University volunteers leave for Mongolia
The Catholic University of Korea has sent a 90-strong staff-student medical team to treat people in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. The team, which includes students majoring in various fields such as internal medicine, obstetrics, paediatrics and radiology, will provide medical and social services from July 25 until Aug. 4. The team will also build or repair houses, and offer educational activities for poor people in regions near the capital. During a July 24 departure ceremony, University President Father Johan Pahk Yeong-sik encouraged participants to take the opportunity to think deeply about sharing their lives and practicing the school’s ideals of truth, love and service. ‘The service you will provide will be a fundamental indicator to assist you in choosing your way in life,’ Father Pahk counselled. The university has, since 1997, dispatched similar teams to ‘Third World’ locations during summer vacation each year. That year, the school first sent a team to Papua New Guinea. Praise: God for this initiative and pray that many will be blessed. (1Cor.12:5) More: http://www.ucanews.com/2010/07/28/university-volunteers-leave-for-mongolia/
Lebanon’s ruling party asks Muslims to protect Christians
The head of a Sunni political movement in Lebanon has expressed concern over the decline of Christians in the region allegedly due to growing Shiite influence. Ahmad Hariri, secretary-general of the Lebanese Future Movement, urged Muslims in Lebanon to ‘nurture Christian presence’ in the region, saying it was an ‘Arab and Islamic responsibility as much as it is a Christian one’. According to The Jerusalem Post, Hariri is extremely worried about the repercussions of Christian emigration from some Middle East countries. While Christians used to be a majority in Lebanon, the country has recently witnessed decline due to emigration and the increase in Muslims. Greg Mussleman, of Christian advocacy group Voice of the Martyrs, said the announcement is good for Christians in the Middle East. ‘Whether we'll see that spreading to other countries like Iraq and Afghanistan? That may never happen,’ he said. Praise: God and pray that Christians in Lebanon will be stronger in their faith, have the desire to grow, and be more outspoken about their faith. (Ac.4:29
Lebanon’s ruling party asks Muslims to protect Christians
The head of a Sunni political movement in Lebanon has expressed concern over the decline of Christians in the region allegedly due to growing Shiite influence. Ahmad Hariri, secretary-general of the Lebanese Future Movement, urged Muslims in Lebanon to ‘nurture Christian presence’ in the region, saying it was an ‘Arab and Islamic responsibility as much as it is a Christian one’. According to The Jerusalem Post, Hariri is extremely worried about the repercussions of Christian emigration from some Middle East countries. While Christians used to be a majority in Lebanon, the country has recently witnessed decline due to emigration and the increase in Muslims. Greg Mussleman, of Christian advocacy group Voice of the Martyrs, said the announcement is good for Christians in the Middle East. ‘Whether we'll see that spreading to other countries like Iraq and Afghanistan? That may never happen,’ he said. Praise: God and pray that Christians in Lebanon will be stronger in their faith, have the desire to grow, and be more outspoken about their faith. (Ac.4:29
Myanmar: Crimes against humanity
Over 600 villagers fled as soldiers shelled their village with mortar rounds before burning it to the ground on 23 July, (50 homes a school and a church were destroyed). Refugees joined 300 others from the neighbouring area in fear of attack, leaving possessions behind, escaping with what food they could carry as they sort refuge in the jungle. It is the rainy season and they need shelter, food, medicine and security. Lack of clean water and disease-carrying jungle insects are of particular concern. Hundreds more are fleeing towards the Thai-Burma border, some are seeking refuge in Thailand. The Burmese Army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (allied to the dictatorship) are preparing a new offensive against ethnic Karen civilians in Eastern Burma in the run-up to the sham elections expected at the end of the year. Pray: for the Lord to show Christians how to pray to topple demonic forces over Myanmar. (Is.60:15,-6) More: http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=1017&search=
India: Christians play dead to survive
Two evangelists said they survived an attack in Madhya Pradesh on July 20th by playing dead when six Hindu extremists surrounded them and severely beat them. The assailants accused Mahindra Kharoley 20, and 30-year-old Munshi Prasaad Bahey of ‘forced conversion.’ The two evangelists were cycling home following a prayer meeting 25 kilometres (15 miles) away when the attackers on motorbikes with their faces covered attacked them at around 10pm. The assailants did not wait for them to respond to the charges of forced conversion before they began hitting and kicking them. ‘We lay motionless and pretended to be dead to escape their fury after they had beaten us about 20 minutes,’ Bahey added, ‘If we had not done so, they would have killed us.’ One of the attackers called another by name, saying, ‘Mahesh, stop hitting them, they are already dead, let’s get out of here.’ Pray: for all hidden and corrupt activity in Hindu fundamentalism to be destroyed and replaced by a widespread Christian revival. (Act.2:17,21) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/23231/
USA: Does Christian charity reach 'Illegals'?
