One million 'March for Jesus' in Brazil
An estimated one million Evangelical Christians in Brazil rallied for the 18th annual March for Jesus event in Sao Paulo. The event unites Evangelicals in the world's largest Roman Catholic country. Sao Paulo is one of the world's largest cities with over 10 million residents. In recent decades, Evangelical churches have grown rapidly to become a major influence. The latest figures available show the number of Evangelicals increased from 9 percent to 15 per-cent. Praise: God for this powerful testimony to the people of Brazil. (Ps.147:1) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/June/one-Million-March-for-Jesus-in-Brazil/
Weapons-4-Bibles scheme rolls out across the capital
‘Knife bins are making a difference and helping to prevent youth crime,’ said a practising Christian, Michael Smith, at the launch of his new weapons disposal scheme, Word 4 Weapons. Smith was inspired to do something to stem the increasing numbers of stabbings and killings amongst young people across the UK and as a result founded the charitable organisation entitled Word 4 Weapons in 2007. In partnership with The Salvation Army, Ascension Trust, Christian Police Association and churches of varying denominations, Word 4 Weapons ran a pilot project last year placing knife bins in strategic parts of London where people could dispose of their weapons. In exchange they received a trendy bag called ‘All I Need’ which contains a Bible, Cops and Robbers comic, book of help plus much more to help them positively to turn their lives around. They now have 10 knife bins strategically placed across London with a further 10 bins to be in place by the end of this year. Praise: God for the success of this scheme in 2007 and pray that this fresh initiative will be even more successful. (Is.52:7) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/weaponsforbibles.scheme.rolls.out.across.the.capital/26054.htm
Weapons-4-Bibles scheme rolls out across the capital
‘Knife bins are making a difference and helping to prevent youth crime,’ said a practising Christian, Michael Smith, at the launch of his new weapons disposal scheme, Word 4 Weapons. Smith was inspired to do something to stem the increasing numbers of stabbings and killings amongst young people across the UK and as a result founded the charitable organisation entitled Word 4 Weapons in 2007. In partnership with The Salvation Army, Ascension Trust, Christian Police Association and churches of varying denominations, Word 4 Weapons ran a pilot project last year placing knife bins in strategic parts of London where people could dispose of their weapons. In exchange they received a trendy bag called ‘All I Need’ which contains a Bible, Cops and Robbers comic, book of help plus much more to help them positively to turn their lives around. They now have 10 knife bins strategically placed across London with a further 10 bins to be in place by the end of this year. Praise: God for the success of this scheme in 2007 and pray that this fresh initiative will be even more successful. (Is.52:7) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/weaponsforbibles.scheme.rolls.out.across.the.capital/26054.htm
India: Hindu Nationalists plan ‘religious cleansing’
Over 100 Hindu extremists gathered to announce their plan to rid Madhya Pradesh of Christians ahead of a 2011 reconversion event ‘to drive away Christian pastors, evangelists and foreign aid workers from the district’. They said a holy Hindu assembly would be staged in February 2011 and they hope for 2 million participants. Previous gatherings prompted Christian beatings, homes and churches destroyed and the desecration of graveyards. The recent gathering of hate speeches and vows to ‘cleanse’ the region of Christians motivated at least one assault on Christians. Extremists repeatedly accuse Christians of forcing Hindus to convert and of paying them to follow Jesus. ‘How much have these Christians paid you?’ new believers are asked. 'We will pay you double for returning to Hinduism.’ Local police refused to provide security for Christians.
