Central African Republic: Pastors request prayer
The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is ‘precarious’ according to national Baptist leaders. Singa-Gbazia Nicolas Aime Simplice, president of the Association of Baptist Churches of the CAR, requested ‘urgent prayer’ last week as rebels continued to challenge CAR President Francois Bozizé's leadership. The rebels now control ‘over 75 percent of the nation.’ According to the Baptist World Alliance, Simplice says many citizens have been displaced by the fighting and Baptist churches have been badly damaged or destroyed. Other church leaders have also called for negotiations between Islamist rebels and government forces, denouncing the violence against civilians.
Pray: for Christians across the nation to be protected and used by God to bring life and not death. (Jn.17:12a)
India: Attacked Christians in fear of returning home
After Hindu nationalists in Maharashtra State attacked Christians two weeks ago because they refused to honour a tribal deity – violence that led many to flee their homes – the extremists yesterday assaulted remaining Christians as they met for worship. As police stood by watching, about 100 club-bearing Hindu extremists disrupted worship at the house of Ravindra Shankar Ander in Tamsai village, Thane District. The extremists did not use their wooden clubs as they did in the attack two week's ago. More than 100 Christians from the area are afraid to return to their homes after Hindu extremists on Dec 30 beat worshippers with wooden clubs for refusing to contribute to the festival for the tribal deity. Men and women said to belong to Hindu nationalist groups in Tamsai village stormed the worship service of the Yehovah Prathana Group Tamsai congregation in Tamsai.
Pray: that God's people will not fear but trust in the His protection. (Ex.15:2)
More: http://www.religiontoday.com/blog/attacked-christians-in-india-fear-returning-home.html
Folks in Morocco are beginning the new year with a 21 day fast to see God's Kingdom come in Morocco in greater measure during 2013. A prayer guide has been written and is attached to this email. If you are able to join in, you are all invited to choose one (or more) day during this 21-day initiative and sign up on a Google calendar to fast and pray for Morocco on that day. Details are below.
At the start of February, the 2nd Mediterranean Regional Prayer Gathering will be held in Gibraltar. This is a 3-day prayer event praying for the region. Please pray during January for the final preparations of this event. Pray for covering and protection over the whole event. And pray that God will move in a mighty way as people come together to seek His face and pray for this region of the world. Your prayers are a valuable part of the lead up to this event, so please join in. Email us if you would like further info.
GOOGLE CALENDAR FOR MOROCCO 21-DAY FAST:
1. Go to: https://www.google.com/calendar
2. Sign in details: email (note the underscore): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; password: yarp4moroc (note it’s mOroc and not mAroc)
3. You will then see the calendar. Along the top, you will see the date of the current week shown.
4. Click the arrow key till you get to the week you want to sign up for.
5. Click the day and time you want to sign up for.
6. Type in your initials and then click “create event”.
7. You should then be able to see your initials in the calendar.
8. Click “sign out” at the top right corner before you leave.
PRAYER GUIDE:
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/3bddd686ddfc797b8b44e8399/files/Pr_Guide_2013.pdf
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.prayna.org
Christian duty to cut food waste, says charity
A charity that runs foodbanks across the UK says Christians should be more responsible when it comes to buying food to stop wastage. The Trussell Trust's comments came after a report revealed that an average family wastes nearly £500 a year on food that ends up in the bin - despite it being perfectly fine to eat. The research by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 'Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not', says across the world people throw away half the food that's produced. Adrian Curtis, Foodbank Network Director for the Trussell Trust said it's an issue we all need to consider carefully. Wasting food doesn't only mean you lose the product but you're also wasting precious resources including land, water and energy. Ten per cent of rich countries' greenhouse gas emissions come from growing food that is never eaten. The report also warns this issues needs to be tackled as the population grows.
Pray: for a comprehensive global reponse to the problem of fodd wastage. (Pr.23:20-21)
More: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Christian%20duty%20to%20cut%20food%20waste%20says%20charity.aspx
Bishop regrets prison closures
The Bishop of Portsmouth has said he is 'uncomfortable' with the closure of two prisons in his diocese. The Right Reverend Christopher Foster has promised support for prisoners and staff at Kingston Prison in Portsmouth and Camp Hill Prison on the Isle of Wight. The government announced this week that Kingston, Camp Hill and several other prisons across England would be closing on economic grounds. The Ministry of Justice is planning to replace the facilities with a new 'super prison' holding more than 2,000 prisoners. Bishop Foster, who has visited the prisons in person, said: “I admit to feeling uncomfortable at closing prisons purely on ‘economic’ grounds.'For me, the bigger question is whether prisons are doing their job in terms of social justice. 'Are they able to rehabilitate prisoners so that they are better educated, understand the impact of their crimes and want to turn their lives around?
