Somalia: Suicide bombing in Mogadishu
A suicide bomber killed at least five people on Wednesday when he detonated explosives outside a government military base. This is the latest in a series of attacks in violence-ridden Mogadishu. The attacker detonated his explosives after being approached by security forces. The city is regularly targeted by the Somali insurgent group al-Shabab. On Monday, a series of blasts killed at least six people including two people at a hospital for women and children. In recent months, Somali forces backed by African Union troops forced al-Shabab from Mogadishu, but the insurgents have continued to wage guerrilla-style warfare in the capital. The US State Department says it is 'extreamly concned' about al-Shabab's announcmen ot ban 16 international aid organizations' accusing them of promoting secularism, immorality and what it describes as ‘the degrading values of democracy in an Islamic country.’ The UN agencies have been removed from regions where nearly 250,000 people are at risk of starvation and need emergency assistance.
Pray: for life saving aid groups to return and for Kenyan troops and Somalia’s transitional government to win the battle against al-Shabab. (Ps.17:8-9)
More: http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/11/30/five-dead-in-suicide-bombing-in-mogadishu/
Israel: Missiles hit suspected Lebanon rocket sites
The Lebanese national news Agency said the Israeli rockets caused material damage when they exploded in the southern Lebanese town of Ayta Shaab on Tuesday. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. ‘We know that a rocket was fired from the region of Rmeish and we are investigating,’ said a Lebanese army spokesman. The attack followed the Israeli army report that at least two Lebanese rockets landed on Israeli soil. Major-General Alberto Cuevas, commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said the attack was clearly aimed at undermining stability in the area. Israel and Lebanon live under an uneasy UN-brokered truce after the 2006 war between the Israeli army and Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.
Pray: that the exchange of fire will not lead to a wider conflict. (Ps.147:14)
Iran: UK embassy stormed – diplomats evacuated
Iranian students stormed the UK embassy in Tehran chanting ‘Down with Britain, down with America, down with Israel’ and ‘Students are awake and hate Britain,’ reflecting official anger at Britain's decision to cut all relations with Iran's financial sector as part of new sanctions in co-ordination with the US and Canada. Protesters petrol-bombed the embassy, brought down the flag and destroyed classified documents. Foreign secretary William Hague said, ‘all staff and diplomats of the embassy are accounted for’ adding ‘Iran faces ‘serious consequences,’ calling the storming a grave breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomats' rights. On Wednesday an outraged British Foreign & Commonwealth Office updated its travel advice for British nationals in Iran, advising British citizens to ‘stay indoors, keep a low profile and await further advice.’ Britain is also evacuating its diplomatic staff from Tehran.
Pray: for God to hide and protect Christian workers in Iran, also for Him to intervene where visas and work/study permits are needed for His work to continue to grow. (Mk.10:28-30)
More: http://rt.com/news/iranian-students-occupy-uk-embassy-481/
South Asia: Thousands seek God's forgiveness
‘I am Kallayya, a 45 year old man. I fell from a tree 5 years ago and had been bedridden after injuring my spinal cord. Doctors said I would never walk again. I was brought to the Crusades and laid on the floor of a nearby building. God touched me through the preaching of His Word. I am completely healed and am able to go to the fields for work.’ Thousands received Christ in South Asia in two days of Gospel Crusades last month. People learnt the simple and profound truth that God loves them and desires an eternal relationship with them. The crusades produced 3,420 decisions to follow Jesus! In a land where human sacrifice still takes place and Christians are martyred for their faith, believers are fully dependent on God as their source. Continue to pray for the people of south Asia as further Crusades are held across South Asia.
Pray: for more of God's anointed teaching, healing and deliverance in every region where people have not yet heard His message. (Mt.24:14)
More: http://www.evangelisminternational.us/ei-news/india/
70,000 plus pray in Cairo
Last week more than 70,000 prayed all night in Cairio, but they weren't Muslims. The largest Christian event in Egypt for more than a millennium was held at St. Simeon the Tanner Coptic Orthodox Church in Mokattam, Cairo's largest ‘garbage city’. An Egyptian Christian leader called it the beginning of a revival, even though there was no promotion for, or media coverage of the all-night event. Back in September 2009, during a prayer meeting in Egypt, the event's organizer prophesied that President Mubarak would receive ‘no grace’ in 2011; the Spirit further revealed that there would be bloodshed, persecution and the destruction of churches, but if God's people would hear His voice and repent, then He would hear their prayers. Fast forward to Oct. 9, 2011, when many Coptic Christians were killed in Cairo; in response, Christian leaders met for 3 days of prayer, after which they announced their intention of an all-night prayer event for all of Egypt.
Praise: God for the way He is calling His people to prayer in a place of need. (Ps.62:8)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11082-70000-plus-pray-in-cairo
70,000 plus pray in Cairo
Last week more than 70,000 prayed all night in Cairio, but they weren't Muslims. The largest Christian event in Egypt for more than a millennium was held at St. Simeon the Tanner Coptic Orthodox Church in Mokattam, Cairo's largest ‘garbage city’. An Egyptian Christian leader called it the beginning of a revival, even though there was no promotion for, or media coverage of the all-night event. Back in September 2009, during a prayer meeting in Egypt, the event's organizer prophesied that President Mubarak would receive ‘no grace’ in 2011; the Spirit further revealed that there would be bloodshed, persecution and the destruction of churches, but if God's people would hear His voice and repent, then He would hear their prayers. Fast forward to Oct. 9, 2011, when many Coptic Christians were killed in Cairo; in response, Christian leaders met for 3 days of prayer, after which they announced their intention of an all-night prayer event for all of Egypt.
