Faith leaders reconfirm cooperation
Faith leaders gathered in Brussels have expressed their readiness to work with the European Union institutions to promote fundamental freedoms. This was the seventh in a series of annual meetings aimed at keeping dialogue open with churches and communities of conviction. The President of the European Council spoke of humanity’s shared historic march toward freedom and justice, values rooted in the European Treaties. It was underscored that cooperation with religious groups in an effective EU neighbourhood policy has a vast scope — from education and health to rebuilding post-conflict societies.
Pray: for the continued cooperation and understanding between religious groups. (Ac.2:44)
More: http://www.euronews.net/2011/05/30/eu-faith-leaders-reconfirm-cooperation/
Iran: Repression and persecution significantly increased
A 2010 report from the European Committee for Defence of Iranian Christians has been posted on Farsi Christian Network newswire stating, ‘putting pressure on, and bullying of, the Christian community in the Islamic Republic has significantly been increased in both scope and intensity during 2010.’
Pray: that Christians experiencing freedom to worship and share the gospel and intercede more passionately for persecuted Christians. (Col.1:9-11)
Sudan: Breakthrough possible - Christians suffering
Following last week's Prayer Alert report of thousands fleeing burning and looting by North Sudan forces in and around Abyei, the Sudanese government has presented a package of proposals to resolve the issue of Abyei’s disputed oil-rich area. The proposals included deploying African Union troops and appointing a new chairmanship for the area on rotation between north and south Sudan. Elsewhere conflict continues as Sudanese authorities arrested a Christian woman in a Darfur camp accused of possessing and distributing Bibles. Sources said she could also be tried for apostasy, which carries the death sentence in Sudan. In Khartoum a wounded Christian mother of a 2-month-old baby and her husband are destitute because they left Islam for Christianity. Northern Christians are becoming more vulnerable. Source: Pray: that Sudan’s spiritual atmosphere changes from death to life and the proposals resolve the conflict peacably. (Is.2:4) More: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=590670
Egypt: Political manoeuvring
The Muslim Brotherhood appointed Coptic Christian Rafig Habib as vice president for its political party ahead of September’s parliamentary elections, seen as a move to assure Christians they have nothing to fear if the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power. Coptic human rights activist Wagih Yacoub said, ’There is no doubt that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis are allied. The Brotherhood plays politics and the Salafis are causing chaos so they can empty Egypt of Christians and make it an Islamic state.’ Also the NY Times reported, ‘The Coptic Christian minority in Egypt fear the Egyptian revolution has made their country less tolerant and more dangerous for religious minorities. Christians and liberals entering politics are reluctant to speak out against it, asking at most for slight modifications.’ Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/world/middleeast/31coptic.html?_r=2
Pray: for Egypt’s Christians to be free to express their faith and for the removal of all hidden ungodly agendas. (Is.11:11)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/muslim.brotherhood.appoints.christian.vice.president/28012.htm
Nigeria: President's inauguration marred by bombing
Just hours after Christian President Goodluck Jonathan was inaugurated a bomb exploded in an army barracks in Bauchi Nigeria, a stronghold of radical Muslim s known as Boko Haram. The bombing is seen as a challenge to the authority of a Christian President from the south, by those in the north who want a Muslim president installed. Muslims contend that a Muslim president needs to be elected according to the unwritten agreement that presidents will rotate between the country’s Christian south and Muslim north. Muslims complained that the votes for the presidential election were rigged, but independent observers said the election process was the fairest in decades. Pray: that Nigeria would know peace as the country settles into a season of new governance. (Da.7:14)
Australia: Low income families suffer as winter takes hold
A report from Anglicare Victoria shows 25% of emergency relief clients cannot afford prescription medication, ½ cannot afford dental treatment and one in five are too poor to eat a good meal once a day. The 2011 Hardship Survey gives a graphic insight into the daily challenges facing low income families. 55% had an ongoing disability or medical condition but ¼ could not afford to buy medicine prescribed by physicians. Other unaffordable items included no home contents insurance or comprehensive car insurance leaving them vulnerable in cases of robberies or accidents. Families and individuals are pushed to the edge week in and week out and are just a sickness or car accident away from crippling financial debt they may never recover from. In the wake of recent fires and floods in Australia many emergency relief clients are in a debt spiral and unable to make ends meet.
