Hungary: Introduction of controversial Church rules
Smaller evangelical congregations and other groups were weighing their options after Hungary's parliament introduced new rules on recognizing churches, despite the Constitutional Court’s annulment of several passages in a controversial church law. Criteria for recognized churches include a history of at least one hundred years or minimum two decades of activities in Hungary. Additionally, a church should count 0.1 percent or more of Hungary's 10-million population as its members or supporters. The adjusted law appeared to revive Communist-era rhetoric, demanding that recognized churches must ‘not pose a risk to national security’ and ‘cooperate with government agencies for community purposes’. The government-sponsored amendment demands that churches are those faith groups ‘recognized by parliament’. Other organizations that pursue religious activities must be registered by the Municipal Court. Formal recognition qualifies churches for government support and allows them to collect donations during services and do pastoral work in jails and hospitals of this heavily Catholic nation.
Pray: that the parliament will recognise churches and faith groups for their spiritual beliefs and not just historical criteria. (1Cor.16:18)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/29130-hungary-introduces-controversial-church-rules
NIGERIA: Anglican Church seeks capital punishment
Anglican Archbishop Nicholas Okoh asked the Federal Government to impose capital punishment for perpetrators of rape and killing. He also advised young ladies to avoid indecent dressing and nudity in order to avoid people who lacked sexual self-control. At Tuesday's press briefing in Abuja he counselled religious leaders to concentrate on teaching morality, not how to make money adding, ‘My church has not met to discuss the issue of capital punishment for rapists. But rape is becoming an embarrassing situation in this country and as religious leaders we must continue to react against deviant behaviour. We must continue to support marriage in order to build a decent society.’ He told the story of an incident of violent rape of a family, particularly the mother, by armed robbers and the perpetrator being executed adding, ‘The law of capital punishment for those who rightly deserve it should stay.’ Many favouring the death penalty quote Genesis 9:6.
Pray: that the broken systems in Nigeria will mend and administer justice not more victims. (Mat.6:14)
More: http://www.punchng.com/news/anglican-church-seeks-capital-punishment-for-rapists-others/
Egypt: At a tipping point
Egypt’s democratic experiment is at a tipping point and President Obama is trying to nudge Egypt’s bitterly divided antagonists toward compromise with limited influence. Unpopular President Morsi was democratically elected but needs to strike a workable deal with Egypt's military without alienating millions of protesting Egyptians. Egypt's size and leading position in the Arab world mean its political course will be felt throughout the region, where the United States is already struggling to stem Islamist militants and sectarian strife. The White House is not enamoured with Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood leader whom it sees as having failed to form an inclusive, effective government. Obama has not hosted Morsi at the White House, and officials cancelled a visit by the Egyptian leader last year after a video surfaced in which Morsi described Israelis as ‘descendants of apes and pigs.’ For INSIGHTS into the roots of Egypt’s violence, the Muslim Brotherhood’s commitment to a unified community of Islamic nations and world rule, please go to: http://site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=448&Itemid=93
Pray: for God to bring peace, reconciliation and freedom to Egypt. Pray also for a new constitution that would enhance equality of citizenship and religious freedom. May Egypt one day be known as a haven of tolerance for all.
More: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/uk-usa-egypt-analysis-idUKBRE96203E20130703
Global: 43 million refugees
Persecution, violence and war have displaced 43 million people globally. Consider how your world would change if you were forced to leave your home and possessions at little or no notice and relocate somewhere where you knew no-one. Plus, you have no idea where your next meal is coming from. A refugee is outside their habitual residence because they have suffered (or fear) persecution and/or oppression on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they are a persecuted 'social group' or they are fleeing natural disaster. They are an 'asylum seeker' until recognized by the state where they make a claim. In Isaiah God told His children to provide shelter to Moabites (a people group the Israelites often fought) This past Sunday we observed World Refugee Sunday! Let us not stop praying for these ‘forgotten’ people of the world. Pray that we will obey the words of Isaiah 16:4 and give shelter to those who have been our enemies.
Pray: and cry out to God to have mercy on the millions of refugees, asking him to give them a future and to foil the plans of the enemy for their lives. (Jer.29:11)
More: http://iafr.org/
Syria: Residents of Christiantvillage massacred
Almost 40 people, including women and children, were killed when opposition fighters attacked the village of Dweir, on the outskirts of Homs, on 27 May. A Barnabas Fund partner reported that the rebels tortured some residents before they killed them. On the day after the incident, independent United Nations investigators warned that opposition forces were becoming increasingly radicalised, and that only a minority of them were pro-democracy and wanted a state for all Syrians. Despite these developments, Western governments are moving towards increased support for the rebels. The United States will now provide direct military aid to the Syrian opposition for the first time. We are asked to pray for the Lord to guide Western governments as they respond to increasing radicalisation amongst the rebels, and pray that He will bring hope to Syrian Christians, whose position in their own country is becoming more and more precarious.
