Latvia: Pastor in former USSR utilises internet
Alexey Ledyaev, the leader of the international Christian movement ‘New Generation’ revealed his reasons for blogging, something that was never allowed in the dark days of the Soviet Union. He said, ‘Some watch sermons - some don’t. Some read books - some don’t, the future is internet.’ Pastor and journalist Ledyaev leads a 5,000-strong non-denominational church in Riga, Latvia that he founded in 1989 after emigrating from Kazakhstan. He notes the main aim for the media and every journalist is to get to the truth, ‘which will help someone live’. ‘People are different now. Yesterday the biggest sin was smoking in school toilets, now this age group indulge in drugs and sex. Divorce was once a great sin, but now it’s nothing to many. Yesterday abortion was a horrible blasphemy over human life, but it is a usual thing now. Church must be more effective and modern today.’
Pray: for more Christian wordsmiths and innovators to utilise the internet across the nations as they address standards of immorality in open and frank discussions. (Ro.10:14)
Families Of Hikers Jailed In Iran Ask For Prayer
Two American hikers imprisoned in Iran for more than two years were sentenced to eight years on Saturday on charges of illegal entry and espionage. Their families hoped authorities would free them during the Islamic month of Ramadan, when pardons are often handed down. Their families pleaded with the authorities in Iran to show compassion and allow them to return home. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyer, Masoud Shafiei, said he would appeal the verdict. Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shroud were arrested in 2009 when they inadvertently entered Iran while hiking in the northern Iraq. Shroud was released on $500,000 bail in September 2010, but Iranian authorities refused to release her two companions. Iranian chief prosecutor Jafari Dowlatabadi said Shroud's case ‘is still open and [she] will be tried in absentia.’ Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is ‘deeply disappointed’ with the sentence.
Pray: for a change of heart by the Iranian authorities and they will release of Josh and Shane. (Ac.5:19)
More: http://www.evangelicalnews.org/indiv_pr.php?pr_id=20204
PM says ‘families matter’ in post-riot ‘fightback’
David Cameron has hit out at a ‘slow-motion moral collapse’ and said family and parenting is the place to start to fix society. In a speech following the riots in English cities the Prime Minister said social problems that have been ‘festering for decades’ have ‘exploded in our face’ and said that politicians have been ‘too unwilling for too long to talk about what is right and what is wrong’. Mr Cameron also said he wanted a ‘family test’ applied to all domestic policy. He said: ‘If it hurts families, if it undermines commitment, if it tramples over the values that keeps people together, or stops families from being together, then we shouldn’t do it.’ He noted that politicians ‘shying away’ from ‘speaking the truth about behaviour, about morality’, has ‘actually helped to cause the social problems we see around us. We have too often avoided saying what needs to be said – about everything from marriage to welfare to common courtesy.’
Pray: for the restoration of biblical values of family and morality. (Lev.18:4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/pm-says-families-matter-in-post-riot-fightback/
Feels like teen spirit
This summer, some 100,000 young people from around the world – mostly between the age of 15 and 30 – will gather outside a village in the middle of France. They've been arriving here since June, to pitch tents, strike up friendships, enjoy plenty of music, and they'll continue to come until September. But this isn't some Gallic Glastonbury – it's a Christian community, and the crowds will sing psalms, not pop songs. At the heart of Communauté de Taizé, named after the small village near the site, are over 100 monks, who live together very simply, in a life devoted to prayer, singing and silence. Drawn from over 30 different countries, the community is ecumenical, with Catholics and Protestants worshipping together. When asked why so many young people come, Brother David said ‘It's not to tell them what they should or should not do, it's to let them have that time of meeting with themselves, with others, and with Christ.’
Pray: for the Taizé community and the many visitors that they may learn more about and grow closer to Christ. (1Co.14:26)
Feels like teen spirit
This summer, some 100,000 young people from around the world – mostly between the age of 15 and 30 – will gather outside a village in the middle of France. They've been arriving here since June, to pitch tents, strike up friendships, enjoy plenty of music, and they'll continue to come until September. But this isn't some Gallic Glastonbury – it's a Christian community, and the crowds will sing psalms, not pop songs. At the heart of Communauté de Taizé, named after the small village near the site, are over 100 monks, who live together very simply, in a life devoted to prayer, singing and silence. Drawn from over 30 different countries, the community is ecumenical, with Catholics and Protestants worshipping together. When asked why so many young people come, Brother David said ‘It's not to tell them what they should or should not do, it's to let them have that time of meeting with themselves, with others, and with Christ.’
