Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, the leader the Zetas drug cartel has been arrested in Mexico.
Mexican marines apprehended Miguel Angel Trevino Morales near Nuevo Laredo, which is near the Texas border. Morales was wanted on both sides of the border, with Mexico and the U.S. offering hefty rewards.
Mexican authorities say he had $2 million, eight weapons and hundreds of ammunition cartridges with him when he was captured in a pickup truck. Morales had two other people with him. The 40-year-old is accused of ordering the kidnapping and killing of hundreds of migrants. He faces charges of organized crime, homicide, torture and money laundering.
Praise God, He is answering! The majority of Mexico’s most wanted drug cartel leaders have been apprehended or otherwise removed from their ruthless, bloodthirsty occupation as His people there and around the world have prayed! Let’s continue to pray that “El Chapo” Guzman and other remaining drug kingpins will be found and arrested and that the Mexican government will have God’s wisdom and help in carrying out this battle with organized evil in their country.
Chief rabbi Lord Sacks accuses David Cameron of failing to promote marriage
Britain's chief rabbi, Lord Sacks, has accused David Cameron of failing to do enough to encourage marriage and says multiculturalism in Britain has "had its day". Lord Sacks said the prime minister should recognise marriage in the tax system and do more to support mothers who stay at home to look after their children. "I think the government has not done enough [to encourage marriage]," he said in an interview with The Times. "Although I don't take a political stance ... I don't think the government has done enough at all." Lord Sacks said the estimated £9bn-a-year cost of family breakdown and "non-marriage" meant the state had a direct interest in promoting marriage. "[The government] should certainly recognise marriage in the tax system, it should certainly give more support to mothers who stay at home or for childcare provision," he said. "I don't believe in getting involved in the details but the principle is pretty clear."
Pray: for a renewed Government support for marriage after years of policies that have undermined it. ( )
More: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/aug/19/rabbi-lord-sacks-david-cameron-failing-marriage
Fracking could alleviate suffering of poor people, says Church
The Church of England has criticised "blanket opposition" to fracking and called for a debate that takes the poor and less costly energy sources into consideration. In a statement on the issue, the Church said it did not have an official policy on hydraulic fracturing but suggested the pros and cons needed to be viewed through a wider lens. In particular, the Church suggested fracking could alleviate fuel poverty and the suffering of the poor. The Chair of the Church of England's group on Mission and Public Affairs, Philip Fletcher said "Fuel poverty is an increasingly urgent issue for many in society - the impact on energy bills is felt most by the least well off. Blanket opposition to further exploration for new sources of fuel fails to take into account those who suffer most when resources are scarce." However, the Church said that fracking should be properly regulated and steps taken to minimise the risks.
Pray: for a fair and balanced debate on the pros and cons of fracking that avoids melodramatic misinformation so that the nation can make an informed judgement. (Job 28:12)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fracking.could.alleviate.suffering.of.poor.people.says.church/33614.htm
Problems of Forces personnel switching to civilian life
The shock of leaving the Armed Forces took its toll with alcohol and mental health problems, unemployment and family break-ups according to the Forces in Mind Trust. Veterans’ alcohol problems had the biggest effect, costing an estimated £35 million in 2012, followed by mental health problems costing £26 million. The costs are predicted to rise this year because of the loss of thousands of jobs in recent months in defence cuts. The trust, which campaigns to make it easier for veterans to settle back into civilian life, said the great majority made the jump successfully, but it was still surprised by the scale of the costs. The report found the culture shock for those leaving the forces has been underestimated. Andrew Curry, author of the report, said: “Even those who have gone through a good transition said they found their experience of civilian life and the workplace to be a shock.”
Pray: for members of the armed forces as they make the transition to civilian life and that they will receive appropriate support. (Ps.55:22)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/ben-farmer/10243464/Problems-of-Forces-personnel-switching-to-civilian-life-cost-114m.html
Poor grades cause young people to give up on ambitions
One in three school leavers with poor grades believe they'll end up on benefits. That's according to a survey for The Prince's Trust, which also found around one in five have "abandoned their ambitions" due to a lack of success in the classroom. The charity claims that children who fail to make the grade at school are giving up on their dreams and expect to live off state handouts. More than 2,000 young people aged 16 to 25 were questioned as part of the online survey, which also found that those with fewer than five GCSEs are almost twice as likely as their peers to believe that they will "never amount to anything". The poll also showed one in 10 young people believe their exam results will "always" hold them back. This increases to a quarter (26%) among those who left school with poor grades. The Trust says “It is now more important than ever to invest in vocational support and training for young people who are not academically successful.”
