European ruling: Gay marriage is not a 'human right'
Same-sex marriages are not a human right, European judges have ruled. Their decision shreds the claim by ministers that gay marriage is a universal human right and that same-sex couples have a right to marry because their mutual commitment is just as strong as that of husbands and wives. The ruling was made by judges of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg following a case involving a lesbian couple in a civil partnership who complained the French courts would not allow them to adopt a child as a couple. The ruling also says that if gay couples are allowed to marry, any church that offers weddings will be guilty of discrimination if it declines to marry same-sex couples. The ruling comes just days after the Government published a consultation paper which promised marriage to same-sex couples and made clear that Britain is only catching up with other countries.
Pray: thanking God for this ruling from the EU and pray that the UK Government would listen. (Ps.119:126)
EU called to act on corruption
Christian campaigners have delivered 10,000 calls to action on corruption to the European Union. Representatives of Micah Challenge, Mission-Net, Tearfund and Exposed presented the postcards to EU decision-makers in Brussels on Wednesday. The postcards had messages written on them from supporters across 22 member states urging the EU to pass strong laws that would force oil, gas and mining companies on the European Stock Exchanges to publish what they pay governments for access to the natural resources. Joel Edwards, the International Director of Micah Challenge, said: ‘This is a scandal of our times and EU leaders have a responsibility to ensure corruption does not blight the lives of the poor across the world.
Pray: that the EU would take action to pass strong laws against corruption.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/eu.called.to.act.on.corruption/29517.htm
EU called to act on corruption
Christian campaigners have delivered 10,000 calls to action on corruption to the European Union. Representatives of Micah Challenge, Mission-Net, Tearfund and Exposed presented the postcards to EU decision-makers in Brussels on Wednesday. The postcards had messages written on them from supporters across 22 member states urging the EU to pass strong laws that would force oil, gas and mining companies on the European Stock Exchanges to publish what they pay governments for access to the natural resources. Joel Edwards, the International Director of Micah Challenge, said: ‘This is a scandal of our times and EU leaders have a responsibility to ensure corruption does not blight the lives of the poor across the world.
Pray: that the EU would take action to pass strong laws against corruption.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/eu.called.to.act.on.corruption/29517.htm
Christian family nominated for prestigious Ukrainian prize
The orphanage for children infected by HIV/AIDS operated by the Isaev family under the auspices of the Pilgrim Charity Fund in Mariupol (South-Eastern Ukraine) was nominated for ‘Pride of the Country,’ one of the most prestigious Ukrainian prizes, reports Christian Telegraph in reference to Pilgrim Charity Fund press centre. The national ‘Pride of the Country’ prize is presented to common people for their uncommon deeds. It was established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. In 2007 Svetlana and Evgeniy Isaev adopted their first child. Today they have 11 children, 7 of whom are HIV/AIDS positive. They called the family orphanage ‘Home of Dreams.’ In 2009 Svetlana Isaeva was awarded The Order of Princess Olga of Third Class. In 2011 the family won the nomination ‘Big Heart’ in the ‘Crystal Heart’ national programme.
Praise: God for the Isaev family and the Pilgrim Charity Fund. (1Jn.5:10)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue15801.html
Christian family nominated for prestigious Ukrainian prize
The orphanage for children infected by HIV/AIDS operated by the Isaev family under the auspices of the Pilgrim Charity Fund in Mariupol (South-Eastern Ukraine) was nominated for ‘Pride of the Country,’ one of the most prestigious Ukrainian prizes, reports Christian Telegraph in reference to Pilgrim Charity Fund press centre. The national ‘Pride of the Country’ prize is presented to common people for their uncommon deeds. It was established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. In 2007 Svetlana and Evgeniy Isaev adopted their first child. Today they have 11 children, 7 of whom are HIV/AIDS positive. They called the family orphanage ‘Home of Dreams.’ In 2009 Svetlana Isaeva was awarded The Order of Princess Olga of Third Class. In 2011 the family won the nomination ‘Big Heart’ in the ‘Crystal Heart’ national programme.
