Where is the greatest church growth today? In Iran. Even though Open Doors USA includes it in the top ten hardest countries to be a believer, last year Iran saw a 19.6% increase in the number of Christians, more than any other country. Authorities are working hard to eliminate Christianity, particularly Muslim conversions, and most registered churches are closed. But Iran house churches are growing the fastest. Iranian Christians say the greatest missionary there, the greatest evangelist they’ve had, was the Ayatollah Khomeini. When he took power he converted Iran to the Islamic Republic saying, ‘We’re going to run our country according to the Qu’ran.’ More than thirty years later Iranians are rejecting Islam precisely because of that philosophy. However, we need to pray for protection and comfort for Christians in prison for their faith, and for the deep hunger for the Bible to continue.

A missionary writes, ‘During a prayer seminar in one Christian church about 300 people attended. It poured with rain all day, and with it God’s spirit really descended. They were challenged to begin 24/7 prayer. They now have prayer each evening from six until midnight, many early morning prayer meetings, 24/7 prayer one day a week and once a month three days devoted to 24/7 prayer. There was training for children and now their prayer groups are expanding into other villages. They had built a church to house 350 people. Now they have outgrown the church and have a congregation of 1500. They are debating if they can get the money to buy adjacent land for expansion. God is at work; miracles are taking place; people are being healed; evil spirits are being driven out. Many converts are from the majority community who now put their trust in Jesus Christ.’

A missionary writes, ‘During a prayer seminar in one Christian church about 300 people attended. It poured with rain all day, and with it God’s spirit really descended. They were challenged to begin 24/7 prayer. They now have prayer each evening from six until midnight, many early morning prayer meetings, 24/7 prayer one day a week and once a month three days devoted to 24/7 prayer. There was training for children and now their prayer groups are expanding into other villages. They had built a church to house 350 people. Now they have outgrown the church and have a congregation of 1500. They are debating if they can get the money to buy adjacent land for expansion. God is at work; miracles are taking place; people are being healed; evil spirits are being driven out. Many converts are from the majority community who now put their trust in Jesus Christ.’

Dozens of MPs attended a Hope for the Middle East event, hosted by Kate Green MP. They heard talks by Baroness Anelay, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a Syrian Christian, and Open Doors representatives. Baroness Anelay spoke on the role the UK Government plays in defending freedom of religion and belief internationally. The important historic and future value of Christians remaining in the Middle East was discussed, as was the vital reconciliation work that Christians are doing in Syria and Iraq at a local level. The findings of the Hope for the Middle East report showed that Christians in Syria and Iraq are asking for equality, dignity and responsibility. Delegates and MPs were urged to take action on behalf of Christians and other minorities in Syria and Iraq. To read the report on the significance of the Christian presence in Syria and Iraq - past, present and future - click the ‘More’ button.

Last week Labour lobbied 170 questions for the Government, all designed to throw stumbling blocks into the path of negotiations to get Britain out of the EU. As a nation we can come through this and see considerable prosperity in the future, provided we hold onto a steady negotiating path that seeks the ways of righteousness, truth and justice. Christians have a role to play in upholding in prayer all those who are involved in the negotiations. Not all of our negotiators, businessmen, lawyers or politicians are committed Christians, although some are, and we can pray that God will use their words to steer a clear path of truth and to be the most influential. God loves to use small numbers and those whom the world considers weak.

On 7 October the Scotland Yard unit dealing with sensitive police inquiries was found to be ‘corrupted’ by a firm of private investigators run by retired detectives who targeted former police colleagues to secure information about the progress of sensitive Met inquiries. Internal Scotland Yard documents described them as operating like ‘an organised crime network’. Last week police anti-corruption investigators arrested two fellow officers from Scotland Yard intelligence, following claims of a luxury car-hire company being used to launder money and make false insurance claims. Seven others were arrested as part of the operation. The detained police are a detective constable from the Met intelligence unit, on suspicion of money laundering, fraud by false representation, perverting the course of justice and offences under the Computer Misuse Act, and a constable on suspicion of fraud by false representation. See also:

Justin Welby is urging the UK’s financial watchdogs to ‘practise what they preach’ amid concern that regulation aimed at preventing another financial crisis is weakening. The Archbishop, who sits on the advisory board of the think-tank New City Agenda, is backing its report on the need for improvements in the regulatory culture of the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. The New City Agenda report warns that without this, the UK will be ‘sleepwalking into the next financial crisis’, and that ‘crucial change’ following the 2008 financial crisis ‘is already being watered down’.

The Calais clean-up mission is accomplished. In May the Home Office confirmed that 3,000 child asylum seekers had been returned to conflict-torn countries in the past decade: today many single-minded children are back, trying for a second time. On Thursday, British charity Calais Action said ‘We are begging the French authorities to actually do something about the refugee children, but nothing is done.’ 1,500 minors have been processed; the remaining under-16s are in a small fenced-off ‘container village’. Hundreds are to be brought from Calais in coming weeks, but one in four UK local authorities ‘cannot take responsibility for them’. On 19 November the bishops of Manchester and Stockport will host a conference aiming to equip churches and communities to respond practically to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers. The Church of England said that the ‘conference will help people explore how they might welcome more effectively people who have been displaced and are seeking refuge.’ See:

Ashers Baking Company was asked to make a cake saying 'support gay marriage' but declined, saying it would compromise their Christian beliefs. LGBT activists launched a civil action against Ashers. Throughout legal proceedings Ashers repeatedly said their refusal to bake the cake had nothing to do with discrimination. On Tuesday they lost the case and said, ‘We’re extremely disappointed with today’s ruling. If equality law means people can be punished for politely refusing to support other people’s causes, then equality laws need to change. The judges accepted that we did not know Mr Lee was gay and that was not the reason we declined the order. We have always said it was never about the customer, it was about the message. The court accepted that. But now we are being told we have to promote the message even though it’s against our conscience.’

Night shelters supported by Church Urban Fund (CUF) are to increase their provision to nearly 4,000 bed spaces this winter in response to growing homelessness. Over 800 volunteers will work in shelters in Manchester, Salford, Birmingham, Mansfield, and Great Yarmouth, backed by CUF and Church of England dioceses. Night shelters are often more than just somewhere to sleep. For example, a night shelter in Manchester offering twelve beds for seven nights a week will double the length of time it operates to six months when it opens at the end of October. Another Manchester night shelter, based in seven locations, will offer 24-hour care to homeless guests including an evening meal and bed and breakfast,with advice and support available during the day. Guests and volunteers eat together each night; sometimes they play pool or table tennis together and develop positive relationships.