Historic non-stop prayer sweeps Muslim Indonesia
A powerful prayer movement is rising in the world's largest Muslim nation. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Indonesian Christians intercede for their country. It was a scene never witnessed before in Indonesia's history. ‘I don't know another nation on earth like Indonesia where the church has become so passionate and united in prayer,’ Tom Victor, with the American-based Great Commission Coalition, said. Last year, more than 9,000 Christians from around the world descended on the Indonesian archipelago for a massive prayer gathering led by scores of Indonesian churches united to see the name of Jesus Christ lifted. Dr. Bambang Widjaya was a key architect of the event. ‘We can see the zeal, not only among the evangelical or Pentecostals, but also in the mainline churches and Catholic that we need to spread the Good News of Christ all over the country,’ Widjaya said. (See Prayer Alert 20-2012 World Prayer Assembly)
Praise: God for His grace and favour. Long may it continue! (2Cor.4:15)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=43816&PN=1
School children encouraged to 'go for it'
Hundreds of primary school children breaking up for the summer were encouraged to ‘go for it’ in life and look after others. A special service at Llandaff Cathedral before the start of the school holidays was led by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, and the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff, David Wilbourne. The service was attended by year 6 pupils from 21 Church in Wales primary schools across the Diocese of Llandaff who will be starting their secondary schools in September. They were joined by their parish priests who are regular visitors at the school, helping out in lessons and with services and assemblies. Bishop Wilbourne said ‘So in life, go for it. Be bothered, go for every opportunity you are handed and wherever you arrive, make sure you share and look after others.’ After the service, the pupils were each handed a bookmark as a symbol of the diocese's love and care for them.
Pray: for all year 6 pupils around the country who have left their primary schools and will be starting their secondary education in a few weeks time. (Heb.12:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/school.children.encouraged.to.try.their.best/33284.htm
Lap-dancing jobs advertised on Govt website – despite ban
Jobs in an explicit lap-dancing club have been placed on a Government vacancies site, despite the Coalition banning such adverts from appearing three years ago. Vacancies for a Norwich-based club – which offers ‘topless to fully nude dances’ – featured on the Universal Jobmatch website last week. They included jobs for a table top dancer and an entertainment dancer, and sought candidates who were ‘very well-groomed’. The lap-dancing club says as well as offering ‘main-stage entertainment’, it also provides ‘private dances in our basement booths’, or on ‘dance beds from topless to fully nude’. It adds: ‘Some of our booths are also equipped with poles for your very own private pole dancer to perform for you.’ Labour MP Stella Creasy criticised the job adverts, telling The Independent newspaper they were ‘degrading’.
Pray: that the authorities will impose the ban on this type of advertising and deal with those responsible. (Ps.36:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/lap-dancing-jobs-advertised-on-govt-website-%E2%80%93-despite-ban/
Britain third biggest porn host after Netherland and the U.S.
Britain hosts the third biggest volume of internet pornography in the world and is home to more than half a million sites, according to a shocking survey. There are more than 52million pages of pornographic content in the country, including rape websites registered under the national domain name which ends co.uk. The revelation that Britain is one of the most popular worldwide locations to host adult websites will intensify pressure on the Government to provide an opt-out system for online porn. There are no restrictions on pornographers registering their sites under Britain’s domain name, for which a private company called Nominet UK is responsible. John Carr, a government adviser on child internet safety, called on Nominet to ban websites containing certain words like rape and said the ‘free for all’ should end. He said that all porn sites should be under the domain name .xxx and declared: ‘The UK should not provide succour and comfort to porn merchants.’ (See also Prayer Alert 30-2013)
Pray: that the Government will move forward their plans to control internet pornography, crime and other misuse. (Col.3:23)
Online game firms need to do more to prevent addiction
Online game companies need to do more to prevent players becoming too addicted in order to avoid Government intervention, a study has warned. Researchers at Cardiff, Derby and Nottingham Trent universities said some gamers play up to 90 hours a session, developing a ‘pathological’ addiction. They say while conventional video games have an ending, role-playing games involving numerous players may not. But the gaming body Ukie said it took the health of users seriously. It said it had a number of measures in place to ensure that games could be enjoyed safely and sensibly. The universities' research warned that if game companies did not create restraints for players and their games grew in popularity, Western governments might have no choice but to follow Asia and limit usage. The study, published in the Addiction Research and Theory Journal, has said Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) are an inexhaustible system of goals and success.
