Last week we asked God to direct the government forces and their allies in their battles to retake Fallujah so that families are protected, and to keep open ‘safe corridors’ for fleeing people. This week Iraqi forces have intensified their assault against IS in Fallujah, and special forces have entered a ‘second phase’ in their fight to recapture central city areas. The week-old operation had previously focussed on retaking villages and rural areas. In this second phase of combat, 50,000 people are still trapped inside the city, where US forces in 2004 fought their toughest battles since the Vietnam War. Only a few people have managed to escape through the ‘safe corridors’, which now appear to be closed. A Fallujah resident told Al-Jazeera by phone that there is lack of fuel and medicine, no rice or sugar, and only a few vegetables.

Muslims are our neighbours. Jesus instructed us to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matt. 22:39). International '30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World' started in 1993, and every year the number of Christians using their resources has increased. A new illustrated prayer guide booklet is published every year, with daily readings that focus on various topics, people groups and geographical areas of the Islamic world. Each day's subject focus is followed by prayer points. The booklet also features informative background articles and resources for involvement. We are in the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in fourteen centuries of Muslim-Christian interaction. More than 80% of all the Muslim movements to Christ in history have occurred in the past two to three decades (a period which coincides with the modern prayer movement for Muslims). Praying Christians can download a pdf version ‘30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World’ for their personal use at:

With the calling of federal elections on 2 July, there will be a season of prayer up to that date. The Australian Prayer Network will be providing weekly prayer points from the web address below. The following points are from that list: i) Cry out to God for His righteousness, just nature, and ruler-ship to be established in Australia through the government, as they are in heaven. ii) In the light of His perfect righteousness, let Australians acknowledge sin and failures and in repentance and humility cry out for His mercy to be extended to the nation through the outcome of this election. iii) Approach His throne of grace with confidence, praying that the nation will receive mercy and grace in our time of need, and the Church in Australia will be like Esther finding favour and approval with our King so that He will hear and answer our prayers. iv) Pray that God will give His Church the prayers of Jesus so that we pray in righteousness, unity, and maturity.

The World Council of Churches is still complaining about the interrogation and treatment of its staff and professional colleagues at Ben Gurion International Airport a month ago. Some were interrogated repeatedly for up to eight hours, and Israeli officials accused them of arriving for an entirely different reason than for their stated purpose: a meeting on climate change hosted by member churches in the region. They were threatened with a ten-year ban on entry to Israel and being listed on Interpol watch lists; then they were detained in prison-like conditions for up to three nights before being deported. Many of the participants in the working group meeting had little or no previous experience of visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In the light of this intimidating and traumatic experience, the WCC is carefully reviewing its procedures and advice to participants in such ecumenical visits and meetings, to eliminate ambiguities and to avoid misunderstandings. Pray for peace and justice for all people in the region.

For the first time since the formation of a transitional government of national unity on 29 April, the South Sudan leaders have met to review the implementation of the August 2015 peace deal. On Tuesday in Juba, President Salva Kiir and his first and second deputies were shown on national television shaking hands and meeting for discussions. The brief broadcast reported that the three leaders reviewed the implementation of the deal, with emphasis on a deteriorating economy. There were no details of the discussions’ outcome. There are many contentious issues - the number of states, containment of forces, reconstitution of the national legislative assembly, and more. No donors have pledged financial support to the new government, citing lack of commitment to peace by the former warring parties. Pray for both sides to humble themselves and allow the civil war to end. Meanwhile Christians are still being killed by bombs: see

A spiritual awakening that has led to an estimated three thousand conversions and appears poised to last through the summer is creating continuing enthusiasm among Assemblies of God churches in southern West Virginia. ‘The past six weeks our Sunday morning services have been more spiritual. The move of the Spirit has gone up two or three notches’, said the leader of Victory Christian Centre Church in Lenore. Pentecostal evangelist Matt Hartley has been holding revival meetings which have attracted visitors from Texas, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Georgia and Florida. After other meetings in different venues, on 14 May the ‘Awakening’ shifted to Logan High School's football stadium. ‘Young people want to be involved in Bible study, some pastors and youth groups have travelled hours to get there,’ said the director of youth and Christian education for the AoG Appalachian Ministry Network. ‘This has had some pretty far-reaching results, especially for youth ministries.’

Last month a San Diego church posted online, ‘In the midst of outpouring and extended revival, we feel that it's time to be intentional with releasing impartation each month through hosting special themed weekends of revival. We will be bringing together fathers and mothers with a history in outpouring and revival to begin to spread what God is releasing here in this “Fire and Glory Outpouring” in San Diego to the whole of North America and the Nations. Come and be a part of this special time of impartation and activation, in the midst of nonstop revival which has been going on for over two and a half months! Fresh Awakening San Diego is exploding!!!’ ‘Incredible Glory Presence’ is just one of many Facebook messages about the outpouring, at

Research has found that for the first time, those without a religion outnumber Christians in England and Wales. The main driver is people brought up with some religion now saying they have no religion. Those brought up as Anglicans and Catholics are most likely to leave the Church, with four out of ten adults raised as Anglicans abandoning their faith. Rising trends of secularism have also been reported across Europe in the past decade, with a study in March finding that the majority of Norwegians no longer believe in God. Pray for us to raise our faith and expectation, our commitment to prayer, to raise our eyes from what we are seeing around us, to take our eyes off the falling and the decaying and to lift our eyes to God; pray also for a powerful new move of God. Read a prophetic word given by Malcolm Duncan at a recent WPC prayer event:

Last week the Christian Institute stated, ‘The Government’s planned Counter-Extremism and Safeguarding Bill must be carefully crafted to avoid damaging freedom of expression.’ The chief executive of Index on Censorship said, ‘We should resist any attempts to make it a crime for people of faith to talk publicly about their beliefs, for political parties to voice unpopular views, and for venues to host anyone whose opinions challenge the status quo. We urge the Government to use its consultation to ensure this does not happen.’ The proposals for a new law, outlined in the Queen’s Speech, are more ambiguous than earlier Government proposals. Current legislation already prohibits incitement to violence and terrorism, and a compelling case for broadening them further through civil measures has not been made. It is still not clear how new legislation would deal with the problem of defining ‘extremism’ in a way that would not threaten free speech.

Teaching of Christianity in schools is set to be transformed by a new resource from the Church of England, launched yesterday. Understanding Christianity is a set of comprehensive materials and training which will enable pupils from age 4 to 14 to develop their understanding of Christianity, as a contribution to making sense of the world and their own experience within it. Available to schools across the country, it was written by a team of RE advisers from RE Today Services, in collaboration with more than 30 teachers and academics. It has been trialled in over fifty schools. Understanding Christianity was commissioned by the Church of England education office with the support of Culham St Gabriels, The Sir Halley Stewart Trust, the Jerusalem Trust and an anonymous donor. The chief education officer for the Church of England said that the ability for young people to have informed conversation and dialogue about belief and faith is key to building a peaceful society and helps combat ignorance and extremism.