Afghanistan: Karzai raises concerns with Pakistan over attacks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed ‘deep concerns’ to his Pakistani counterpart about deadly rocket attacks launched across the Taliban-troubled border. Also, 200 Afghans protested in the capital on Saturday against these attacks which have fanned tensions between the neighbours. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Afghan leader said he had raised the sensitive issue with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari at a recent meeting. Karzai said, ‘He had ‘deep concerns' and asked for an immediate stop to the shelling from Pakistani territory. The Pakistan army admits only that security forces may have fired a few accidental rounds into Afghanistan while pursuing militants across the border. Mr Cameron told reporters, ‘Now is the time for Pakistan and Afghanistan to sit and meet and talk on how we are to ensure what we need to do.’
Pray: for International ambassadors to advise, support and establish improvements in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. (Pr.24:5-6)
More: http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/05/karzai-raises-concerns-with-pakistan-over-attacks.html
Israel: Christian couple harassed
A Jewish ultra-Orthodox group singling out Messianic Jews for abuse is harassing a couple they claim are manipulating minors into becoming Christians. The group, Yad L’Achim, placed leaflets around the home of Serge and Naama Kogen, in a suburban community West of Jerusalem, and took out a full-page ad in a local newspaper giving the couple’s address and telling residents they were part of a missionary group ‘targeting’ the community. The Kogens are native Israelis and hence not part of any missionary group. About 20 of the group’s supporters demonstrated outside the couple’s home denouncing them over megaphones for 90 minutes. The protests came after Yad L’Achim lost a court case against the Kogens and their congregational leader accusing them of ‘proselytizing’ minors. During the protest, a distraught 16-year-old girl, the alleged target of the couple’s ‘missionary’ efforts, said all of Yad L’Achim’s claims were false.
Pray: for the harassment of this couple to end and for courage for their congregation as they live out their faith. (Ps.133:1)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/israel/article_114414.html
Israel: A ministry of reconciliation
The division between Arab and Jewish citizens is reflected in institutions, culture and national identities. Palestinian-Israelis reject Zionism as colonialist and racist. The Jews see themselves as the genuine proprietors of the Land of Israel. Both sides reject the most cherished values of the other. However some are working towards coexistence and reconciliation through ‘Musalah’ a ministry with a vision to see reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians first among Christian believers and then to those of interfaith communities. Please click the more button below to discover how they are improving Arab-Jewish coexistence through Summer Camps for the Israeli and Palestinian youth. Please pray for Hebron Camp that that started July 2nd with 120+ children registered and the July 18-23 camp in Petah Tikvah, Israel, giving Israeli and Palestinian children the opportunity to build friendships at a young age and see those from the other side as their brothers and sisters in the Messiah.
Pray: for the follow up for youth who attended these and similar camps of reconciliation amongst the youth, that they will continue to pray and listen to one another. (Ps.138:7-8)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
Iran: Death sentence possibly overturned
Following a huge prayer campaign for Youcef Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor accused of apostasy by converting from Islam; (See Prayer Alert 4710) the Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence, however they sent the case back to the court in his hometown demanding that Youcef repent. For the past ten years Nadarkhani has been a pastor in a network of house churches. Millions of Christians from around the world have been praying for the death sentence to be overturned, at the moment it is just been negated on some technicalities. A Truth Ministries report (http://www.presenttruthmn.com) states it is not all good for the pastor. There are some mixed messages on the verdict. Typically the Supreme Court either upholds or annuls a sentence. His attorney said, ‘We need to continue the pressure through the power of the prayers of the saints. God is moving in hearts, let's continue to earnestly pray.’
Pray: that Yousef experiences the presence and peace of Jesus daily and for Iranian Christians not to be intimidated by events. (Pr.28:10)
East Africa: Food crisis needs a long-term strategy
As emergency appeals get underway for people in the East and Horn of Africa, development workers plead for a more permanent solution. A ’toxic mix’ of drought, failed harvests and rising food prices have brought severe food shortages to the East and the Horn of Africa and the UN office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs predicts that 10 million people in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti will face chronic shortages and be in need of humanitarian assistance. However short-term emergency relief work has to be backed up with long-term strategies to enable people in these regions to cope when disasters such as drought and failed harvests occur, says Nigel Harris, CEO of the NGO Farm-Africa.
