Malta votes on divorce, winner could be radical Islam
European and American experts say changing Malta's divorce ban would show weakness to radical Muslims, who could capitalize on the island's drift toward secularism to push for Islamic laws. ‘Forced secularism is a gift to the radical Muslims,’ said Stephen Schwartz, a U.S. author and researcher on the Islamic world. ‘Everybody has reason to be worried about radical Islam, and this is an issue of radical Islam,’ said Schwartz, founder of the Washington-based Centre for Islamic Pluralism. ‘My opinion is: Malta should not change its divorce laws.’ Malta is the only European country that does not allow divorce. But this could change, depending on the outcome of a May 28 referendum in this tiny Mediterranean island nation of 408,000 people. Voters will decide the fate of proposed legislation that would permit divorce. If the referendum passes by popular vote, the legislation would then go before parliament for its approval.
Pray: that the people will be guided by God’s Spirit and not allow further incursions against His laws. (Mt.5:32)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue12941.html
Malta votes on divorce, winner could be radical Islam
European and American experts say changing Malta's divorce ban would show weakness to radical Muslims, who could capitalize on the island's drift toward secularism to push for Islamic laws. ‘Forced secularism is a gift to the radical Muslims,’ said Stephen Schwartz, a U.S. author and researcher on the Islamic world. ‘Everybody has reason to be worried about radical Islam, and this is an issue of radical Islam,’ said Schwartz, founder of the Washington-based Centre for Islamic Pluralism. ‘My opinion is: Malta should not change its divorce laws.’ Malta is the only European country that does not allow divorce. But this could change, depending on the outcome of a May 28 referendum in this tiny Mediterranean island nation of 408,000 people. Voters will decide the fate of proposed legislation that would permit divorce. If the referendum passes by popular vote, the legislation would then go before parliament for its approval.
Pray: that the people will be guided by God’s Spirit and not allow further incursions against His laws. (Mt.5:32)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue12941.html
Denmark: Danish Church waking to Gospel call
In Denmark, at least 4 percent of the country's population claims to be of the Muslim faith. Now, one former Muslim is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Massoud Fouroozandeh was born a Muslim in Iran. Fouroozandeh was called up for military duty, but instead of serving, he fled Iran and eventually settled in Denmark. Today, he is the pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Denmark with a special outreach to Denmark's Muslim immigrants. He is the author of the book titled ‘The Forbidden Salvation.’ His journey to Christianity began when his mother, who also became a Christian, gave him a Bible. This angered him and he decided to disprove it, but something different happened. Fouroozandeh was running his own business in Denmark when he says Jesus appeared to him in a dream and called him to serve Him. He later began the Church of Love. Praise: God for this wonderful testimony and may Fouroozandeh’s Church continue to grow. (Gen.1:28a) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/May/Frmr-Muslim-Danish-Church-Waking-to-Gospel-Call-/
Denmark: Danish Church waking to Gospel call
In Denmark, at least 4 percent of the country's population claims to be of the Muslim faith. Now, one former Muslim is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Massoud Fouroozandeh was born a Muslim in Iran. Fouroozandeh was called up for military duty, but instead of serving, he fled Iran and eventually settled in Denmark. Today, he is the pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Denmark with a special outreach to Denmark's Muslim immigrants. He is the author of the book titled ‘The Forbidden Salvation.’ His journey to Christianity began when his mother, who also became a Christian, gave him a Bible. This angered him and he decided to disprove it, but something different happened. Fouroozandeh was running his own business in Denmark when he says Jesus appeared to him in a dream and called him to serve Him. He later began the Church of Love. Praise: God for this wonderful testimony and may Fouroozandeh’s Church continue to grow. (Gen.1:28a) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/May/Frmr-Muslim-Danish-Church-Waking-to-Gospel-Call-/
Qatar: Faith communities grow through service of Anglican centre
In a section of Doha, in an expanding development that has come to be known as Church City, thousands of Christian migrant workers worship freely with the blessing of the Qatari authorities. Christianity in this Islamic state was once an underground religion, but today it thrives, thanks in part to people like the Rev. Bill Schwartz, an Anglican priest and an Episcopal Church missionary. In one part of Church City, Schwartz is overseeing the construction of an Anglican Centre. More than 10,000 Protestant Christians from 37 denominations already worship in the Anglican Centre and many more are waiting for space to become available. Until recently, Qatar was seen as a purely Islamic country, but as new leadership tapped vast natural gas resources, economic development exploded. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, knows that such development brings migrant labour and different faith traditions, provided the land for Church City. Praise: God for the growth of Church City and pray that its influence will continue to grow. (Heb.13:20-21) More: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_128330_ENG_HTM.htm