Praise: God for the way He is calling His people to prayer in a place of need. (Ps.62:8)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11082-70000-plus-pray-in-cairo
Uganda and Haiti Sponsored children elected into Parliament
Two former sponsored children of charity organization Compassion have been elected into the Parliaments of Uganda and Haiti. Beguens Theus from Haiti and Margaret Makhoha from Uganda both grew up in sheer poverty, but Christian sponsors gave them a chance to rise out of that desperate situation, get an education and (through a Leadership Development Programme) go to university. By God’s grace and their own will and motivation they now reached this position of responsibility to serve their nations. ‘Giving children a chance can make a huge difference,’ says Martijn Moens, a spokesman of the charity organization in the Netherlands. ‘More than others, these new members of Parliament understand the needs of the poor and are motivated to work towards structural change in their nation.’ Compassion works in 26 developing nations and provides one-on-one sponsoring for 1.2 million children. The charity provides programmes in partnership with local churches.
Praise: God for the way He has blessed these young people. (Ps.37:5-6)
More: http://www.joelnews.org/frontpage.htm
Uganda and Haiti Sponsored children elected into Parliament
Two former sponsored children of charity organization Compassion have been elected into the Parliaments of Uganda and Haiti. Beguens Theus from Haiti and Margaret Makhoha from Uganda both grew up in sheer poverty, but Christian sponsors gave them a chance to rise out of that desperate situation, get an education and (through a Leadership Development Programme) go to university. By God’s grace and their own will and motivation they now reached this position of responsibility to serve their nations. ‘Giving children a chance can make a huge difference,’ says Martijn Moens, a spokesman of the charity organization in the Netherlands. ‘More than others, these new members of Parliament understand the needs of the poor and are motivated to work towards structural change in their nation.’ Compassion works in 26 developing nations and provides one-on-one sponsoring for 1.2 million children. The charity provides programmes in partnership with local churches.
Praise: God for the way He has blessed these young people. (Ps.37:5-6)
More: http://www.joelnews.org/frontpage.htm
This is an inspiring music video with lyrics composed by Simon Ådahl from Sweden and sung by him and his brother, Frank. Please listen with your heart, pray for Korea and share it with others.
Ethnic Fulanis crying 'Allahu akbar!' attack church, communities
BARKIN LADI, NIGERIA (ANS) -- Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that Fulani Muslim herdsmen along with Muslim soldiers have killed at least 45 ethnic Berom Christians in Plateau state in the past week, Christians in this northern-central Nigerian town said. Smaller attacks beginning on Nov. 20, reportedly over allegations by Fulani Muslims of cattle theft, preceded an attack on a Barkin Ladi church on Wednesday (Nov. 23) that killed four Christians, and an assault the next day left 35 Christians dead in Barkin Ladi and nearby Kwok village, according to area Christian leaders.
Some Background
“In addition to ethnic tensions, Nigeria has experienced frequent and intense bursts of sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims, especially in the areas where the two religions overlap, like Jos in the northern tip of Plateau state. This struggle pits the powerful Hausa-Fulani from the north, which tends to be Muslim, against a number of smaller local ethnic groups that tend to be Christian. Indeed, Boko Haram has been involved since its inception in several outbursts of inter-communal violence, including the November 2008 violence that saw some 800 people killed in Jos, the July 2009 violence that saw more than 700 people killed in Jos, and the January 2010 violence in Jos that claimed 450 lives.
Following the July 2009 violence, which brought Boko Haram to the world’s attention, Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf and his deputy, Abubakar Shekau, were both killed. Yusuf died in police custody, allegedly during an escape attempt, though his followers have called his death an extrajudicial execution.
Since the destruction of Bobko Haram’s leadership, the exact structure and makeup of the group has been unclear. Boko Haram now seems to lack organizational structure or strong leadership. If the group has any central leadership, it has maintained a very low profile since Yusuf’s killing. It may even be in hiding, possibly in a neighboring country. Mixed messages have emerged from various individuals claiming to speak for Boko Haram. Some figures have come across as more moderate and willing to negotiate, while others have been more strident, rejecting talks. This difference makes it appear that Boko Haram comprises a loose confederation of militants operating relatively independently from one another, rather than a cohesive, hierarchical organization pursuing a unified set of objectives.
Boko Haram initially was involved mostly in fomenting sectarian violence. Its adherents participated in fairly rudimentary attacks involving clubs, machetes and small arms. By late 2010, the group had added Molotov cocktails and simple improvised explosive devices to its tactical repertoire, as reflected by the series of small IED bombing attacks against Christian targets in Jos on Christmas Eve in 2010.”
Excerpted from “The Rising Threat from Nigeri’as Boko Haram Militant Group Created” Nov 10 2011
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/burton_and_stewart_on_security
Please pray for healing, reconciliation and love to prevail in this interreligious tension and for protection, restraint and wisdom for His people who live in the area.
For more information, please go to: www.compassdirect.org.