Pray: for all receiving emergency relief to be able to cope and to come to know God and His provision for their future. (Tit.3:4-5)
Algeria: Christian sentenced beyond prosecutor’s request
On May 25th a fine equivalent to US$2,760 and a five-year prison term was handed down to Christian convert Siaghi Krimo for ‘insulting’ Muhammad despite lack of evidence. The judge stunned the Christian community by sentencing him beyond the prosecution recommendation of a two-year prison sentence and a fine of US$690 equivalent. Krimo was tried for giving a CD to a neighbour, who then accused him of attempting to convert him to Christianity. His lawyer plans to appeal. Krimo is not required to serve his prison sentence until the court hears his appeal and upholds the conviction. The court delivered its verdict the same week that the governor of the province of Bejaia ordered the closing of seven Protestant churches. Asked if he thought the court had instructions from higher officials to hand down such heavy punishment to him, Krimo responded with no hesitation: ‘It’s certain!’ Pray: for God to reduce all opposition to the Christian message taking root and spreading in Algeria. (Mt.24:14) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/13314/article_113189.html
Asia: Climate justice for Christian communicators
‘Climate change in Asia is falling hardest on poor and indigenous communities and Christian communicators should adopt the concept of ‘climate justice’ as they advocate for solutions.’ delegates said at a meeting of the World Association for Christian Communications Asia region. They said that churches should take a proactive stand on the issue by promoting awareness through traditional media and among congregations. Climate changes affecting Asians are melting Himalayan glaciers influencing available fresh water for crop irrigation and daily human use, especially in Pakistan and India. However, many people don't see a connection between faith and climate change. ‘For most of our local faith communities, climate justice is not a lens that we bring regularly to the reading of our sacred texts nor to our understanding of what it means to be faithful,’ was said in a keynote address.
Pray: that climate justice will become a popular and effective initiative in the wake of Pakistan’s floods. (Lev.19:10)
More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=4924
15 years of Christian broadcasting in Arab world
SAT-7: SAT-7 is celebrating 15 years of broadcasting Christian programmes across the Middle East and North Africa. The ministry started out as a single channel format but has enjoyed unexpected success over the years and now broadcasts SAT-7 Arabic, SAT-7 Pars, SAT-7 Kids and SAT-7 Turk. Until SAT-7's first transmission on 31 May 1996, fear of government reprisals meant the media had largely been out of bounds for the Arab Christian community. Rita El Mounayer, Executive Director for SAT-7's three Arabic channels sees a continuing hunger in the Middle East and North Africa for SAT-7's holistic and uplifting programming. ‘We're very excited about our shows and the people making them - people who want to make a real difference in the lives of our viewers,’ she said. The 15th anniversary coincides with the Arab Spring sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Praise: God for the blessings that SAT-7 has brought to the Arab world. (Is.44:3)
15 years of Christian broadcasting in Arab world
SAT-7: SAT-7 is celebrating 15 years of broadcasting Christian programmes across the Middle East and North Africa. The ministry started out as a single channel format but has enjoyed unexpected success over the years and now broadcasts SAT-7 Arabic, SAT-7 Pars, SAT-7 Kids and SAT-7 Turk. Until SAT-7's first transmission on 31 May 1996, fear of government reprisals meant the media had largely been out of bounds for the Arab Christian community. Rita El Mounayer, Executive Director for SAT-7's three Arabic channels sees a continuing hunger in the Middle East and North Africa for SAT-7's holistic and uplifting programming. ‘We're very excited about our shows and the people making them - people who want to make a real difference in the lives of our viewers,’ she said. The 15th anniversary coincides with the Arab Spring sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Praise: God for the blessings that SAT-7 has brought to the Arab world. (Is.44:3)