50,000 postcards invite cinemagoers to explore Christian faith
The Christian Enquiry Agency is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new poster and postcard campaign. The organisation provides free and confidential information about the Christian faith. Its campaign is inviting people to take a look at the website Christianity.org.uk and offers them a free colour magazine-style Gospel of Luke. The postcards ask the question 'At what moment in your life did you feel most fully alive?' On the reverse is the challenge: 'It's time you found out what Jesus said about life in his own words.' People can add their details and send the postcard to a freepost address or use the QR code to ask for a Gospel. It is hoped the 50,000 postcards placed in cinema foyers around the country will make their way into the hands of people unlikely to set foot in a church.
Pray: that this initiative will lead to many people discovering Jesus and new life. (Ac.20:24)
Hungary: Massive exodus of street children into Western Europe
Key non-governmental groups and officials have urged the Euopean Union to urgently tackle the ‘growing problem’ of street children moving from Eastern to Western Europe by improving cross-border co-operation and child protection. They made the appeal at the 'European Forum On Street Children 2009' in Budapest, amid concerns that the EU's open borders mean that ‘unaccompanied’ minors from poorer member states are increasingly roaming the streets of richer Western European cities. There are believed to be a quarter of a million street children in Europe, although officials cautioned that the figure may be higher because as many as 1.5 million young gypsies, also known as Roma, are ‘unregistered’. In a final declaration, delegates attending the Forum, urged the EU to realize the European Parliament's goal of ending ‘the phenomenon of street children’ by 2015.
Pray: that the governments and authorities will be able to tackle this problem speedily. (Job.14:21)
Hungary: Massive exodus of street children into Western Europe
Key non-governmental groups and officials have urged the Euopean Union to urgently tackle the ‘growing problem’ of street children moving from Eastern to Western Europe by improving cross-border co-operation and child protection. They made the appeal at the 'European Forum On Street Children 2009' in Budapest, amid concerns that the EU's open borders mean that ‘unaccompanied’ minors from poorer member states are increasingly roaming the streets of richer Western European cities. There are believed to be a quarter of a million street children in Europe, although officials cautioned that the figure may be higher because as many as 1.5 million young gypsies, also known as Roma, are ‘unregistered’. In a final declaration, delegates attending the Forum, urged the EU to realize the European Parliament's goal of ending ‘the phenomenon of street children’ by 2015.
Pray: that the governments and authorities will be able to tackle this problem speedily. (Job.14:21)
The Cyprus effect
The Cyprus effect is a decision made to obtain financial aid and to prevent the island nation of Cyprus from going bankrupt. Just three weeks into the job, and Nicos Anastasiades, the Cypriot president, is tackling the nation's debt crisis head-on, saying he had no choice but to force savers to forfeit up to 10 per cent of their deposits to avoid a catastrophic banking collapse. Cypriots themselves are furious and they have responded by trying to clear out their accounts. People with savings of less than $130,000 will pay a one off tax of 6.75 per cent. Those with anything more in their accounts will forfeit 9.9 per cent of their savings. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was worth over $24bn in 2011 - and the proposed bailout is more than half that figure. The levies would generate $7,5bn - with depositors being compensated with the equivalent amount of bank shares.
Pray: that the moves by the government will have the desired effect and bring stability to the country.
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/03/201331862719774592.html
The Cyprus effect
The Cyprus effect is a decision made to obtain financial aid and to prevent the island nation of Cyprus from going bankrupt. Just three weeks into the job, and Nicos Anastasiades, the Cypriot president, is tackling the nation's debt crisis head-on, saying he had no choice but to force savers to forfeit up to 10 per cent of their deposits to avoid a catastrophic banking collapse. Cypriots themselves are furious and they have responded by trying to clear out their accounts. People with savings of less than $130,000 will pay a one off tax of 6.75 per cent. Those with anything more in their accounts will forfeit 9.9 per cent of their savings. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was worth over $24bn in 2011 - and the proposed bailout is more than half that figure. The levies would generate $7,5bn - with depositors being compensated with the equivalent amount of bank shares.
Pray: that the moves by the government will have the desired effect and bring stability to the country.
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/03/201331862719774592.html
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 15 released on bail Malik Ishaq, leader and founder of Al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, on grounds of “lack of evidence.” The man had been facing a number of cases at the antiterrorism court in Lahore charging him with hundreds of murders. He remained in jail for 14 years while evidence against him gradually decayed and disappeared—a pattern traced by terrorists in custody, none of whom has so far been punished in a country crawling with terrorist organizations.
Pray that this very dangerous man and others like him will not be able to continue their terrorist activities. May justice be done and their wicked plans overthrown as we pray!