Pray: for the prison service, inmates and staff. Pray that any changes will support the criminal justice system and improve re-offending rates. (Ps.142:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/bishop.regrets.prison.closures/31434.htm
Contraceptive Culture usurps parental consent
As Britain continues to have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe, school children under the age of consent are being given the pill without the consent of their parents. In hundreds of state secondary schools across the country condoms are also being offered to pupils under 16 years old (the legal age of consent). And if they express an interest, girls are referred for contraceptive injections and implants. School nurses providing advice and referrals — without the consent of parents — is seen as the only way to reach the most at-risk girls. In one case a 14 year old girl with a headache was refused an aspirin by the school nurse because parental consent was required, yet she was offered a confidential service on contraception. Policy is set in education authorities, but the confidential service is already offered in areas including Bristol, Berkshire, Peterborough, West Midlands, Northumbria and County Durham.
Pray: for authorities and parents to recognise their roles and for them to work together to support teenagers.. (Gal.5:19)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/education/contraceptive-culture-usurps-parental-consent
Unemployed not just statistics, says Justin Welby
Justin Welby, the Bishop of Durham, described unemployment as a “tragedy” with parallels to losses on the battlefield, which wears down “all but the bravest and toughest”. His comments come amid controversy in some quarters over George Osborne’s depiction of some benefit claimants as people lying in bed while their “striver” neighbours go to work.
He also issued a series of stinging criticisms of Government policy, accusing it of giving the North East of England a “grossly unequal” share of some building funds in an 'out of sight out of mind' attitude. The comments came in highly unusual form for a bishop – as he took over as a newspaper editor for the day. Bishop Welby, who becomes Archbishop next month, spent the day guest editing the Northern Echo, which is based in his Durham diocese, focusing on efforts to combat unemployment.
Pray: for all those who face the devastating effects of unemployment. (Ecc.3:13)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9796906/Unemployed-not-just-statistics-says-Justin-Welby.html
Pastor Saeed, an American citizen, is in grave danger in a brutal Iranian prison where he says he is experiencing "intense pains after beatings in interrogations" and has been told he "will hang." His trial before one of Iran's "hanging judges" is set to begin on Monday. His alleged “crime” – threatening national security, which translates to establishing house churches in Iran.
The regime plans to use evidence that dates back 13 years to when Pastor Saeed converted from Islam to Christianity. As we know from the case of Pastor Youcef, who is now free because thousands of people spoke out, charges related to converting from Islam can carry the death sentence in Iran. The ACLJ is calling on the U.S. State Department to demand that Iran release this U.S. citizen immediately. We cannot be silent while this American suffers for his faith.
Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Let us pray that Pastor Saeed will be exonerated and released. Pray for his protection from brutality, mistreatment and soon release from prison.
USA: 4000 Students pledge lives to mission service
Some 4,224 students from US and Canadian colleges pledged themselves to long-term missionary service at the close of Urbana 12 on New Year’s Eve, twice as many as the last Student Missionary Conference in 2009. The conference broke records making this the most responsive student conference for foreign missions since the end of World War II. Tom Lin, Urbana Director for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship said ‘They are ready to make commitments and respond to global challenges.’ Dubbed the ‘Justice Generation’ by leaders here, they say today's students tend to see compassionate ministries as a way into the gospel, not as a result of the gospel the way their grandparents did in the 1960's and 70's. They want to build relationships and create community in which unbelievers can discover Christ as Lord and Saviour. Besides the 4000 that made long-term commitments, 8,815 also ticked boxes saying they will go on short or mid-term missions.
Praise: God for the anointing of so many in making commitments to serve. (Dt.6:13)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13010003.htm
USA: 4000 Students pledge lives to mission service
Some 4,224 students from US and Canadian colleges pledged themselves to long-term missionary service at the close of Urbana 12 on New Year’s Eve, twice as many as the last Student Missionary Conference in 2009. The conference broke records making this the most responsive student conference for foreign missions since the end of World War II. Tom Lin, Urbana Director for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship said ‘They are ready to make commitments and respond to global challenges.’ Dubbed the ‘Justice Generation’ by leaders here, they say today's students tend to see compassionate ministries as a way into the gospel, not as a result of the gospel the way their grandparents did in the 1960's and 70's. They want to build relationships and create community in which unbelievers can discover Christ as Lord and Saviour. Besides the 4000 that made long-term commitments, 8,815 also ticked boxes saying they will go on short or mid-term missions.
Praise: God for the anointing of so many in making commitments to serve. (Dt.6:13)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13010003.htm