China: Missing Chinese lawyer confirmed alive
Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was confirmed alive on Sunday after more than a year without reliable information on his whereabouts. ‘I am tremendously relieved that my husband is alive,’ said Gao’s wife, Geng He, in a statement issued by Freedom Now, a group that represents prisoners of conscience. ‘My children and I have not seen their father since January 2009,’ she said. ‘We urge the Chinese government to allow Zhisheng to leave the country and be reunited with us in the United States.’ Gao, who is one of China’s most famous lawyers and human rights activists, was last seen in February 2009 when a dozen police officers reportedly seized him in public. Gao elicited the ire of the Chinese government by defending groups oppressed by authorities, such as underground churches, practitioners of the spiritual movement Falun Gong, and farmers evicted from their land. Gao himself is a Christian who worships in a house church. (See Prayer Alert 1309, 1509)
Praise: God for the news that Gao is alive and pray now for his release. (Is.42:6-8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/missing.chinese.lawyer.confirmed.alive/25591.htm
China: Missing Chinese lawyer confirmed alive
Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was confirmed alive on Sunday after more than a year without reliable information on his whereabouts. ‘I am tremendously relieved that my husband is alive,’ said Gao’s wife, Geng He, in a statement issued by Freedom Now, a group that represents prisoners of conscience. ‘My children and I have not seen their father since January 2009,’ she said. ‘We urge the Chinese government to allow Zhisheng to leave the country and be reunited with us in the United States.’ Gao, who is one of China’s most famous lawyers and human rights activists, was last seen in February 2009 when a dozen police officers reportedly seized him in public. Gao elicited the ire of the Chinese government by defending groups oppressed by authorities, such as underground churches, practitioners of the spiritual movement Falun Gong, and farmers evicted from their land. Gao himself is a Christian who worships in a house church. (See Prayer Alert 1309, 1509)
Praise: God for the news that Gao is alive and pray now for his release. (Is.42:6-8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/missing.chinese.lawyer.confirmed.alive/25591.htm
Thailand: Children witnessed power of prayer
A report in Mission Network News has described how a group of Thai orphans at the Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) Children's Home witnessed the power of prayer when their orphanage was threatened with fire. According to the report, on March 19, as fires raced toward the Children's Home, workers sent out urgent prayer requests by e-mail and then moved the children to the top of a hill for safety. At the top of the hill, a staff member reportedly encouraged the kids to start worshipping and praying to God. Though Thailand is in the midst of their dry season, the report noted, they trusted God to send rain. Just before the orphanage was surrounded, the sound of thunder was heard and ‘less than an hour later it began sprinkling, then pouring, until the fires were extinguished.’
Praise: God that the children will use the miracle as a testimony to the power of Christ in their lives and that they will boldly share Christ with the people of their community. (Is.43:12)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7718
Thailand: Children witnessed power of prayer
A report in Mission Network News has described how a group of Thai orphans at the Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) Children's Home witnessed the power of prayer when their orphanage was threatened with fire. According to the report, on March 19, as fires raced toward the Children's Home, workers sent out urgent prayer requests by e-mail and then moved the children to the top of a hill for safety. At the top of the hill, a staff member reportedly encouraged the kids to start worshipping and praying to God. Though Thailand is in the midst of their dry season, the report noted, they trusted God to send rain. Just before the orphanage was surrounded, the sound of thunder was heard and ‘less than an hour later it began sprinkling, then pouring, until the fires were extinguished.’
Praise: God that the children will use the miracle as a testimony to the power of Christ in their lives and that they will boldly share Christ with the people of their community. (Is.43:12)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7718
Bishop calls for election which protects the vulnerable
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds has called for policies from the parties contesting the general election, which promote fairness and support for those most in need. The Rt Rev John Packer says that the ‘burden of cuts’ must fall on those with adequate resources and not on those struggling with debt or unemployment. It comes as ethics look set to play a central part in the election off the back of the scandal over MP's expenses, and slogans from the main parties which address 'fairness'. On taxing and cuts, Bishop Packer says, ‘I shall be searching for signs of a concern for those in most need in our society. So in dealing with national debt, I shall want the burden of cuts to fall on those of us with adequate resources, and not those who have inadequate housing, who are unemployed or who struggle with debt. They need protection.’