Pray: for comfort for all those who lost loved ones in the massacre. Pray also for those who had to flee their homes and may be traumatised by what they have witnessed. (Ps.34:17-18)
More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYywK6Z5zrc
USA: Lavish lifestyles of preachers on reality TV
Fast cars, lavish mansions, infidelity and angst-filled episodes are displayed in prosperous lifestyles of six mega-church pastors featured in a trailer for the new reality show, ‘Preachers of L.A.,’ on the Oxygen network in the Autumn. ‘The Bible says I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. I believe that,’ declares Bishop Clarence McClendon, one of the stars of the show in the trailer posted to YouTube on Thursday. His international broadcast reaches 250 million homes with the prosperity gospel, on Oxygen (NBC Universal.) ‘P. Diddy, Jay-Z, aren’t the only ones who should be driving Ferraris and living in large houses,’ says cast member Bishop Ron Gibson who ministers to 4,500 people at Life Church of God in Christ. Pastor Wayne Chaney explained, ‘being a pastor is very dangerous because you have to be perfect at all times.’However the show focuses on the imperfection in the lives of very famous and very rich ministers.
Pray: against a carnal, superficial image being portrayed. Pray that no one in the body of Christ will be hurt through these ministries. (Mic.2:11,12)
Somalia: Child Soldiers
On 3rd July 2012 Somalia signed a UN-backed agreement to end recruitment and use of child soldiers. See: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42390#.UdP7d20ptr8 This week Win10/40 reported that in a school room in Somalia for 14 and 15 year old boys the stillness was shattered by the heavy, uneven footfall of people running. Then turbaned men wielding machine guns dragged young boys away. Instinctively others got up to run but none escaped the men who herded them into trucks - like cattle to the slaughterhouse. The boys were kidnapped, abducted, trafficked. The terrorist group Al Shabab sexually abused them, used the boys in militant battles as cannon fodder to protect the lives of adult terrorists, and stripped them of their childhood and human dignity. A 15-year-old boy who escaped Al Shabab recounted his horror to Human Rights Watch, ‘Out of all my classmates - out of 100 only two escaped, the rest were killed.’
Pray: that Somalia would honour its agreement with the UN, and for child soldiers to find healing and wholeness in the love of Jesus Christ (Mat.19:14)
More: http://win1040.com/post.php?id=1739&q=Child%20soldiers%20Somalia
Myanmar: Child soldiers
June 27th was the 1 year anniversary of Myanmar making a commitment to the UN to stop recruiting and using children as soldiers. The agreement acknowledged a longstanding problem and a willingness to correct the practice. However the Tatmadaw has continued to recruit and use children since it signed the action plan, although in lower numbers. It has only released 66 children from its ranks, a fraction of those recruited by troops since the UN started monitoring this issue. Myanmar continues to stall UN access to identify and release children from some of its military sites despite having signed an agreement to do so. The Border Guard Forces (BGFs), which are within the remit of the action plan and for whom the Myanmar military is responsible, have felt no pressure to initiate steps to verify, demobilise or rehabilitate children in their ranks.
Pray: that Myanmar will ensure that under-18s do not serve in the armed forces and immediately begin to honour their 2012 agreement with the UN. (Ps.72:4)
More: http://www.child-soldiers.org/news_reader.php?id=685
Archbishop of Canterbury plans credit union for the clergy
The Archbishop of Canterbury is planning to expand the reach of credit unions as part of a long-term campaign to boost competition in the banking sector. He has approved proposals considering how the Church of England's reach could boost access to credit unions, which are financial co-operatives that offer short term, affordable loans to members. The church is planning a credit union, possibly in partnership with the Church of Scotland, which would lend to members of the clergy and become a source of expertise on the credit union sector.
There are also plans to encourage church members with relevant skills to volunteer at credit unions. Small, local lenders could also be invited to use church buildings and other community locations with the help of church members. With a more diverse financial sector, there should be less need for payday lenders who extract exorbitant interest rates.
Pray: for this innovative idea and that it will expand and be a force for good (Ex.22:25)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/10151220/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-plans-credit-union-for-the-clergy.html
The Church of England's General Synod
Will it be another Anglican bunfight or will new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby hold the communion together? Asks Sam Jones in last Sunday's Guardian. He writes “On Friday afternoon, the Church of England's General Synod will descend on York to begin the Herculean task of clearing away some of the debris from its last meeting. The synod's failure in November to approve draft legislation that would have allowed female clergy to become bishops was memorably described by one member as "a train crash of epic proportions". Few would disagree. With parliament breathing down its neck and many angered by the church hierarchy's opposition to same-sex marriage, the C of E knows it cannot risk another embarrassing meeting. On Friday evening, Justin Welby, will address his first synod. Even for a man who has travelled to some of the most dangerous places on earth in the hope of bringing about peace and reconciliation, the five-day meeting will be a tough gig.
Pray: for Justin Welby and all attending General Synod that they will be open to God and be led by the Holy Spirit. (Ro.8:28)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/30/church-of-england-general-synod