Signs of hope for Christian unity
The 2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity marks the beginning of an encouraging year for the ecumenical movement in Britain, the Student Christian Movement (SCM) said today (11 January). They revealed that they are expecting another record turn-out for their annual conference, which will involve an ecumenical exploration of prayer, and the links between prayer and action. The Week of Prayer will run from 18-25 January and is closely followed by SCM’s Annual Conference, Still Small Voice, which runs over the weekend of 4-6 February at the Swanwick conference centre in Derbyshire. ‘We are really encouraged by the revival of interest in inclusive, ecumenical Christianity,’ said Jenny Morgans, chair of SCM's student council. ‘Over the past year we have had requests for advice and support from students keen to establish ecumenical student groups,’ explained Morgans, ‘conference is a great opportunity for students from different backgrounds to meet and explore their faith together’ Praise: God for the work of the SCM and the message of unity. (Ro.12:4-5)
Signs of hope for Christian unity
The 2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity marks the beginning of an encouraging year for the ecumenical movement in Britain, the Student Christian Movement (SCM) said today (11 January). They revealed that they are expecting another record turn-out for their annual conference, which will involve an ecumenical exploration of prayer, and the links between prayer and action. The Week of Prayer will run from 18-25 January and is closely followed by SCM’s Annual Conference, Still Small Voice, which runs over the weekend of 4-6 February at the Swanwick conference centre in Derbyshire. ‘We are really encouraged by the revival of interest in inclusive, ecumenical Christianity,’ said Jenny Morgans, chair of SCM's student council. ‘Over the past year we have had requests for advice and support from students keen to establish ecumenical student groups,’ explained Morgans, ‘conference is a great opportunity for students from different backgrounds to meet and explore their faith together’ Praise: God for the work of the SCM and the message of unity. (Ro.12:4-5)
Sudan: Turnout vote passes 60%
By Wednesday nearly 2.3 million voters had cast ballots in the Sudan referendum vote with more than 60 percent of registered voters, this volume of turnout has gone beyond the threshold needed for the vote to be valid if it creates the new country of Southern Sudan as expected. We are encouraged to continue to pray for a peaceful outcome to the referendum. See The result will be announced February 14th and should there be a split the new country would be declared in July. An independent south would control almost 80 percent of Sudan’s oil production of 490,000 barrels a day, the third- biggest in sub-Saharan Africa, enabling the new country to begin to alleviate the current levels of poverty. Pray: for God’s blessing on His people in Sudan and for Him to protect the area from devices of the enemy. (Pr.16:3)
Mexico: Violence towards tribal believers
Latin American Indian Ministries report, ‘While we want to be positive about the year ahead we must voice a concern for tribal believers in southern Mexico. In the last few months Pastor Armando Lopes was killed travelling home from a doctor’s appointment, three other pastors were killed in the same area recently. Four families of believers were expelled from a village and a church destroyed with believers put on notice. This month six homes were destroyed and the families expelled from the community. Elsewhere a church and many homes were destroyed and fifty families expelled from the village, a further 86 families were expelled later. At the end of 2010 four hundred and ninety eight Indian believers were homeless, living as street people in San Cristobal where they seek protection. This persecution results from new believers boycotting drunken fiestas to saints in the untended Catholic church, celebrations which have really come to represent worshipping ancient pagan gods. Pray: for these ‘suffering saints’ - including many very new believers. Some will establish new villages and build a new church. But the days ahead are challenging. (Ps.24:5-6)
America: Tucson tragedy
Faith leaders are calling for prayer and ‘soul searching’ in the wake of the shooting of U.S. politician Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Tucson Arizona. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham offered words of condolence and encouragement to those shaken by the bizarre incident which killed six people and left more than a dozen people wounded. He denounced the attack as ‘horrible’ and prayed for God to comfort those personally affected by the occurrence. Arizona Bishop Minerva G. Carcano called for healing prayers for the 14 injured, their families and community members of all the victims. Some are pointing the finger at conservatives and rally participants for hate speeches in the political spectrum. Others accuse Tea Party leader Sarah Palin who in a December poll was voted the top religious newsmaker out of six other choices, even though she does not profess to be a Christian. See: Pray: for the freedom of speech that leaders have to be responsibly and graciously used without error or pride. (2Pt.3:17-18)
Tunisia: Riots
