Nepal: Churches overflow this year’s Christmas celebrations
More than 2,000 people, including hundreds of non-Christians, attend mass in Kathmandu’s Assumption Cathedral. For the first time, the service was held with open doors despite the danger of attacks. This year’s Christmas celebrations were the largest in the country’s history, Christian leaders said. Thousands of non-Christians attended mass in the country’s Catholic and Protestant churches. A crowd of more than 2,000 people came to mass at Assumption Cathedral in Lalitpur District, Mgr Anthony Sharma, bishop of Kathmandu, said. The building was the target of a terrorist attack some time ago. Although the building can only hold up to 1,000 people, many followed the service outside, the prelate said. Security guards were forced to keep the doors open; they had been kept closed in recent years because of the danger of attacks.
Praise: God for this amazing celebration and gathering of His people. (Ps.135:1-2)
Germany: 4,000 new Jesus followers
Four years ago a grassroots mission movement was ignited among young people in Germany under the name ‘No Limit’. Since then 7,000 Christians have been mobilized to reach out to non-believers and 4,000 new people started following Jesus. Many healings happened on the streets, like a 15-year old who saw a blind person see again. A young teenager prayed with a paralyzed man who was completely healed. A team prayed in a hospital for a woman battling cancer; a short time later the Physician declared her completely healed. This Winter evangelism outreaches take place in over one hundred cities around the world. A large Summer2Go outreach is in preparation for 2012.
Praise: God for the growth of this mission movement among the young. (Lk.9:6)
More: http://nl.thull-hosting.de/index.php?id=4&L=1
Germany: 4,000 new Jesus followers
Four years ago a grassroots mission movement was ignited among young people in Germany under the name ‘No Limit’. Since then 7,000 Christians have been mobilized to reach out to non-believers and 4,000 new people started following Jesus. Many healings happened on the streets, like a 15-year old who saw a blind person see again. A young teenager prayed with a paralyzed man who was completely healed. A team prayed in a hospital for a woman battling cancer; a short time later the Physician declared her completely healed. This Winter evangelism outreaches take place in over one hundred cities around the world. A large Summer2Go outreach is in preparation for 2012.
Praise: God for the growth of this mission movement among the young. (Lk.9:6)
More: http://nl.thull-hosting.de/index.php?id=4&L=1
Charities say holiday giving has been happy
By last week many charities had already raised more compared with 2010, and some are even expecting a windfall, a new Chronicle of Philanthropy poll finds. Fifty-four percent told The Chronicle that they raised more money in November and the first part of December than they had at this point last year. One out of five of the 152 organizations in the survey said contributions are outpacing last year’s donations by 20 percent or more. That is one reason many groups expect 2011 to end well. Six out of 10 charities predicted they would close out the year with an overall gain in donations. ‘Things are looking very strong,’ says Traci Coker, director of the World Vision Gift Catalogue. ‘We’re slightly ahead of last year right now.’ Some social-service charities that have worked to do a better job telling their stories are also seeing success.
Praise: God for the generosity of spirit demonstrated across the world at this time. (Ps.150:6)
Charities say holiday giving has been happy
By last week many charities had already raised more compared with 2010, and some are even expecting a windfall, a new Chronicle of Philanthropy poll finds. Fifty-four percent told The Chronicle that they raised more money in November and the first part of December than they had at this point last year. One out of five of the 152 organizations in the survey said contributions are outpacing last year’s donations by 20 percent or more. That is one reason many groups expect 2011 to end well. Six out of 10 charities predicted they would close out the year with an overall gain in donations. ‘Things are looking very strong,’ says Traci Coker, director of the World Vision Gift Catalogue. ‘We’re slightly ahead of last year right now.’ Some social-service charities that have worked to do a better job telling their stories are also seeing success.
