Russia sentences another Jehovah’s Witness
A court in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia has sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness (JW) follower to seven years in prison on charges of ‘extremism’. Yevgeny Bushev had been under house arrest for over a year on allegations of continuing ‘the illegal activities of a banned religious organisation’. In 2017 the Supreme Court declared the JW movement to be extremist, banning its estimated 400 branches across the country. Bushev is the 15th JW follower from the region to be prosecuted. The prosecution’s witness was an employee of the National Guard (Rosgvardia) who had ‘shown interest in the Bible’: a linguistic examination concluded that Bushev had ‘tempted’ him to accept the JW faith when responding to questions about religion. International human rights NGOs have condemned Russia’s crackdown on JW followers in the years since the ban, and in June 2022 the European Court of Human Rights said that Russia had violated over 1,400 followers' right to religious freedom.
Ukraine accuses Russia of hitting civilian ship
On 8 November Ukraine said that a Russian missile had struck a civilian ship while it was moored in a port in the Black Sea region of Odessa, killing a pilot and injuring four others. The missile hit the ship’s superstructure, which includes the command cabin. The ship was travelling under the Liberian flag, and the three wounded crew members were citizens of the Philippines. If confirmed, the attack would be the first time that Russian forces have hit a civilian vessel sailing near the Odessa region since Moscow pulled out of a UN-brokered deal in July which allowed Ukraine to export its grain through the Black Sea. In another incident, on 3 November, Russia targeted a military medals ceremony, killing at least a dozen men. The Ukrainian army has been criticised for organising an event involving so many soldiers in such a public and old-fashioned way. See
France: peace forum focuses on global warming and AI
The sixth Paris Peace Forum, on 10 and 11 November, will focus on four different topics. Emmanuel Macron, along with Barbadian PM Mia Mottley and several African leaders, will assess the progress of the ‘Paris Pact for People and the Planet’, launched in June, which aims to provide substantial funding to combat poverty and climate change, in preparation for December’s COP28 in Dubai. An appeal will be launched to address the ‘collapse’ of ‘all ice surfaces on a global scale.’States affected by glacier loss, such as Nepal and Kyrgyzstan, will participate, as will China and India. Although Russia, a major Arctic actor, will not participate due to the conflict in Ukraine, the Elysée asserts that this will not be an obstacle to cooperation between other countries. Macron will also preside over the fifth Christchurch Call Summit, launched with New Zealand after the terrorist attack in Christchurch in 2019, aiming to enhance efforts to ‘combat terrorist and violent extremist content online’. Another top priority for Macron is to regulate digital platforms and artificial intelligence.
Latest news from Gaza
Israel will begin to implement four-hour ’humanitarian pauses’ in northern Gaza each day to allow people to flee, the White House has said. A spokesman called the move a step in the right direction, and said the USA wanted the pauses to continue as long as they are needed. Israel has committed to announcing each window at least three hours in advance. The US still does not support a ceasefire in Gaza at this time, but aims to see at least 150 humanitarian trucks entering the strip each day. Fierce fighting has continued, and the health ministry in Gaza (controlled by Hamas) says that the number of Palestinians killed is now more than 10,000. Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad has released a video of two hostages, and offered to release them if certain conditions were met. The hostages criticised Benjamin Netanyahu; it was not certain if they were reading from a script. A humanitarian conference in Paris today called for a total ceasefire: see
Cameroon: 20+ killed by English-speaking separatists
On 6 November more than twenty people, including women and children, were killed in an attack by English-speaking separatists in western Cameroon. Since the end of 2016, this area (populated mainly by the English-speaking minority) has seen a deadly conflict between pro-independence armed groups and the security forces. Each side has been accused of crimes against civilians by international NGOs and the UN. The government said that the ‘terrorists’ attacked using firearms and traditional weapons, and burnt down around ten houses. A resident thought the attack was probably made on that day because it was the anniversary of Paul Biya's accession to power as president; he added that a meeting of the RDPC (the all-powerful presidential party) had been scheduled to take place nearby. Cameroon, which has a population of nearly 30 million, has been ruled with an iron fist for 41 years by Biya.
USA / Italy: sixteen mafia leaders arrested
On 7 November, sixteen alleged leaders and associates of the Gambino crime family were arrested in the US and Italy. The charges against them include racketeering, extortion, witness retaliation, conspiracy and fraud. Another suspect is still at large. The US-based suspects were due to appear in court in New York on Wednesday. Prosecutors have outlined a pattern of intimidation and violent assaults intended to embezzle funds and defraud unions and employee benefit plans. The defendants were also charged with threatening witnesses, money laundering and firearms offences. The Gambino family is one of the five prominent New York-area mafia syndicates collectively known as La Cosa Nostra. The defendants face maximum sentences of between twenty and 180 years in prison.
Iran: tensions over jail sentence for French national
France said on 8 November that one of its citizens being held in Iran has been sentenced to five years in prison on a baseless conviction, and called for his immediate release and that of three other of its nationals held in the country. Ties between the two countries have been strained over the issue in what Paris has said are arbitrary arrests that are equivalent to state hostage taking. Louis Arnaud, who has been held since September 2022, is being detained at the Evin prison in Tehran. His mother said that the pretexts given for his sentencing were for propaganda and harming the security of the Iranian state: ‘These are completely baseless, a carbon copy of what they attribute to other Europeans held in Iran.’ In recent years, the elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests - a charge which the government denies.
