Jeremy Hunt orders yearly study of 'avoidable' hospital deaths
New plans to reduce the number of ‘avoidable deaths’ in English hospitals have been unveiled by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Mr Hunt said an annual review of 2,000 cases of patients who later died would allow hospitals to be ranked according to avoidable mortality rates. Mr Hunt said there were about 1,000 avoidable deaths in the NHS per month. These statistics would be used to establish a national rate of avoidable deaths. As part of the drive, hospital chairmen will have to update the Health Secretary every year with their plans to eradicate avoidable deaths. Mr Hunt also promised additional training for new clinical staff. Hospital mortality rates expert Professor Nick Black said: ‘A national annual review would place England as the first country in the world to monitor the extent of avoidable deaths, and provide a basis for stimulating quality improvement in each individual hospital.’
Lift burden off rural clergy, C of E study recommends
An urgent review of parish structure - including the number of churchwardens and other office-holders - is needed to release the time and energy of clergy and lay people for mission in rural areas, a report has recommended. The report, 'Released for Mission: Growing the rural Church', will be debated at General Synod next week. Two-thirds of C of E churches are in rural areas, but fewer than half the clergy serve in them. The vast majority of rural churches are in multi-parish benefices or groupings. Clergy working in multi-church groups - some of whom have as many as 11 or more churches to look after - report feelings of exhaustion, as they rush to conduct as many services in as many churches as possible each Sunday. The Bishop of Knaresborough, the Rt Revd James Bell, said, ‘Rural ministry must be re-thought in a way that is authentic to the place and people to whom the Church is reaching out.’
Elderly care home residents auctioned off by councils on 'eBay-style' website
Councils are putting the elderly and disabled ‘up for auction’ on eBay-style websites where care homes bid against each other to offer them a bed. More than a dozen local authorities are listing vulnerable people’s details including their age and what care and medication they need. Care homes in the area are then invited to bid to offer the elderly person a home. Often, the cheapest offer wins. The bidding is sometimes open for only a few hours but at other times it can last for two or three days. It means the patient or their family often do not see the care home, and that those running the home do not see the patient before they arrive. One critic likened the system to ‘auctioning your granny’ and said it was like a ‘cattle market’. Others complained that computers are only interested in costs and should not be making sensitive decisions about an elderly resident’s final years.
‘Assisted Suicide’ and ‘Dignity in Dying’
Lord Faulkner’s private members’ bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was debated again recently. Some issues covered by the private members’ bill attract greater public interest than others. Discussions and votes are an important safety valve, people then express their views by e-mail, petition or demonstration and put pressures on the Government. If there is clear support for a Bill, there is a case for returning to the issue and persuading Government to bring in a Bill of its own. The Assisted Dying Bill is a good example of one attracting considerable interest. The ‘Dignity in Dying’ campaign supports the Assisted Dying Bill. They are generating much interest on line and in the media to make assisted dying happen. The implications of this Bill going through are huge. In 1967 an abortion bill was supposedly ring-fenced and safe; now millions of lives are destroyed. See also
Bishop Libby Lane launches anti-human trafficking campaign
Bishop Libby Lane launched a campaign on Monday against human trafficking, her first official engagement since becoming the Church of England's first female bishop. Bishop Lane, who was consecrated last month, visited Manchester Airport to raise awareness of the issue. Staff will be given training on the identification of at-risk passengers as part of the Travel Safe Week initiative in partnership with Border Force, the airport chaplaincy and local organisations who work with victims. Speaking to Sky News, Bishop Lane said the training would allow staff to ‘be alert to those indications that perhaps relationships between people are not all that they seem and to be able to spot the signs that people are at risk and are vulnerable. We hope that the publicity and the information in and around the airport will give those people the courage and hope to be able to turn to those who may be able to help them.’ (See also article in 04-2015 Prayer Alert.)
Loneliness a major middle class problem, says Church
A survey of clergy finds loneliness is a significant problem in both wealthy and deprived areas of England. Loneliness and isolation are England’s most widespread social problems and are common even in affluent middle class areas, according the survey. The number of clergy reporting that social isolation is a major problem in their area has risen by ten per cent in the past three years. The survey published by the Church Urban Fund and the Church of England showed loneliness was the only issue to be cited by clergy as a significant problem in the majority of wealthier, as well as deprived areas. Social isolation was listed as a more common problem than unemployment, homelessness and poor housing by the 1,812 clergy who completed the questionnaire. In London, nearly three quarters of vicars said social isolation was a major or significant problem in their community. (See also Prayer Alert 04-2017)
" The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery and mistreated the poor and needy and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath : and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads says the Lord God." (Ezekiel 22: 29 - 31 NKJV).
" If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place."
( 2 Chronicles 7:14 - 15 NKJV).
The first scripture says that when God's people fail to answer the call for prayer in
the face of sin, oppression, corruption and injustice in our nations, the judgment and wrath of God comes upon that nation. But the second passage says that when we pray, God hears us, forgives us, and heals our land.