Pray: for a genuine desire by the political leaders to support the truly needy in our country. (Dt.15:11)
Christians invited to 'Join The Party'
Christians should not only vote in the forthcoming general election but seek to influence the political system from the inside as party members, local councillors and even MPs, according to a campaign launched on Tuesday. ‘Join The Party’ has been launched by Christians in Politics, the politically neutral umbrella organisation jointly owned by the Christian Socialist Movement, the Conservative Christian Fellowship and the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum. It encourages Christians to get beyond shouting from the sidelines and to become part of the political process. The campaign is launched with video clips of the three main party leaders and the Archbishop of York available from Christians in Politics www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk/home. In his video clip the Archbishop of York Right Revd John Sentamu encourages
Christians ‘to vote, to engage, to converse, to discuss’ and says ‘it matters a great deal if all of us who are able to exercise our democratic right are able to turn out’.
Pray: that God's grace and guidence might be given to all engaged in the May 6 election process. (1Ki.4:29)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.invited.to.join.the.party/25650.htm
Russia: Terrorism won’t stop the Gospel
Vladimir Putin is pursuing Islamist insurgents in the North Caucasus and some fear government crackdowns on Islam may lead to tighter restrictions on Christians. However Slavic Gospel Association are training the next generation of church leaders working specifically in cross religious, cross cultural environments where Christianity meets Islam. This training is equipping churches to reach Russian youth and protecting young people from brainwashing radicalism. They are also sending young people to Summer Camps to become agents of peace and love. Many families, tired of war and terrorism, have come to Christ because of summer camps. They are seeing a true Christian message of love. Also in St.Petersburg Buckner International are linking their orphanages with local churches thus enabling Churches to proactively adopt an orphanage. The city churches are now also organising summer camps. The above reports come from Intercessor Networks. For an encouraging prayer insight from Russia’s Schools Without Walls training click the 'More' button.
Praise: God that Russia’s youth are coming to Christ and pray for more anointing on youth outreach in the Caucasus Mountains. (Ro.15:5)
More: http://www.sga.org.uk/news_headlines/power_through_prayer.html
Westminster 2010: a declaration of Christian Conscience for General Election
Please take a moment to sign ‘Westminster 2010’, a declaration of Christian conscience as we approach the General Election endorsed by 35 Christian leaders and launched on Easter Sunday. ‘Westminster 2010’ is aimed to appeal to UK Christians of all denominations who subscribe to the historic Christian faith and who hold orthodox Christian beliefs about life, marriage and conscience. All parliamentary candidates are being asked to pledge that they will ‘respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience’. Read the declaration and add your signature by clicking the 'More' link.
Pray: that this initiative will bear fruit. (Lk.4:43)
Government drops home-schooling and sex education plans
The Government has bowed to pressure and withdrawn its highly controversial plans for England. Under the proposals, sex education was to become a statutory part of the national curriculum and control over the content of lessons was to be taken away from school governors and given to Whitehall officials. Proposals to restrict the freedoms of home-schooling parents have also been shelved as the Government attempts to get its Children, Schools and Families Bill into law before the general election. The changes come as a result of the negotiations that take place in the final throes of a Parliament. Under the contentious sex and relationship education plans, children were to be taught that same-sex civil partnerships were equal in value to marriage. Faith schools were also set to be forced to teach children about homosexuality and tell kids how to access contraception.
Praise: God that prayer and pressure groups have caused this change. (Php.1:27)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/govt-drops-home-and-sex-ed-plans/
Government drops home-schooling and sex education plans
The Government has bowed to pressure and withdrawn its highly controversial plans for England. Under the proposals, sex education was to become a statutory part of the national curriculum and control over the content of lessons was to be taken away from school governors and given to Whitehall officials. Proposals to restrict the freedoms of home-schooling parents have also been shelved as the Government attempts to get its Children, Schools and Families Bill into law before the general election. The changes come as a result of the negotiations that take place in the final throes of a Parliament. Under the contentious sex and relationship education plans, children were to be taught that same-sex civil partnerships were equal in value to marriage. Faith schools were also set to be forced to teach children about homosexuality and tell kids how to access contraception.
Praise: God that prayer and pressure groups have caused this change. (Php.1:27)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/govt-drops-home-and-sex-ed-plans/