The UK is not the only country preparing for an election. On 4 May, Algeria’s parliamentary poll will be the first since the legislature adopted landmark constitutional reforms last year. France’s second round of voting, on 7 May, could trigger colossal changes in European politics. South Korea, in the world's most volatile region, has a presidential election on 9 May following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Politics in the Bahamas is expected to become nastier, dirtier, and crazier ahead of the election on 10 May, after questions over lucrative brokerage, trucking, and limousine contracts. On 19 May Iranians go to the polls (see below), and on 24 May the Cayman Islands will be voting. Many of these nations desperately need change. When people pray, God answers; may He bring judgment and promotion where he deems it should be in the coming months.

Ethnic Persians are born Muslim. It is illegal to run Christian activities in Farsi, the national language. Despite this, Christians from a Muslim background make up the largest group of Christians in Iran. A few years ago International Freedom of Religion or Belief reported, ‘There was cautious optimism when Hassan Rouhani became president that his influence would soften harsh policies toward religious and ethnic minorities. Sadly, his moderate language has not translated into any meaningful improvement.’ Since he is aiming for another term in office, many believe that next month’s elections pose an ultimate vote of confidence. Pray for political changes in Iran that will allow for freedom of religion. A Persian who leaves Islam can be sentenced to death if male, and life imprisonment if female. For many Muslim families, it is a disgrace when a family member converts. Pray for protection and provision for Christians who have been cursed and disowned by their families. See also:

Last Saturday, over 600 protest marches in the name of science took place - in Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Japan, and even South Korea. Tens of thousands of scientists and their supporters rallied around the world, in a rebuke to Donald Trump’s dismissal of climate science and scientific research cuts. Organisers warned that science is ‘under attack’. Placards demanded ‘science not silence’, and ‘there is no Plan B’. The marches took place on Earth Day, one week before tomorrow’s People’s Climate March when a series of large-scale environmental events that will be more overtly political are due. See also:

The persecution of Christians is real, global, and brutal; it occurs every day, and is worsening. Pray for more people to learn about their plight, and raise their voices for those who are suffering. Pray for God to give successful strategies to those actively working towards advancing the cause of religious freedom throughout the world. Pray for the persecuted people who have had to leave their communities. Ask God to give them peace and rest and be with them in circumstances for which life had not prepared them. Some people have had to reach some level of compromise and accommodation with their oppressor to survive. Pray for governments to remove oppressive regimes peacefully in countries where communities are under siege and for God to surround displaced people with comfort. Pray for those risking martyrdom to be wise in all their actions, and for God to be with the families of martyrs. For an informative resume of a symposium on persecution in Paris this week, click the ‘More’ button.

The United Nations voted late last week to place Saudi Arabia on the Commission on the Status of Women for a four-year term beginning in 2018, despite that country’s appalling record on the treatment of women. The director of the Geneva-based UN Watch expressed his outrage: ‘Electing Saudi Arabia to protect women’s rights is like making an arsonist into the town fire chief.’ Every Saudi woman must have a male guardian who makes all critical decisions on her behalf. Men control a woman’s life from her birth until death. Saudi Arabia even bans women from driving cars. The most recent human rights report notes that despite being allowed to participate in municipal elections in 2015, the state of women’s rights in the kingdom remains generally abysmal. In 2015, Saudi Arabia reduced a Sri Lankan woman’s sentence for adultery from execution by stoning to three years in prison.

During Theresa May’s Easter message, she talked about religious freedom and said people should be able to talk freely about their faith, including their faith in Jesus Christ. She urged everyone to uphold the country's ‘strong tradition’ of religious tolerance and freedom of speech. ‘We must continue to ensure that people feel able to speak about their faith, and that absolutely includes their faith in Christ. We must be mindful of Christians and religious minorities around the world who do not enjoy these same freedoms, but who practise their religion in secret and often in fear.’ She added, ‘People should be confident about Christianity's role in the country.’ Alastair Campbell, editor-at-large of the New European, said the prime minister should be careful about merging her faith with her politics.

Wednesday was a historic day for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). After an eight-year wait, its application for accreditation by the United Nations was finally granted. CSW, an organisation supporting Christians around the world living under pressure because of their faith, will now have independent access to key UN human rights advocacy platforms, and the ability to organise side-events independently at fora such as the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly. CSW’s application had been supported by such dignitaries as Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta, the former President of Timor Leste, and also by all five UN Special Rapporteurs.

Our workplaces provide a unique opportunity to build relationships with nonbelievers. Every day they see the difference our faith makes to how we work, the way we relate, our resilience under pressure, and our attitude to success or failure. We need God’s wisdom and timing to ‘talk Jesus’ to our colleagues. So, like Paul, let’s ask for both words and courage.

(written by Bev Shepherd, LICC PrayerWorks)

The day after Theresa May called a snap election, a declaration was posted on the website passionforthenation.uk. The following prayer is based on that declaration: ‘We decree that in every constituency, God’s purpose and God’s plans will be fulfilled. We come into agreement with God’s Word in Daniel 2: 21: “He (God) changes the times and the seasons, He removes kings and raises up kings, He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.” We pray in Jesus’s name and declare that in the new Parliament, those and only those appointed by God will lead this nation. May they sound a distinct call, demonstrating vision, skill, and godly wisdom and understanding that others will follow. Proverbs 24:6 says, “You need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers”.’

Britain’s national newspapers are full of opinions, reports and analysis. The Daily Mail has an air of menace, the Sun and Telegraph proclaim Tory triumph, the Times and Guardian see bids for political strength. Some fear another general election will create instability in the country. Many voters already have ‘election fatigue’. Sources say Theresa May's manifesto will draw on inspiration from Thatcher's in 1979 - it will be short and 'tell a story'; Jeremy Corbyn said he will not play by the election rules, Nigel Farage is considering another bid to become an MP, and 750,000 people who turned 18 since the last election are now able to vote. Much prayer is needed for all who are canvassing to be men and women of wisdom and truth, for the voting public to hear the voices of wisdom above the clamour of half-truths and for the outcome on 8 June to be in line with God’s will for a United Kingdom.