Free friendship phone service for older people launchedA free 24-hour
dedicated helpline for older people across the UK has been launched by Esther Rantzen. 'The Silver Line' aims to combat loneliness in the over-65s by providing friendship, information and advice through calls to trained volunteers. Ms Rantzen said she hoped the phone line number, 0800 4 70 80 90, would be remembered by all older people when they needed friendship or advice. The phone line is funded by a £5m grant from the Big Lottery Fund. The Department of Health has said that loneliness causes serious physical and mental damage. More than half of the UK's over-75s live alone. ‘We will signpost them to the services in their community and, by showing them we value them and care about them, we will restore their confidence and feelings of self worth' says Ms. Rantzen.
Pray: for the success of this initiative that it will meet the needs of those in this sector. (Is.58:10)
Lichfield delighted with first Messy Church confirmationOctober
2013 marked the first confirmation service in a Messy Church congregation in the Diocese of Lichfield. Messy Church originated out of the Fresh Expression movement, which was established by the Church of England and the Methodist Church to pioneer new congregations that appeal to those who might not normally attend a 'regular' or traditional church. Now, however, Messy Church is a movement in its own right, though still under the umbrella of Fresh Expressions. It aims to provide a space for families to experience and take part in worship in a new way, incorporating creativity, celebration and hospitality. Messy Churches have become extremely popular in recent years. Some people have expressed reservations about the movement, however, asking whether it is really just a craft club, rather than a church. Bishop Mark of Shrewsbury, who led the confirmation service, has rebutted these claims.
Pray: for all initiatives that spread the Gospel message and especially for the Messy Church movement. (Mk.16:15)
Couples fear ‘faith barrier’ in adoption systemMost people who seriously
consider adoption are ‘actively religious’, a Government survey shows, yet many fear being rejected for their faith. The survey was carried out on behalf of the Department for Education by adoption group First4Adoption. The group has joined with church-based organisation Home for Good to encourage religiously-active people to put themselves forward to adopt children. The survey showed 55 per cent of people in England who said they were ‘certain’ or ‘very likely’ to adopt described themselves as ‘actively practising a religion’ . There are more than 4,600 children in England currently waiting to be adopted and First4Adoption say ‘many more adopters are needed’. The groups have now set up a phone line to ‘encourage more people from faith communities to consider adopting‘. First4Adoption and Home for Good are concerned that many religiously-active people are held back from adopting because they mistakenly believe that they are not able to adopt.
Pray: for more people to consider adopting children and that more and more of them will be people of faith. (Pr.14:26)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/religious-people-are-afraid-to-adopt-children/
Children & the next generation
Hoda is a gypsy girl living in the South of Lebanon participating in a literacy programme at a centre being managed by believers. Talking about their families Hoda explained that her eldest sister living with them is pregnant, but does not want the baby and continually says that she wants to kill the baby. Her teacher explained to the class that God is the Creator, that He made this little baby and He loves children. She also explained that if the mother continues to reject and hate the baby that the baby will be born with a sense of abandonment and rejection. Hoda went home that afternoon and explained to her sister that they should talk to the baby, love the baby and accept this baby as a gift from God. The next day Hoda returned to class, excited to tell everyone that her sister had changed her mind! She decided to keep and love the baby and no longer reject this gift.
Praise: God and pray that He will continue to reveal Himself to children and to the next generation that will shape the future of Lebanon. (Mat 11:25)
Children & the next generation
Hoda is a gypsy girl living in the South of Lebanon participating in a literacy programme at a centre being managed by believers. Talking about their families Hoda explained that her eldest sister living with them is pregnant, but does not want the baby and continually says that she wants to kill the baby. Her teacher explained to the class that God is the Creator, that He made this little baby and He loves children. She also explained that if the mother continues to reject and hate the baby that the baby will be born with a sense of abandonment and rejection. Hoda went home that afternoon and explained to her sister that they should talk to the baby, love the baby and accept this baby as a gift from God. The next day Hoda returned to class, excited to tell everyone that her sister had changed her mind! She decided to keep and love the baby and no longer reject this gift.