Pray: for God to break this drought crisis with rain, and for NGOs to develop longer-term partnerships and strategies as well as short -term solutions to climate anomalies. (Dt.11:14-15 & Job 5:10)
August 1-30, 2011, will be the dates of the international prayer focus for the Muslim World. With humble beginnings, a small group of Christian leaders met for prayer for the Islamic world during a meeting in the Middle East in April, 1992. Millions of Christians worldwide have since joined the prayer effort. The 52-page prayer guide found at www.30-days.net is produced in 42 languages each Ramadan and sent to more than 32 regional offices not to be comprehensive but to motivate and inspire the reader to prayer. It contains information, statistics, stories, and photos. This August, the prayer event will coincide with the month of Ramadan in part to remind us to pray when we hear about this in the media. As Muslims fast and pray, Christians do the same. Christians are encouraged to befriend their Muslim neighbors. The purposes of the 30 Days of prayer for the Muslim world specifically are:
• For greater breakthrough for the Gospel among Muslims
• An increased commitment to prayer by Christians
• And for more missionaries to be released to work among Muslims
There are many testimonies of Muslims coming to faith with some seeing Jesus in visions. Som Muslims have come to respect the 30 Days of Prayer network’s motto “Loving Muslims Through Prayer” while others have threatened their efforts. Please join in prayer during this time.
A number of events, mandalas and initiations all based on the Kalachakra Tantra (Time God) Intended to alter the age of the world. (out of the Christian age into Aquarius and the rule of the Chakravartin)
Agree with those on site in the USA who are mobilizing prayer and also involved in covering prayer for this event which involves welcoming occult spiritual forces into the American capital. One prayer team will be on site in Washington DC from July 1-9 and another team on two weekends: Jul 8-9, and 15-16. A core team plans to meet for prayer every Monday till the 4th of July.
One of them writes: “I am asking for His covering because the forces that are involved in this event are very powerful. I know the Lord has equipped us, but I need to know that we are safe in Jesus. We aren't trying to take on mighty powers here, we are beseeching the Lord, like Hezekiah did in Isaiah 37:14- 20, to not leave our land unguarded. It is God who is sending us to our capital for His purposes there. We go to seek Him, to listen to Him, to love and glorify Him.”
Thanks for your intercession!
VFA
“In a letter dated May 18, 2011, inviting the 49 other Governors to join him, Governor Rick Perry cited Joel 2 as the answer for the challenges facing America. We are to gather across racial, ethnic, denominational and other differences to represent the full Body of Christ on behalf of our land. A National Solemn Assembly called The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis, will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2011, in Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. There will be no political agenda, no merchandise sold, no ministries promoted, no literature distributed and no offering taken. Registration is free. This event will not promote any denomination or organization. It will simply be a gathering of those who love God and love America in response to this invitation to join together and ask for His mercy, guidance, wisdom and provision. The website, www.theresponseusa.com, will give you critical information and help you see how this moment is building across the USA and among national church leaders.”
Please pray for the USA at this crucial time in the nation’s history and for the success of this wonderful attempt to bring Christ’s people together with many political leaders to pray for God’s deliverance of the nation.
“Five years after it abolished Hinduism as the state religion, Nepal is working on a new criminal code forbidding a person from one faith to “convert a person or abet him to change his religion.” Article 160 of the proposed code also says no one will be allowed to do anything or behave in any way that could case a person from a caste, community or creed to lose faith in his/her traditional religion or convert to a different religion. Offenders could be imprisoned for a maximum of five years and fined up to 50,000 Nepalese rupees (US$685).
Nepal’s Christian community, which has no representation in the Council of Ministers or in parliament, was caught unaware of the new criminal law in the offing. “We have not heard of this,” and Lokmani Dhakal, general secretary of Nepal Christian Society. “We need to look into this.” Nepal last weekend failed to complete a new constitution providing for religious freedom, thanks to a protracted battle for political power. Once the only Hindu monarchy in the world and now the youngest federal republic, Nepal was to have unveiled the document by midnight on Saturday (May 28).”
From PrayerFocus Hinduism: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The head of the EPA (The Algerian Protestant Church Association) has received the following order from the High Police commissioner in his town: “On May 5th, 2011, a decision has been made according to article number 566/11 to close down throughout the country all the Christian worship places, which are not designated for religious purposes.
Please pray:
1. May the Lord give wisdom to the Church leaders how to deal with this new wave of persecution. The vast majority of the churches are affected by the above order.
2. For the Lord to take away the spirit of fear and give His Spirit of power, love, and self control, to stand firm against the threats of the authorities. (2 Timothy 1:7)
3. For the abolishment of the March 2006 ordinances.
4. The Church will be granted the full license to be able to meet and worship freely. (The number of believers in Algeria today is estimated to be around 100,000 believers.)
5. May our Lord Jesus manifest powerfully His salvation and glorious victory against the evil one in the above situation. Amen!