Pray: for the Taizé community and the many visitors that they may learn more about and grow closer to Christ. (1Co.14:26)
Evangelist Nathan Morris to hold meetings in Hull and Newcastle
A British evangelist who shot to fame after holding a nine-month revival in America is holding meetings in the UK next month. Nathan Morris, who runs Shake The Nations Ministries, ran the Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival in Mobile, Alabama, alongside Pastor John Kilpatrick and worship leader Lydia Stanley. The Revival, which lasted from July 2010 until April this year, saw thousands travel from all over the world and there were reports of many notable miracles. Now, former drug user Nathan Morris, who hails from south Yorkshire, is back in Britain, preaching at New Life Church in Hull from September 16 to 18 and Bethshan Church, Newcastle, from September 23 to 25. Large numbers are expected to travel from all parts of the UK to attend the meetings. Nathan, 32, recently tweeted: ‘Join with me in prayer that God will pour out His Spirit in the upcoming UK meetings.’
Pray: for Nathan at that the Holy Spirit will touch many during the coming meetings. (Ac.2:28)
Sisters of teen mums more likely to have babies young
A girl is far more likely to become a teenage mum if she has a sister who has already become one, a new academic study shows. ‘The research says how important family is compared to institutions,’ says one of the researchers Professor Carol Propper. The ‘peer effect’ on girls aged 16 to 18, raised the chances of becoming a teenage mother from about one in five to two in five. The researchers, who conducted the study, said the effect was stronger when sisters were closer together in age, and also from poorer households. The study concluded that the ‘peer effect’ had a greater impact on teenage pregnancy than any education or advice they are given at school. ‘These findings provide strong evidence that the contagious effect of teen motherhood in siblings is larger than the general effect of being better educated. ‘This suggests that more policies aimed directly at decreasing teenage pregnancy may be needed in order to reduce teen births.’
Pray: for a better understanding of how to reach vulnerable girls to help them make better informed life choices. (Ex.18:20)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/sisters-of-teen-mums-more-likely-to-have-babies-young/
Ex-Spice Girl speaks out against child sexualisation.
Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm says the sexualisation of children has gone too far, and encouraged stars like Rihanna to take more responsibility for their performances.
Miss Chisholm’s comments come amidst increasing concern about child sexualisation, and follow a Government review into the problem. Commenting on the issue she said: ‘People have to take some responsibility because we’ve got to a point where over-sexualisation of young children has gone too far. ‘I think music is a big part of that. Women in music, very successful women, are extremely sexual and they have young fans. It is inappropriate. Earlier this year hit songwriter Mike Stock warned that pop music has taken ‘a slow but unmistakable descent into pornography’. He said: ‘Pop music in this country is almost completely dominated by American acts who have taken sexualised imagery, dance moves and lyrical content way beyond the limits of decency.’
Pray: for a reappraisal of what is appropriate for pop videos aimed at our youngsters. (Je.35:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/ex-spice-girl-warns-rihanna-about-sexualised-image/
Pro footballer: Faith is 24/7
Darren Moore, who has played for clubs such as Portsmouth, West Brom and Derby during an impressive career, revealed he converted to Christianity after Bradford City assistant boss Wayne Jacobs invited him to a Christians in Sport meeting back in 1999. ‘Even though I had become a professional footballer, I had doubts that I wasn’t good enough. But after I attended that meeting I became a Christian and I realised that God loved me, it was an amazing experience. He said: ‘This is a 24-7 thing for me. Just as you build a relationship with your partner or your wife, you have to build one with the Lord. He wants to be with you through the good and the bad times.’ In his spare time, as well as being a regular at church, he also is active in Christian charity Faith in Football along with fellow stars Linvoy Primus and Lomana Lua-Lua.
Pray: for Darren and that his witness will encourage others to seek the Lord. (1Ch.16:10)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/pro.footballer.faith.is.247/28463.htm
Cameron must re-engage with Broken Society agenda
As Parliament reconvenes to discuss the riots, Christian charity CARE has called on the Prime Minister to re-engage with the Broken Society agenda, with its emphasis on tackling family breakdown and fatherlessness, which he promoted vigorously when in opposition. Dan Boucher, CARE’s Director of Parliamentary Affairs, said, ‘The reasons for the riots are complex. It is very unlikely that there is any one single explanation. A key element in the mix, however, is undoubtedly the place of the family and the role of fathers in particular in Britain in 2011. When in opposition, David Cameron spoke at great length about the Broken Society and about how a Conservative government would fix broken Britain. He was very clear that one of the key drivers of the Broken Britain phenomenon was family breakdown and fatherlessness and interestingly polling demonstrates that this resonated far more effectively with the public than his subsequent focus on the Big Society ever has.’
Pray: that our government would take the Broken Society and Big Society agendas and see how together they could help in the current situation. (Php.4:6)