India: Gospel brought us from darkness to light
The Gospel has led us from darkness to light, said Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, as he heaped praise on pioneer missionaries for bringing the Good News to the northeast state. Singh recalled the sacrifice of Watkin Roberts and his family for ‘bringing the Gospel’ and said it brought peace and unity among people. The Independent Church of India (ICI) itself was founded by Watkin Roberts who along with three missionaries from the state of Mizoram ushered in the age of the Gospel among tribal groups in South Manipur in 1910. To mark this event, the ICI held a four-day celebration attended by 20,000 Christians. ICI is one of the leading churches in Southern Manipur and still exists as an indigenous Church. It is deeply rooted in the principles of self-support, self-administration and self-propagation.
Praise: God for the increased acceptance of the Gospel across the globe. ( Mt.24:14)
More: http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/gospel-brought-us-from-darkness-to-light-manipur-cm/5142.htm
India: Gospel brought us from darkness to light
The Gospel has led us from darkness to light, said Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, as he heaped praise on pioneer missionaries for bringing the Good News to the northeast state. Singh recalled the sacrifice of Watkin Roberts and his family for ‘bringing the Gospel’ and said it brought peace and unity among people. The Independent Church of India (ICI) itself was founded by Watkin Roberts who along with three missionaries from the state of Mizoram ushered in the age of the Gospel among tribal groups in South Manipur in 1910. To mark this event, the ICI held a four-day celebration attended by 20,000 Christians. ICI is one of the leading churches in Southern Manipur and still exists as an indigenous Church. It is deeply rooted in the principles of self-support, self-administration and self-propagation.
Praise: God for the increased acceptance of the Gospel across the globe. ( Mt.24:14)
More: http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/gospel-brought-us-from-darkness-to-light-manipur-cm/5142.htm
Judges are biased against Christianity, say senior Church figures
Senior Church figures are forcing a showdown with the judiciary over an allegation that some of the country’s most senior judges are prejudiced against Christianity. Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury (1991 – 2002) and other church leaders will urge the Master of the Rolls and other senior judges to stand down from future Court of Appeal hearings involving cases of religious discrimination because of the judges’ perceived bias against Christianity. Senior churchmen believe that Christians have little chance of a fair ruling if the latest significant hearing is heard in front of those judges who, they argue, have already shown a lack of understanding of Christian beliefs. Critics are particularly alarmed by a ruling by Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls, on behalf of the Court of Appeal, that Lillian Ladele, a registrar who refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies – because they were against her Christian beliefs – broke the law.
Pray: that the Judiciary comes to respect wholeheartedly our Christian faith. (Dt.17:8)
Vietnam: Witchdoctor who found Jesus
‘I grew up in a very strong Buddhist family in Vietnam,’ says Tran Dinh (Paul) Ai. ‘My father was a very successful Chinese medical doctor.’ Ai's father vowed he would send his son to the Buddhist temple for training as a monk. At age 14 Ai arrived at the temple, but after a year of study he became disenchanted with the ‘hopelessness of Buddhist doctrines.’ Seeking a more powerful religious experience, he studied the dark arts, to become a witchdoctor. In 1970, as protests mounted against the Vietnam War in the US, American missionaries entered Ai's town in South Vietnam. ‘A lot of people in my town went to the crusades and met the Lord.’ Gradually a dawning realization swept through his mind. ‘I realized that Buddha was a good man who was wise, but Buddha died. He never promised to save anybody or help anybody,’ he says. ‘Then I realized Jesus Christ is different. He is not only good and wise, He rose and He's alive!’
Praise: Godthat the work of Christ’s mission is received with such success everywhere. ( Ac.15:3)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7775
Vietnam: Witchdoctor who found Jesus
‘I grew up in a very strong Buddhist family in Vietnam,’ says Tran Dinh (Paul) Ai. ‘My father was a very successful Chinese medical doctor.’ Ai's father vowed he would send his son to the Buddhist temple for training as a monk. At age 14 Ai arrived at the temple, but after a year of study he became disenchanted with the ‘hopelessness of Buddhist doctrines.’ Seeking a more powerful religious experience, he studied the dark arts, to become a witchdoctor. In 1970, as protests mounted against the Vietnam War in the US, American missionaries entered Ai's town in South Vietnam. ‘A lot of people in my town went to the crusades and met the Lord.’ Gradually a dawning realization swept through his mind. ‘I realized that Buddha was a good man who was wise, but Buddha died. He never promised to save anybody or help anybody,’ he says. ‘Then I realized Jesus Christ is different. He is not only good and wise, He rose and He's alive!’
