Scotland - after the election
The political landscape of Scotland has been recast. Many MSPs are no longer in parliament, and we can pray for them and their families as they come to terms with the disappointment and change. The Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill is due to have its First Stage debate in the Scottish Parliament by the end of May. We are asked to pray for Michael Matheson MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, to include the criminalisation of payment for sex as a key aspect of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill. Also the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland meets in Edinburgh from 16 to 22 May. Commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the long-running issue of whether to allow the ordination and induction of ministers and deacons in same sex civil partnerships. This has already been approved by presbyteries, with 31 for and 14 against.
Christians urged to pray for new Government
The Christian Institute is encouraging Christians across the UK to pray for the new Government after Thursday’s General Election results. The Bible tells us to pray for whoever is in charge and to pray that we would be allowed the freedom to live godly lives with liberty to share the gospel. Meanwhile the General Director of Evangelical Alliance issued a call for Christians to pray for the Prime Minister and his Government, and ensure the church holds him and his cabinet accountable for their policies in the coming days, weeks and months. Also, Dr Jonathan Oloyede of the National Day of Prayer and Worship perceives a Prayer-Storm blowing across the British Isles and urges us to pray for politicians and leaders serving in our local areas, to link up with their staff, and pray and act with wisdom, humility and knowledge.
Nigeria: Boko Haram survivors - food shortages
Since Nigeria's army began clearing areas of the country's northeast from Boko Haram, some internally displaced people have started returning home. But thousands could now face severe food shortages as reconstruction is delayed. Some trade has resumed in towns, but ghostly pockets and haunting reminders of the insurgent takeover are evident. Three months after the fighting ended, the smell of rotting corpses still clings to the air by the Church of the Brethren near Mararaba. People have returned to Adamawa province, but health clinics, banks and schools are still lacking and vast stretches of farmland stand barren. People are afraid and lack the equipment and manpower to farm, so for the moment they can’t live off the land. There is no sign of government aid. The rainy season comes next month and landmines are still dotted around. About a week ago a bomb exploded when people went to clear the land.
Georgia: Battle for Orthodoxy in the classroom
The Orthodox Church's resurgence began in the 1990s with the collapse of the USSR. Now Georgia's liberal politicians want alignment with Europe and the US to allow the country to overcome its past and become an independent nation. Some are accusing the Orthodox Church of using schools to breed religious conservatives with beliefs aligned to Putin's Russia. More than 80% of Georgians call themselves Orthodox, with the young amongst the most religious. The church's conservative message is at odds with Georgia’s liberal, pro-Western direction. An example of school/church activity is in the village of Terjola. The Head Teacher often brings in Terjola’s priest to work with the children and she wants to have a school prayer room. On her desk is a large photograph of Patriarch Ilia II, the head of Georgia's Orthodox Church and the country's most popular public figure.
Syria: Ransom rejected for 242 Assyrian Christian hostages
Isolated Assyrian Christians have been caught for nearly three months between Kurdish militias and Syrian army forces battling with IS for control of Hassaka province, says Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo. 1,000 Assyrian families fled their village homes, sending them into exile in Qamishli and Hassaka city. In addition, 242 Assyrian Christians captured during these attacks are still being held incommunicado at an IS stronghold bombed last week by the Syrian army. Church officials have identified 93 women, 51 children and 98 men taken captive. After two months of behind-the-scenes negotiations through local intermediaries, church attempts to gain the release of the hostages were rebuffed by their IS captors. Australia’s Archbishop Mar Meelis said, ‘IS jihadists demanded a US $23 million ransom to release their Khabur captives’. An Assyrian church leader said the amount was beyond the capacity of a tiny church in a poor community.
USA: Criminal justice reforms
American law enforcement's public image is at an all-time low, and the Justice Department is fielding calls to investigate departments across the country. Lawmakers from both political parties want to pass reforms, and presidential candidate Rand Paul met members of the Congressional Black Caucus this week to discuss criminal justice reform. He’s an outspoken advocate for changing the way the American criminal system prosecutes and sentences. This Wednesday he will begin working with black lawmakers to craft a strategy for advancing legislation. Law-enforcement issues have taken centre stage following the death of several unarmed black men at the hands of police. The Congressional Black Caucus has tried for decades to reform the criminal justice system. Senator Paul was instrumental in convincing the Senate to pass the Death in Custody Reporting Act, the first post-Ferguson Act of Congress. See also:
Nepal: 2nd earthquake - 7.2 magnitude
A new earthquake hit Nepal on Tuesday, with shockwaves felt as far away as New Delhi and Dhaka. At the time of writing at least 65 people have been reported killed in India, Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,100 injured. The epicentre was to the east of Kathmandu, close to the China border. There are massive recovery efforts under way to aid victims in Nepal. Hundreds of thousands of buildings, including many ancient sites, were destroyed and many more damaged. Tearfund said that they had not yet been able to contact their partner workers in the field and that in the capital Kathmandu there had been panic. ‘People are very scared, choosing to stay out in the streets. It's been doubly traumatic for them, and we need to pray and support them.’
