Schools: Opportunity for fresh expressions of Church
A booklet called ‘Thirst’ from Church Army reveals potential for more school-based fresh expressions of church. Thirst was founded by Sue Butler, who was surprised to find that although the local school was a Church of England primary, the social and cultural gap was too great for parents to join in with traditional forms of church. The reports back from Thirst have been positive, with leaders feeling it has made a tangible difference to the overall life of the school. Church of England primary schools are an ‘open goal’ for the Church as they tend to be receptive mission contexts for pioneering fresh expressions of church; however there is a challenge in finding pioneering leaders with the necessary links, resources and skills to make the most of the opportunities.
Praise: God for Christian mission work in schools – may every expression of faith grow and flourish. (Ps.34:11)
After winning a second White House term, US President Barack Obama aims to start direct, fast-track nuclear talks with Tehran as soon as December, even before his January swearing-in, on the assumption that Iran's window of opportunity is very narrow - just three months, debkafile's Washington sources disclose. White House go-betweens with the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Kahmenei warn that Iran's campaign for the June 14 presidential election gets going in March. After that, it is estimated in Washington that Khamenei, whose ill health keeps his working day short, will be fully absorbed in a struggle to purge Iran's political hierarchy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his clique. But Tehran would prefer nuclear diplomacy to be delayed for eight months until after that election. "We waited for the US election campaign to be over, so why shouldn't the Americans wait for ours?" a senior Iranian official asked rhetorically.
For now, the supreme leader is looking for a suitable candidate for the presidency. This time, the supreme leader is not expected to make the mistake of choosing a charismatic, ambitious and competent figure like Ahmadinejad, but rather one who is satisfied with acting as a representative titular figure and play second fiddle to Khamenei whose bureau will administer the executive branch of government. The supreme leader is believed in Washington to be weighing another alternative: having parliament abolish the post of president and transferring its power to the new post of prime minister, who would be chosen from among the 290 Majlis lawmakers...
The gap between Washington and Tehran is as wide as ever: Obama wants the talks to last no more than three months and end in an agreed settlement of the nuclear dispute, whereas the ayatollah prefers a low-key process to be dragged out past the eight-month period while also gaining more time for Iran's nuclear program to race forward. This tactic would additionally help Tehran erase yet another Israeli red line, the one set by Prime Ministry Binyamin Netanyahu in his UN September speech when he said that the spring or early summer of 2013 would be the critical date for Israel to act.
www.prophecynewswatch.com
Please be in prayer for what is happening inside Tehran politically, that radicalism will be overthrown and that there will be a negotiated settlement with the Iranians about their nuclear program that can be verified. This is such a dangerous situation between the Iranians and the Israelis that we need to focus our prayers on since it could lead to World War III!
While Kim Jong Un seems to be trying to present himself as a popular figure sporting his attractive, young (and possibly pregnant) wife and concerned with the economy, the measures that he has been enacting have not been popular. As he has been ignoring the practical advice of his farm experts internal criticism has increased. In response to a shocking front line defection in which a North Korean soldier killed two of his senior officers there has been a major indoctrination effort and crackdown on sources of "Western corruption." At the same time, there has been an ongoing effort to tighten border security resulting in fewer people being able to flee the country. For those who do manage to escape and make it to South Korea, life is harsh especially for the women. Most defectors also have to spend time in very difficult conditions in detention centers in Thailand.
Through all of this, Kim Jong Un continues to consolidate power by replacing many of the old guard with his own picks. In his effort to secure his rule and North Korea's position in the world, it is as unlikely that he will surrender his nuclear arms program as that his reform programs will bring prosperity.
We need to continue to pray for the people of North Korea and for North Korea's impact on the world situation.
We are running this again because of its importance. Please keep praying for these two nations and the ongoing war.
North Waziristan in Pakistan has become a haven for militants. Tribal and local intelligence sources say some 15,000 militants shelter in this semiautonomous tribal belt. A number of Taliban leaders and others have been killed in drone strikes; however they have a refuge along the border inside Pakistan and from there they continue to mount attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces inside Afghanistan, keeping that nation in perpetual war and instability. It is essential that we pray that, before the foreign forces are withdrawn in 2014, the Taliban will dissolve and be defeated and that the Pakistani government will aggressively combat them, not allowing them any more safe-haven in their country.