Pray: that Online Gaming companies will bring the necessary controls into place that would help those addicted to gambling. (1Jn.5:19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-23576035
Spain and Gibraltar border crossing dispute continues
Tensions have escalated between Spain and Gibraltar over long delays at the border crossing because of increased vehicle searches. The British territory has claimed the recent tough measures on the border by its northern neighbour was because of the creation of an unpopular artificial reef. Some say Spain is blowing this ongoing situation out of proportion to take the voting Spaniard minds of of serious problems closer to home. Prime Minister David Cameron and the Foreign Office have said they are concerned about comments made by Spain's Foreign Minister. Jose Manuel Garcia who has suggested a 50 euro fee for crossing the Spain-Gibraltar border could be imposed. There have also been complaints about excessive border checks causing delays in and out of Spain. The latest tension has flared up around an artificial reef, which Madrid claims is harming their fishermen. The Catholic Bishop of Gibraltar the Rt Rev Ralph Heskett urges people to pray for harmony.
Pray: for wisdom and harmony for the governments as they seek a solution to this situation. (Ex.18:19b)
More: http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/06/spain-and-gibraltar-border-crossing-dispute-continues/
Spain and Gibraltar border crossing dispute continues
Tensions have escalated between Spain and Gibraltar over long delays at the border crossing because of increased vehicle searches. The British territory has claimed the recent tough measures on the border by its northern neighbour was because of the creation of an unpopular artificial reef. Some say Spain is blowing this ongoing situation out of proportion to take the voting Spaniard minds of of serious problems closer to home. Prime Minister David Cameron and the Foreign Office have said they are concerned about comments made by Spain's Foreign Minister. Jose Manuel Garcia who has suggested a 50 euro fee for crossing the Spain-Gibraltar border could be imposed. There have also been complaints about excessive border checks causing delays in and out of Spain. The latest tension has flared up around an artificial reef, which Madrid claims is harming their fishermen. The Catholic Bishop of Gibraltar the Rt Rev Ralph Heskett urges people to pray for harmony.
Pray: for wisdom and harmony for the governments as they seek a solution to this situation. (Ex.18:19b)
More: http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/06/spain-and-gibraltar-border-crossing-dispute-continues/
Hungary: Men found guilty In Roma killings
Survivors of one of Eastern Europe's deadliest wave of attacks against Roma since World War II received some justice Tuesday, August 6, as four Hungarian men were found guilty of killing six Roma people including a five-year-old child. Brothers Arpad and Istvan Kiss and Zsolt Peto received life imprisonment for attacking Roma villages with guns, grenades and firebombs. The men, who were between ages 28 and 42 during the violence, have denied wrongdoing. The fourth suspect István Csontos, who served as a driver to his accomplices, was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. He admitted to cooperation but denied active involvement in the murders. At the time, BosNewsLife visited the village of Tatárszentgyörgy, where one of the most serious atrocities happened, and published this report.
Pray: for the Roma people that further persecution would cease. (Ps.5:11b)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/
Hungary: Men found guilty In Roma killings
Survivors of one of Eastern Europe's deadliest wave of attacks against Roma since World War II received some justice Tuesday, August 6, as four Hungarian men were found guilty of killing six Roma people including a five-year-old child. Brothers Arpad and Istvan Kiss and Zsolt Peto received life imprisonment for attacking Roma villages with guns, grenades and firebombs. The men, who were between ages 28 and 42 during the violence, have denied wrongdoing. The fourth suspect István Csontos, who served as a driver to his accomplices, was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. He admitted to cooperation but denied active involvement in the murders. At the time, BosNewsLife visited the village of Tatárszentgyörgy, where one of the most serious atrocities happened, and published this report.
Pray: for the Roma people that further persecution would cease. (Ps.5:11b)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/
NIGERIA: The judiciary
Nigeria’s criminal justice system is utterly failing Nigerian people and a majority of prisoners are not convicted of any crime. Amnesty International reported ‘The problems in Nigeria’s criminal justice system - especially its prisons - are so blatant and egregious that the Nigerian government has had no choice but to recognize them and has pledged many times to reform the system.’ We are asked to pray that beyond their technical ability, the Holy Spirit will help judicial officers discern the guilty from the innocent and liars from those who tell the truth. Ask God to raise God-fearing people through whom there will be a cleansing and purging of the judiciary and an honouring of the work of righteous the work oflawyers, judges and magistrates. Pray for God to expose wicked and corrupt judges so as to discourage them from evil. Ask God to put godly people in the National Judiciary Council, the body in charge of appointments. Ask Him to use the Nigerian Judiciary as a tool to make the nation law-abiding. For more insights into prayer for Nigeria; http://www.pray4nigeria.org/
Pray: for God to build up the remnants of the Judiciary that are still just and honourable. (Ps 89:14 & Is.28:6)