It’s a new season in Hollywood and we are seeing the Lord move in mighty ways! Christian ministries are uniting together and reaching out to the body of Christ to pray and support God’s movement in Hollywood.
To launch this campaign, a key group of Christian media professionals are challenging one another to unity and spur each other on to further God’s work in Hollywood. We invite you to join us in prayer… and we wish to give you the opportunity to take part in transforming Hollywood for Jesus with us.
Hollywood United is a collaborative effort between three Christian Entertainment Ministries: Act One, The Greenhouse, and Hollywood Prayer Network. Together these ministries are working to be more effective in living out The Great Commission in Hollywood.
We are seeking friends and supporters to come alongside us. By stepping forward and offering your prayers and gifts, you can be a part of what God is doing in Hollywood! Please get in touch with us so that we can make a difference here and around the world and follow us via Twitter during our event on October 6th at 7:30 PM PST!
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Phone: (323) 462-8486 ext. 106
Support for those threatened for defending marriage
The National Organization for Marriage announced that it is launching the Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance, a new project to defend the freedom to express one’s belief that marriage should be the union of a man and woman without fear of harassment or punishment, reports Catholic News Agency. ‘My sense is that there are too many of us who believe that marriage is the union of husband and wife to stigmatize or marginalize if we come together,’ said Maggie Gallagher, co-founder of National Organization for Marriage. Gallagher told CNA that the Alliance was created in response to ‘increased reports, both public and private, of people whose livelihoods are being threatened because they disagree with gay marriage. Gay marriage advocates are seeking to create an America in which decent, loving, law-abiding Americans are afraid to stand up for the idea that marriage is the union of husband and wife, for fear of reprisals,’ she said.
Praise: God for this new American initiative and pray that it will be picked up by other marriage organisations worldwide. (Heb.13:4)
Support for those threatened for defending marriage
The National Organization for Marriage announced that it is launching the Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance, a new project to defend the freedom to express one’s belief that marriage should be the union of a man and woman without fear of harassment or punishment, reports Catholic News Agency. ‘My sense is that there are too many of us who believe that marriage is the union of husband and wife to stigmatize or marginalize if we come together,’ said Maggie Gallagher, co-founder of National Organization for Marriage. Gallagher told CNA that the Alliance was created in response to ‘increased reports, both public and private, of people whose livelihoods are being threatened because they disagree with gay marriage. Gay marriage advocates are seeking to create an America in which decent, loving, law-abiding Americans are afraid to stand up for the idea that marriage is the union of husband and wife, for fear of reprisals,’ she said.
Praise: God for this new American initiative and pray that it will be picked up by other marriage organisations worldwide. (Heb.13:4)
Argentina: Churches celebrate the ‘month of the Bible’
In Argentina, as in many Latin American countries, September is a month to celebrate the Bible. Churches coordinate lectures, workshops and conferences for youth, according to a news release from the World Council of Churches (WCC). ‘Spending a month each year focusing on the Bible helps us to affirm the Word as an essential nutrient to our faith and our commitment to life and justice,’ said Pastor Gerardo Oberman, from the Reformed Churches of Argentina associated with the Evangelical Church of the River Plate, the WCC reported. ‘The overall experience has different local nuances, but we are also motivated by the spirit of the Reformation in which one of the main slogans was the Sola Scriptura - that is, salvation by Scripture alone,’ said Oberman. September activities help believers ‘remember the centrality of the Word of God and highlight the work of Bible societies', said Bishop Nully Frank Brown of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina.
Praise: God for His living word and pray that it will take root in the peoples. (Col.2:7)
Argentina: Churches celebrate the ‘month of the Bible’
In Argentina, as in many Latin American countries, September is a month to celebrate the Bible. Churches coordinate lectures, workshops and conferences for youth, according to a news release from the World Council of Churches (WCC). ‘Spending a month each year focusing on the Bible helps us to affirm the Word as an essential nutrient to our faith and our commitment to life and justice,’ said Pastor Gerardo Oberman, from the Reformed Churches of Argentina associated with the Evangelical Church of the River Plate, the WCC reported. ‘The overall experience has different local nuances, but we are also motivated by the spirit of the Reformation in which one of the main slogans was the Sola Scriptura - that is, salvation by Scripture alone,’ said Oberman. September activities help believers ‘remember the centrality of the Word of God and highlight the work of Bible societies', said Bishop Nully Frank Brown of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina.