Weeks of anti-government protests in Tunisia with police using lethal force is rare in this Islamic country with tight controls to prevent dissent. However the Tunisian Government ordered all schools and universities to be indefinitely closed following continuing violent protests linked to frustrations with poverty, poor job prospects and the country's leaders. The Secretary-General called for restraint urging all parties to resolve differences through dialogue. The US has summoned Tunisia's ambassador to Washington, expressing concerns about the violent riots and encouraging the Tunisian government to ensure civil liberties were protected. They also raised the issue of what they described as the government's apparent interference with the internet and social media sites. See: A Tunisian exiled opposition politician said, ‘The government presents Tunisia as a democracy while everybody knows that it's a fake democracy, and is a corrupted state, a police state.’ Analysts say Wikileaks government corruption leaks may have exacerbated the situation. see also Pray: for freedom of expression and for protection of Tunisian Christians as they quietly work towards bringing the knowledge of freedom in Christ to Tunisia. (Ps.119:45)
Haiti: One year on
One year on from the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the massive aid effort has yet to bring stability to the country as cholera, rape and despair take hold. Some $11bn (£7bn) worth of aid has been pledged to the country over the next 10 years, but much of that money has yet to arrive following concerns about government corruption and ongoing riots after November's disputed election. In the centre of Port-au-Prince, the presidential palace still lies in ruins. What was a large, green open space just beyond the palace grounds is nothing but a sea of tents. After all this time, the piles of rocks, wood and mangled metal that were once homes and offices still line the streets. Mountains of it fester between the homes that were spared, like rotten teeth. For many, the blame lies firmly at the door of the estimated 4,000 international aid agencies operating in the country. Pray: that the funding pledged by various nations and agencies be released. (Zec.7:9)
BREAKING NEWS: Lebanon: Hezbollah and allies topple government
Lebanon's national unity government has collapsed after 11 ministers from Hezbollah and its allies resigned. Energy Minister Gibran Bassil said the decision was prompted by a dispute over the UN tribunal investigating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's murder. The announcement came as Prime Minister Saad Hariri, his son, was meeting US President Barack Obama in Washington. Tension has been high in Lebanon, amid indications that Hezbollah members could be indicted by the UN tribunal. The Canadian broadcaster, CBC, reported in November that evidence gathered by the Lebanese police and the UN pointed ‘overwhelmingly to the fact that the assassins were from Hezbollah’. Hezbollah has rejected any suggestion of involvement in the assassination. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has called the tribunal an ‘Israeli project’ and warned of dire consequences if it indicts his followers. Pray: against any violence in Lebanon and a release to this political deadlock. (Pr.15:18)
Churches to focus evangelism on Men
Anglican churches in the Oxford Diocese are being urged to focus their evangelistic efforts on men in an attempt to redress the gender balance in many parish churches. Estimates indicate that 65 percent of regular worshippers are women, and in many churches, the percentage is much higher. On February 5, the Oxford Diocese, in partnership with Men And The Church (MATCH), is to host a one day conference for clergy and lay people. The aim is to review resources and ideas for churches wanting to reach un-churched men with the gospel, to explore why so many men leave the Church, and to encourage new strategies for evangelism to men. The event is the idea of the Revd Paul Eddy, curate at Grove Parish Church, who said: ‘In churches across the diocese, clergy are very concerned about the lack of men in their congregations and have been asking for resources and support in developing effective evangelism’.
Pray: for the Holy Spirit to open up the way to bringing the Gospel to more men or more men to the Gospel. (3Jn:8)
Britain’s woes require sacrifice from all
With austerity being the talk of the day, the Bishop of Bath and Wells has challenged the church to step up and be the ‘bigger society’ at a time when sacrifice is being asked of all. Preaching in Wells Cathedral last Sunday, the Rt Rev Peter Price said: ‘Nationally we face the ongoing realities of overseas conflict, a war economy, a national debt, difficult decisions by government, calling all of us to sacrifice. For some the sacrifice will be all too real in terms of lost jobs, homes, even futures. In any democracy, calls for sacrifice to meet pressing realities require the trust of people that government will keep covenant – faith – to fulfil its obligations of serving the common good, and the possibility of a ‘better future for everyone’. Here we find sure ground for faith, firm support for hope, and the basis of a society in which trust, neighbourliness and humanity is found’.
Pray: that the Government and electorate will keep faith with each other to ensure fairness to all. (Isa.26:2)