Sweden: The Jesus Prayer Network- for a technology-driven society
Online there is a Swedish Prayer Network that provides a global opportunity for the Church to connect and partner with individuals and businesses, to provide answers to any and every need. They desire to agree with the will of God on behalf of anyone seeking to find biblical spiritual help for the problems in life. They are not a counselling service, but are a faith-based prayer service. They receive free-will financial offerings that help support their Affiliate Prayer Partners around the world. They meet people every day looking for someone to encourage them and others looking for someone to encourage. This is the driving force of Open 4 Prayer. Each of their Affiliate Prayer Partners agrees to keep every prayer request confidential. Jesus Prayer Network is working to be the largest Social Prayer network of its kind. It’s their goal to be available in every translatable language and accessible in every country.
Switzerland: $43 million Geneva money laundering settlement
HSBC (HSBA.L) agreed to pay Geneva authorities 40 million Swiss francs to settle a money- laundering investigation at its Swiss private bank, one of a number of probes facing its Geneva-based wealth manager. Leaked files published earlier this year sparked allegations that HSBC's private bank may have enabled clients to conceal millions of dollars of assets and dragged Europe's largest lender into the sights of regulators including Geneva's public prosecutor. Following four months of inquiries, Geneva authorities said they had closed their investigation after HSBC agreed to pay 40 million francs for wrongdoing, the largest such figure imposed by local prosecutors. Olivier Jornot, Geneva's attorney-general, told reporters, ‘This affair shows the weakness of Swiss law in fighting the entry of criminal funds into the financial circuit.’
Ukraine: Huge fire at oil depot
Emergency crews are battling a fire outside the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, following a huge blast at a fuel depot. On Tuesday people in a 2km (1.24 miles) zone around petrol containers on fire have been evacuated. The blaze broke out on Monday evening, and one worker at the plant died. An explosion on Tuesday morning left three firefighters unaccounted for and another six taken to hospital. The fire spread to at least 16 tanks, most of them storing petrol and next to Hlevakha airbase and near the village of Vasylkiv. The army has been clearing a munitions storage facility, located about 50m (164ft) away, amid fears that the fire could spread. It was not immediately clear what might have caused the blast.
UK: decline of Christianity
Christianity is increasingly marginalised by a hostile media and public mood. Christian morality and belief in the uniqueness of Jesus are labelled ‘intolerant’. Government regulations make it increasingly difficult to minister in the public arena. Many believe serious persecution is not far off. Pray that believers may recognise and address the decline of Christianity in the public sphere. Pray that they may recover confidence in the gospel and boldness and passion to share it - lovingly and unapologetically - with the majority who have little concept of its content. See also THE MILL STATEMENT at www.wpc.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Mill-Statement-Apr-2015.pdf
INSIGHT Elections in second half of 2015 - Turkey
Turkish voters go to the polls on Sunday amid concerns around slowing economic growth and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's autocratic policies. The election could also be momentous for modern Turkish history, as four candidates come from Turkey’s minority groups, including the resurgent Kurds who have been discriminated against for years. Erdogan's AK Party is also fielding an Armenian Christian candidate, Markar Esayan, in hopes of courting the Christian vote in Istanbul. In Turkey there are no Armenian officials, police or judges. The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest national church and one of the most ancient Christian communities, claiming to have originated in the missions of apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the 1st century. Underscoring some of the tensions surrounding Turkey's minority community, hundreds of people took to Istanbul's streets in May protesting against the seizure of a one-hundred-year-old Armenian orphanage. For up to date INSIGHTS behind elections due to be held across the nations between now and 2016, click the ‘more’ button below.
INSIGHT Political change in second half of 2015 - Poland
The newly-elected President of Poland promises change. Andrzej Duda has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws. The victory will be a wake-up call to Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn. Mr Duda said, ‘Those who voted for me voted for change. Together we can change Poland.’ Poland is gradually catching up to Western Europe's living standards but youth unemployment is high and Poles can still earn much more in the UK or Germany. The new President needs his Law and Justice party to win this autumn's parliamentary elections to bring about real change. Mr Duda attracted most support in the conservative eastern regions near the border with Ukraine and Belarus. For up-to-date INSIGHTS into potentially significant political changes across the nations in the second half of 2015 click the ‘more’ button below.
Street preachers win cases
Two Christian street preachers have been cleared of all charges after they were arrested in Basildon and Hereford respectively. Rob Hughes was arrested in Basildon on 4 September 2014 after a confrontation with a member of the public who wrongly accused him of using homophobic and offensive language. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, Rob was arrested, interviewed by police and held in custody for 11 hours. A DNA sample was taken as well as his fingerprints and a mug shot. He has now received £2,500 and a contribution towards his legal fees for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and breach of his human rights in an out-of-court settlement. On 23 April 2015, after preaching once a week for eleven years in Hereford streets, Andrew Geuter was arrested following false accusations of homophobic comments. After five hours in jail he was released on conditional bail. The police later said they would not take further action due to insufficient evidence.
Salvation Army Global Prayer Wave 24/7/365
The Salvation Army is celebrating its 150th anniversary on 1 July this year. On 1 July 2014 a global prayer wave of 24/7/365 prayer was launched. This initiative, called ‘Boundless’, has been a magnificent wave of continuous prayer starting in the South Pacific, through South Asia, the Americas and Caribbean, Africa and Europe. The baton of prayer has been passed from nation to nation and the United Kingdom will enter into their time slot for prayer, from 15 to 30 June. This will complete an unbroken Boundless prayer wave rolling over nations that will culminate with an international conference entitled ‘Boundless - The Whole World Redeeming’. The prayer wave has been purposefully focusing Salvationists in continued united intercession for the Salvation Army and our world.
Street preachers win cases
Two Christian street preachers have been cleared of all charges after they were arrested in Basildon and Hereford respectively. Rob Hughes was arrested in Basildon on 4 September 2014 after a confrontation with a member of the public who wrongly accused him of using homophobic and offensive language. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, Rob was arrested, interviewed by police and held in custody for 11 hours. A DNA sample was taken as well as his fingerprints and a mug shot. He has now received £2,500 and a contribution towards his legal fees for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and breach of his human rights in an out-of-court settlement. On 23 April 2015, after preaching once a week for eleven years in Hereford streets, Andrew Geuter was arrested following false accusations of homophobic comments. After five hours in jail he was released on conditional bail. The police later said they would not take further action due to insufficient evidence.
Salvation Army Global Prayer Wave 24/7/365
The Salvation Army is celebrating its 150th anniversary on 1 July this year. On 1 July 2014 a global prayer wave of 24/7/365 prayer was launched. This initiative, called ‘Boundless’, has been a magnificent wave of continuous prayer starting in the South Pacific, through South Asia, the Americas and Caribbean, Africa and Europe. The baton of prayer has been passed from nation to nation and the United Kingdom will enter into their time slot for prayer, from 15 to 30 June. This will complete an unbroken Boundless prayer wave rolling over nations that will culminate with an international conference entitled ‘Boundless - The Whole World Redeeming’. The prayer wave has been purposefully focusing Salvationists in continued united intercession for the Salvation Army and our world.