Japan: Workers at reactor & Greenpeace warning
Workers briefly entered Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant measuring radiation levels and checking damage as they attempt to bring the reactors to a stable, cold shutdown by January. It was the first time anyone had entered reactor two building. There are signs that damage to the nuclear plant was worse than initially thought. Radioactive runoff has leaked from dousing operations into the sea causing 620 fishermen to halt fishing and demand damage payment. However from May 20th, fishermen will begin harvesting seaweed for public consumption from the 12-mile territorial waters. Greenpeace research indicates a significant risk that this seaweed will be highly contaminated as they have detected radiation far above legal limits in seaweed 40 miles off Fukushima nuclear plant and are calling on Japan's government to undertake comprehensive radiation testing of seaweed along the Fukushima coast. See:
Pray: for God in His mercy to minimise the ongoing repercussions from this disaster. (Ps.86:8-9)
Syria: Tanks shelling Tel Kelakh
Tanks have been bombarding border town Tel Kelakh since Saturday as they crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad following Sundays demonstrations demanding ‘the overthrow of the regime’ - the slogan of revolutions that toppled other Arab leaders. The army is storming houses and making arrests, then withdrawing from neighbourhoods after these raids. Some families are resisting, preferring death to humiliation. Human rights groups say Assad’s crackdown has killed at least 700 civilians. ‘We're without water, electricity or communications’, a resident of Tel Kelakh said on satellite phone. Artillery and heavy machinegun fire hit the main road to Lebanon on Tuesday night, some people trying to escape to Lebanon turned back because shelling was too heavy. The Tunisian government threatens to report Libya to UN Security Council if shelling on the border does not stop. See: Pray: for the homeless refugees fleeing Syrian violence and for the terrorised residents left behind. (Ps.23:4) More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/18/us-syria-idUSLDE73N02P20110518
Iraq: Christian man held to ransom then killed
Ashur Issa Yaqub, a 29-year-old Chaldean Christian construction worker was abducted by gunmen in the northern city of Kirkuk, held to ransom over the weekend for $100,000, but then his body was found Tuesday in Kirkuk with signs of torture and his head almost completely cut off. A source told the Aswat al-Iraq news agency that the abductors killed Yaqub when the ransom was not paid. The killing was blamed on Al-Qaeda insurgents.Christians continue to endure hardship and discrimination in Iraq, where human rights organisations warn that Islamic extremists are trying to drive them out of the country.
Pray: for God to hide his people from spiritual attack, protect them from physical attack and empower them to stand against opposition. (1Cor:15:58)
Egypt: Rising violence against Christians
A group of experts, advocates and faith leaders with an interest in Egypt, religious freedom and human rights released a statement expressing concern at the increasing attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt, and the manner in which such attacks are being reported by international and local media. The group’s statement says, ‘The collapse of ‘powerful state apparatus' and ‘subsequent power vacuum’ quickly opened a ‘Pandora's Box’ of social problems that the Mubarak regime had either maintained or failed to address. We are now witnessing political struggles for power and influence in the new Egypt.’ (See last weeks PA re Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt) According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide 60+ people were injured on Saturday when Christians protested outside Cairo’s television buildings against attacks on churches the previous weekend, that left 12 dead, were themselves attacked by 100+ people with stones, gasoline bombs and guns. Fighting continued for several hours before the army restored order. Pray: for true democracy in Egypt and an end to civil unrest and attacks on Christians. (Ps.45:6)
Guatemala: 'Emergency' over killings
Guatemalan president Alvaro Colom has declared a ‘state of siege’ along the Mexican border, where at least 27 people were killed over the weekend in a ‘Mexico Zetas’ drug gang massacre. The state of emergency will restrict demonstrations and allow police to carry out raids at night, and try to track down the killers. The order finishes Tuesday. Police have captured one suspect and killed two others in an operation in which two policemen were wounded. Alvaro Colom said that Guatemala must confront the aggression which had infected the entire region. Authorities have identified 15 of the 27 migrant farm workers beheaded in the massacre, three children and two women were among the victims, the youngest was 13 years old. (See last weeks PA re. Mexico borders Drug/Human trafficking)
Pray: that this investigation will be completely lawful, protected from corruptive influence and ask Him for a season of justice and restoration for the area. (Ps.9:16)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2011/05/2011517103516680111.html