Miliband urges Christians to engage with politics
Labour leader Ed Miliband has released a video thanking churches and Christian agencies for their efforts in social justice, and emphasising the importance of Christians being involved in politics. "You do incredibly important work here at home: helping people who go to food banks, helping the homeless and helping all those at risk of disadvantage and those who are vulnerable in our communities," he says. He also commends the action Christians undertake in different countries across the globe "for development, against climate change, on all the important issues that matter". The video encourages Christians to engage with politics and Miliband spoke of his support for Christians on the Left - formerly the Christian Socialist Movement - which works in partnership with the Labour Party to put Christian values and ideas around social justice into political action. The society, which counts forty MPs among its members, believes that to make lasting change, Christians must be a real voice from within the political world, not just outside of it.
Pray: for a greater recognition of the significant and crucial role played by Christians inboth public and political life. (Mk.16:15)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/miliband.urges.christians.to.engage.with.politics/34861.htm
This map shows how many children have fled Syria for Lebanon (385,007), Jordan (291,238), Turkey (294,304), Iraq (77,125), North Africa (7,629) and Egypt (56,154) (As of 31st October 2013). Note that the numbers reflect children who have registered with UNHCR in these countries. The actual number of child refugees is higher, as not all children and families register.
To learn more about Syrian refugee children in Jordan and Lebanon, explore, share and download The Future of Syria: Refugee Children in Crisis at www.unhcr.org/futureofsyria #FutureOfSyria
Bereavement: Workers 'Should Get Paid Leave'
Campaigners are urging the Government to give workers the legal right to paid leave if they have been affected by a family bereavement amid growing public support for the move. Two thirds of people said it was unfair that bereavement leave was unpaid, a survey of more than 1,500 adults showed. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Most people will be surprised to learn that unless they have an understanding employer, they may not be able to take much time off work following a death in the family, and if they are, any compassionate leave will almost certainly be unpaid. Coping with the sudden loss of a loved one is traumatic enough without having to worry about work too. The Government should do the right thing and give people a legal right to paid time away from their jobs after someone close to them has died.“
Pray: for carefor all those who are bereaved and appropriate support for those who are temporarily unable to work following bereavement. (2Co.1:3-4)
More: http://news.sky.com/story/1173159/bereavement-workers-should-get-paid-leave
Bishops support White Ribbon Campaign
More than 60 bishops around the country wore a white ribbon last Monday to support the campaign dedicated to stamping out gender-based violence. Many visited local projects and used Twitter to raise awareness. The Bishop of Aston, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, chair of the Panel for World Mission and the Anglican Communion, said he was delighted that so many bishops had taken up the challenge. He spoke about the White Ribbon Campaign and explaied how he had been approached by colleagues from the worldwide Anglican Communion who are concerned about gender violence. He visited the Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid, meeting and talked with victims of abuse and those who support them. The White Ribbon campaign, originally started by a group of men, is being supported by a number of Christian organisations in this field. The Mothers' Union has produced an action pack and the organisation 'Restored' has developed its 'First Man Standing' campaign.
Pray: for all victims of gender violence and that the White Ribbon Campaign will make significant strides towards overcoming such abuse. (Ps.11:5)
More: http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2013/11/bishops-support-white-ribbon-campaign.aspx
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The Philippines needs
As international efforts increase to relieve Philippine’s suffering there are reports of looting in warehouses, relief agencies being mobbed and water pipes punctured as people try to get at precious supplies. Pray for order to be restored as desperation, thirst, hunger and opportunism are provoking anarchy. Pray for wide-ranging co-ordination between government bodies, relief agencies and on site NGO’s. Pray that survivors are properly fed and the dead are promptly buried. Pray for the dozens of relief organisations to work in unity with no unnecessary duplication of efforts or communication breakdown. Pray for the government to deliver workable logistics as they attempt to restore airports that are broken down, roads that are still covered in debris, services that are cut off. Pray against disease taking hold in areas lacking sanitation. Pray for effective mobile hospitals and teams of medics to be released into the most deadly situations where entire areas have been completely and utterly decimated; may they keep those who survived alive.