Praise: God for the Isaev family and the Pilgrim Charity Fund. (1Jn.5:10)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue15801.html
ROC Northern Ireland launch
On Wednesday 9 May 2012, over 2000 people who want to see comunities transformed will be filling the Belfast Waterfront from across Northern Ireland who want to see communities transformed. Redeeming our Communities (ROC) launches a showcase evening of live music, entertainment and inspiring examples of community action from across Northern Ireland. People of goodwill coming together: the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, probation, local authority, churches and community organisations, the voluntary sector and others. ROC is a unique organisation with a full and practical track record of bringing police, churches and communities together for the benefit of all. Across the UK, people are coming together with their police to make a real difference, bringing hope and transforming lives. People will be inspired to support projects, get involved and activate ideas for new ways of working together.
Praise: God for the growth of ‘Redeeming our Communities’ and its transforming work. (Jn.17:23)
More: http://www.roc.uk.com/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=272194
ROC Northern Ireland launch
On Wednesday 9 May 2012, over 2000 people who want to see comunities transformed will be filling the Belfast Waterfront from across Northern Ireland who want to see communities transformed. Redeeming our Communities (ROC) launches a showcase evening of live music, entertainment and inspiring examples of community action from across Northern Ireland. People of goodwill coming together: the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, probation, local authority, churches and community organisations, the voluntary sector and others. ROC is a unique organisation with a full and practical track record of bringing police, churches and communities together for the benefit of all. Across the UK, people are coming together with their police to make a real difference, bringing hope and transforming lives. People will be inspired to support projects, get involved and activate ideas for new ways of working together.
Praise: God for the growth of ‘Redeeming our Communities’ and its transforming work. (Jn.17:23)
More: http://www.roc.uk.com/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=272194
Egypt: Funeral held in Cairo for Coptic Pope Shenouda III
Thousands of people turned out to pay their final respects to Pope Shenouda III, the leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christians for the last 40 years. The funeral was held today at the Cathedral of St Mark in the Abbasiya suburb of Cairo. A day of national mourning has been declared and Copts were given time off work to pay their respects. Throngs of people have lined up to see Pope Shenouda’s body, which has been on display in the cathedral since his death on Saturday, at the age of 88. His death comes at a time of heightened tensions with Muslims and there were concerns that the turnout of large numbers of Christians onto the streets of Cairo would trigger unrest. Pope Shenouda’s four decades at the helm of the Church were marked by increasing restrictions on Christians and hostility from more radical Islamist elements.
Pray: for God’s anointing on the appointment of Pope Shenouda III’s successor. (Ex.29:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/funeral.held.in.cairo.for.coptic.pope.shenouda.iii/29504.htm
Egypt: Nuns Traumatized after School Attack
Two nuns in Upper Egypt faced ‘unimaginable fear’ – with one later hospitalized over the emotional trauma – when 1,500 Muslim villagers brandishing swords and knives trapped them inside a guesthouse last week and threatened to burn them out. The next day, the assailants frightened children at the school; attendance has since dropped by more than a third. Accusing the nuns of building a church at the site, the throng chanted Islamic slogans as they surrounded the guesthouse of a privately run, public school in the village of Abu Al-Reesh, in Aswan Province. Two nuns, volunteer teachers at Notre Dame Language Schools, barricaded themselves into the school’s guesthouse for about eight hours. The women were ‘terrified,’ said Magdy Melad, director of the school. School workers hid a third nun from the mob in a separate building on the campus out of fear that the mob would attack her as well.
Pray: for all God’s people in Egypt that God will strengthen and protect them from their enemies. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/egypt/article_1449790.html
Global Day of Prayer & Fasting for North Korea
‘Arise warriors of God! Open Doors invites you to take up your position and pray and fast for North Korea.’ Open Doors is calling on all Believers to come together in prayer and fasting for North Korea on April 15th. The late Kim Jong-Il had passed the baton of leadership to his son, Kim Jong-Un before he died, and many see this year as an opportunity to penetrate the darkness there, with the light of the Gospel of Jesus. Although it's not yet clear what kind of leader the still fairly young Jong-Un will be, it's possible he may be more accessible than his father. Kim Jong-Un inherited a country where between two and three million people have died of hunger and holds hundreds of thousands prisoner in labour camps, including many Christians. For more information follow the source link.
Pray: that our prayers will bring about a breakthrough and the light will penetrate the darkness. (2Sam.22:29)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9942