One in five British children still living below the poverty line
One in five British children are living below the poverty line, with almost half under the threshold in some areas, according to new research from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the End Child Poverty coalition. Manchester Central is designated the poorest area, with 47 per cent of children living in poverty, followed by Belfast West and Glasgow North East on 43 per cent. Areas of Liverpool and Middlesbrough also had four in 10 children living in poverty in 2012. Children are classified as being in poverty if they live in families on out-of-work benefits or in-work tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent of median income. The new figures show eight areas of large cities have more than 40 per cent of children in this category, down from 19 in 2011. They also reveal the wide disparity across Britain and within regions
Pray: for the most vulnerable in our society who are least protected from the ongoing austerity measures. (Pr.19:17)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18051
Mexico/US: Drug cartels
For decades Mexico has been scarred by struggles among drug cartels for control over the lucrative drug trade to the US. The conflict has left 70,000 dead since 2007, paralyzed whole cities with fear and spawned a culture of corruption reaching the upper levels of the Mexican state. The rape by suspected drug gangs last week of six Spanish women vacationing in Acapulco has heightened fear and questions government control of crime. It didn't help that at the same time as the rape of the Spanish holiday makers, Mexico's minister of tourism was in Spain, attempting to promote tourism. This is Mexico's moment, was her theme.
Pray: 2013 would be Mexico’s moment for the government and police to overcome the evil vicious drug war violence. (2Sa.23:3-4 & 6-7)
Egypt: Church destroyed & ‘reconciliation’ a sham
Christians and rights activists expressed frustration over spreading anti-Christian violence in Egypt after another Church was destroyed by Muslims in an attack that slightly injured several believers. Hundreds threw stones then set fire to 20 year old St. Georgas Coptic Church which ministered to 200 families. Local Muslims claimed the church was ‘illegal’ and needed demolishing because of its close location to a largely Muslim neighbourhood. Recently ‘reconciliation’ meetings were arranged over similar persecution attacks. These are traditional forms of conflict resolution arranged by authorities to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians. An independent advocacy group said ‘The rights of Christians, which are now practically nonexistent in Egypt, are all but taken from them at compulsory reconciliation meetings. By their very nature meetings are used to excuse those responsible for attacks and shift blame onto victims, contributing to Egypt’s climate of impunity and encouraging further assaults.’
Pray: Egyptian officials would fairly and honestly investigate attacks on Christians and Church buildings. (Mt.16:18)
More: http://vineoflife.net/2013/02/19/egypt-christians-tense-after-muslim-mob-destroys-church/
Algeria: Sentences Christian for evangelism
An Algerian court fined a former Muslim who converted converted to Christianity for evangelism in a case that activists warned would further undermine religious freedom in Algeria. The ruling could negatively impact the case of Siagh Krimo who is appealing against a five-year prison term for giving a Christian CD to a neighbour, warned International Christian Concern, a major advocacy group. ‘Once again Algeria's courts have enforced a law that by its very nature is used to prosecute anyone who does not adhere to the religion of Islam.’ said ICC's regional manager. According to Wikipedia ‘Christianity is the fastest growing religion in Algeria, and while the practice and expression of other faiths is guaranteed by law, the same legal framework tends to restrict Christians insofar as overt proselytising is concerned. Christian converts may be investigated and searched by the authorities.’ There are an estimated 30,000 devoted Christians in the heavily Islamic nation.
Pray: God’s protection and encouragement for those practicing their faith and evangelising in Algeria and other Muslim countries. (Ps.121:7)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/26482-algeria-sentences-christian-for-evangelism
China: Persecution rising
Last year a three-phase plan to eradicate unregistered house churches began (See Prayer Alert 17-2012). Since then persecution has risen by 42%. 442 of the arrests were clergy. The three-phase approach arose because the government sees house churches as a hostile group of dissenters. The government intends to force Christians to join the official Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) church system. In last year’s first phase the state secretly investigated house churches across the country and created files on them. This was followed by a wave of crackdowns on house churches which has continued into 2013 as part of the second phase. Some house churches have registered to avoid arrests and harassment, but most object to TSPM theological beliefs and state controls. The number of Protestant house-church Christians has been estimated at between 45 million and 60 million.
Pray: against the tactics of banning and sealing churches, may there be a tsunami of Christian evangelism and conversion in China. (Is.11:9)
Turkey: Syrian Orthodox Christians targeted and kidnapped
In a poor gypsy neighbourhood of Istanbul sits a Syrian Orthodox refugee. He worked as a dentist in Aleppo until lack of food, electricity, water, and constant fear of sniper-fire and kidnapping of Christians made life too dangerous. Living in an unheated house and keeping their voices down for fear of attracting police attention, 20 Syrian Orthodox Christians bundle up in winter jackets, drink Turkish coffee and discuss the dangers of fleeing war-torn Syria and illegally crossing the border into Turkey. The middle-aged dentist says in fluent English that friends and relatives were kidnapped by criminal groups operating freely due to the removal of central government control. The refugee paid $6,000 to a smuggler to help him leave and cross the border while under gunfire from an unknown group. He cannot get legal employment in Turkey and works occasionally translating from Arabic to Turkish.
