The European Organisation for Pakistani Minorities organised ‘Plight of Pakistani Minorities’ at the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. International speakers came from the European Parliament, International Forum for Rights and Security and the Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies. They expressed deep concern over growing intolerance in Pakistani society, aggravated by the actions of the Pakistan government. They believe the government and military should realise that their policy to sustain and use extremist elements in certain neighbourhoods to achieve their own ends will sooner or later not only destabilise Pakistan internally but also spread to other parts of the world. Pray that the international community will recognise and work towards resolving this crisis, which has not been adequately addressed in the past.

Thirty-two African heads of state are debating ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ at the UN. Some major concerns are: Chad - continues to fight Boko Haram. Malawi - respect for basic human rights as they open doors to refugees from neighbouring countries. Also millions need food assistance due to climate change. Tunisia - promoting security and human rights but needs support to improve its economy, emphasising Tunisia’s commitment to build a prosperous, united Africa. South Africa - developmental progress in line with the African Union’s agenda, also called for inclusive growth where countries put global interests ahead of national ones. Nigeria - anti-corruption stance and effects of the global downturn on the country, also pointed out that climate change effects are threatening livelihoods of 30 million people. Uganda - preventing discrimination based on religion, gender and political orientation. Ghana - Africa does not need sympathy or overseas aid, it needs a fair chance to trade with the rest of the world and amongst ourselves.

‘You must understand that Iranians are not Muslims, they are sons of Magi (Zoroastrians), and their hostility toward Muslims, especially the Sunnis, is an old one.’ These words were delivered on 6 September by the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, as a response to the Haj message which the Iranian supreme leader released the preceding day. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had stated, ‘Saudi officials are trying to cover up their enmity and hatred of the faithful and revolutionary people of Iran by talking about politicisation of the Haj. They are small and pitiful devils who are very afraid of jeopardising the interests of the big Satan, the United States.’ Although Iranian president Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013 with the promise of easing tensions between Iran and other countries in the region, what is currently taking place between Tehran and Riyadh cannot in any way be considered a de-escalation.

Last week Youth with a Mission hosted its largest event ever in its fifty-year history, in Kansas City. YWAM joined with International Houses of Prayer (IHOP), and they shared and encouraged each other, exploring what God is doing in nine spheres of society (family, economics, government, religion, education, media, and arts, entertainment, and sports). They also discussed subjects crucial to missions and prayer. IHOP’s 24/7 prayer room is divided into twelve worship-based prayer meetings a day, each lasting two hours.

As the US marked the 15th anniversary of 9/11 last Sunday, a YouTube video was released of a Bible recovered at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks. The Bible had a particular message to convey. Joel Meyerowitz spent nine months at Ground Zero taking photos in the aftermath of 9/11. A firefighter working there gave him pages from a Bible welded to a piece of steel. Meyerowitz marvelled that the Bible was preserved intact, and even more that it was turned to a passage from Matthew 5:38-39 (KJV) which says, ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ Meyerowitz said, ‘Of all the pages in the Bible that it could be opened at, that was remarkable.’

Ian Cole writes, ‘You will agree that we are living in a time when extraordinary things are happening at local, national and international levels on a daily basis. The same can be said for the Global Church worldwide. Day by day we are receiving reports of extraordinary moves of God, often in the most desperately needy places on earth. On 15 October, at Trumpet Call - National Day of Prayer - we are joining with church, prayer and mission partners to pray and declare that 2016/17 is going to see the beginnings of extraordinary moves of God across our nations. We shall worship, pray and declare that in villages, towns and cities, as we live in unity and speak out the Good News of Jesus, He will come in His wonderful grace and mercy and transform lives, heal broken hearts and bodies, restore families and bring freedom for the oppressed. In other words an extraordinary break-out of God’s Kingdom where we live! We look forward to seeing you on the day.’

Following Lord Roberts’ recent question to the Government about ‘what plans they have to speed up the reuniting of refugee children in the camps of Calais and Dunkirk with their families in the United Kingdom’, the Archbishop of Canterbury commented:‘The question has been extremely specifically put, about children who have families in this country; this is not about all unaccompanied children.’ He also said, ‘We are still having continual reports of delays for really quite young children who are not being brought across. Does the Minister not agree that where children - particularly young ones - have families in this country, there is no reason why they should not be brought across within the day?’

The recent Archers storyline on Radio 4 has drawn people’s attention to the rise in controlling behaviour in relationships. One of the hardest parts of being a parent is seeing your child hurt in a relationship. It’s vital to be aware of the difference between behaviour that is thought of as ‘rites of passage’ and behaviour which has more serious implications. Pray for organisations such as Women’s Aid, Refuge and others who give support and advice to those in or concerned about a situation of controlling behaviour. Pray for the counsellors listening to and advising people around the issues of healthy relationships. Pray for those who recognise a friend or relative being controlled by their partner to take appropriate action. Pray for more specialist training on domestic abuse for all who work in the criminal courts and the family courts. To read the Women’s Aid statement after the Radio 4 verdict click the ‘More’ button.

The government is set to relax rules on how faith schools select pupils, to allow new Catholic schools to open in England, according to a Number Ten source. It comes as the education secretary said ministers will take a pragmatic look at new grammar schools. Justine Greening said she wanted to offer parents choice but children would not be split into ‘winners and losers’. The source said, ‘We're going to change the rule, to allow new Catholic schools to open, while making faith schools of all kinds do more to ensure their pupils integrate with children of other backgrounds.’ Pray that the furore over reintroduction of grammar schools will not affect the move to remove the cap on faith-based admissions, so that the Catholic Church will be able to meet the current parental demand for thousands of new Catholic school places across the country.

Dr Clifford Hill writes, ‘It is vital that those in Britain who know the Lord declare the Gospel with their words and lives.’ In the aftermath of the vote to leave the EU all the forecasts of doom from those who wished Britain to remain within the EU have not been fulfilled. The economy has not suffered dire consequences, the housing market has not collapsed, unemployment is down and retail sales are up, giving a general feeling of buoyancy and hope for the future. If God's blessings upon the nation are to continue, there is a huge responsibility upon those who know Him and know the Bible. Only 44% of the nation claim to be Christians and 48% have no religion.’ There is a huge responsibility for spirit-led evangelism. May the body of Christ grow in faith and action.