Iraq: Three British schoolgirl 'Jihadi brides' flee from husbands
An anonymous report stated that three young British girls are trying to escape from their husbands - and possibly IS. A Facebook posting on 2 May said, ‘Three girls (foreigners, British) married to IS militants, are reported missing, and IS has ordered all its check points to search for them. It is believed that those girls have escaped.’ The author later added, ‘The latest info I have is they are still on the run in Mosul, and IS is thoroughly searching for them - not captured them yet. They are Brits, not immigrants, and they are very young teens (around 16 years old). That's all I have about them for now.’ See also article 6 in this week’s Prayer-Alert British Isles section.
Gaza: 10,000 teens graduate from Hamas terror camp
Earlier this year 10,000 Gaza teenagers graduated from a Hamas terrorist training programme called ‘Pioneers of the Resistance.’ The Palestinian youths, aged 15 to 21, underwent intensive training using live ammunition and heard sermons from Hamas leaders in praise of armed attacks. They were trained in firing sniper rifles, using portraits of Israeli leaders for targets. The youths simulated attacks on Israeli destinations through model terror tunnels (recreating the experience of infiltrating Israeli territory). All training was conducted under strict military conditions. During the last week of their training Hamas published a series of photos showing Palestinian minors dressed in military uniforms and being given weapons training in how to kill Israelis with assault rifles. The new camp is an example of how the Iran-backed terror organisation influences Palestinian children with ideology and violates international laws. See also
Over recent years trumpets have been blown in many parts of our Continent as an act of obedience to the Lord. In the UK it started in Birmingham in response to the reading of the scriptures in Numbers 10 v9 which says, "When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy that is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies." From that and other scriptures we see that the sounding of trumpets were for gathering the people, moving the people, calling the people to war and celebrating the feasts and all that God had done.
As many of you know our brother Werner Woiwode from Switzerland, has not only blown the trumpet across Europe but in many other places around the world. In June 2014 we gathered in Macedonia and the Trumpet Call there encouraged our brothers and sisters across the Balkan nations and southern Europe.
Following recent Skype calls and a gathering of prayer leaders in Brussels, we believe it is right to go to Timisoara, Romania and blow the trumpet for the whole of our Continent. This invitation is to you, your church, your prayer ministry, your mission agency to come and join us in sounding the trumpet again over the Continent of Europe.
Our friends at The Christian Centre Timisoara/Agape Church have kindly made the church available for the week. We shall gather from 31 August early evening through to 4 September where for four days we shall have continuous prayer, worship, reading of scripture and declaration of the truth of God's word and the frequent sounding of the trumpets.
There is accommodation nearby where you can stay. The lulius shopping Mall is very near the church with restaurants and coffee shops. There will be a charge of 10 Euros per person to go towards Trumpet Call Timisoara expenses. There will be full details and booking facilities on a Trumpet Call website soon but we were keen for you to get these dates in your diary.
To help in your planning suggest you visit the web site of the International Airport of Timisoara at http://www.aerotim.ro/index.php?lang=en from here it is only a short ride to the Christian Centre.
We would appreciate your help in making this known across your networks; we would love to see as many Nations represented as possible. This will be an unique time since friends from the Ends of the World will join us to welcome the King of Glory in our continent.
May God continue to bless you in all He does through you
On behalf of European Trumpet Call Team
Ioan Peia: Romania
Ian Cole: UK
Representing International Prayer Council Europe
Ortwin Schweitzer: Germany
Ian & Jill Jeal: France
Representing European Union of Prayer
Werner Woiwode: Switzerland, Abraham Ministries, Trumpets over Europe
Henning Schikora: France/Norway, Operation Capitals of Europe, YWAM
Lee Saville: England/Romania, Balkan Prayer Network
Berthold Becker: Germany, Intercession movement
Levi Graudins: Latvia, Latvia House of Prayer for All Peoples
George E Markakis: Greece, Shalom Center Athens
Andy Page: United Kingdom, Prayer Alert Net
Claudius Samartinean: Romania, IHOP Timisoara, Agape Church Timisoara
Daniel Matei: Romania, Christian Centre Timisoara
Vanco Nakov: Macedonia, Balkan Prayer Network
John Robb: USA, International Prayer Council
Brian Mills: United Kingdom, International Prayer Council
Sheena Tranter: International Prayer Council
Jussi Valkonen: Finland, The Finnish prayer network
Michael Maeliau: Solomon Islands
Milo Siilata: New Zeeland
Elijah Titus: Papua New Guinea
Geoff Armitage: Australia
Timothy Map: Papua New Guinea
Hezekiah Loloi: Vanuatu
Representing All People Prayer Assembly
Please pray for the organizers and that the right people will be called to come from across Europe and other nations. May this event be anointed and mightily used of the Lord to bring about a new atmosphere for His Church and for this crucially important continent that needs so much to see a new era of spiritual revival and social transformation!