Praise: God for His living word and pray that it will take root in the peoples. (Col.2:7)
Indonesia: Church attacked by suicide bomber
A suicide bomber attacked a church packed with hundreds of worshippers in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, on Sunday, killing himself and wounding at least 20 other people. The church is one of Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren’s sister churches and the pastor posted a notice on his Facebook page reading, ‘Purpose Driven Network Alert - Our sister church in Solo City, Indonesia, Bethel Full Gospel Church, has just been bombed.’ A Muslim suicide bomber, whose identity has not been revealed, was responsible for the attack. The site also says some news reports indicate 27 people were injured in the blast - one critically. Others put the number as high as 30 people. Indonesia’s President called the attack ‘terrorism.’ The city of Solo is also radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir's hometown. Bashir is considered the spiritual leader for the group that killed more than 200 people in Bali in 2002, according to media reports.
Pray: for spiritual, physical, and emotional protection for the millions of Indonesian Christians. (Mal.4:2)
USA: Couple fined for holding Bible study in own home
Chuck and Stephanie Fromm have been fined for holding Bible studies in their home in Southern California. According to City officials they are in violation of a municipal code prohibiting ‘religious, fraternal or non-profit’ organisations in residential neighbourhoods without a permit. Without warning they were fined in May, then again in June, for $300 dollars and appeals were denied because they need a ‘Conditional Use Permit.’ Without the permit they face $500 for each additional gathering. A conditional use permit is costly and difficult to obtain as it requires traffic and environmental impact reports and making the home accessible to wheelchairs. The President of the Pacific Justice Institute said, ‘Informal gathering in a home cannot be treated with suspicion by the government just because it is religious. We cannot allow this to happen in America, and we will fight as long and as hard as it takes to restore this group’s religious freedom.’
Pray: for common sense to prevail and for God to use this situation positively for the community. (Ps.11:7)
Kyrgyzstan: Uzbek minister calls for Kyrgyz violence probe
In an address to the UN General Assembly Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister said ethnic tensions between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz will not be resolved until there is a full investigation into last year's clashes between the two sides and perpetrators of bloodshed are punished. A statement issued on Sept 26th said it was ‘a serious challenge to peace and stability in the Central Asian region, with no legal or political steps taken so far towards those who ordered, organised and perpetrated last year's violence.’ More than 400 people were killed in fighting between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions of Kyrgyzstan in June 2010, while an estimated 375,000 were displaced from their homes. Most victims were ethnic Uzbeks.
Pray: for thorough investigations into the bloodshed, workable resolutions to ethnic conflict, and healing for the emotionally and spiritually wounded. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan_uzbekistan_ethnic_violence_un/24341036.html
Laos: Officials convert church into school
Authorities in Laos forcibly confiscated a church building in Savannakhet Province on Sept. 14th ‘because the church didn’t apply for a building permit'. The authorities generally ignore a lack of building permit if religious groups cause no problems. Officials posted soldiers on guard, moved in desks and chairs and converted the 212-member congregation’s building into a government school. Christians are no longer allowed onto the property. The confiscation of Dongpaiwan church came after officials in a neighbouring village evicted ten Christians from shelters they had built on their rice paddies. They could only return if they gave up their faith. Forced renunciations of faith along with detentions, surveillance, harassment and confiscation of property has kept Laos on the ‘watch list’ of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and clearly identified ethnic minority Protestants in Laos as the primary target of such violations.
Pray: for the Lord to strengthen Laotian Christians, show them the way forward and miraculously provide for their needs. (Is.33:2)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/laos/article_120877.html
Tunisia: Muslim bid to turn Christian site into a mosque
A Muslim group of about 20 attempted to take over a Christian basilica in Tunisia – a sign of the growing threat to the country’s small Church in the wake of the revolution. On 16th Sept the group went to the Roman site with the aim of turning it into a mosque, arguing that it was a place of Muslim worship before it reverted to a basilica in 1966. A spokesman said the group went there to prepare the place for Friday prayers but police dispersed them. They were invited to make an official request to the faith ministry but as things stand the monument remains a basilica. The incident is a worrying sign of what may befall Tunisia’s small Christian community if the country’s future is shaped by an Islamic agenda, as seems likely. There is increasing public imposition of Islam in the country - forced veiling of women, forced prayer and condemnations for apostasy.
Pray: for God to prevail over Tunisia’s transition to democracy and the constitutional assembly that will be elected on 25th October. (Is.25:3,4a)