Pakistan: Christians need more protection
Following the latest double suicide bombings of two churches, protests and vigils have taken place across Pakistan demanding better protection. Local authorities have been accused of not following up on previous bomb threats or taking any action to protect the community preceding the attack. UK human rights organization ‘Global Minorities Alliance’ said, ‘the government has failed to protect the minorities’ and similar comments came from the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales who agree that the Pakistani Government must do more to protect Christians who show great courage in giving witness to their faith in the midst of terrorists violent ideology. Release International appealed to Christians in the UK to stand by their persecuted Pakistani brothers and sisters and added, ‘Pakistan must take immediate and effective action to protect its Christian minority. Pray: for all who were bereaved and those who were injured or live in fear because of the tragedy. Pray also for all who are being attacked and killed simply because of their faith. (1Cor.4:12) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/call.for.greater.protection.of.pakistani.christians/34122.htm
Mecca: Hajj October 13th to 15th
Once a year, Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in Mecca to stand before the Kaaba praising Allah. It is a ritual designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by presenting everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. The Hajj is designed to make Muslims feel theimportance of life here on earth and the afterlife by stripping away all markers of social status, wealth and pride. In the Hajj all are considered truly equal. The Hajjis or pilgrims wear simple white clothes, perform acts of worship and they renew their sense of purpose in the world. - Christians are invited to pray throughout the Hajj for the millions of Muslims from all over the world who will flock to Mecca to perform the rituals and follow the steps of Muhammad their prophet. For a prayer guide and brief prayer video click on the more link below. Pray: for seekers to encounter ‘The Son and the radiance of God’s glory’ and see ‘the exact representation of He who sustaining all things by his powerful word’ as they discover Gods provision for the purification of sins. (Heb. 1:3) More: http://www.pray-ap.info/hajj
Israel: Prayer vigil for Jerusalem - October 6th 2013
GOD is stirring the hearts of His people to pray for both Jew and Arab in Jerusalem in response to what is happening in the world today. This Sunday tens of millions of Christians in literally every corner of this planet will unite for the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ). The multinational, multi-denominational global prayer movement was started in 2002 by Evangelical Christian leaders with the statement, ‘We are gathering together in Jerusalem during the season of the High Holidays and declaring that Christians will continue to pray for G-d’s peace to come to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. We will remind G-d of His promises, and we will remind Israel’s detractors that Israel is not alone.’ In 2013 this prayer call has come from more than 1,200 global leaders. To view a partial list of these leaders go to: Pray: may many to join the Global chorus of prayer – for God surely hears the cry of His intercessors, and praise God for a Church in Unity. (Ps.122:6-7). More: http://www.daytopray.org/
INSIGHT: Iran’s change in direction?
On Saturday President Hassan Rouhani returned from America and was cheered at Tehran airport by his supporters praising him for reaching out to President Obama. This was followed by hard-line protesters hurling eggs and a shoe at him and blocking the road by praying on the pavement. The incident illustrates the tensions in Iran as Mr. Rouhani attempts to begin to heal the rift between Iran and the West through a historic trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. See: Three days later the Israeli Prime Minister addressed the UN General Assembly, stating that the new Iranian President is a ‘wolf in sheep's clothing’ who is seeking to mislead the world about the country's nuclear program. For historical events, and recent incidents to help you discern some of the roots that have shaped Iran’s attitudes and values click the more link for this week’s INSIGHT article. Pray: for change in Iran, for leaders to embrace God’s transforming purposes for the region. May President Rouhani be used by God as Cyrus king of Persia was used and appointed in ancient times to build not tear down God’s provision. (2 Chron.36:23 & Dan.6:26) More: http://site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=475&Itemid=93
European pro-life initiative gains one million supporters
An initiative to propose to the European Parliament a ban on the funding of embryo-destructive policies has gained one million signatures, ensuring the proposal will be received at the legislature, reports Catholic News Agency. The initiative, ‘One of Us,’ seeks to protect the ‘dignity, the right to life and the integrity of every human being’ for all human persons at all stages of development, according to the organizers' website. The proposal is a European citizens’ initiative, which is a means for EU citizens to introduce proposed legislation to the EU Parliament. In announcing this legislative proposal process, the European Commission has stated that in order to be introduced to the parliament, citizens’ initiatives must receive more than one million signatures from EU citizens, and a minimum number of signatures from at least seven of the 27 countries in the EU within a year of their introduction. Pray: that the success of this initiative will just be a beginning leading to right to life legislation. More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue21089.html
