Paraguay: 'Altar of prayer' evidence of revival
The 24 hours of uninterrupted prayer starting every Sunday at 6am involves thousands of people from all Christian denominations, in 85 locations around the country. At that time a small group gather to pray on the top of the hill called Lambaré. This hill overlooking Asunción has become an altar of prayer for many families in Paraguay. ‘Christian groups, churches and denominations, whatever we all understand that the personal, spiritual revival movement reaching out to our neighbours and the country in general, is accomplished through prayer,’ Some individuals report miracles taking place since they have gathered to pray, including people healed without any medical explanation. But above all, these believers pray for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach the whole the country, including government authorities. ‘There is a biblical mandate to pray for our country's authorities and we are pleading to God that they be driven by divine wisdom to do the best for our people,’ Zully Yegros, a church-goer, said.
Praise: God for the ‘altar of prayer’ and the evidence of God’s answers to prayer. (Jer.29:7)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=40661&PN=1&TPN=1
Churches challenge Government's green commitment
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, the Quakers in Britain and the United Reformed Church have warned that the draft Energy Bill undermines the Government's commitment to meet the UK's carbon targets. They say the Bill will encourage the construction of more coal and gas-fired power stations, which environmentalists oppose because they produce high levels of carbon emissions. The Churches back recent recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change advising the Government to cut down on carbon-producing energy sources in order to reach the UK's carbon targets. They pointed to a recent study by World Wildlife Fund -UK, which showed that the UK could achieve at least 60 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2030. The Churches want the Bill to incorporate the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation of a 2030 decarbonisation target.
Pray: that the Government will consider the study seriously as it reviews the Energy Bill and the UK’s carbon targets. (Is.45:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.challenge.governments.green.commitment/30781.htm
An opportunity to lead the way in tackling trafficking
Northern Ireland is faced with the opportunity to stride ahead of the rest of the UK in its support for victims of trafficking, or to simply turn its back on our strong abolitionist heritage and do the bare minimum. If the Government chooses to look the other way, then the situation will only worsen with gross violations of the victims' human rights. After a declaration by the Government in 2010 that they would not opt into the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive (in the mistaken belief that we were already fully compliant), charities spoke up and revealed the extent to which this was not the case. The Government U-turned and announced it would opt-in in 2011. The beginning of 2012 saw amendments made in the Lords to a Westminster Bill in an attempt to bring compliance with the Directive.
Pray: for the NI Government that it would opt-in to the EU Anti-Traffiicking Directive. (Ps.94:8)
RE in sharp decline
Religious Education in secondary schools is in sharp decline, according to the National Association of RE Teachers (NATRE), – and the much-heralded English Baccalaurate (EBacc) is a major factor. The EBacc is awarded to students achieving grades A*-C in English, mathematics, two sciences, a foreign language and history or geography at GCSE level. It is also the title of new qualifications designed to replace GCSEs. However, according to NATRE, it is narrowing the scope for other subjects, including RE, as schools concentrate on the EBacc subjects. A poll of schools show a rise in the number saying they do not or cannot teach the subject to the legally required standard. In the poll of 625 secondary schools, NATRE found that 24 per cent planned to reduce the number of specialist RE teaching staff in the next academic year, while only 11 per cent planned an increase. Of those planning a decrease, 82 per cent cited the introduction of the EBacc as a factor.
Pray: that the importance of Religious Education would not be ignored by the educational authorities. (Ex.3313)
More: http://www.methodistrecorder.co.uk/mrhlines.htm
Europe told to 'step up' fight against trafficking
The Council of Europe's anti-trafficking watchdog has urged countries across the continent to step up the fight against human trafficking. The report by GRETA (Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings) says that human trafficking is a ‘European tragedy’. The annual report claims that women, men and children are falling victim to sexual abuse, labour exploitation or being forced into criminality in countries across the continent. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said, ‘Many victims are still not being properly recognised or given the support that they need. Furthermore, problems with investigations and prosecutions mean that traffickers are not being sufficiently punished for their crimes. International organisations, national authorities and non-governmental bodies must work together to help put an end to these shocking human rights abuses, which have no place in 21st century Europe,’ he said.