Background:
The people of Pakistan have shown great resilience to sustain their democracy during the last 65 years by ejecting at least four governments in uniform which constitute more than 30 years of rule and frustrating many more conspiracies against their right to be governed democratically, while most of the efforts in the past had been to reclaim democratic space. In 2013, the nation will go to polling booths to endorse or reject political parties on the basis of their performance after completion of a full-fledge term of five years by a democratically elected government…
In the back drop of all these new developments and a continued war against terrorism, Talibanisation, extremism and radicalization, the nation will be going to the polls in May 2013, genuinely expecting that democracy must deliver good governance to bring them out of the quagmire of problems. Therefore, the first ever civilian transition without the mentoring and monitoring of powers that be in 2013 is a citizens' chance to vote out or vote in their representatives through free, fair and transparent elections. In this way, Election-2013 will be of significant importance and have long-term consequences for democratic consolidation in Pakistan.
Prayer Campaign:
The National Prayer Network of Pakistan partnering with local churches has started a prayer campaign since December 2012 which focuses on the “Prayer for The General Election 2013”. It is imperative that we pray faithfully for the 2013 elections, yet our hope and trust is not in the results of elections. This prayer campaign motivates the Christians across the nation that their prayers for this upcoming election are important, and they will definitely impact the election process. The campaign also focuses on a spiritual and moral awakening of the church which is tied to the healing of the nation, spiritual and moral issues facing our nation and that these issues will not be resolved in the Parliament, Senate or the Supreme Court. What Pakistan desperately needs is its Church’s Spiritual Awakening. The Church must experience a revival that awakens her to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ in her midst. Such a spiritual awakening within the people of God has the power to bring about true cultural transformation in this nation.
Prayers for Materials and Events:
Tens of Thousands of printed information flyers, printed prayer points, posters and other materials are being sent by post and e-mail to churches, ministries, prayer groups and individuals across the nation; special prayer events, seminars, prayer chains, prayer walks and other activities are being held to pray for the upcoming elections. Please pray for these events and material that the Holy Spirit touches the heart of the Church and the People of God understand the importance and impact of this prayer campaign for the future and political situation of the country.
The prayer campaign will continue till the election day rather till the results are declared, we believe that every believer has the potential to transform Pakistan through the power of the Holy Spirit which is released in every prayer for our Leaders and our Nation…I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Tim 2:1-2.
It is our humble request to lift Pakistan in prayer continuously so that Free, Fair, Credible and Peaceful elections can take place.
Prayerfully,
National Prayer Network of Pakistan Team
URGENT: Let us pray for this national prayer effort to be successful in uniting the Pakistanis in intercession for their nation and also for the right leaders to be raised up during the election this coming month. This is an extremely crucial prayer issue not only for their nation but also for the security of the rest of the world. Pray that radical Islam is exposed and discredited and that none of these radicals get into power. They would then have access to the full arsenal of nuclear weapons Pakistan has, and they would not hesitate to use them against other nations.
Islamist discontent is rising, forcing Sudan’s President Omar el-Bashir to prove his Islamist credentials. As churches are demolished, property is seized, Coptic priests are detained and foreign Christians are deported, despair is setting in, and Sudanese Christians are wondering if the day is coming when they will no longer be able to practice their faith at all. Meanwhile, the 54-member states of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) showed how little they care about the Sudanese citizens when they elected Sudan as a Vice-President and nominated it to chair proceedings on humanitarian affairs. The US and Canada protested, forcing Sudan to cede the humanitarian post reluctantly to Pakistan. Only God can be trusted! Please pray for the Church in Sudan.
http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.ca/
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Toll of loneliness: isolation increases risk of death
Elderly people who are lonely because they do not see friends or family regularly are almost 50 per cent more likely to die before their time than those who do, a stark new study shows. British researchers found that social isolation could dramatically increase the risk of mortality in both men and women, even after underlying health problems are taken into account. They concluded that simply enabling people to get out and about more often would not only make feel them less lonely but actively increase their life expectancy. It follows a series of studies showing higher instances of conditions such as heart disease and dementia among those who live in isolation. There have also been studies linking the emotional effects of loneliness with high blood pressure and stress-induced conditions. But the latest study goes further than previous research to establish a link between isolation and early death.
Pray: for the lonely and for us all to do more to bring older people into the heart of our communities (Ps.25:16)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9953019/Toll-of-loneliness-isolation-increases-risk-of-death-study-finds.html
Dear prayer partners in the LORD, please I am requesting prayers for my country Ghana. Just after the election, there has been heavy tension on the nation. Just because the opposition party has been taking the election commission and the president to court for an unfair deal. Please, we need your prayer support and GOD’s intervention for fair judgment.
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