A friend who with a great burden to pray for these two countries, wrote: “In one of our prayer meetings the Lord reminded us that he told us clearly in 2001 that we must proclaim "Taliban-time is over" and we faithfully did it and there was a powerful anointing on us when we did this…The message was: "spring time is coming"…And the Taliban regime began to crumble. In 2002, so many Christians came into the country and it looked like the Taliban movement was over but it was not destroyed. It regrouped and came back again and now it has become such a powerful force that even NATO admitted that they can't win this war. ... We feel that we must proclaim again what the Lord told us at that time and also the other scriptures that the Lord gave us like Ps 37.
Also the word was given to us clearly about King Joash coming to Elisha and he told the king to strike the ground and he did it only 3 times and stopped. Then the man of God became angry with him. You know the story, he should have struck five or six times 2 King 13.18 ff. We did the same, proclaimed for a while and then we stopped. This word came clearly to us and we repented, also on behalf of others that have just turned away from the land and thought "it was done". Let's proclaim again and strike the ground again. It is not too late even though in the natural things look like a big disaster coming...The key is also to pray against the demon powers that rule over and through the Pashtuns. About 20 Christian workers were lost in the last 6 - 7 years, and all were killed by Pashtuns.
Many times the Lord spoke to us to pray against the demonic alliances between the Pakistan government/army and certain Taliban groups, Haqqaanis, Gulbadin and Al Qaeda. These groups work together and build a strong unity against the government of Afghanistan... This needs to be broken.
Let's pray also that their power would be broken. That the people themselves would stand up against the Taliban and say: enough!! This happened in a few areas and may it become a movement. Pray that many Pashtun tribal lealders would stand up and turn against the Taliban. God can do it. As quick as this movement came the Lord can cause it to die out. We must specially pray for that...
More workers are needed. Many workers have left and organisations pulled out. We need strong people that know how to stand against such pressures and know how to pray. Also that many of the Pashtun would come to the Lord and they would see signs and miracles and many visions and dreams.
The Un-lock North Africa strategic prayer initiative is a campaign of CHI – Ministries and the (APN) Australian Prayer Network under my leadership. In August 2004 whilst praying on the rock of Gibraltar, the Holy Spirit indicated that one day He would take me to Morocco – something I had never contemplated. A visit to Morocco occurred the following September 2005. The visit was under the banner of a ‘cultural awareness’ excursion, exposing people to other cultures and expressions of life. As we travelled between the cities of Rebat and Meknes, the Holy Spirit strongly impress upon me the need for strategic kingdom breakthrough in prayer across the nations of North Africa. North Africa was not in my plans at all at that time, far from it: I was focused in other regions.
However as we drove, God spoke a word into my spirit from Isaiah, chapter 62 verse 10, … to (unlock) open the ancient doors (gates) and rebuilding the highway of righteousness from Gibraltar to Jerusalem. The clear impression I got was that God wanted me to return and lead prayer journey’s into this region of the world; to work in strategic and informed intercession for the purpose of opening up this region to God’s transforming love, power and grace; to see freedom emerge amongst its people and to make way for the fulfillment of His prophetic word to the region. Isaiah chapter 62:10 and chapter 19, verses 23 to 25 provided background and focus concerning this mission.
In 2006, I formed our Strategic Research Unit (SRU). This unit has become key to building explicit national profiling on our target nation by gathering information around areas such as; demographics, culture, religion, history – both ancient and modern, along with specific spiritual revelation. From this collective information we develop our ‘meta-narrative’ on a nation and its people groups, which enables our prayer teams on the ground to be guided by the best intelligence we can offer. All our team members read this dossier before spending several weeks seeking prophetic revelation from the Lord for the places we visit. This was the genesis of the Un-Lock North Africa campaign that has now seen Australian teams visit all five nations of North Africa, including three Mediterranean gateway nations. From 2007 to 2012 we have prayed our way through Morocco, Gibraltar, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Malta, Istanbul and Algeria. God specifically revealed to us to include in our assignment the three spiritual gateways that exist across the Mediterranean region. They are Gibraltar in the West (Western Gate), Malta in the central Mediterranean (Central or Northern Gate) and Istanbul – Turkey in the East (Eastern Gate).
Many were surprised in 2011 when tiny Tunisia ignited a desire among Arab youth for justice and good government. As the fires of protest took hold, strongmen dictators have been cast down. The Lord spoke to the team in 2009 that, “Tunisia would be the thin-end of the wedge, that would open up North Africa” and as we’ve now seen, the rest of the Arab World in general. Words of a similar nature relating to places like Egypt and Libya were also given as we traveled there in 2008 and 2010.
As those who are to be able to read the signs of the times, we need to look beyond the media headlines and ask God what He is doing, especially in this region of the world.
Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. Isaiah 62:10 (NIV)
‘Government makes U-turn on abortion consultation
The Government has dropped its plans to hold a public consultation on whether women seeking an abortion should be offered independent counselling. Health Minister Anna Soubry announced, last week, that the Government ‘did not intend to change the law or the guidelines’. She said that pressing ahead with a consultation on the issue would therefore be nothing more than an ‘otiose exercise’. Last year, MP Nadine Dorries introduced proposals to ensure that women considering an abortion would be guaranteed access to independent advice prior to being referred to an abortion provider. Currently, women considering an abortion are often referred to abortion providers themselves for advice. Ms Dorries argued it was necessary for such women to receive impartial advice and to remove the conflict of interest that exists for abortion providers in the procedure going ahead. Andrea Minichiello Williams, of Christian Concern, commented: ‘This is very disappointing and very little has been given to justify the decision to drop the consultation.
Pray: for all those facing the prospect of having an abortion and for them to have access to quality, independant advice. (Ps.32:8 )
Disabled must be included in development plans
Worldwide: Disabled people not to be ignored
Disabled people must be put ‘at the heart’ of international development, The Leprosy Mission has said. The estimated billion disabled people worldwide were ‘not effectively included’ within the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). International leaders were hosted by David Cameron in London last week for discussions on a global development strategy post 2015 - the target year for the fulfilment of the MDGs. The panel is to make recommendations to the United Nations about what should replace the MDGs. The Leprosy Mission said many disabled people around the world were ‘excluded’ from society and at a greater risk of being trapped in extreme poverty, with half of disabled people being out of work. Head of Programmes Co-ordination at The Leprosy Mission, Sian Arulanantham, said: ‘We are lobbying for disability to be specifically included in the new post 2015 framework.'
Pray: for the work of The Leprosy Mission and for a greater awareness of the issues faced by those with any form of disability across the world. (Gal.6:2)
Increase in persecution across '10/40 window'
There has been a steep increase in persecution across the ‘10/40 window’ in the last decade, says Gospel for Asia. It warned that in India alone there had been a ‘400 per cent’ increase in persecution. The 10/40 window encompasses the countries that have been least reached with the Gospel. Gospel for Asia president K P Yohannan said that people who had not experienced persecution ‘do not fully understand what it means to have their lives threatened, homes destroyed, rights violated and loved ones imprisoned, all because of embracing faith in Jesus Christ’. Christians in the 10/40 region have had their homes destroyed or been imprisoned because of accusations against them, including accusations of forced conversions. Many have been killed because of their belief in Christ and others have been forced to go underground. ‘The increase of this kind of persecution should not be surprising where the gospel is going forth in unfriendly world areas,’ said Yohannan. ‘.
Pray: for all Christians ouround th World who find themselves persecuted for their faith. (2Ti.3:12 )
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/increase.in.persecution.across.1040.window/30949.htm
From guerrilla leader to church leader
A man sentenced to 190 years behind bars for a brutal murder is now leading a prison church in Colombia. According to associate mission partners Pancha and Terry Barratt, this came about through the prayers of Christian prisoners and through the SEAN theological education by extension programme they help direct. ‘This man was so violent he’d served eight years in solitary confinement. But his Christian fellow prisoners prayed for him daily – they would sit outside his cell singing and praying. ‘One night God touched this man and he believed.’ This had a big impact in the prison. This man eventually graduated from the SEAN programme in 2005 and now helps lead the prison church. His sentence has recently been reduced to 19 more years for good behaviour and the SEAN programme has been welcomed in 23 out of 25 major prisons in Colombia.
Praise: God the He can reach even those who seem far away and lost. ( Ac.3:19)
From guerrilla leader to church leader
A man sentenced to 190 years behind bars for a brutal murder is now leading a prison church in Colombia. According to associate mission partners Pancha and Terry Barratt, this came about through the prayers of Christian prisoners and through the SEAN theological education by extension programme they help direct. ‘This man was so violent he’d served eight years in solitary confinement. But his Christian fellow prisoners prayed for him daily – they would sit outside his cell singing and praying. ‘One night God touched this man and he believed.’ This had a big impact in the prison. This man eventually graduated from the SEAN programme in 2005 and now helps lead the prison church. His sentence has recently been reduced to 19 more years for good behaviour and the SEAN programme has been welcomed in 23 out of 25 major prisons in Colombia.
Praise: God the He can reach even those who seem far away and lost. ( Ac.3:19)