European pro-life initiative gains one million supporters
An initiative to propose to the European Parliament a ban on the funding of embryo-destructive policies has gained one million signatures, ensuring the proposal will be received at the legislature, reports Catholic News Agency. The initiative, ‘One of Us,’ seeks to protect the ‘dignity, the right to life and the integrity of every human being’ for all human persons at all stages of development, according to the organizers' website. The proposal is a European citizens’ initiative, which is a means for EU citizens to introduce proposed legislation to the EU Parliament. In announcing this legislative proposal process, the European Commission has stated that in order to be introduced to the parliament, citizens’ initiatives must receive more than one million signatures from EU citizens, and a minimum number of signatures from at least seven of the 27 countries in the EU within a year of their introduction. Pray: that the success of this initiative will just be a beginning leading to right to life legislation. More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue21089.html
France: Woman arrested for alleged Al Qaeda Links
On Tuesday officers with France's DCRI domestic intelligence agency arrested a 21 year old Paris woman at her apartment in the working-class Belleville district of Paris who is suspected of possible links to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. She was arrested as part of an investigation by anti-terror officers into a case of ‘criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise.’ Based in Yemen, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is considered one of the deadliest franchises of the international militant network. We are asked to pray against recruitment tactics by terrorist organisations at the time of Hajj. See item 3 World Article Pray: against all attempts to radicalize young Western Muslims in Islamic communities across the world, may the seekers of God and His Ways be touched by the Holy Trinity. (Jn.14:6) More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/french-woman-arrested-al-qaeda_n_4022054.html
France: Woman arrested for alleged Al Qaeda Links
On Tuesday officers with France's DCRI domestic intelligence agency arrested a 21 year old Paris woman at her apartment in the working-class Belleville district of Paris who is suspected of possible links to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. She was arrested as part of an investigation by anti-terror officers into a case of ‘criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise.’ Based in Yemen, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is considered one of the deadliest franchises of the international militant network. We are asked to pray against recruitment tactics by terrorist organisations at the time of Hajj. See item 3 World Article Pray: against all attempts to radicalize young Western Muslims in Islamic communities across the world, may the seekers of God and His Ways be touched by the Holy Trinity. (Jn.14:6) More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/french-woman-arrested-al-qaeda_n_4022054.html
Channel 4 to feature couples having sex in a box
Three couples, including a gay couple, will have sex in a box in front of a studio audience as part of a new Channel 4 series. But the broadcaster has been accused of grabbing ratings under a cover of trying to counteract the ‘explosion of online pornography’ During the programme, to be aired on 7 October, volunteer couples will be interviewed by presenter Mariella Frostrup after they have had sex in a sound-proofed and opaque cube. Comedian Bridget Christie highlighted that showing more sex ‘isn’t necessarily the answer’ to the problem of pornography. She said: ‘How to boost your ratings while pretending to help society? Fight sex with sex!’ And relationships expert Donna Dawson said in a BBC Radio 5 Live interview that this is an ‘extremely unnatural’ situation, and is being shown simply to excite viewers. Pray: that this show will not over glorify sex as so many Channel 4 shows do. (1Th.4:3) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/channel-4-to-feature-couples-having-sex-in-a-box/
Christian doctor sacked for emailing a prayer to cheer up colleagues
A Christian doctor who was sacked because he emailed a prayer to his colleagues has claimed hospital managers targeted him as an NHS whistleblower after he lost an appeal against his dismissal. Consultant paediatrician Dr David Drew, 65, sent a 16th-century prayer by St Ignatius Loyola around his department in April 2009, hoping it would be motivational. Dr Drew, who had an unblemished 37-year career in the NHS, was told to ‘keep his religious beliefs to himself’ by a review panel, which was called to investigate his conduct in March 2010. After refusing to accept their findings, he was sacked from Walsall Manor Hospital, where he worked as a clinical director. Today the father-of-four, who lives in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, with his wife Janet, 63, said the email had been used as a smokescreen to push him out of his post. (See also Prayer Alert 14-2012) Pray: for Dr Drew and pray that his faith will stand firm against those who wish to get him dismissed. (Ps.119:84) More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2431814/Christian-doctor-sacked-emailing-prayer-colleagues-cheer-loses-appeal-dismissal.html