New Serbian Patriarch crosses border
On 10.10.10 the new leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irenjy, was enthroned at the Patriarchate in Pec. The two-and-a-half-hour service was a unique blend of a highly formal and informal Orthodox liturgy. Three hundred people gathered in the church, which holds only 100 comfortably. Patriarchates from all over the Orthodox world were represented, from Moscow, Athens, Jerusalem, and elsewhere, alongside invited Roman Catholic and Protestant leaders, three Serbian Islamic muftis, and two Anglicans: Canon Jonathan Goodall, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Ecumenical Secretary, and Canon Donald Reeves. The Pec Patriarchate, seat of the Patriarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church since 1217, is regarded as its spiritual centre. However Pec is in the independent Republic of Kosovo, not Serbia. No Kosovo Albanians had been invited to the service. To have done so would have been to acknowledge Kosovo as an independent state, no longer part of Serbia. Pray: for reconciliation between the Serbs and Kosovans through the Church in the Balkans. (Ac.7:26)
New Serbian Patriarch crosses border
On 10.10.10 the new leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irenjy, was enthroned at the Patriarchate in Pec. The two-and-a-half-hour service was a unique blend of a highly formal and informal Orthodox liturgy. Three hundred people gathered in the church, which holds only 100 comfortably. Patriarchates from all over the Orthodox world were represented, from Moscow, Athens, Jerusalem, and elsewhere, alongside invited Roman Catholic and Protestant leaders, three Serbian Islamic muftis, and two Anglicans: Canon Jonathan Goodall, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Ecumenical Secretary, and Canon Donald Reeves. The Pec Patriarchate, seat of the Patriarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church since 1217, is regarded as its spiritual centre. However Pec is in the independent Republic of Kosovo, not Serbia. No Kosovo Albanians had been invited to the service. To have done so would have been to acknowledge Kosovo as an independent state, no longer part of Serbia. Pray: for reconciliation between the Serbs and Kosovans through the Church in the Balkans. (Ac.7:26)
Algeria: Christians face court
As in many Muslim democracies, hard-line Islamic fundamentalists in Algeria have secured the balance of power and are skilful politicians armed with Korans to achieve political gain and influence policies. Decades of Islamic terror have left many Algerians traumatised and disillusioned, and now Christianity is growing especially in the Kabylie region. This is attracting the attention of the Islamists. While persecution of Christians has escalated the Church is not alone for many Kabylie citizens and rights groups are equally concerned about advancing Islamisation, declining liberty, escalating intolerance and state repression. A new struggle for Algeria is heating up. In the Kabylie region four Protestant leaders will face court on the 10th October for 'practising non-Muslim worship without authorisation'. The fellowship is affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria a nationally accredited denomination with 30,000 believers, mainly in Kabylie. The Pastor who owns the property where the Church meets will also be tried for 'hosting a foreigner' (a French pastor). Pray: for the court's courage to uphold justice despite Government and Islamist pressure. (Mt.12:18)
Pakistan: Muslims murder Christian family
Islamic extremists killed Edwin Paul, a Christian lawyer and evangelist, his wife and their five children at their home in north-western Pakistan because he mounted legal challenges against a Muslim charging a Christian exorbitant interest. A Muslim neighbour said that the previous day armed men stopped Paul, took him by the collar and said, 'Leave the town in 24 hours. We know how to throw out Christians; we will not allow even a single Christian to live here. We will hang them all in the streets so that no Christian would ever dare to enter the Hazara land.’ Hazara are settlers to the area from northern Pakistan and they financially support Islamic extremist groups. They are known for charging up to 400 percent interest to Christians. The Paul family had moved to the area in February. Pray: that the Christians in Pakistan would be protected, strengthened and emboldened as they bring about His justice and ask God to remove the spiritual cloud of Islam over the nation. (Is.51:4-6) More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=34336&PN=1&TPN=1
Iran: Persecution update
A young Iranian believer from a Muslim background died of injuries sustained when he was severely beaten by a relative. Elam Ministries report that the relative took exception to the believer’s clear commitment to Jesus. He leaves a wife and two young children. According to the Farsi Christian News Network, three of 15 believers arrested on 8th July for their faith remain detained. A number of others continue to be detained for their faith in Iran, all are under pressure to recant their faith but are refusing to do so. According to Iranian State Television in September nine believers have also been arrested in Hamedan on charges of evangelism. We can praise God that nearly five months after being released from prison, an Iranian court has acquitted Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad of all charges related to being Christians and engaging in Christian activities. Pray: that prisoners will know the presence and peace of Jesus, remain clearly committed and fulfil the Father's purposes for their lives. (Ps.23:3-5) More: htp://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_cause&cause_id=%20%20%201489
