Evangelism and prayer partnership
Church on the beach, church in the skate park, churches that bake and churches that get messy, Goth's gathering to celebrate communion and football fans worshipping together after the match. The Fresh Expressions initiative has seen hundreds of new forms of church around the United Kingdom in the last ivef years. Fresh Expressions support and encourage these new churches with the aim of planting churches into existing communities. Now Pete Greig, director of 24-7, and Bishop Graham Cray, leader of the Fresh Expressions team are exploring a partnership between evangelism and prayer. (Praise God). Click the 'More' button to read about the ‘24/7 Prayer Movements first few months of its new partnership with Fresh Expressions. Praise: God for unity in the body. (Ps.133:1)
Evangelism and prayer partnership
Church on the beach, church in the skate park, churches that bake and churches that get messy, Goth's gathering to celebrate communion and football fans worshipping together after the match. The Fresh Expressions initiative has seen hundreds of new forms of church around the United Kingdom in the last ivef years. Fresh Expressions support and encourage these new churches with the aim of planting churches into existing communities. Now Pete Greig, director of 24-7, and Bishop Graham Cray, leader of the Fresh Expressions team are exploring a partnership between evangelism and prayer. (Praise God). Click the 'More' button to read about the ‘24/7 Prayer Movements first few months of its new partnership with Fresh Expressions. Praise: God for unity in the body. (Ps.133:1)
Christian health worker restored to work
Victory for Margaret Forrester, a Christian mental health worker who has been told that she will be restored to work and even offered a better job, following her suspension for expressing her private views on abortion to colleagues. (See Prayer Alert 5210) Margaret Forrester was suspended by her NHS employers after she mentioned privately to colleagues her concerns about the information women were given prior to having an abortion. The events occurred in November 2010. She felt that women in crisis pregnancies accessing the service were not being given all of the information necessary to help them make a balanced decision. Ms Forrester gave a small booklet to a colleague, called 'Forsaken', which documents the testimonies of women who have been impacted by abortion. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is on record as saying that women do not always get the full information needed before deciding to have an abortion, and some therefore go on to suffer mental illness and depression. Praise: God for this answer to prayer. (Pr.10:12)
Christian health worker restored to work
Victory for Margaret Forrester, a Christian mental health worker who has been told that she will be restored to work and even offered a better job, following her suspension for expressing her private views on abortion to colleagues. (See Prayer Alert 5210) Margaret Forrester was suspended by her NHS employers after she mentioned privately to colleagues her concerns about the information women were given prior to having an abortion. The events occurred in November 2010. She felt that women in crisis pregnancies accessing the service were not being given all of the information necessary to help them make a balanced decision. Ms Forrester gave a small booklet to a colleague, called 'Forsaken', which documents the testimonies of women who have been impacted by abortion. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is on record as saying that women do not always get the full information needed before deciding to have an abortion, and some therefore go on to suffer mental illness and depression. Praise: God for this answer to prayer. (Pr.10:12)
Thailand: A Christian’s perspective
‘My uncle is in contact with the evil spirits. He presents offerings and sacrifices to them and makes promises to them so that they give him power. He tells me every member of the family must make offerings to the evil spirits and obey what they command. If not- problems will occur, a family member may become insane, if anyone betrays the spirits.’ ‘My uncle has been sick for 5 days and said it is because ‘someone’ in the family is not fully committed to the spirits. My father has warned me not to even think about Christianity. One of my brothers became a monk at our village temple for the Buddhist Lent ‘kao phan sa. He lost his money at the temple. Another brother had high fever and has been sent to hospital. I don’t want to cause any more problems to my family members because I am a Christian.’ We are asked to pray for lonely Christians living in Buddhist communities and families. Pray: for a vibrant, multiplying group of Christian believers within walking distance of every Thai person. (Ps.128)
World: Storms over two continents