Praise: God for the generosity of spirit demonstrated across the world at this time. (Ps.150:6)
Philippines: Flash floods death toll nears 1000
Flooding in the southern Philippines last Friday was caused by tropical storm Washi which dropped a month's worth of rain in 24 hours. Since then aid agencies have delivered body bags, food, water and medicine to over-crowded evacuation centres as officials dig temporary mass graves for bodies that are already in advanced decomposition. The country is in a state of national calamity. Most of the damage was in the southern port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Officials report a shortage of water and food for almost 50,000 homeless people. About 143,000 people were affected in 13 southern and central provinces.
Pray: for God to work through Aid agencies, for Christians to know God's peace and to demonstrate Christ’s love to suffering neighbours.
Iran: Christians fear attack at Christmas
‘Evangelical Christians in Iran fear a massive crackdown by security forces around Christmas and Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may be executed earlier than authorities suggest’, said Firouz Khandjani a council member of the pastor's Iranian Church. Iran's judiciary uses the Christmas time to detain and harass Christians thinking the world may forget the believers as everyone is busy with Christmas shopping. He warned that official suggestions that Pastor Nadarkhani's execution for abandoning Islam would be postponed may be a trap to confuse the international community. Last week observers close to the case said judges were ordered to ‘do nothing’ for one year - however Firouz Khandjani stressed ‘It has become clear that Iran's government may want to execute him earlier and saying he will be held one year more does not necessarily mean an earlier execution isn't possible.’
Pray: for Pastor Youcef to be continually aware of God's presence and protection and for Iranian Christians to know the fullness of Christ’s peace and joy at this time. (Ps.146:7-9)
Nigeria: Threats to disrupt Christmas in Jos
The Plateau State capital of Jos was targeted by a series of bombings last weekend, in which one man died and 11 people were injured, including one woman. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said threats to disrupt Christmas celebrations in the area have been circulating for two weeks. Commenting on the weekend's events, the Chief Executive Officer of CSW Nigeria said, ‘I believe that northern elders could contribute more towards ending these frequent attacks on innocent citizens. It is rather worrying that the recently concluded northern Nigeria peace summit produced no statement regarding the Boko Haram militia, which has unleashed violence in several states of Northern Nigeria.’
Pray: for stronger security in both Plateau and Kaduna States, and for peaceful Christmas celebrations in Jos. (Ps.23:4,5)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11120073.htm
Falklands: Unrest between UK and Argentina
The Foreign Office has hit out at Argentina following the decision on Tuesday by Argentinia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil (a South American trading bloc) to ban boats with a Falkland Islands flag from their ports. British diplomats warned, ‘Britain's determination to protect the overseas territory should not be underestimated.’ Urgent discussions are being carried out with countries in the region to establish what concrete effect the ban would have. But tensions have been raised by this symbolic rebuke to Britain. An agreement circulated by the Argentine foreign ministry stated the four countries vowed ‘to adopt all the measures it is possible to impose to impede the entry of boats flying the illegal flag of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands.’ José Mujica, Uruguay's president said, ‘We hold nothing against the U.K. but we have a lot in favour of Argentina.’
Pray: that this disagreement will not escalate, for wise advice to be given and adhered to, and for sailors and merchants to continue unhindered. (Pr.12:15)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/21/falklands-boat-ban-row-argentina
China: No religion in politics allowed
‘There is no room for religion among the members of the Chinese Communist Party.’ said the vice president of the United Front. There is a real concern within the United Front that many members of the party, disillusioned by the fall in ideals, corruption, and materialism are discovering or rediscovering a religious dimension. It is not unusual for at least one third of party members to visit a Buddhist master on weekends, or meet up with a Catholic bishop, or start praying in a Protestant community. Some believe the Maoist tone of the above comment regarding religion is a sign of an internal power struggle ahead of the imminent change of leadership of the Communist General Secretary and Premier of the People's Republic of China.
Pray: that Chinese politicians will not use religion to gain attention and orchestrate agendas in the lead up to elections next year. (Ps.107:16)