I wish to use my nation Sri Lanka as a context to this small write-up on the power of transforming prayer. Ethnic riots have been a usual phenomenon in Sri Lanka from the early 1950's, not too long after we received our Independence from the British rule in 1948. In the early 1970's, we had a youth insurrection, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of university students and young professionals. Although the insurrection was brought under control in less than year, it repeated itself in the latter 1980's. Tragically, in the early 1980's ethnic riots escalated into a full-blown ethnically based civil war. This dragged on for at least three decades. The casualty counts are varied. The government puts it down 60 to 70,000 but other sources say that it was at least 150,000.
Well, the Church prayed. We first started to pray in our local Churches; then local Churches prayed within our own denominations; and very soon interdenominational prayer groups began to spring up all over the Island. In almost all of our prayer gatherings, we quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 which obviously alerted and motivated us to pray.
In the year 1994, a few of us prayer leaders, Dr. Arul Ankitel , Dr. Lalith Mendis, Pastor Michael Dissanayake and I, were privileged to meet veteran internationally renowned prayer leader Kjell Sjoberg. He visited Sri Lanka invited by Dr Arul to lead us how to engage in strategic level spiritual prayer nationally. This spearheaded us into the birth of a strong united prayer movement across the nation.
God answered our prayers in numerous ways. We had many well-organized and coordinated prayer gatherings in addition to the regular monthly prayer times, which we had among ourselves. First we had the final victory over the ethnic civil war in 2009. Although the end of the civil war in May 2009 was rather bloody and very unfortunate, the final conclusion of was most welcome. Although the war ended in 2009, full healing and reconciliation between the two ethnic groups never did happen. Strategic Prayers over our nation continued despite the challenges we faced in the area of persecution for both Christians and Muslims. It would not be unfair to say that the minority peoples groups in Sri Lanka were treated badly by the arrogant majority religious leaders. Our nation continually lived under a curse entrenched in so much division, bloodshed and oppression.
On January 9th, 2015, we finally saw the toppling of a very unjust and oppressive regime. There was great joy in our nation at last. We are beginning to see amazing change in our nation. Our prayers which have gone on relentlessly through the decades of the 80's, 90's, and the 2000's are being answered every day. Praise be to God. The Lord's eyes and ears have been attentive to our prayer. Yes, prayer has the power to transform nations.
Dr. Leslie Keegel, IPC Leadership Team
Our prayers are extremely powerful! Astrophysicist Hugh Ross says, "Prayer is the most powerful capacity God has given to us." Let us unite our prayers this month, agreeing in faith for the following "Top Prayer Challenges". Please share these with your prayer groups and fellow intercessors and let's believe God together for breakthrough in the following areas:
- Radical Islam - In many areas of the world, radical Islam seems to be metasticizing like an ugly, evil cancer. Pray for Muslims to have their eyes opened and to see the oppressive, destructive nature of this religion and to turn from it to Isa Al Masih, the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for the international community to come to agreement on a worldwide strategy for defeating Islamic radicals and terrorists and to take effective action both militarily and politically to rid our world of this scourge. As intercessors have united in prayer and governments have taken united action, we have seen the downfall of other past ideologies and movements such as Naziism and communism.
- Syrian and Iraqi refugees- many millions of people, including Christians, have had their lives disrupted by the Syrian civil war and the aggressive conquest of their lands by the Islamic State. Pray that the IS will be defeated and driven out and for an end to civil war in Syria so that these refugees can return to their homes and rebuild their lives. Pray for the provision of food and other needs they have whether in the refugee camps or wherever they find themselves. Pray too that in the midst of their disruption they will hear about Jesus, the deliverer, and be open to receiving Him as Lord and Savior.
- Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan- now that the coaltion forces have largely departed from Afghanistan except for about 14,000 soldiers left behind, pray for the government and military there and in Pakistan to strongly confront and prevail against the Taliban militants. May the Taliban and their leadership splinter and give up their Islamically inspired insurgency so that both lands can be set free from the awful violence and terrorism of recent years.
- Ukraine and the rebel initiative- recently fighting has restarted in eastern Ukraine. Pray for the peace talks between the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian separatists to go well and for this conflict to be settled and ended for good.
- Iran and the nuclear program negotiations- one of the greatest dangers to the Middle East and indeed the rest of the world would be for the Iranians to finish their much cherished plan to build a nuclear weapon. They probably would not hesitate to use it against Israel and other nations. Please pray that the current negotiations will go well, that the international community will be strong, adopting new sanctions if necessary and that the Iranians will give up their nuclear ambitions. Pray that President Obama and other political leaders in the West will recognize the threat, not giving way to attitudes and actions of appeasement
- Israel, its neighbors and the national election- pray for the security and protection of Israel and somehow for improved realationships with the surrounding Arab nations, as well as with Turkey and Iran. Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu to have God's wisdom to guide the nation forward and for outside attempts to interfere with the national election such as "Victory 2015" (backed by a leftist U.S.-U.K. group called "One Voice" and composed of former Obama campaign activists) to be frustrated and overthrown.
