God's time for Greece
The bravery and courage of ancient Spartans is legendary. The name conjures up visions of fearless soldiers charging into battle without thought of life or limb. The word ‘spartan’ has crept into the English language to describe conditions that are at the opposite extreme from comfortable and luxurious. For the past week Sparta has been the epicentre of a missionary outreach that has reached and touched thousands of homes through a team of 180 from countries as diverse as Canada, Romania, Italy, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and Albania. In all 60,000 households received a copy of the New Testament in contemporary Greek as part of a project called Operation Joshua. One participant described it as a ‘Tsunami of blessing’ as energetic teams using some 50 cars, criss-crossed the sparse and mountainous region. They have gone to over 800 villages in some of the remotest areas of Greece bringing the message of life. Pray: that the blessings thus achieved in Sparta will take root and prosper. (Lk.13:19) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gods.time.for.greece/26430.htm
God's time for Greece
The bravery and courage of ancient Spartans is legendary. The name conjures up visions of fearless soldiers charging into battle without thought of life or limb. The word ‘spartan’ has crept into the English language to describe conditions that are at the opposite extreme from comfortable and luxurious. For the past week Sparta has been the epicentre of a missionary outreach that has reached and touched thousands of homes through a team of 180 from countries as diverse as Canada, Romania, Italy, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and Albania. In all 60,000 households received a copy of the New Testament in contemporary Greek as part of a project called Operation Joshua. One participant described it as a ‘Tsunami of blessing’ as energetic teams using some 50 cars, criss-crossed the sparse and mountainous region. They have gone to over 800 villages in some of the remotest areas of Greece bringing the message of life. Pray: that the blessings thus achieved in Sparta will take root and prosper. (Lk.13:19) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gods.time.for.greece/26430.htm
Christian group opposes marriage equality for homosexuals
The Head of a Christian advocacy group says Christians must resist attempts to broaden the definition of marriage. However, Simon Hughes, Deputy Liberal Democrat leader, and who is a Christian and admitted previously to being bisexual, said he believed the Government would make it possible for the term ‘civil marriage’ to apply to same-sex couples before the next General Election. ‘It would be appropriate in Britain in 2010 and 2011 for there to be the possibility of civil marriage for straight people and gay people equally,’ he said, adding ‘That’s different of course from faith ceremonies which are matters for the faith communities they have to decide what recognition to give.’ Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and director of Christian Concern for Our Nation, said: ‘We should resist this attempt to undermine marriage at the heart of our society and fight to retain the traditional status of marriage as that between a man and a woman.’ Pray: that the explicit purposes of matrimony being procreative and unitive are recognised by all. (1Co.16:13)
CMS Ireland appoints new Mission Director
Church Missionary Society (CMS) Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Ronnie Briggs to the post of Mission Director. Ronnie has previously worked as part of the staff team, but for much of his 30 years with CMS Ireland, he and his wife Maggie have served as Mission Partners, working alongside the Church in Kajiado Diocese, Kenya. Ronnie brings to the role a genuine passion for mission, a wealth of experience of the Global Church and an intimate knowledge of the unfolding story of CMS Ireland. Speaking about this important and strategic appointment, the Chair of CMS Ireland’s Board of Trustees, Clifford McSpadden remarked: ‘We’re thrilled with this appointment and we really look forward to Ronnie joining the team and helping to lead the Society at a time when God is doing new and exciting things, both in Ireland and with our Global Partners in Africa and Asia. We thank God for this answer to prayer.’ Pray: for Ron ie as he takes up this important post. (Isa.48:15) More: http://ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=news&newsid=3119
DEC Pakistan floods appeal
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has publicly announced the launch of the ‘DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal’ in response to the monsoon catastrophe. Special broadcasts began yesterday on the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4, Channel Five and independent radio stations and will continue. The money raised will help fund the life-saving work in Pakistan of the DEC’s members and their partners. Responses to the Pakistan Floods Appeal are being made by all the DEC agencies, namely: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, CARE International UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Concern, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision. The special broadcasts will be presented by well-known figures and mark the formal launch of the Appeal. Automated telephone lines and the DEC website, SMS, post and over the over-the-counter donations at Post Offices and banks are open for donations. The automated donation line is 0370 60 60 900 and website (See also World Article following.) Pray: for a huge response from the British people to alleviate this humanitarian disaster. (Ac.20:35)