Pray: that the tragedy of trafficking would be recognised and governments would take up the challenge to prosecute perpetrators. (Is.61:8)
Europe told to 'step up' fight against trafficking
The Council of Europe's anti-trafficking watchdog has urged countries across the continent to step up the fight against human trafficking. The report by GRETA (Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings) says that human trafficking is a ‘European tragedy’. The annual report claims that women, men and children are falling victim to sexual abuse, labour exploitation or being forced into criminality in countries across the continent. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said, ‘Many victims are still not being properly recognised or given the support that they need. Furthermore, problems with investigations and prosecutions mean that traffickers are not being sufficiently punished for their crimes. International organisations, national authorities and non-governmental bodies must work together to help put an end to these shocking human rights abuses, which have no place in 21st century Europe,’ he said.
Pray: that the tragedy of trafficking would be recognised and governments would take up the challenge to prosecute perpetrators. (Is.61:8)
Philippines: Muslim rebels agree peace deal
The Philippine government has reached a framework peace agreement with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, President Benigno Aquino says. The deal follows long negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end a 40-year conflict that has cost more than 120,000 lives.The agreement provides for a new autonomous region in the south, on the islsnd of Mindanao where Muslims are a majority in an otherwise mainly Catholic country. The MILF is ‘very happy’ with the deal, a spokesman was quoted as saying. The agreement was reached after talks in Malaysia and is expected to be signed formally on 15 October in the Philippine capital, Manila. A copy of the framework deal says the parties commit to reaching a ‘comprehensive deal’ by the end of the year. ‘This framework agreement paves the way for a final and enduring peace in Mindanao,’ President Aquino said in a speech to announce the deal, referring to the main southern region.
Pray: that this new peace deal will succeed so that Muslims and Catholics will be able to live together in peace. (Ps.34:14)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19860907
Tanzania: Islamist extremism spreading
Islamisation is increasing at an alarming rate in Tanzania according to a bishop from the country. Bishop Bernadin Mfumbusa of Kondoa warned that religious freedom and other civil liberties were under threat from intolerant radical Muslim influences sweeping in from countries neighbouring the east African nation. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, the bishop said: ‘We see more and more itinerant Muslim preachers from Saudi Arabia and Sudan entering this country, – and Muslims are increasingly making political demands.’ These demands include extending Islamic Sharia law and making everyone subject to it – Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Bishop Mfumbusa said: ‘In recent times there has been a constant demand to introduce Sharia into other parts of Tanzania which do not have a majority of Muslims.’ Sharia law is already in force in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago with an almost completely Muslim population, but it does not apply to other parts of Tanzania.
Pray: against the growth of radical Islam and pray that Christians will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak boldly about their faith. (Ac.4:13)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/islamist.extremism.spreading.in.tanzania/30776.htm
Egypt: Coptic children released after initial arrest for 'insulting Islam'
In the wake of the high-profile case of Rimsha Masih, a 14-year-old Pakistani Christian girl arrested for allegedly blaspheming the Qur'an, two Coptic Christian boys face similar accusations in Egypt this week. Nabil Nagy Rizk, 10, and Mina Nady Farag, 9, were arrested Wednesday for insulting Islam, but the attorney general ordered both boys to be released the next day ‘due to their young age.’ Both families agreed to return to court for questioning, but the boys
previously had been placed in a juvenile detention centre to await their hearing on Sunday. The village imam accused the children of tearing up pages of the Qur'an. Other reports say the boys also urinated on the pages, but the police chief said no one witnessed this incident. According to Ahram Online, Nabil's father Nagy Rizk says the boys are illiterate and did not know the content of the papers which they found in a bag near a pile of street trash.
Pray: for the protection of vulnerable young people from apparent false accusations. (Ex.20:16)
More: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2012/10/coptic_children.html
Egypt: President Mursi pardons 'revolutionaries'
Egypt's President, Mohammed Mursi, has pardoned all those arrested since the beginning of last year's popular uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. A post on the president's official Facebook page announced an amnesty for crimes and misdemeanours committed ‘in support of the revolution’. The decree could lead to the release of several thousand people. The ‘comprehensive pardon’ announced by the new president on Monday applies to anyone who was charged with or convicted of ‘crimes and misdemeanours or attempts to commit them in support of the revolution and the realisation of its goals’. The pardon applies to all those arrested from 25 January 2011, the first day of the revolution, until 30 June 2012, when Mr Mursi took office. It covers those who are awaiting trial as well as those already serving jail sentences. The only exception will be those accused of murder.
Pray: that this amnesty will help to establish justice for all. (Lev.19:15)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19877428