Nigeria 2: al-Qaida offers to train and arm Muslims
The leader of North Africa's al-Qaida branch has offered training and weapons to Nigeria's Muslims to fight the Christians following sectarian violence. Abdelmalek Droukdel, leader of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, has accused Nigerian Christians of killing hundreds of Muslims in a ‘Crusader war’ and promises to train Muslim youths and supply them with weapons and equipment. He exhorted Nigerians to ‘push your sons into the fields of Jihad to become the fighting vanguard in defence of the Muslims blood and honour.’ Violence between Christians and Muslims in central Nigeria left 326 people dead late last month.
Pray: for law and order to be restored, that Christians will not retaliate with further violence but will show Christ-like love.(Ps.17:7) More: http://ausprayernet.org.au/newsletter/DisplayNewsletter.php?e_id=00000001889#st4
Nigeria 1: Politics of identity
Rev Zang Tengong said a religious war is under way for the soul of Nigeria and believes the central city of Jos is the frontline against Islam’s expansion southwards. ‘I know what Jesus says but Islam is a demonic religion and these people are very dangerous - this is a religious war, we will fight to the last drop of blood.’ Like many other Christian leaders across this city he is convinced the church is confronting Jihad; an echo of 19th-century campaign of Islamic conquest and conversion by Usman Dan Fodio. Nelson Ananze of Community Action for Popular Participation said, ‘A great divide is between indigenous people who claim it’s their land, and those they call settlers.’ Muslims are not given business contracts or indigene forms (entitlement to schooling and state jobs).
Pray: for God to intervene in ethnicity struggles, political power rivalry and religious tension in what was once a laid back cosmopolitan city. (Ps.3:8) More: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89243
Jamaica: Brave stand against drug lords
The gun battles in Kingston to capture Jamaican drug lord Christopher ‘Dukas’ Coke are similar to Mexico's long war on its drug lords. See Mexico drug baron Leaders in both countries had to make courageous decisions when they decided to confront the most powerful drug lords with guns and the rule of law. They also decided to send their worst drug lords to the United States for trial. This takes tremendous courage. The drug gangs are tightly woven into each nation's politics, a co-existence ending up badly for the country, as Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding now admits. When he turned against established drug lord ‘Dudus’, the battle turned parts of Kingston into a war zone, as street battles are necessary for cleansing Jamaican society.
Pray: for a complete cleansing of Kingston, no longer labelled one of the murder capitals of the world, but called a city of blessings. (Pr.11:11) More: http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Editorial-Board-Blog/2010/0525/Jamaica-attacks-like-Mexico-s-drug-war-reveal-a-brave-stand-against-drug-lords
Europe seeks new levy on banks
A network of national funds should be introduced so the cost of bank failures are not met by the taxpayer, the EU internal market commissioner has said. Michel Barnier said such funds would provide part of a broader system aimed at preventing future financial crises. Banks would be required to pay a levy into the funds which would not be used to bail out failing banks, but manage failures in ‘an orderly way’. Mr Barnier said: ‘I believe in the 'polluter pays' principle. It is not acceptable that taxpayers should continue to bear the heavy cost of rescuing the banking sector. They should not be in the front line,’ he said. And the EU report said that any levies that banks were made to pay should not be passed on to their customers in the form of higher charges.
Pray: that this proposed levy would be found acceptable. (Lev.19:15) More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10159631.stm
Europe seeks new levy on banks
A network of national funds should be introduced so the cost of bank failures are not met by the taxpayer, the EU internal market commissioner has said. Michel Barnier said such funds would provide part of a broader system aimed at preventing future financial crises. Banks would be required to pay a levy into the funds which would not be used to bail out failing banks, but manage failures in ‘an orderly way’. Mr Barnier said: ‘I believe in the 'polluter pays' principle. It is not acceptable that taxpayers should continue to bear the heavy cost of rescuing the banking sector. They should not be in the front line,’ he said. And the EU report said that any levies that banks were made to pay should not be passed on to their customers in the form of higher charges.
Pray: that this proposed levy would be found acceptable. (Lev.19:15) More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10159631.stm
Russia: Baptist Pastor beaten to death
According to the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Pastor Yuri Golovin, a preacher at the Central Baptist Church in St Petersburg, was beaten by unknown assailants outside the home of an elderly church member whom he had intended to visit. After the assault, Pastor Golovin managed to get the attention of the church member, who immediately called an ambulance. Sadly, Pastor Golovin died of his injuries at the hospital. There has been no confirmation of what motivated the attack, but a report in the International Christian Newspaper indicates that his assailants may have been local drug addicts. Yuri Golovin had been the head of The Gideons chapter in St Petersburg and Leningrad. Youth pastor Anton Tretyak said that Yuri had been a wonderful example of a living Christian, who was not ashamed of witnessing about Christ and living for Christ.