OECD: Britain is the European capital of broken homes
An international report exposes Britain’s moral failure on family values. The study found we have the worst record on teenage pregnancy in Europe with more children living in one-parent families than any other European country. More of our single mothers are unemployed and on benefit than anywhere else on the continent, largely because we hand out so much in benefits. Britain’s rates for divorce and out-of-wedlock births are among the highest in the Western world, and our mothers are among the oldest, putting their health and that of their baby at risk. Critics said the UK is paying the price for its promotion of sex education to ever younger children and that, since the permissive society of the 1960s, so few value the institution of marriage. The OECD’s gloomy report is the first to highlight Britain’s poor record. Pray: that your church’s voice is strong in persuading the nation that the family unit is the cornerstone of society. (Ps.119:130) More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297268/Britain-European-capital-broken-homes.html?ITO=1490
Campaign to stop funding NHS Chaplains
The NHS should stop funding chaplaincy services and put the money towards frontline services instead, it has been claimed. A campaign has been launched to persuade the Welsh Assembly Government to set up a charitable trust to fund religious and faith services for patients. Alan Rogers, a member of the National Secular Society, believes that NHS money would be better spent on clinical services for patients. His comments come as the NHS in Wales is facing the prospect of making savings of £1.9bn over the next five years. The NHS currently spends £1.3m a year on chaplaincy services across Wales and 33.83 whole time equivalent staff are employed in this area. Unite, which represents NHS chaplains, said they are as much a part of the health service as physiotherapists. Mr Rogers’ campaign comes after Health Minister Edwina Hart issued fresh guidance and new standards to the NHS to ensure patients have access to spiritual and religious support. Pray: for the continued availability of hospital chaplains to those in need, however funded. (Mt.10:1)
11 and 12-year-olds on the pill
Over 1,000 girls in the first year of secondary school were prescribed the contraceptive pill last year, according to new figures. This represents a fivefold increase in the past decade, and critics are concerned about the increasing sexualization of the nation’s children. The figures, from the General Practice Research Database, also revealed that 200 girls between the ages of 11 and 13 were prescribed long-term implanted or injectable contraceptives last year. Dr Trevor Stammers, a GP and chairman of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: ‘These figures illustrate the fact that the UK is facilitating the sexualisation of young people at an ever younger age’. If sex education is introduced in primary schools in the way being proposed, we will see many more 11-year-olds seeking contraception and if we pay GPs to give out contraception without pointing out the risks we are going to make matters worse’. Pray: for our youngsters, and for guidance and support to resist the sexualisation of the young. (Ps.34:11) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/more-than-1000-11-and-12-year-olds-are-on-the-pill/
Violence in schools
Tens of thousands of school pupils were suspended from English schools last year for attacking their teachers or classmates. Almost 17,000 of these suspensions involved primary school pupils aged 11 and under, and over 63,000 of them involved children in secondary schools. The Department for Education’s statistics also revealed that there were 1,240 cases of children aged four and under being suspended for a variety of reasons during 2008/09. According to the report, boys are three times more likely to be suspended than girls, and three and a half times more likely to be permanently excluded. Schools minister Nick Gibb has responded by reiterating the Government’s commitment to improving behaviour in schools and raising academic standards. He said: ‘We will introduce further measures to strengthen teacher authority and support schools in maintaining good behaviour’. In February a survey revealed that one in four parents avoid disciplining their children because they want an ‘easy life’ and fear upsetting them. Pray: that all families of disaffected pupils are granted strength to instil respect for those in authority. (Ex.20:12) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/over-80000-suspensions-for-violence-at-school/
Billionaires to give away over half their fortunes
Forty of USA's richest people pledged on Wednesday to donate over half of their fortunes to charity as part of ‘The Giving Pledge’ campaign organised by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and legendary investor Warren Buffet. The group includes CNN founder Ted Turner, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Hollywood director George Lucas, as well as Microsoft mogul Gates and investment guru Buffett. The idea, which was announced just six weeks ago as ‘The Giving Pledge,’ is to convince billionaires across the country to give up most of their money - 50 percent or more - to charity. ‘The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract,’ a statement released Wednesday said by www.givingpledge.org Praise: God for the generosity of these people and pray that their gifts will bless the most needy. (2Cor.9:11-12)