Pray: for the thousands of ‘forgotten’ Syrian Orthodox Christians uprooted from their homes now living in poverty and fear. May they know God’s provision and protection. (Deut.3:16)
More: http://morningstarnews.org/2013/02/christians-in-syria-targeted-for-kidnapping/
Nigeria: ‘The Nigerian Taliban’
More than 3,000 people have been killed since 2009 by Boko Haram, a northern-based extremist group once known as the Nigerian Taliban. John Onaiyekan, Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Abuja, warned that the violence perpetrated by the extremist group is threatening the Muslim-Christian harmony in Nigeria with gun and bomb attacks against churches, schools, police stations, military facilities, newspaper offices and even the UN buildings. Militants also raid Christian homes demanding conversion to Islam or death. These attacks and massacres have fuelled concerns among Nigerian Christians and the cardinal said, ‘it becomes extremely difficult to convince the Christians that not all Muslims are killing our people, and that there are many Muslims who are sorry for what is happening to Christians.’ Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa, yet more than half its population lives on less than $1 a day.
Pray: against militant groups feeding off rampant poverty and corruption as they recruit the poorest people into violence. May the government officials change their policies and revert to good governance. (Ex.23:6,7)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-muslim-harmony-in-nigeria-in-jeopardy-amid-attacks-by-islamic-extremists-89770/
INSIGHT:Elections in 2013
Open Doors reports the March 4th general election in Kenya is the first under a new constitution with many new elective and nominative posts. Historically violent outbreaks follow elections. 1,000+ died in 2007 post-election violence. Political instability, combined with al-Shabaab influences, fuels deepening concern over the future religious atmosphere. The Muslim minority has pressurized the government to allow greater official influence for Islam. Islamic family courts based on Sharia law are implemented in all counties – even those with low Muslim presence. It is feared ten of the counties with high Muslim representation may break away from the country and push for implementing Sharia law. Meanwhile voters in Cyprus (southern area) will elect a new president this Sunday. He will have to negotiate a financial rescue to prevent government bankruptcy that could reignite the euro zone debt crisis. (source Voice of America news) For dates and Insights into the 38 countries still to vote in 2013 click the 'info' button
Pray: that Kenya in her 50th year since independence would enjoy a jubilee season. (Lev.25:8-10) Ask God to be in the detail of all preparations for international elections this year. (Ps.33:9)
Info: http://www.site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=432&Itemid=93
In 1973 Roe v. Wade stunned the American Church and in many ways, took her by surprise. For 40 years now we have been battling to remove this plague of Abortion from our land. What we wouldn’t all give to be able to wind back the clock and have a do-over! It’s way easier to stop a strong man before he gets into your house, than to take the house back after he’s made it his stronghold.
We know God hears prayer, holds the hearts of kings in his hands, and honors our supplications as much as Elijah's! If it were December 13, 1971 again and the Oral Argument of Roe vs. Wade were being held at the Supreme Court, to what length would we go to mobilize prayer for those nine Justices? Considering the cost of 55 million lives since, I'm sure we all would bring everything to a grinding halt to pray for the nine “Supremes”.
My friends, the Roe v. Wade of our generation has come upon us. March 26 & 27, the Supreme Court will hear cases Hollingsworth v. Perry and United States v. Windsor. Both cases are really Sexual Immorality v. Sanctity of Marriage. Will the Supreme Court of the United States call sexual immorality equal to holy matrimony? This is a spiritual war, and you had better believe we can win it, or we’ve already lost! 40 years later, we have an opportunity to show God that we are different now.
God has spoken and confirmed to our intercession community in DC to mobilize the mobilizers to prayer for the Supreme Court and the sanctity of marriage. God has through a couple of dreams confirmed these things:
Five days of prayer and fasting Feb 18 - 22. Please fast and pray with us.
1. Pray for all the Supreme Court Justices, but specifically for Justice Kennedy. We know that Justice Kennedy will likely be the swing vote on this case.
2. Let’s pray that God would slam the door shut to the spirit of sexual immorality in America and deliver a generation from sexual confusion.
I believe God has given us an opportunity to turn back the clock. If we rise up in prayer, and in faith, I believe God will reverse Roe, too, as we show him that we are a different church 40 years later.
Excerpts from a call to prayer by Jason Hershey
Jason Hershey resides in Washington DC and leads a community of full-time intercessors committed to standing in the Gap for America. He is the founder of David’s Tent DC and Washington House of Prayer. www.davidstentdc.org If you’d like to come and pray on site in Washington DC, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Christian to stand in Eastleigh by-election
Local Christian Danny Stupple announced this week that he is standing in the Eastleigh by-election. He has launched a campaign with a strong emphasis on authentic marriage. In a press release he said: ‘I think a lot of people feel let down, not only by our former local MP but by the whole political system. The complete disregard for proper process in the redefinition of marriage vote is indicative of the contempt for ordinary voters. Something as profound as marriage requires far more care than Mr Cameron or his Government have shown it. Real democracy is about representing the people who vote for you, not toeing the party line and certainly not forcing through legislation without any mandate’. Listen to a BBC local radio interview with Danny http://www.christianconcern.com/media/bbc-radio-solent-interview-with-independent-eastleigh-candidate-dannystupple The Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings is also a strong marriage supporter and strongly pro-life. The people of Eastleigh will go to the ballot box on 28th February.
Pray: for the election result - that it will send a message to the Prime Minister that people care about marriage and are disappointed by the way in which he is attempting to redefine it without any mandate. (Heb.13:4)
More: www.christianconcern.com