The state of Arizona has passed harsh anti-illegal immigration laws, including one that requires police to demand a person’s legal papers if there is reason to believe the person is in the United States illegally. The state government hopes that these laws will stem the flow of illegal Mexican immigrants across the Mexico-Arizona border. However, the targeting of ‘illegal aliens’ confronts Christian churches with their own moral dilemma because hostility to ‘sojourners’ runs counter to the teachings of Jesus, as Baptist minister Howard Bess argues in his essay (see link). Christian churches in Arizona of every kind – Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, liberal and conservative – offer services to people in need and seldom ask about immigration status. Typically, the churches provide services with a full knowledge that some recipients are in the US illegally. Thousands of helper/Christian people are thereby aiding and abetting law-breakers which, Bess argues, easily become a part of our Christian responsibility. Pray: that a humane and Christian resolution will be revealed to Arizona’s policy-makers. (Ps.37:11)
Pakistan: 40 days of prayer & fasting
The Intercessors Network of Pakistan has arranged a 40 Day Prayer and Fasting Campaign from 1st August to 9th September 2010. The cry of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will be ‘Heal the Land’. Hundreds of believers from 70+ churches will be participating daily to pray for the healing of the land. Eleven churches from other cities will also be participating. The ‘National Day of Prayer’ will also be celebrated on 14th August. Prayer needs: Unity among Christians/church leaders and denominations: Abolition/repeal of the blasphemy laws: Christian brothers and sister in prison facing trails falsely accused under this law: Safety and security of Christians living under threat of being persecuted under this law. For sustainability of 24/7 and other prayer watches that are going on and that the Pakistani church will understand the power of corperate prayers and move into a culture of prayer. Pray: for a spiritual awakening of the Church on a national level so that the Gospel can spread across the country. (1Thes.5:10,11,17) More: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Prayer-Network-Pakistan/251652868252
Iran: Report of US warships off coast
As unconfirmed reports continue to emerge of an imminent Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in Middle East media. A US-based strategic intelligence company released charts showing US naval carriers near Iranian waters. The chart dated June 23rd 2010 shows that over the last few weeks naval carrier the USS Harry S Truman has been positioned in the north Indian Ocean, not far from the Strait of Hormuz. (which leads into the Persian Gulf). The carrier joins USS Dwight D Eisenhower already in the area. Reports of movements of Israeli and US naval warships have been circulating through the media for weeks. (See Prayer Alert 2610) Ha'aretz reported 12 US and Israeli warships were seen moving through the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. On Saturday Associated Press published ‘unconfirmed’ reports from Israeli and Iranian media that Saudi Arabia allowed Israel to use its territory in preparation for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Pray: for a cooling down of this situation, for any erroneous reports to be exposed for what they are, while at the same time for all truth to be revealed and acted upon. (Pr.21:29-31) More: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25829.htm
Vietnam: House Church attacks
A gang of youths attacked a house church as the congregation worshipped on Vietnam’s south central coast. The youths smashed the walls of the home and wreaked havoc within, railing against evangelist Mang Vuong for being a Christian and building his home to be a house church. In Vietnam a common approach for church expansion is to build a roomy home for an evangelist to serve also as a meeting place. The evangelist’s house was nearly completed when it was first attacked last month, then on June 10th the same youths were spurred by local authorities to break into Vuong’s home stealing more than $3,000 and destroying furnishings, utensils and books. Vuong, who works for the Evangelical Church of Vietnam, has recieved death threats. A petition sent to district and provincial officials stated it was Communist Party leaders who plied the youths with liquor then incited them to attack the evangelist’s house. Pray: for the Christian community to respond with Christ-like love and forgiveness. (1Pe.3:9) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/vietnam/23120/
North Iraq-Kurdistan
Praise God for Christian outreach in difficult environments. God is calling people supernaturally and releasing Christian workers to visit, counsel, encourage and disciple new believers. We have been asked to pray into the problem of finding suitable wives for new believers. There are situations where husbands come through but the wife is not yet believing. Thank God for open doors to minority sects of Islam, one is the Yezhide, who worship the ‘peacock god’ believed to be a fallen angel. Pray for Christian outreach groups to be established in their midst. Another Islamic sect believe in the Psalms and there is speculation they were formerly Jews. They are very open and there are believers in their midst, but they are very persecuted by majority Muslims. Hundreds of this tribe have been murdered by terrorists and there are many orphans and widows. Pray: for more believers with a burden to help these new believers, and for the protection of those who face persecution and loss in Iraq and Kurdistan. (Ps.112:4)