Pray: for the family of Pastor Yuri Golovin. Pray also that the Lord will bring those responsible to justice and that this tragedy will lead to many new opportunities for the Gospel. (Heb.12:1) More: http://www.sga.org/2010/05/baptist-pastor-beaten-to-death-in-st-petersburg/
Russia: Baptist Pastor beaten to death
According to the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Pastor Yuri Golovin, a preacher at the Central Baptist Church in St Petersburg, was beaten by unknown assailants outside the home of an elderly church member whom he had intended to visit. After the assault, Pastor Golovin managed to get the attention of the church member, who immediately called an ambulance. Sadly, Pastor Golovin died of his injuries at the hospital. There has been no confirmation of what motivated the attack, but a report in the International Christian Newspaper indicates that his assailants may have been local drug addicts. Yuri Golovin had been the head of The Gideons chapter in St Petersburg and Leningrad. Youth pastor Anton Tretyak said that Yuri had been a wonderful example of a living Christian, who was not ashamed of witnessing about Christ and living for Christ.
Pray: for the family of Pastor Yuri Golovin. Pray also that the Lord will bring those responsible to justice and that this tragedy will lead to many new opportunities for the Gospel. (Heb.12:1) More: http://www.sga.org/2010/05/baptist-pastor-beaten-to-death-in-st-petersburg/
All-day drinking laws to be reviewed
All-day drinking laws are set to be reviewed by the new coalition government in an attempt to crack down on binge drinking, it has been revealed. The Liberal Democrat-Conservative manifesto has revealed that the controversial law, which has often been blamed for an increase in violence, will either be tightened or scrapped altogether. Speaking at the Police Federation conference earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May said that the problems that had stemmed from the introduction of the law needed to be addressed. A report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) criticised the current lack of action being taken to tackle the binge drinking culture which is apparent in the UK. According to the advice offered by the ACMD, the drink driving limit for young people should be lowered and more information provided about the levels of their drinking. (See also Prayer Alert 3609 &1909) Pray: that the Government would seriously reconsider the legislation on 24-hour drinking. (Pr.20:1) More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8077&this=All-day_drinking_laws_to_be_reviewed
11-year-olds set to debate rape, prostitution and porn
School children as young as eleven could be given lessons about rape, prostitution and pornography, but critics have warned that the lessons are ‘too explicit’ for youngsters. Charity Rape Crisis has released educational packs for secondary schools, which can be bought for £100, as part of a campaign to end violence against women. They will prompt pupils to debate issues surrounding rape, and will also encourage them to act out a role play, which includes obscene language, where a boy and girl recall a drunken encounter. But Nick Seaton, from the Campaign for Real Education, has criticised the scheme, saying: ‘It is irresponsible and certainly not suitable for young children and probably not for older children either. ‘Just because these things happen does not mean that children need to have them rammed in their faces. Sensible parents will be extremely perturbed that their children are being introduced to this sort of information at a young age.’ Pray: for a considered, sensitive and appropriate programme of sex and social education. (Ps.34:11) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/11-year-olds-set-to-debate-rape-prostitution-and-porn/
Rebuilding Britain: six pillars to strengthen our society
Our culture has its foundations in historic Christian values. We must respect them as we negotiate our future, says the Rt Rev James Jones. Rebuilding Britain rests on the six pillars of family, freedom, friendship, faith, fairness and the future of the earth. These are the columns that need strengthening if the edifice of our society is to withstand the winds of change. They have their foundations in the historic Christian values of our society. We are in danger of cutting ourselves adrift. And, as Lord Hailsham once warned, ‘cut flowers never produce seed or fruit’. The Rt Rev Jones, writing in the Telegraph says ‘The failure of public policy on the family is that it has focused mainly on child poverty, when the biggest problem facing children is not economic hardship but emotional deprivation.’ He goes on to outline his ‘Six Pillars’ based on Christian values. Pray: for our nation and its new government that we will, by God’s Grace, seek a future taking heed of Rt Rev Jones suggestions. (Ps.37:37) More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7744426/Rebuilding-Britain-six-pillars-to-strengthen-our-society.html