, (despite opposition from veto-wielding Russia). Violence also broke out in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus with fourteen dying after thousands of refugees attacked the headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Syrian interior minister said they would respond firmly to attacks in the Muslim Brotherhood stronghold. international observers fear violence may enter a new and bloodier phase after three months of popular unrest that has left over 1,000 dead. Pray: for God’s mercy to cover Syria, for the controlling strongholds to be broken and the land to come into Gods purposes. (Job.5:11-15) More: http://www.jpost.com/
Libya: Praying into the crisis
The following statements are posted to aid informed prayer for Libya. 1.The West’s military campaign and attendant instability present strategic threats to Libya’s neighbours. 2. There is a large-scale refugee crisis. 3. The risk of infiltration by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb whose networks of activists are present in Algeria, Mali and Niger. 4. Mounting bitterness on both sides constituting a heavy legacy for any post-Qaddafi government. 5. When pressures finally force Qaddafi out there’s a possibility the transition to democracy could face a vacuum due to no second choice government waiting in the wings. 6. Political and security implications for Libya’s neighbours during government transition may well aggravate an already serious humanitarian crisis. 7. The prospect for Libya and North Africa is increasingly ominous, unless a negotiated compromise for an orderly transition to a post-Qaddafi state that has legitimacy in the eyes of the Libyan people is achieved.
Pray: for God to be in every detail of resolving Libya’s civil war. (Ps.4:1)
Nepal: New law planned forbidding evangelism
Five years after abolishing Hinduism as the state religion, Nepal is working on a new criminal code forbidding a person from one faith to ‘convert a person or abet him to change his religion.’ The proposed code also says no one will be allowed to do anything or behave in any way that could cause a person from a caste, community or creed to lose faith in his/her traditional religion or convert to a different religion. The proposal also prohibits conversion ‘by offering inducements or without inducement,’ and preaching ‘a different religion or faith with any other intent.’ Offenders could be imprisoned for a maximum of five years and fined up to US$685. If the offender is a foreigner they would be deported within seven days of completing the sentence. Last weekend Nepal failed to complete a new constitution for religious freedom due to a protracted battle for political power. Pray: for Nepal’s Christian community, which has no representation in the Council of Ministers or in Parliament, to know God's provision. (Ps.1:6) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/nepal/article_113290.html
Nigeria: Blasts rock Nigeria's northeast
A state police chief, said on Tuesday that members of a Muslim group locally known as Boko Haram detonated bombs at two police stations and at St Patrick's Church in the city of Maiduguri killing up to eleven people. The multiple blasts come a day after motorcycle-mounted gunmen shot dead a cleric from a rival sect. The police also blame Boko Haram for killing the cleric on Monday at his home because he had been critical of Boko Haram's violence. Boko Haram has pushed for the implementation of sharia in Borno State. The group has vowed to keep killing people believed to support the establishment until sharia is adopted alongside other demands.
Pray: for tensions to be calmed, fear to be removed, and Boko Haram to be lessened in influence. (Ps.140:8)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/201167223659877448.html
Uganda: 'Nodding disease' blights children
A mysterious disease, which has no cure, is affecting growing numbers of children in Northern Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. It is referred to as 'nodding disease', and has confounded the World Health Organisation. One of the first symptoms is that children appear to be falling asleep - their eyes close and head droops, even though they may not be tired. It frequently causes them to lose consciousness then they fall and injure themselves. Children affected are mostly between the ages of five and fifteen. They are more likely to die young because, after loosing consciousness, they have horrific accidents such as falling into cooking fires or drowning. Other symptoms are losing cognitive ability and stunted growth. Some children are abandoned by communities unable to afford to care for them. Experts are at a loss as to what causes the degenerative disease.
Pray: God will reveal the root cause of this disease and break its stronghold over the children. (Ps.3:8)
Kyrgyzstan: Injustice may spark fresh violence
Failure to deliver justice for last year's killings of civilians in ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan could spark more violence, Amnesty International warns. In a report released ahead of the first anniversary of the 10 June unrest. Amnesty urges Bishkek to ‘establish the truth about what happened’. 470 people died in four days of clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country, hundreds were injured and thousands of houses destroyed. The violence followed weeks of turmoil after the ousting of then President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April 2010’s uprising. Amnesty International urges the Kyrgyz government to punish the perpetrators of last year's violence. ‘Failure to bring those behind the violence to justice could provide fertile soil for future turmoil and human rights violations,' said Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia director. Ethnic bias and corruption are behind the pervading impunity in Kyrgyzstan. Pray: for a rebuilding of trust between the ethnic groups, and for justice to be seen to be done. (Ps.103:6)