Pray: for all those who feel they have failed academically and that they will be given hope, purpose and direction in life. (Heb.12:1)
More: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Poor%20grades%20cause%20young%20people%20to%20give%20up%20on%20ambitions%20says%20report.aspx
Numbers rise at London churches
London’s churchgoing population is increasing by leaps and bounds, according to an authoritative survey for the London City Mission. Results just released from the London Church Census, carried out by Brierley Consultancy, show that nearly 100,000 more people were attending church in the capital in October 2012 than the last time the count was made seven years ago, an increase of 16 per cent. At 720,000, the rate of churchgoing is more than three per cent higher in London than in the rest of England. Because of the capital’s size, this means that a quarter of all English churchgoers attend church in London. According to the survey, the growth is ‘largely driven by London’s ethnic diversity’. Of the two new churches opening every week between 2005 and 2012, two-thirds were Pentecostal Black Majority and a third catered for a particular language or ethnic group.
Praise: God for the growth of His Church. (Gen.17:2)
More: http://www.methodistrecorder.co.uk/mrhlines.htm
Numbers rise at London churches
London’s churchgoing population is increasing by leaps and bounds, according to an authoritative survey for the London City Mission. Results just released from the London Church Census, carried out by Brierley Consultancy, show that nearly 100,000 more people were attending church in the capital in October 2012 than the last time the count was made seven years ago, an increase of 16 per cent. At 720,000, the rate of churchgoing is more than three per cent higher in London than in the rest of England. Because of the capital’s size, this means that a quarter of all English churchgoers attend church in London. According to the survey, the growth is ‘largely driven by London’s ethnic diversity’. Of the two new churches opening every week between 2005 and 2012, two-thirds were Pentecostal Black Majority and a third catered for a particular language or ethnic group.
Praise: God for the growth of His Church. (Gen.17:2)
More: http://www.methodistrecorder.co.uk/mrhlines.htm
Christian broadcaster SAT-7 earns Human Rights Journalism Award
The Lebanese Center for Human Rights recently granted Juliana Sfeir, on behalf of SAT-7, the Human Rights Journalism Award. According to a news release from SAT-7, Sfeir is a special projects manager at SAT-7 Lebanon and an executive producer of social impact programmes for SAT-7. The Lebanese Center for Human Rights granted the award to five recipients ‘for their dedication to promoting Human Rights through the media.’ SAT-7 said it has produced programming advocating for human rights since 2003. The Human Rights Journalism Award specifically recognizes the efforts of two campaigns - the inclusion of people with disabilities and advocating for the rights of female heads of households. SAT-7 said it is honoured to be recognized for its work, alongside several other organizations such as L'Orient le Jour, The Daily Star and IRIN, and blogger Salim al Lawzi.
Praise: God for the work of SAT-7 and its Human Rights programming. (Pr.31:9)
Christian broadcaster SAT-7 earns Human Rights Journalism Award
The Lebanese Center for Human Rights recently granted Juliana Sfeir, on behalf of SAT-7, the Human Rights Journalism Award. According to a news release from SAT-7, Sfeir is a special projects manager at SAT-7 Lebanon and an executive producer of social impact programmes for SAT-7. The Lebanese Center for Human Rights granted the award to five recipients ‘for their dedication to promoting Human Rights through the media.’ SAT-7 said it has produced programming advocating for human rights since 2003. The Human Rights Journalism Award specifically recognizes the efforts of two campaigns - the inclusion of people with disabilities and advocating for the rights of female heads of households. SAT-7 said it is honoured to be recognized for its work, alongside several other organizations such as L'Orient le Jour, The Daily Star and IRIN, and blogger Salim al Lawzi.
Praise: God for the work of SAT-7 and its Human Rights programming. (Pr.31:9)
Conversions from Islam in Wales
Last May, the Evangelical Alliance (EA) conducted research on the experiences of 15 Christians in Wales who had converted from Muslim backgrounds. Muslim-background believers (MBBs) in Wales number approximately 300, with the majority coming from a Persian background. Apart from Persian MBBs, there are also individuals in Wales from other backgrounds, some British born, others not, including Somalian, Afghan, Turkish and Pakistani. MBBs in Wales enjoy, as would be expected, a great degree of religious freedom, there is also the possibility of individuals feeling threatened or intimidated by their community or family members because of their decision to convert. The trend of Iranians leaving Islam is a social phenomenon occurring throughout the West and is rooted in a number of issues: the perception that Islam is a foreign religion that has been foisted upon them (Zoroastrianism was the ancient religion of the region) and their exposure to a particularly harsh version of political Islam in Iran are both contributing factors.
Pray: that the Holy Spirit will continue touching the lives of Muslims and pray that Christians will come alongside and encourage.(Mk.16:15-18)
More: http://revivalmedia.org/2013/08/04/conversions-from-islam-in-wales-319-report-5/