From bomber to Bible teacher
Alejandro was a terrorist with a militant Islamic organisation in Mindanao. He’d bombed civilians, government soldiers, US Marines and the homes of Christians. ‘I was not afraid to kill anyone for the glory of Allah,’ he said. Alejandro was the only son in a strict Muslim family. He'd brought honour to his father by joining the Islamist rebels and was considered a worthy heir. His work required that he travel around the island of Mindanao, and in 2009 he met a Christian who invited him to church. At first Alejandro turned down the invitation; he wasn't interested in Christianity. But the Christian persisted, finally he agreed to visit the man's church. Alejandro suddenly found himself crying and walking to the front of the church. ‘I was a tough military guy, an Islamic killer,’ he said. ‘I never cried, never. That day, I decided to leave Islam and follow Jesus.'
Muslim goes to Mecca and finds Jesus!
Ali, a Kurd, suffered from alcohol addiction when friends persuaded him to make the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Islam's holy city, Mecca. It was in Saudi Arabia, where liquor is banned, and the religious ritual might cure him, they suggested. When he got there, he cried out to God for help (if indeed He was there) and fell asleep. Jesus then appeared to him in a dream and touched him, saying: ‘You believe in me now; leave this place.’ After taking a shower next morning, he discovered what he thought was dust on the part of his chest Jesus had touched, but in fact the hair on his chest had turned white in the shape
of a hand! At the traditional celebration marking his return from Hajj, he announced to his incredulous family that he had seen Jesus in Mecca and had come back a Christian.
Cameron urged to pass law to protect England's woodland
England’s woodland is in danger unless David Cameron keeps his promise to pass laws preventing public forests from being sold off, leading conservationists have said in a letter the Telegraph. The Government was forced intop making a U-turn after hundreds of thousands of people protested against a proposal to sell swathes of the Public Forest Estate (PFE) in 2011. However, despite an assurance that an independent management organisation for the PFE would be established in statute to hold the woodland in trust for the nation, nothing has been done and the letter’s signatories are demanding action ‘before it is too late’. The coalition of conservationists from the Woodland Trust, the Confederation of Forest Industries, Our Forests, Ramblers, Save Our Woods, The Wildlife Trust and 38 Degrees urged the Government to use the Queen’s Speech on June 4 to set the wheels in motion for new legislation.
Heavy web-use harms a child's mental health
Over-use of the internet is causing mental health problems for children, government health advisers have warned. Each hour spent in front of a computer puts them at greater risk, they say. As a result, children face mental illnesses and social problems such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and heightened aggression. In a report submitted to MPs, Public Health England officials warn that one in ten children now has a mental health issue, with computers and the internet largely to blame. Public Health England, which issues guidance on good health to the NHS, says there is a clear relationship between the amount of time spent on social media sites such as Facebook and ‘lower levels of well-being’. The link becomes particularly striking when children spend more than four hours a day in front of a screen – but it kicks in even at very low levels of use.
British forces in Afghanistan
With the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan, the public focus on our troops has lessened. However, there are still many British troops still serving in Afghanistan. Their lives are still very vulnerable, as we were reminded by the tragic loss of five men (each one precious in God’s eyes) when their helicopter crashed last month. The most remarkable miracle is that this was the first British helicopter accident involving loss of life since the Afghan conflict started in 2001 – an amazing answer to your prayers. Thank you
‘Significant steps’ needed to progress Anglican-Methodist Covenant
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with the President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, have today issued a joint statement, in response to a report to their Churches. The report, entitled The Challenge of the Covenant, recommends that both Churches take action to enhance unity between them, with the work being fully embedded in Church structures. The report also encourages the Church of England to address the question of interchange ability of ordained ministries between the two Churches, and the Methodist Church to consider the possibility of a form of Episcopal ministry (such as a 'president bishop'). The statement from the Archbishops and Methodist Presidency welcomes the report, stating: ‘The time has now come for our Churches to take further, significant steps to achieve that level of reconciliation between us and partnership in the gospel that will enhance our mission together in local communities and our shared witness to the whole of society.’
Christians offer safe houses to Muslims
A Christian campaign group is launching a national network of safe houses for Muslim converts who face ostracism or violent reprisals for leaving their religion. It says it knows of up to 1,100 former Muslims at risk in Britain but the true number could be 3,000. Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, which is organising the network, said: ‘We are motivated by a deep sense of love and compassion for those that feel trapped in a situation from which they cannot escape. The penalty for them at best is to be cut off from their family; at worst they face death. This is happening not just in Sudan and Nigeria but in east London. The government has failed to deal with the rise in anti-Christian sentiment.’
Britain's hidden exploitation: Prostitution behind closed doors
The landscape of prostitution in the UK is changing. Ten years ago, you'd find women on street corners at certain times of day. Now, they tend to operate from brothels, saunas, massage parlours and hotels. The use of internet and mobile technology, increasing stigmatisation of men wanting to pay for sex, a change in national legislation and also the consequences of human trafficking all mean that the patterns of prostitution are shifting. Mark Wakeling, director of UK charity Beyond the Streets, says this shift from on-street to off-street locations means those working to support women in the sex industry have had to re-think their approaches. His charity has partnered with The Gate, a local charity in Southampton, to work out a new way to reach women. Research suggests that many women who sell themselves from brothels and massage parlours are isolated and feel unable to access support. Violence against women in these situations remains high.
Churches urged to pray4media on Sunday June 1st
Churches and Christians are being encouraged to pray for the media on Sunday June 1st. The initiative is being led by the Church and Media Network, with prayers being submitted by the Archbishop of York, Rev Ruth Gee, President of the National Conference of the Methodist Church; Dr Daleep Mukarji, the Vice-President of the Methodist Conference; and the Rt Rev Nick Baines, the Anglican Bishop-designate of Leeds. The Church and Media Network, which seeks to encourage Christians to engage with the media, is encouraging people to submit their own prayers on the newly-launched website www.pray4media.co.uk and to tweet prayers to @pray4media. Rev Tony Miles, Chair of the Network, explained: ‘As Christians we want to affirm the media’s vital role in our society. At its best the media gives a voice to the voiceless, holds the powerful to account, highlights unjust practices, calls for justice, keeps people informed, brings us strong opinions to challenge our own – and tells stories to entertain us.’
Pakistan: Asia Bibi death sentence appeal cancelled again
Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi's Tuesday appeal hearing on her death sentence for blasphemy was again cancelled - for the fifth time. No new hearing date has been set. Bibi's four previous hearings were also cancelled at the last minute by the court. Bibi, a mother of five, has been in prison since being sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010. The accusation followed a heated dispute with Muslim colleagues. Blasphemy is a serious crime in Muslim-majority Pakistan and carries the death sentence, but human rights groups say the charges are often trumped up as a means of settling personal scores and vendettas. Anyone accused of blasphemy in Pakistan faces threats to their life from extremists. Relatives often have to go into hiding to escape the same fate, and being behind bars doesn't make the accused any safer. Sometimes extremists march into their prison cell and kill them while the guards turn a blind eye.