Equality body’s U-turn on religious liberty
Christians have reacted with a mixture of disappointment and alarm after an equality quango appeared to backtrack on its pledge to support Christians this week. In July the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stated, ‘reasonable accommodation’ of religious beliefs was ‘needed’ after applying to intervene in four cases involving religious discrimination in the workplace that have come before the European Court of Human Rights. The organisation has now been given leave to intervene in the cases but announced this week that it will no longer be arguing for reasonable accommodation indicating it would be willing to intervene in cases involving public displays of faith in the workplace but not in cases involving employees with regards to their views on same-sex relations. In the face of the latest U-turn the Evangelical Alliance and CARE have expressed their deep disappointment and concern.
Pray: for the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and noticeable public opinions to be heard and acted upon. (Ps.11:7)
Religion 'no longer fits in with modern day life'
A Church of England study found church attendance in the UK has fallen by 50% over the past 40 years, and Reverend Canon Dr Jeni Parsons, from Gloucester thought congregations were falling because of huge pressure, ‘Pressure to get money to pay the mortgage or rent, pressure to get their children to football, or simply to work on Sundays.' she said, ‘People's lives are so different that we have to make our church available when they're ready, not when we're ready.’ She added Sunday morning service attendance is low, but ‘very big’ for baptisms, weddings and funerals.
Pray: for God to equip and enable His church to relevantly meet the spiritual and emotional needs of 2011 in the British Isles. (Mt.5:16)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-14395228
888-mile cycle to raise money for Egyptian Christians
Andrew Johnston, Christian Solidarity Worldwide's advocacy director is cycling the length of Britain to raise money for Christians in Egypt. Andrew set off from John O' Groats on Sunday and will be working his way 888 miles south to Land's End where he hopes to arrive by August 31st. Funds raised will go towards the ‘No Way Out’ campaign supporting the church in Egypt. He will pass Manchester on Friday before stopping over at the Greenbelt Festival at the Cheltenham Racecourse this weekend. For decades Christians in Egypt have faced discrimination and violence, he hopes to raise £1,000 to support Egyptian Christians through prayer, solidarity and action. Over 15,000 people have already supported the campaign by signing a petition urging the UK and US Governments and the European Union to do what they can to bring an end to religiously-motivated violence. According to CSW there have been at least 20 attacks on religious minorities since the January revolution.
Pray: for Andrew's stamina and protection and for minorities to be treated equally in the new Egypt. (Pr.29:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/888mile.cycle.to.raise.money.for.egyptian.christians/28480.htm
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)
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)