Worldwide: Unreached People Prayer Initiative
Thirty-six years ago at the first Lausanne Congress Strategic Prayer Group meeting Ralph Winter spoke about the ‘Hidden People Groups’ (see also this weeks British Isles INSIGHT ARTICLE). That first meeting initiated much activity centring on the 10-40 window. This year they meet again in Cape Town 2010 and are sensing the Lord calling His church anew to times of strategic prayer for the ‘least reached’ nations; but this time his church will be able to use the tools of the 21st century to touch people groups of the world. We are invited to unite through technology and bring in the harvest. Their desire is to see strategic prayer groups established and interceeding both over Skype and on-site in particular nations among unreached people groups, believing the Lord will give us His strategies to bring in the harvest! They are encouraging a partnership with existing prayer networks and intercessors to create a synergy of divine connection and increasing passion for prayer for the unreached. PRAISE GOD! Pray: that the church would unite through this initiative and not see it as something separate from what they are already doing. (Nu.2:2 & Is.18:3)
Kenya: Day of prayer 10.10.10
Bishop Dominic Kimengich said Kenya suffers from illiteracy, poor leadership, a large refugee population from Somalia and the Sudan, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and growing gang violence connected to guns available from unstable bordering nations. Kimengich hopes to help his people to be strong in faith and peaceful and resourceful in spirit; he also wants to promote education and self-reliance as ways to ’ plift the living standards of the people.’ This Sunday is a day of prayer for the nation. see How to Pray for Kenya Globally we can join the Kenyan Church and pray they would continue to be strong on the issue of social justice, be the voice of the voiceless, and offer Christian values that bring the people together in unity through Christ as the children of God. Kenya is beginning to see themselves as a nation and starting to say, ‘What can we do for ourselves?’ Pray: that Kenya will continue to take a new direction with God’s help.(Ps.16:11) More: http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/10/committed_to_god_and_kenya_new.html
INSIGHT North Korea; Transfer of power
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un, has been appointed a general and leader of the defence commission amid rumours he is being anointed as successor this weekend at the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party. The Workers Party has not met for decades and observers believe Kim Jong-il may be cementing the family dynasty. The succession is being closely watched because of the North’s nuclear programme and hostility with the South. This announcement is Kim Jong-un’s first mention in state media and is reminiscent of his father’s rise to prominence in the 1970s. He is being elevated to a four-star general without military experience. His elder brother and half-brother appear to have been ruled out of the running for succession. Things are changing, an anonymous Open Doors traveller reported being allowed to pray publicly and sensing there may be a little more relaxation on the spiritual level. Click 'nfo' for North Korea INSIGHT ARTICLE. Pray: for a sustained spiritual, physical, and political turning from hidden darkness to open freedom. (Is.42:16) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/NorthKoreaPowerInsight1.pdf
Fiji: Charges dropped against Methodist leaders
The Fijian government has dropped most of the charges against leaders of the Methodist Church in Fiji. Fijian Methodists have made contact with the Methodist Church in Britain to thank people for their prayers and support. All members of the Fiji Methodist Church Standing Committee were charged with attending an unauthorized meeting held in April 2009 and were held for questioning by police in July last year. (See Prayer Alert 3109) Now all but four of them have had their charges dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence’. Mike King, Leader of World Church Relationships, said: ‘The church leadership was keen to give us this heartening news and to thank the many Methodists in Britain who have prayed so faithfully for the Methodist Church in Fiji.’ Methodists in Britain fasted in solidarity with the Methodist Church in Fiji in February after increasing pressure was put on the Church from the country’s government led by Commodore Bainimarama. Praise: God for this move in answer to the believers prayers. (Jn.17:20)
Fiji: Charges dropped against Methodist leaders
The Fijian government has dropped most of the charges against leaders of the Methodist Church in Fiji. Fijian Methodists have made contact with the Methodist Church in Britain to thank people for their prayers and support. All members of the Fiji Methodist Church Standing Committee were charged with attending an unauthorized meeting held in April 2009 and were held for questioning by police in July last year. (See Prayer Alert 3109) Now all but four of them have had their charges dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence’. Mike King, Leader of World Church Relationships, said: ‘The church leadership was keen to give us this heartening news and to thank the many Methodists in Britain who have prayed so faithfully for the Methodist Church in Fiji.’ Methodists in Britain fasted in solidarity with the Methodist Church in Fiji in February after increasing pressure was put on the Church from the country’s government led by Commodore Bainimarama. Praise: God for this move in answer to the believers prayers. (Jn.17:20)