Argentina: election outcome difficult to predict
Opinion polls are showing an increasingly tight race between Peronist economy minister Sergio Massa and radical libertarian Javier Milei ahead of a runoff ballot for president on 19 November. The two candidates offer polarised visions for the embattled Latin American country, the region's third largest economy, a major supplier of grains, beef and lithium, but also the largest debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). One recent survey showed Massa ahead with 42.4% of the likely vote against Milei on 39.7%, his lead more than cut in half versus the previous poll in late October. He is still seen as the candidate to beat, but Milei has gained ground, winning the backing of conservative Patricia Bullrich, who finished third in the first-round vote, and her powerful ally, former President Mauricio Macri. Significantly, with some 18% of those polled remaining unsure, the outcome is hard to call.
US elections: Democrats do well in spite of Biden’s popularity ratings
The Democratic Party's strong showing in off-year elections has encouraged Joe Biden and his supporters, although his popularity is low (it is now 39%, the lowest since April). Some segments of the party have lost faith in Biden, frustrated by his Israel stance, the lack of movement on climate change, or high prices. However, encouraging signs included a victory by Democratic incumbent governor Andy Beshear in Kentucky over a well-regarded Republican opponent, the passage in Republican-voting Ohio of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights, and Democratic wins in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. The Ohio result shows abortion rights remain a winning political issue for Democrats after the conservative majority on the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to an abortion, overriding public opinion. Whether victories for Democrats this week are a definitive sign of strength for Biden's re-election is unclear. Biden, who turns 81 this month, currently faces no serious primary challengers and has raised tens of millions of dollars for his re-election campaign. His fundraising has surpassed that of Donald Trump, 77, who backed the losing Kentucky governor candidate.
“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets…“ Says the Lord Almighty (NIV) Mal 1:11
We are pleased to bring you this November 2023 edition of IPC Connections!
I trust that you will be blessed and encouraged as you read the articles, news and resources info this month!
WPA 2023 AU – More than 3,000 believers gathered in Perth, Australia last month for the World Prayer Assembly (WPA) – with an estimated 1.5 million watching and praying online. It was a truly momentous, God-filled, prayer saturated occasion!
May I extend the greatest thanks and appreciation on behalf of the worldwide IPC family, to James Condon, Margaret Court, Michael Greaves, Wendy Yapp, and the huge team that made this event such a resounding success! Grateful thanks also go to the Australian and Indonesian sponsors for their generosity. Appreciation also to Dean Briggs, Daniel Pandji and the 10 IPC regional leaders for their participation.
See James and Margaret’s messages in the Editorial that follows below.
The plenary session WPA video replays are available //www.youtube.com/@worldprayerassembly/streams">HERE | Photos | See Pat Steele’s Reels
12:11 Prayer - During WPA,//www.youtube.com/@SuccatHallelHouseOfPrayer/streams"> Rick Ridings who leads a 24/7 House of Prayer and Praise, encouraged us to be in prayer for Israel and the Middle East. As WPA closed, we heard of the invasion and atrocities that sparked war between Israel and Hamas. We mobilised concerted 12:11 Prayer for 21 days, with many people pausing to pray in unity for Israel at 12 Noon, for 11 Minutes each day. We have decided to keep going with this 12:11 Prayer until peace returns. Let's continue to pray for the harvest that many Jews, Arabs, and Internationals will come to Christ, pray for protection over the believers and house churches in Gaza, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem that God will restrain and contain this war... do join us as the Lord leads you!
2BC – 2 Billion Children – is a campaign conceived by IPC’s Senior Advisor and Exec Member, Tom Victor, with a vision to see the 2 billion children across our world empowered to share the message of God’s love with their friends and families. Tom has teamed up with Ann Low and Anja Letsatsi, who are raising awareness for this exciting project. Read more Here.
Beauty and Majesty of Jesus – is an 8-session course that I had the privilege of presenting recently on the Aqueduct Platform. More than 350 people joined us online as we explored the depths of the beauty and majesty of Jesus as the Creator, the Lamb of Glory, the Glorious Bridegroom, the Good Shepherd, and the King of the Nations! We are pleased to make the course freely available to you in the resources section below! Here is session 1!
18 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World - These next 2 weeks, we invite you to join us as we pray for the unreached peoples in cities across the Hindu world, in and around India. See the online and downloadable Adult and Children’s prayer guides.
Global Day of Prayer for the Hindu World – Sun 12th November marks the fourth of our Global Days of Prayer in 2023. We invite you to join with millions of believers worldwide, at home, face to face or online as we ask the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers to every unreached people group in these cities and nations! Do join us online for an hour (or more) of this 24 hours, to pray for Gospel movements throughout the Hindu world and Asia!
Join all-age prayers for the Hindu World from 8am EST 12 November on Zoom:
CLICK LINK - Zoom Meeting ID – 84602907844 Passcode 32223
Editorial – The editorial article in this edition is entitled ‘Mountain Movers’ – Praying for the Hindu World in Jesus’ Name! – and is about the key to effective and powerful prayer – praying in the Name of Jesus! I trust it will embolden and encourage you in your prayers.
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All Glory to the Lamb,
Jason Hubbard - Director
International Prayer Connect