Pray: for the millions of people affected by the super typhoon, four million are said to be children. (Ps. 46.1-3)
More: http://www.euronews.com/2013/11/12/philippines-supplies-looted-and-aid-convoys-mobbed/
Philippines: What local papers are saying
Local papers are worried that the Philippines is not ready to deal with Typhoon Haiyan aftermath. The Philippine Star reads, ‘The next phase of suffering for disaster victims can be as awful as the actual event. Apart from disease risks, victims lose their livelihoods - it can take a long time to recover.’ The media calls on President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino to ‘chuck off politics’ and concentrate on relief efforts. The Daily Tribune says, ‘Whatever political intrigue Noynoy is embroiled in should take a back seat in the mind-set of his administration. Political play is the least that Filipinos need from Noynoy at this time.’ The Manila Times said, ‘Weather scientists fear Yolanda will not be the last monster storm to ravage the Philippines. The national government needs to start drawing up plans now before the next super typhoon blows our way.’ The bad news is that within the next couple of days we should see the arrival of yet another typhoon.
Pray: for the government to make wise choices and decisions, ask God to bless the emergency relief funds and deployed troops. (Pr.8:14-16)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24895620
Afghanistan: Prayer for change
This year is set aside by the International Prayer Movement as a year of prayer for Pakistan and Afghanistan. To assist this initiative some prayer points are listed here today:- *If the Taliban succeed, Afghanistan would again become a training base for international terrorism and affect many nations. Pray that the Taliban’s weapon supply is cut off and for confusion and disunity. * Foreign Aid. Pray that foreign aid pouring into Afghanistan will not be wasted through inefficiency nor diverted by corruption but will reach the neediest and rebuild the nation's shattered infrastructure. *60% of Afghans are under 20, have known nothing but war, long for education opportunities, employment and freedom of choice. Pray that they will be able to break free from Taliban and local warlords' control. May they provide new impetus to efforts of freedom and peace in the nation. *4.5 million refugees have returned, many bringing financial resources, international connections and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Pray: for the raising up of strong and effective leaders from the emerging generation in Afghanistan. (Ps.112:2)
Egypt: A vulnerable nation
The Suez Canal transports Middle East oil to Europe and the West. Egypt also has a major oil pipeline. If both were to be closed by riots or terrorism oil prices globally would inflate. The Sinai is a haven for al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist attacks on the gas pipeline from Egypt to Israel and Jordan. It has been used as the launching point for armed attacks on civilians travelling in Israel’s south and is a launching point for rocket attacks at Israel. Violent clashes are rocking Egypt; heavily-armed terrorists are waging a campaign against the government and allied nations; a sizable minority is suffering on-going attacks. Egypt stands on the brink of a civil war or at the very least sustained civil unrest and sectarian violence. The confrontation between the military and radical Islamists led by the Muslim Brotherhood is not expected to end well. The Brothers (the original modern Islamic terror group and the ideological source of both al-Qaeda and Hamas) are in no mood to negotiate or compromise. See also:-
Pray: against Egypt’s complete collapse and for the Lord to make Himself known to the Egyptians. (Is.19:19-22)
More: http://www.bridgesforpeace.com/dispatch/article/egypt-unraveling/
Mexico: Head of town sent mob to beat and abduct Christians
Traditionalist Catholics abducted, jailed and beat a group of Evangelical Christians with rods and stones in Oaxaca, Mexico last week on orders from the head of a municipality for declining to participate in and help pay for Traditionalist Catholic festivals and for protesting their previous mistreatments. The mob attacked the Christian’s unfinished church structure with sledgehammers and pick-axes and four of the Evangelical Christians were jailed for four days. Three brothers who escaped the mob sent to kill the Christians said officials led townsfolk to hate those who are not Traditionalist Catholics. Traditionalist Catholics in remote areas practice a blend of Catholic and indigenous rites involving drunkenness, revelry and idol worship. Christians declining to participate in the Traditionalist Catholic festivals have been threatened, attacked and economically deprived in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo and Puebla. The Mexican government’s aversion to involving itself in religious issues has allowed such situations to escalate.
Pray: for the independent Pentecostal Churches to receive state help and protection. Pray for these ‘suffering saints’ - including many very new believers. (Ps.24:5-6)
More: http://morningstarnews.org/2013/11/head-of-town-in-mexico-sends-mob-to-beat-abduct-christians/