Praise: Godthat the work of Christ’s mission is received with such success everywhere. ( Ac.15:3)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7775
Iranian doctor comes to faith after watching Christian TV
Towards the end of 2009, an Iranian doctor from a religious family in a smaller city of Iran was watching Elam’s evangelistic television program ‘Healing for the broken hearted.’ He was deeply moved by testimony of the Christian on the program. When the presenters invited viewers to call in for prayer he did so despite the risks. The Elam counsellor shared with him and he requested follow up contact. So they gave his details to one of the church planters in Iran who courageously went to visit him in early 2010. The Doctor heard the Gospel once more and then repented right there in his office. Believers are meeting with him regularly to disciple him.
Praise: God for this new brother in Christ, and pray for him to grow and be a powerful Christian witness in his city. (Ps.73:23-24)
More: http://www.elam.com/articles/Prayer-News/
Iranian doctor comes to faith after watching Christian TV
Towards the end of 2009, an Iranian doctor from a religious family in a smaller city of Iran was watching Elam’s evangelistic television program ‘Healing for the broken hearted.’ He was deeply moved by testimony of the Christian on the program. When the presenters invited viewers to call in for prayer he did so despite the risks. The Elam counsellor shared with him and he requested follow up contact. So they gave his details to one of the church planters in Iran who courageously went to visit him in early 2010. The Doctor heard the Gospel once more and then repented right there in his office. Believers are meeting with him regularly to disciple him.
Praise: God for this new brother in Christ, and pray for him to grow and be a powerful Christian witness in his city. (Ps.73:23-24)
More: http://www.elam.com/articles/Prayer-News/
Nun’s murderer now says ‘Christians are India’s hope’
Samadar Singh was jailed for 11 years for murdering a nun but today he is a different man. While in prison his wife divorced him and his first son died and he plotted how to take revenge against the man who pushed him to kill the nun. But he also received a visit from another nun who was the murdered nun’s natural sister. She hugged him and called him brother. He was profoundly touched and from this embrace his journey of repentance began. He is now released and the murdered sister’s family has become his own. He realises that India’s right wing hate Christians and says, ‘I want everyone to know that missionaries give us hope through their service which is to make us a strong and independent people. I can say without a doubt that the missionaries do nothing but work and help the poor and the marginalised. They have no secret design other than serve God.’
Praise: God for all He is doing across India through His people. (Is.43:18-19)
Nun’s murderer now says ‘Christians are India’s hope’
Samadar Singh was jailed for 11 years for murdering a nun but today he is a different man. While in prison his wife divorced him and his first son died and he plotted how to take revenge against the man who pushed him to kill the nun. But he also received a visit from another nun who was the murdered nun’s natural sister. She hugged him and called him brother. He was profoundly touched and from this embrace his journey of repentance began. He is now released and the murdered sister’s family has become his own. He realises that India’s right wing hate Christians and says, ‘I want everyone to know that missionaries give us hope through their service which is to make us a strong and independent people. I can say without a doubt that the missionaries do nothing but work and help the poor and the marginalised. They have no secret design other than serve God.’
Praise: God for all He is doing across India through His people. (Is.43:18-19)
Padded bikinis for 7-year-olds dropped after outcry
Primark has been forced to withdraw padded bikinis for seven-year-olds after critics condemned the store for fuelling child sexualisation. The Children’s Society slammed the popular high street chain for ‘premature sexualisation and unprincipled advertising’. A child protection consultant who works to help victims of paedophilia said: ‘It never fails to amaze me just how many High Street household names are now prepared to exploit the disgusting ‘paedophile pound’.’ Parents warned that children were facing pressure to grow up too soon. Penny Nicholls, director of children and young people at The Children’s Society, said: ‘We know from our research that commercial pressures towards premature sexualisation and unprincipled advertising are damaging children’s well-being. The evidence shows that adults feel children are more materialistic than in past generations, while children themselves feel under pressure to keep up with the latest trends.’
Pray: for our youngsters and against pressures that promote the premature sexualisation of our children. (Eph.5:5)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/padded-bikinis-for-7-year-olds-dropped-after-outcry/