Jesus appears to refugees
When the wind and the waves threatened to swamp a boat filled with refugees fleeing the Middle East, Jesus made a dramatic appearance to them and calmed the waters, saving their lives. A group of refugees fleeing the fighting in the Middle East were jammed into several pontoon boats, trying to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece. The seas were extremely rough and dangerous and some of the boats in this small armada capsized. The report is reminiscent of a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mt.4:37). The refugees were afraid, just as Jesus’ fellow travellers had been . ‘The people in one boat cried out to God. Suddenly, a ‘shining heavenly figure’ appeared in the boat. The entire boat knew it was Jesus. Then something miraculous happened. Jesus calmed the storm! From that point the sea became calm and peaceful, and they finally landed safely on shore.’ This amazing account is from Erick Schenkel, executive director of the Jesus Film Project.
Revival in the Palestinian Church?
Intercessors have been praying for strength, wisdom, peace and revelation of Jesus in Palestine. God has answered! Palestinian believers are, for the first time, reading the Gospel! Until last year, only a few Bibles were available in Greek Orthodox churches. None were in homes. Most Palestinian Christians belong to these churches, where tradition is about sacraments and symbols. But now 20,000 Bibles are in the hands of Palestinian believers because of co-operation between the Palestinian Bible Society and the leadership of the Orthodox Church. Within 12 months of last year’s special edition printing of the Orthodox New Testament, all 20,000 Scriptures have been given out, mostly in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. ‘This is a stream of Living Water flowing through the Orthodox Church. Revival is more likely to happen because the Word of God is available in a whole new way,’ said a Bible Society representative.
USA/Israel: Pro-Israel evangelicals ‘will storm US voting booths’
Thousands of potential voters stood with open arms waving American and Israeli flags and vowing that for Zion’s sake their voices would be heard. The Christians United for Israel (CUFI) group’s annual summit was booked years in advance of the announcement that the Republican Party would hold its nominating convention in the same place during the same week. The grassroots-based organisation sees itself as playing a central role in the 2016 election drama. CUFI spoke out in advance of the Republican convention when the platform committee drafted party doctrine for the coming election. Their lobbying organisation had the word ‘divided’ changed to ‘undivided’ on the Republican platform with regards to Jerusalem. ‘We want to see Jerusalem the eternal capital of the Jewish people undivided today, tomorrow and forever.’ said CUFI. In US politics there is strength in numbers and CUFI’s strength and mobilisation was noticed.
USA: Black lives matter
Video footage has emerged of a policeman violently throwing an African-American female school teacher to the ground, and a second officer telling her, ‘whites are afraid of black people because they have violent tendencies and are ‘intimidating.’ Austin police officer Richter pulled over Breaion King for speeding. He told her to close the door. She refused, saying, ‘Would you please hurry up?’ He lost his temper and dragged her out of the car. She shouted, ‘No! Why are you touching me? Oh my God!’ He shouted, ‘Stop resisting!’ and violently threw her to the ground, ordered her to put her hands behind her back, saying, ‘I'm about to taser you.’ When she managed to stand up, he body-slammed her to the ground again. The video came as demonstrations continue across the US by 'Black Lives Matter' campaigners.
Global: Poverty and development
The failure of much of the world to meet the first Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 highlights the need for research to go beyond the measuring of poverty and give more attention to its causes and dynamics. The department of History and Ethnology at Jyväskylä University, Finland are inviting anthropologists, ethnologists, sociologists, socio-economists, political scientists and development researchers to submit paper proposals at a conference on urban poverty on August 4-6, 2016. This three-day conference will explore new findings and developing theories on the causes of poverty, especially urban poverty or poverty at the interface between the urban and rural. Possible themes will be climate change, water and sanitation, economy, governance, health, religion and technology.
Turkey: Detainees 'beaten, tortured and raped' after failed coup
Amnesty International has credible evidence of Turkish detainees subjected to beatings, torture and rape since the failed coup. ‘It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held’, said Amnesty Europe. Erdogan extended the maximum period of detention from 4 to 30 days, increasing risks of torture and maltreatment. Pray for Erdogan to be cautious as he signs laws without prior parliamentary approval in his drive to remove supporters of the coup. Pray for an end to indiscriminate crackdowns on ‘opposition’. Pray for justice for the 60,000+ detained or suspended: soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others.
Afghanistan: Child deaths push war casualties to record high
The UN reported that civilian casualties in Afghanistan reached a record high in the first half of 2016, (1,601 civilians killed and 3,565 wounded) with children paying a heavy price as insurgent groups stepped up the fighting. The report came two days after the deadliest attack in Kabul since 2001. The Taliban has stepped up their insurgency and IS seeks to expand its foothold in east Afghanistan. Every event documented in this report revealed people killed while praying, working, studying, fetching water, recovering in hospitals, and every civilian casualty represents a failure of commitment and should be a call to action for parties to the conflict to take meaningful steps to reduce civilians’ suffering. History and the collective memory of the Afghan people will judge leaders of all parties to this conflict by their conduct.
Global Church leaders condemn killing of French priest
As the French president met Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist leaders after Father Jacques Hamel was murdered while conducting morning mass in his church, Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said the Pope was being kept up-to-date with developments and that he felt pain and horror at the ‘absurd violence’. After meeting the religious representatives, President Francois Hollande held a security and defence council and appealed for ‘unity’, warning that the war against terrorism will be long. Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tweeted, ‘Evil attacks the weakest, denies truth & love, and is defeated through Jesus Christ. Pray for France, for victims, for their communities.’ The BBC reported a Nun who escaped from the scene saying, ‘They forced him to his knees. And that's when the tragedy happened. They recorded themselves giving a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It's a horror,’ she told BFM television’. See also: https://www.premier.org.uk/News/World/Church-attack-Vatican-condemns-barbarous-killing
Rio: Terrorists plan attacking Olympic athletes
Authorities in Brazil are on high alert as Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic terrorists were instructed on social media to carry out ‘lone wolf’ attacks against Israeli, American, British and French athletes in Rio. ‘One small knife attack against Americans/Israelis in these places will have bigger media effect than attacks anywhere else,' they said. ‘Your chance to take part in the global Jihad is here! Your chance to be a martyr is here!’ The murder-inciting message points to the easy process of obtaining travel visas to Brazil and a wide availability of guns in ‘crime-ridden slums.’ Israelis are the biggest targets. ‘From amongst the worst enemies, the most famous is Israelis, Muslims all agree. Spectators are also legitimate targets, but priority should be given to attacking prominent leaders.’
Ireland: Christians, Muslims and atheists unite for alternative religious education
In an unexpected coalition, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland (EAI) has joined with Atheist Ireland and Irish Ahmadiyya Muslims to work for alternatives to religious education in schools. They are hoping to do away with state-sponsored religious education courses required for students. They believe that requirement harms religion and state, even though 85% of Irish people identify as Catholics. The EAI stated that in opposing the course it seeks to ‘protect children from coercion and discrimination in the area of religious education.’ Atheist Ireland stated, ‘The minister for education should immediately inform all schools at second level that the state religious education is not compulsory. Imam Noonan stressed the importance of not allowing one particular faith to ‘have the monopoly in schools.’