In ‘Garbage City’ in Cairo, thousands of people live amidst the growing garbage piles which they sort each day for their livelihood. The stench is overwhelming at times. The people are the poorest of the poor and many are believers. They have a renowned church called the Cave Church, which they have hollowed out in a mountain, and which has seating capacity of 20,000 people. All along the sides of the mountain, they’ve engraved Bible scenes and Bible verses in Arabic. It’s an amazing sight.
This was the location of an all-night prayer meeting on November 11, which had an overflowing 75,000 people in attendance from all denominations to pray for the nation. It was the first time in the history of Egypt that leaders from all denominations united together for such an event. Many people watched the service on screens set up all over the mountain and joined in—hands lifted up, eyes to heaven, and tears flowing down their faces. Check out this impressive video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q62ZcqIukfI) of the prayer gathering.
Praise the Lord for this massive prayer effort and continue to pray for Egypt in its journey to find a new political reality that will ensure full freedom and human rights for its citizens.
A prayer convocation took place in Prague from December 1-3. If you would like to know more about it, please see the attached websites
…as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:11
A number of prayer outreaches and seminars occurred during the month of November in Pakistan:
Please pray for those who took part that they would be built up and that they can have the victory through prayer. Many are feeling very threatened and overwhelmed by the evil that is going on in their country. Pray that the Christians will REALIZE that the situation is very CRUCIAL but not hopeless and that they will be united in spite of their different denominations and ethnic or caste groups. (Because of the caste system, tremendous divisions have come into the church.)
To accomplish the above, we feel that a spirit of REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS must come. (In the culture where 95% of everything is based on saving or losing face, this will be a difficult thing to accomplish. We need prayer and wisdom on how to handle this.) Pray the Holy Spirit will work and lead.
From a prayer leader working in Pakistan
Latest reports from sources close to Pastor Nadarkhani’s case informed CSW that Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyers have been told to expect a decision from the Supreme Leader in mid-December. Verdict expected mid-December but may be delayed until Christmas. CSW learned this week that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, is expected to make a decision on Pastor Nadarkhani’s case in mid-December, raising fears that it may be issued to coincide with the Christmas season in order to avoid an international outcry. The court in Rasht has sent two letters about the case to the Supreme Leader but is still awaiting a response.
Please pray for his vindication and release and for his courage in witness for Christ during the rest of his imprisonment and trial.
Christian 'targeted' by Islamic extremists
A Christian worker has launched a landmark legal action after she lost her job when she blew the whistle on what she says was a campaign of ‘race hate’ by fundamentalist Muslims. Nohad Halawi, who worked at Heathrow Airport, is suing her former employers for unfair dismissal, claiming that she and other Christian staff at the airport were victims of systematic
harassment because of their religion. She claims that she was told that she would go to Hell for her religion, that Jews were responsible for the September 11th terror attacks and that a friend was reduced to tears having been bullied for wearing a cross. Mrs Halawi worked in the duty-free section as a perfume saleswoman of the airport for 13 years but was dismissed in July. Her case is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, who say it raises important legal issues and also questions over whether Muslims and Christians are treated differently by employers.
Pray: for Mrs Halawi and for her case when it comes before the tribunal. (Ps.11:7)
Prime Minister rebuts Dawkins’ faith school attack
David Cameron said atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins ‘just doesn’t really get it’ on the issue of faith schools. The Prime Minister made the comments as he answered questions from well-known figures for a Guardian newspaper article. Prof Dawkins asked the Prime Minister: ‘Why do you support faith schools for children who are too young to have chosen their faith?’. Mr Cameron responded: ‘I support faith schools on the basis of the proof that over the years they’ve been good schools. Why? Because the organisation that’s backing the school – the church or the mosque or the synagogue – is part of the community. It brings a sense of community and a sense of responsibility and the backing of an institution to a school. The church was providing good schools long before the state ever got involved, and we should respect the fact that it’s not just the state that can provide education – other bodies, too’.
Pray: that the Prime Minister's comments would bring reason to Prof Dawkins’ comments. (Dt.32:2)
Olympic Park Prayer Walk
You are invited to join Christians from East London on the first Saturday of 2012 in a Prayer Walk of the Olympic Park. Saturday 7th January 2012 10.00am - 12.00 midday. The whole route is approximately 1.5 miles and it is expected that the prayer walk will take between one and a half to two hours, with stops for prayer at key points. Members of the More than Gold Prayer Team and others will be leading in prayer for the Olympics, Paralympics and the main Olympic site. No need to book - just turn up! Full details of where to meet, transport and parking can be found on the ‘More’ link. For those who are unable to attend please join them in prayer wherever you are.'
Pray: for all those who are coming together to pray that God would guide their prayers. (Ps.25:5)
More: http://prayerforum.org/news/national/olympic-park-prayer-walk/
The welfare state must be preserved
In an open letter published in the Observer on Sunday, 18 bishops ask for amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill now going through Parliament. The letter says that as a result of the proposed cap on benefits, an estimated 210,000 children may be pushed into ‘severe poverty’ and another 80,000 made homeless. The bishops write: ‘Such an impact is profoundly unjust.’ The letter follows reports that millions of benefit claimants are likely to lose between £50 to £100 each next year if the historic link between the rate of inflation and welfare payments is broken. This hits the youngest in families on the breadline the hardest. As the bishops write, they ‘have no voice’. In a time of austerity, the Observer believes it is a valid exercise to prioritise which aspects of universalism to retain but it is essential that the principle itself continues to dominate the shape of our welfare state.
Pray: that the government would consider the needs of the young plus the elderly and not emphasise one over the other. (Ph.4:19)
Armed Forces 'Notifying' and 'Visiting' Officers
The Casualty Notifying Officer is the person, usually from the regiment, who tells the next of kin of the death of or injury to a soldier. A Visiting Officer is also appointed from the regiment to offer practical help and support during this difficult time and give guidance and advice when necessary. This officer will explain what help is available and can be contacted as often as needed. Many of these officers are young Lieutenants and Captains and although trained for this particular role some could be involved for a long time, 12 months or more.
Pray: for these officers in this extremely difficult role. Pray for God to give them wisdom beyond their years and sensitivity and compassion in handling the bereaved. (Pr.3:13)
More: http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/misc/death_in_service.pdf
Christians' future in secular Europe
Christians have been told they must find a framework for promoting their beliefs if they are to confront the challenge of aggressive secularisation and the erosion of Christian values across all spheres of life. Opening the Beyond Individualism conference on Friday, Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali said it was ‘amazing’ that a Christian nurse in Britain today could be suspended for offering to pray for a patient, when it was Christians who had set in place many of the institutions and public services now taken for granted. He warned that the Christian values inherent in Europe’s heritage have been eroded by a process of ‘aggressive secularisation’ that Christians must understand if they are to challenge it. While politicians offer ‘thin’ values like respect and tolerance, the bishop said such ‘political mantras’ were ‘not enough for society to be cohesive’.
Pray: that the Church will take its rightful place in Europe and not give way to aggressive secularism. (Ep.3:16)