- Armenian- Turkish reconciliation- April 24 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Turks. Christians on both sides are presently working on holding reconciliation gatherings during this year to ask forgiveness and to pray together for the wellbeing of these peoples. Please pray for powerful identificational repentance and reconciliation that God will use to bring healing of relationships and openness to the Gospel by the Muslim Turks, one of the largest mostly unreached peoples on earth.
John Robb, IPC Chairman
Following the World Prayer Assembly held in Jakarta in 2012, the International Prayer Council leaders felt that a NEW WAVE of prayer and missions movements is coming and is now here-for the youth, by the youth. Thus, the inception of gathering this generation for a WORLD YOUTH PRAYER ASSEMBLY (WYPA) in August, 2016.
The WYPA will bring together a projected estimate of 10,000 youth leaders from 200 nations-youth and young adult leaders who will receive a clear understanding of their unique, individual callings; who will acquire the fire, anointing, and impartation to fulfill their unique destiny; and who will occupy and influence their respective spheres to affect change.
The synergy will...
- REPRODUCE in every country, and even go beyond, what happened in the International Prayer Assembly (IPA) in 1984, Seoul and the WPA in 2012, Jakarta. We hope and pray that the WYPA will unleash this global generation to the greatest Prayer and Destiny Movement in the history of the church.
- REVERSE the GLOBAL TREND of losing the youth in churches. The youth are hungry for a cause that will match their unique DNA. When they are gathered and they begin to understand the attack on their generation (i.e. child trafficking, sexual violence on children, child labor, teenage suicide, etc.), it will create a stirring in their hearts to fight for the destiny of their generation. They will understand that they were not born just to attend church; they were born to shift the destiny of nations.
- Possibly GIVE BIRTH to a new, GLOBAL JESUS MOVEMENT. We expect new Youth Movements will find their beginnings at the WYPA. The collaboration developed, the unity forged, and the streams synergized will bring a "connected global generation" into a focused destiny.
- BREAK the Spirit of DIVISION in North and South Korea. A Day trip to the DMZ (the border between North and South Korea) will be arranged for these youth leaders to come against the spirit of division, and re-infuse new energy for a revival in Korea. We expect this gathering will stir the youth to seize their destinies to bring Jesus Christ to their nations.
In order to see this happen, we are forming an INTERNATIONAL DREAM TEAM (IDT) of top, youth, global leaders from different streams of ministry all over the world to be the primary stirrers and planners of the WYPA. The IDT will birth the program for what is in the heart of God for the WYPA. The IDT will hold face-to-face meetings at least twice in 2015 (most probably in South Korea), while the rest of the meetings will be online. During the first meeting in March 2015, committees will be formed and set into motion toward the first gathering on 2016.
The first IDT incubation and planning meeting will be on March 3-6, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. It will be a time of seeking God, fellowshipping, and synergizing of ideas.
Pastor Jerome Ocampo, International Coordinator for the World Youth Prayer Assembly
Prayer Requests:
Please pray with us for this ambitious project and for the emerging generation of youth and children (those under 35 years of age) that through the WYPA they will become a global prayer and mission force that will impact generations to come.
Pray for the International Dream Team of youth leaders to be formed successfully and to have anointed, effective meetings, March 2-5, in Seoul, South Korea and during 2015 so that the youth will be enabled to take the lead in organizing the WYPA. It will be an important part of their maturation as Christian leaders for the future.
Pray for Pastor Jerome Ocampo, leader of the Jesus Revolution in the Philippines, and his team who will do the executive coordination and for the rest of us in the IPC leadership who will help provide support in mobilization and fundraising.
January 29, Stratfor
"Multiple actors, backed by considerable coalition air power, have effectively halted the massive gains made by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The group is increasingly being forced onto the strategic defensive, but it is far from defeat and is still able to launch attacks and offensives across the region on the tactical and operational level."
In Syria, the Islamic State has been unable to seize Kobani, Syria due to a spirited defense by Kurdish fighters and Free Syrian Army forces and it has lost more than a 1000 of its troops. Now, the IS has been forced on defensive north and northeast of its headquarters in Raqqa. Also, it has experienced a disappointing reversal in Deir el-Zour at hands of Syrian government forces. However, its greatest threat is the eruption of dissent within its ranks and citizens hostile to its rule.
In Iraq, government military forces have made some progress in dislodging IS from territory near Baghdad and in the north the Kurdish pesmerga have also experienced some success around Mosul, but will take a much more massive effort to drive the IS from this most significant northern city. There is a considerable need for more training and leadership within the Iraqi security forces. Some good plans are developing for a national guard for each province to win support of the Sunni tribes against IS. Unfortunately, internal disputes and sectarianism continue to hamper united action.
Let's pray for the following:
1 Giving thanks to the Lord that IS is being pushed back in some areas of both countries, let's continue to pray that they will be thrown into full division, confusion and flight wherever they are still occupying territory. Let's intercede and believe God for their complete overthrow along with the discrediting and rejection of their violent jihadist ideology that still attracts young Muslims from around the world.
2 Pray for the Kurdish and peshmerga forces, the Syrian Free Army and the Iraqi security forces to develop good leadership, overcome internal disputes in order to become united and effective so as to prevail against IS and drive them out of both countries.