Swedish, Polish Christian medics fired for refusing abortions
A Christian nurse is taking legal action against the Swedish government after she was fired for refusing to perform abortions. A doctor in Poland, who was dismissed on similar grounds, is considering an appeal. Ellinor Grimmark said an employment offer at a hospital in Eksjo, southern Sweden, was suddenly scrapped though she had successfully completed an internship. The Ombudsman claimed the county council had refused her the position ‘not because of her religion, but because she was not prepared to perform duties that were part of the job description’. It comes amid reports of growing pressure on Christian medical personnel across Europe. On Friday, 9 July, news emerged that Professor Bogdan Chazan, viewed as one of Poland's top doctors, is considering an appeal after he was fired as director at Warsaw's Holy Family Hospital for his refusal to carry out an abortion.
100,000 people have come to Christ in Burundi in the last 8 years
‘Lord, I'll do anything, I'll go anywhere.’ This was the prayer of Simon Guillebaud as a young man, before he was called into one of the world's most dangerous mission fields. In 1999, when he was in his early 20s, Guillebaud gave up a steady marketing job to move to Burundi, a war-torn nation in the Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa. In the 15 years since, he has seen God move in incredible ways and is passionate about seeing the country and its people fully restored. ‘I went out with a few hundred pounds, most of which got stolen on the first day, and I just thought 'Bring it on', he tells Christian Today. Guillebaud set up an umbrella organisation, Great Lakes Outreach (GLO), which works with local groups and gifted leaders to share the Gospel, and has seen one percent of Burundi come to Christ in the last eight years – 100,000 people.
Myanmar: God hears childrens' prayers
Nandar Nant from the children’s prayer movement in Myanmar, reported: ‘Every week and every month we have prayer gatherings in different orphanages, homes and churches. On Saturdays we organize a 24 hours of prayer. At the moment 50 churches, 60 orphanages and about 3500 children are involved, and next year we plan to expand again. Children have great faith and an innocent heart,’ she says. ‘When we started praying for the seven spheres of society, we saw amazing changes. Parents repented for not taking care of their children, and the children repented for disobeying their parents. People came free from addictions and adultery. We saw miracles of healing and unity among churches. Christian singers and actors now openly share about their faith. Personally I believe these changes are related to the children’s prayer movement. The children are really engaged as they see how God changes things because of their prayer.’
100,000 people have come to Christ in Burundi in the last 8 years
‘Lord, I'll do anything, I'll go anywhere.’ This was the prayer of Simon Guillebaud as a young man, before he was called into one of the world's most dangerous mission fields. In 1999, when he was in his early 20s, Guillebaud gave up a steady marketing job to move to Burundi, a war-torn nation in the Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa. In the 15 years since, he has seen God move in incredible ways and is passionate about seeing the country and its people fully restored. ‘I went out with a few hundred pounds, most of which got stolen on the first day, and I just thought 'Bring it on', he tells Christian Today. Guillebaud set up an umbrella organisation, Great Lakes Outreach (GLO), which works with local groups and gifted leaders to share the Gospel, and has seen one percent of Burundi come to Christ in the last eight years – 100,000 people.
Myanmar: God hears childrens' prayers
Nandar Nant from the children’s prayer movement in Myanmar, reported: ‘Every week and every month we have prayer gatherings in different orphanages, homes and churches. On Saturdays we organize a 24 hours of prayer. At the moment 50 churches, 60 orphanages and about 3500 children are involved, and next year we plan to expand again. Children have great faith and an innocent heart,’ she says. ‘When we started praying for the seven spheres of society, we saw amazing changes. Parents repented for not taking care of their children, and the children repented for disobeying their parents. People came free from addictions and adultery. We saw miracles of healing and unity among churches. Christian singers and actors now openly share about their faith. Personally I believe these changes are related to the children’s prayer movement. The children are really engaged as they see how God changes things because of their prayer.’
Assisted Suicide Bill – the debate
On Friday 18th July the House of Lords will vote on Lord Falconer's Bill to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales. The outcome of this vote will carry weight in the Scottish Parlament as the Assisted Suicide Bill is processed there. Previous bills of this nature have been defeated because they were considered dangerous. While the bill is being debated in the Lords people opposed to the bill will gather from 9:30 onwards outside the building armed with placards, banners and wearing black and/or red. The organisers of this protest want people to consider that while we fight for human rights for the disabled, for assistance in life for the disabled, support and independent living for the less able, a bill is being debated for assisted suicide for the same people. At a time when the NHS and social care are being decimated and the ILF is facing closure, is the only assistance we’ll get a suicide bill? (see also World section - item 6 and Europe section - item 1)
Countdown to 2014 Commonwealth Games
It’s count down time to the Commonwealth Games and a Christian ministry organisation ‘Flourish Scotland’ has been set up by Auchterarder-based Chris McCrosson, in partnership with the Christian charity More Than Gold. It will facilitate worship and preaching and Christian activity throughout the entire twelve days of the event with the hope of seeing lives and communities transformed through the release of God's blessing. Taking inspiration from the motto ‘Let Glasgow flourish through the preaching of his word and the praising of his name,’ the teams are preparing for a ‘24/12 Encounter’ in which a variety of speakers and worship artists will help form a non-stop 288-hour period of praise, prayer and preaching from the very start of the Games on 23 July through to the closing ceremony twelve days later. More information about how to support Flourish Scotland at the Games can be found at www.flourishscotland.com.
Military receive spending boost
David Cameron announced on Monday that the government will invest an additional £800m in boosting the military’s surveillance, intelligence and Special Forces plus £300m on extending existing capabilities. He said that the Armed Forces must adapt to deal with unseen enemies and spending on intelligence and surveillance equipment, such as drones, is a national necessity. He warned that Britain faces changing threats in the form of global terrorism and unseen cyber-criminals who can target the country from abroad, stating, ‘We cannot defend the realm from the white cliffs of Dover.’ See also: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10965217/Huge-investment-in-Armed-Forces-means-a-more-secure-future-for-Britain.html
Mums-to-be admit drinking too much booze
Thousands of women a year are giving birth after admitting having drunk too much alcohol during their pregnancies, a Sky News investigation has found. Although government guidelines warn pregnant women against drinking more than four units a week - equivalent to two large glasses of wine - hospitals have recorded a significant number drinking much more. The first hospital figures of their kind suggest that more than 2,000 babies a year are born to mothers who have breached alcohol guidelines. Dr Raja Mukherjee, lead clinician for the national foetal alcohol spectrum disorder clinic in Surrey said ‘We know that women are drinking more. 90% of women in this country drink and they don't all suddenly stop when they are pregnant.’ Heavy drinking during pregnancy increases the risk that babies will be born with foetal alcohol syndrome - a life-long condition that can leave children physically and mentally disabled.
Tooth decay hospitalises 500 children every week
Nearly 500 children a week are being admitted to hospital with rotten teeth, NHS figures show. It is now the main reason for youngsters needing hospital treatment and dentists say the main culprits are fruit juice and fizzy drinks. Most children need between four and eight of their baby teeth extracted, although some are having all 20 taken out. Figures also show that more than a quarter of five-year-olds have some degree of tooth decay and in some areas of England it is well over a third. Only last month new NHS guidelines urged the public to slash sugar intake to as little as five teaspoons a day, due to concerns that it is to blame for rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Experts are also worried that sugar is behind an increase in tooth decay in children and could affect their ability to learn.