Pray: for the physical and spiritual protection of our brothers and sisters in Madhya Pradesh. (Ps. 18:2) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/20289/
Pakistan: Christians ordered to leave village
Abdul Sattar Khan, head of a Muslim village in Punjab Province ordered 250 Christian families to leave their homes after Christian residents objected too strenuously to sexual assaults by Muslims on Christian girls and women. Most of the Christian men work in the fields of Muslim land owners while the Christian women and girls are servants in the Muslim homes. The impoverished Christians live in appalling conditions. Employers use their powerful positions to routinely sexually assault the Christian women and girls. When four Christian men confronted the Muslim men on abuse charges the whole Christian community were told to go. ‘The Muslim villagers gave the expulsion order when girls and women became totally exasperated because they were sexually attacked or forced to commit adultery by Muslims on a daily basis,’ said a Christian political leader. Pray: asking God to remove the unfair oppressive spirit of abuse that the Christians have come under in this part of Pakistan. (Am.9:15) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/21375/
Nigeria: Muslim youths attack churches and house
Nigeria: Muslim youths attack churches and house Another attack against Nigerian Christians north of Joshas has taken place. Two churches and a pastor's home were destroyed. In this most recent event as many as 100 young Muslims came onto church property attacking people and burning down the buildings. This attack mostly went under the radar because no one was killed. Not all violence stems from religious causes. According to ABC News ethnic tensions prevail between the Berom group (deemed mostly Christian) and the largely-Muslim Hausa and Fulani groups. Additional access to oil revenues contributes to political tensions throughout the country. Though all attacks may not stem from religious differences they cause much strife and hurt in victims' lives. Pray: that Christians will continue to respond in a positive spirit of forgiveness and perpetrators of violence will be caught and prosecuted. (Is.59:20-21)
Eritrea : Vigil held for persecuted believers
Seventy demonstrators from The British Orthodox Church, CSW, Church in Chains Ireland, Human Rights Concern Eritrea, Release International and Open Doors protested against the persecution of minority believers in Eritrea. (See Prayer Alert 2310). The vigil was marking the eighth year of closing minority churches in Eritrea and the harassment of Christians from other denominations. The Metropolitan of Glastonbury, the Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, and Dr Berhane Asmelash of Release Eritrea presented a petition to the Eritrean Ambassador appealing ‘for swift and positive action to ensure the release of prisoners of conscience and grant full religious freedom as guaranteed under Eritrea’s Constitution’. This event happens yearly in London but to date has not ended the persecutions. Pray: the Kingdom of God to come to Eritrea and spread like wildfire through the hidden and established church. ( Mt.6:10) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/vigil.held.for.eritreas.persecuted.believers/26060.html
America: Planned 'mega mosque' at Ground Zero
A protest drew thousands to Ground Zero last Sunday opposing the construction of a 15-story Islamic facility described as ‘A centre of learning, art and culture guided by Islamic values in their truest form.’ Opponents of the project say building an Islamic centres so close to Ground Zero would be offensive to victims of the 9/11 attack. A New York community board voted 29-1 in favour of plans to build the centre. The only way to stop the project would be giving the 152 year old building on the site Landmark Preservation Status, which the protestors are attempting to do. The Centre is a collaboration between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative – both founded by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who preaches in a mosque twelve blocks from Ground Zero. He was born in Kuwait and educated in England. Pray: for the Holy Spirit to guide the hearts and minds of those considering the Landmark Preservation Status for the building and to bathe the area in the truth of Jesus Christ. (Col.1:9b & 13)
South Africa: Risk for Children
South African children’s school holiday will coincide with FIFA World Cup. Parents and caregivers are concerned how to keep them safe during the five weeks of festivities when children left to their own devices are at greater risk of abuse. President Jacob Zuma warned parents saying, ‘Children wandering alone in shopping malls and football stadiums will be vulnerable to people with evil intentions.’ There will be anti-human-trafficking task teams in the host cities but Prest Talbot described the risk of trafficking as ‘the tip of the iceberg’. ‘The biggest risk of child abuse is often on your doorstep – from neighbours or family members.’ Many South African children whose parents are unemployed or who are orphaned rely on school feeding programmes for their main meal of the day, but the schemes will be suspended during the holiday. Pray: that children looking for food will find safe places and for more holiday camps for children in low-income areas. (Ja.1:27)
INSIGHT: Afghanistan: Parliamentarian wants Christians executed
Abdul Sattar Khawasi Deputy Secretary of the Afghan Lower House in parliament called for the public execution of Christian converts from the parliament floor. Speaking with regard to a video broadcast by the Afghan television network (See this weeks Insight article) showing footage of Christian men being baptised and praying in Farsi. Khawasi said, ’Those Afghans that appeared in this video film should be executed in public. The house should order the attorney general and the intelligence agency to arrest these Afghans and execute them.’ The broadcast triggered a protest by hundreds of Kabul University students, who shouted death threats and demanded the expulsion of Christian foreigners accused of proselytising. As a result the operations of Norwegian Church Aid and US-based Church World Service have been suspended over allegations of proselytising. The Afghan government is currently undertaking an intensive investigation into the matter. Click the info button for a truthful report from an Afghanistan believer.
Pray: for Christians to stand firm in the face of persecution and for God to miraculously reveal himself to Muslims seeking the truth. (Mt 10:22) info http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/2410AfghanistanInsight1.pdf