A storm roared into America Tuesday delivering paralysing snow and ice from Texas to Maine - the worst in decades. It has shut down Dallas, Oklahoma city, Chicago, Tulsa and more. It covers over 2,000 miles (1/3 of the country) with 60+mph winds. It is expected to last four more days and could be life-threatening. People should not travel unless it was essential. See Meanwhile an intense La Nina weather pattern has spawned cyclone Yase the most powerful cyclones in Australian history. The category five storm will hit 400,000 people in Queensland on Wednesday. The survivors of last month’s floods are now making storm provisions. The Australian Salvation Army is appealing for prayers for those living in the path of the storm. Some are being evacuated, while others are securing their properties ahead of 180mph winds that can tear roofs off houses. Power and communication lines are expected to be affected. Pray: for safety and perseverance in an extremely difficult time for many people who are recovering from massive floods. (1The.5:11&17)
Iran: Some prisoners released
We praise God for the four women released on January 29th, and one woman and two men released on the 26th who were arrested on December 26th, 2010 along with 31 others. We are asked to continue to pray for the remaining 26 Christians still in an Iranian prison for their faith. Some of those detained are obliged to pay $180,000 bail for temporary release. Parents remain imprisoned while children (some are minors) do not know where their parents are. Please also pray for Yousef Nadarkhani sentenced to death for apostasy. Pray: for the release of the prisoners, for an end to bail demands and for the government policy of ‘religious cleansing’ to stop. (Jer.30:8-9)
Lebanon: Representative cabinet
Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, who is backed by the Hezbollah led March 8 coalition, is optimistic about forming a government capable of uniting the Lebanese and ending rival factions. He said he was continuing contacts with all parties, including leaders from the March 14 coalition, in an attempt to reach an agreement that evokes satisfaction among all Lebanese. Mikati refuses to make commitment to any single party, stressing that conflicting demands by rival factions could be solved through dialogue. Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi said, ‘I reaffirm that the Iranian position is to stand at the same distance with all the Lebanese and call on them to reach agreement and close ranks in order to serve this country.’ UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon hoped that a new government would be formed soon. Pray: for an inclusive Lebanese government to be formed More: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=124444#ixzz1CniZRrN1
Jordan: King Abdullah II sacked his government
Street protests by thousands of Islamists, secular opposition groups and retired army generals in Amman, and other parts of Jordan caused King Abdullah to sack his government. Demonstrators demanded the dissolution of parliament and a change in electoral law to allow the Jordanian people to vote for their Prime Minister, a position presently selected by royal appointment. King Abdullah of Jordan bowed to street protests, sacked his government, and appointed an ex-army general and former ambassador to Israel as the new Prime Minister (an unpopular decision). Like other Arab states Jordanians complain of rising prices, widespread unemployment, low living standards, and view their politicians as corrupt and unaccountable. Jordan and Egypt were the only Arab states to sign the peace deal with Israel, and Israeli officials privately express concern that a power vacuum in Jordan could lead to the rise of the Islamic Action Front, an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood that is hostile to Israel. Pray: for a just resolution to Jordan’s grievances and for Jordan to continue to be a moderate voice in the Middle East. (Jer.29:11)
Egypt: Climate of change
Iran’s opposition leader hopes Egypt’s protests bring the change that has so far evaded Iran as he compared the uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen with Iran’s riots after 2009’s presidential election. However Iranian hard line rulers are comparing 2011 to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that replaced the Shah with clerics. In the climate of change across the region there are potential openings for democracy and Christian values to replace autocratic governments. There is also a great danger that radical Islamic groups could seize opportunities in the unrest spreading across the Middle East, and establish regimes comparable to Gaza or Iran. On Thursday Yemeni protestors with similar grievances will have street protests in a ‘Day of rage’. Christians can pray that after the dust of all this shaking settles the church will emerge strengthened and experiencing new freedom to express Christ’s love, and for a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit in areas where Christianity existed before Islam. Pray: that the power of radical Islam is shaken and dark agendas exposed, so that nations may experience light and freedom. (Ro.4:16) More: http://uani.com/eaIllR