A missionary writes, ‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Ps 20:7) Visas: please pray about the ban on Christian workers getting visas (particularly Americans). This is a real problem. Health: pray for the many workers currently experiencing serious health problems. Christian TV banned: this law is also being brought against other minority groups. Several Christians have continued producing and broadcasting materials and have been arrested for it. Blocking satellite transmissions: they are trying to block satellite TV and radio; may they not be able to do this. Backup: there is a board managing 6-7 groups producing TV, radio and correspondence courses. Pray for backup copies to be made for every group. There have been times when police have come in unannounced and destroyed materials. Pray for protection over this material and wisdom in knowing how to proceed.’

Tens of thousands of Rohingya people - 30,000 in eight weeks - are fleeing from the military. ‘The Burmese army have set our houses on fire. Men are shot dead. We are in deep pain.’ The Rohingya are called the most persecuted people group in the world; officially disowned by the government and stateless, even though many have lived there for generations. The UN reported civilians being mown down by helicopter guns. The Kachin people of Burma (predominantly Christian) are also fleeing their homes - nearly 100,000 have fled, many now in makeshift camps in atrocious conditions. Some try to escape by boat, but no surrounding countries will grant asylum. 200+ villages and 66 churches have been destroyed, and landmines make travel dangerous. 5,300+ people have signed a petition calling for an end to this violence and to lift the block on aid to those fleeing. If persecution does not end, thousands will starve to death or be killed by the military.

Closed elections are being held for Hamas’ Shura Council. They will shape the future council and the leadership. Ismail Haniyeh (who left Gaza in September) is expected to be elected head of the political bureau - in effect leader of Hamas. This will be a new era following the departure of previous leader Khaled Meshaal. Historically, the Shura Council comprises religious leaders and imams. Now, well-educated individuals, professionals from Gaza and the West Bank and top Palestinian lecturers from around the world have joined it. A Gaza Hamas activist was asked, ‘What would the younger generation view as an achievement?’ His answer, ‘When past leaders recognise they cannot continue to decide things on their own; others in the movement have opinions.’ The election results at the end of December will reveal if Haniyeh prefers to remain in Qatar or live among his people and the youths who view his election as a harbinger of change.

On Wednesday a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Aceh province, destroying hundreds of homes, businesses and the Pidie Jaya hospital. To date 102 people are known to have died, including young children, and at least 1,000 were injured. The death toll could rise. The priority is for implementing search and rescue operations. Additional medical personnel have gone to the region.

Alongside food and essentials, Christians offer Bible-based trauma healing for people of all ages by talking through their experience with trained facilitators. Thousands of refugees are experiencing the Bible in a new way. When the crisis began, Bible Society staff began meeting the physical needs of refugees - mattresses, food, tents, etc. Then they realised refugees had deeper, unspoken needs - someone to talk to. They launched a Bible-based trauma healing programme in Jordan (expanding into Lebanon, Syria and Iraq), helping people to talk about their experiences and consider questions like ‘Why  is there suffering?’ They reflect on what the Bible says about their situation. It’s based on scripture, mental health practice, and science.

Many Christians have fled from Aleppo to Lebanon. In Kristina’s church, only 10% of the original congregation are left, but the church is full as displaced people take their place - especially Muslims. She says, ‘Muslims were surprised to see churches offering support and programmes for all Syrians, not just Christians.’ Many have dropped their hostility towards Christians and are re-thinking their faith. A growing number of Muslim children are attending children’s activities, where the Bible is opened daily. Gradually Muslim families have joined church activities. Kristina speaks of a ‘golden age’ for the Middle East Church. ‘Muslims are coming to us. The only thing we have to do is tell them the good news; they are waiting for it’, she says.

Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, has said that her Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will continue to use its veto to stop same-sex marriage. She said that her party felt ‘strongly’ that they should protect the definition of marriage, and referred to the huge outcry against the ruling in the Ashers Bakery case. Recently, 51 Unionists voted against redefining marriage - so opposition is not confined to the DUP.

Mike Jacobs, husband of Cindy Jacobs, was woken at 5 am by the Lord reminding him of a prophetic word that was released in the early 1980s from their UK prayer network: ‘A revival will start in Western Canada, sweeping from the west to east, and then go down into the USA, and into Mexico, Central America, and South America.’ Mr Jacobs said, ‘God was saying to me in the morning, “Have I not said there is going to be a revival?” So He is stirring this word once again, and we are going to start seeing this revival.’ For the rest of this encouraging word for North America, click the ‘More’ button.

On 3 November, Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a White Paper detailing £1.3bn investment in new prisons over the next five years along with plans for 2,100 extra officers, drug tests and more autonomy for governors. On 7 November 200 inmates created a ‘riot’ at HMP Bedford. This followed the death of a prisoner in HMP Pentonville, the third in England this year. Violence in jails is rising. The number of assaults rose by 1/3rd to 23,775 in the year to June 2016. This week the Government took emergency court action when 10,000 prison officers in England and Wales stopped work over working conditions in jails, where drugs are rife, mobile phones are smuggled in to organise illegal prison activity, and there is understaffing. It is illegal for the profession to strike, but the Prison Officers Association says ‘protest action’ is needed to keep staff and inmates safe. The service is ‘in meltdown’.

The Church of Scotland has condemned Home Office red tape that twice denied visas for an invited delegation of Pakistani Christians because they are too poor. The Presbytery of Glasgow vouched for the two delegates from the Church of Pakistan, invited as part of a twinning project between the two Christian communities. The Home Office refused entry to the two clergy despite the Church of Scotland assuring the Government that it is paying for the visit. The Presbytery will now raise the issue at the Home Office via Members of Parliament. The officer dealing with the case wrote to the church visitors, ‘It is acknowledged that the Church of Scotland will bear the costs of your visit. I am not satisfied you are genuinely seeking entry for a limited period - not exceeding six months. Unless financial circumstances change, future applications are likely to be refused.’