Praise: God and pray that He will continue to reveal Himself to children and to the next generation that will shape the future of Lebanon. (Mat 11:25)
As persecution increases, so does the distribution of Scripture
he United Bible Society has reported a sharp increase in the number of Christian Scriptures distributed in some of the countries where believers suffer the highest levels of persecution. Statistics suggest that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world and Baroness Warsi made headlines recently when she warned that Christianity could be wiped out in the Middle East. (See Prayer Alert 47-2013) However, recent figures released from Bible Societies around the world indicate that more Christian Scriptures were distributed than ever before in 2012. Global Scripture distribution rose from just over 381 million in 2011 to more than 405 million in 2012; an increase of 6%. Of the 405 million distributed, 32.1 million were whole Bibles, which matched 2011's record-breaking year of Bible distribution. Surprisingly, the highest increase was in Syria, with over eight times more Scriptures distributed by the Bible Society, through a network of church volunteers, in 2012 than 2011; 163,000 in total last year.
Praise: God that His Word still speaks and brings life. (Dt.32:2)
As persecution increases, so does the distribution of Scripture
he United Bible Society has reported a sharp increase in the number of Christian Scriptures distributed in some of the countries where believers suffer the highest levels of persecution. Statistics suggest that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world and Baroness Warsi made headlines recently when she warned that Christianity could be wiped out in the Middle East. (See Prayer Alert 47-2013) However, recent figures released from Bible Societies around the world indicate that more Christian Scriptures were distributed than ever before in 2012. Global Scripture distribution rose from just over 381 million in 2011 to more than 405 million in 2012; an increase of 6%. Of the 405 million distributed, 32.1 million were whole Bibles, which matched 2011's record-breaking year of Bible distribution. Surprisingly, the highest increase was in Syria, with over eight times more Scriptures distributed by the Bible Society, through a network of church volunteers, in 2012 than 2011; 163,000 in total last year.
Praise: God that His Word still speaks and brings life. (Dt.32:2)
New ASBO law could catch carol singers
The Christian Institute and other civil liberty organisations have launched a campaign to reform clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill that could catch street preachers and carol singers. Under the clause, a court can grant an Injunction to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance (IPNA) if someone “has engaged or threatens to engage in conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance” to any person. IPNAs are easier to grant, and require a lower threshold of evidence than Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, known as ASBOs. In a piece for The Daily Telegraph, Philip Johnston said the new IPNAs would be deployed against “easy targets” while others “get away with terrorising their neighbourhoods. Lord Macdonald also said: “Of course political demonstrations, street performers and corner preachers may be ‘annoying’ to some but, he added, “The danger in this Bill is that it potentially empowers State interference against such activities in the face of shockingly low safeguards”.
Pray: for the concerns raised to be heeded and for Clause 1 to be amended to exclude preaching, carol singing. etc. (Gal.5:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/new-asbo-law-could-catch-carol-singers/
Rape prevention work needed
Police in England and Wales are being urged to be more proactive in their efforts to prevent rapes. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said forces have been too "reactive" up until now. He wants police to focus on people who are vulnerable to abuse and institutions where intelligence suggests abuse is taking place. His comments come at the start of a week-long campaign to encourage rape victims to come forward. Mr Hewitt said debate on the issue was "far too often" restricted to investigation and prosecution and called for a "challenging debate about prevention as well. Most rape involves the coming together of some form of power and some type of vulnerability; either permanent or temporary," he said. "We need to be utilising all our powers and tactics to understand how this happens, to mitigate the vulnerability and reduce the opportunities for that power to be abused."
Pray: for all victims of rape but pray that this fresh approach will make a real difference. (Ps.9:9)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25176554
Sexism is daily reality for girls, says Girlguiding
Sexism is so widespread in the UK that it affects "most aspects" of the lives of girls and young women, a report from Girlguiding says. "Sexual harassment is commonplace, girls' appearance is intensively scrutinised and their abilities are undermined," says the report. The report Equality for Girls is based on a survey of more than 1,200 girls and young women aged seven to 21. Girlguiding chief executive Julie Bentley called it a "wake-up call". She said: "This cannot be dismissed as something that girls and young women just have to deal with as they grow up." “Girls needed to live in an equal society if they were to flourish and fulfil their potential to be leaders in all walks of life”, added Ms Bentley. Girls identified sexism as a priority issue for their generation, with three-quarters saying sexism affected most areas of their lives, says the report.
Pray: for greater awareness of this problem and a serious commitment to overcoming such sexism.. (Gal.3:28)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25138455