Prayer Requests
1 – Pray for Camobdia after its national election that happened on 28 July 2013. May the political leaders do what is right before God for their nation.
2 – Cambodian people turn their heart to God wherever the Gospel will be spread.
3 – Pray for multiplication spiritually, leaders taking their places in every sector, more harvest fields opening up for sharing the Gospel with students, professionals and GCM (Global Churches Movement).
4 – Pray for the spiritual growth of church members, and may the Lord raise up more house church leaders and provide for them physically.
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Christian charities support Archbishop over payday loans
The Archbishop of Canterbury is warning the payday lender Wonga he plans to force it out of business. He says the Church of England will compete against it, by putting credit unions on its sites. Payday lenders give short-term loans but they come with high interest rates, and are often blamed for leading people into more debt. The Archbishop's comments have received widespread support from within the Christian community. Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children's Society, said: "The Archbishop of Canterbury should be applauded for taking such a bold stance to tackle the scourge of high cost payday loan companies. "Many charge eye-watering rates of interest and drag people into a vicious spiral of debt and despair." John Kirkby the founder of Christians Against Poverty. He told Premier's Marcus Jones on the News Hour it's great to see the Archbishop speaking out.
Pray: for all measures that will bring an end to usery style loans to break the vicious circle of debt. (Ez.22.12)
More: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Christian%20charities%20support%20Archbishop%20over%20payday%20loans.aspx
Christians demand free speech guidance from Scotland Yard chief
Britain's most senior policeman has been urged to issue guidelines to his officers to protect Christians’ rights to free speech, amid claims they are suffering intimidation and discrimination from police. Christian activists have called on Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to inform all his officers that it is legal to cite traditional Bible teaching which describes homosexuality as a sin when speaking in public. The campaigners say free speech is under threat after a series of cases in which street preachers were arrested for delivering sermons which referred to the traditional Christian view of homosexuality. Andrea Williams, the director of the CLC, has written to Sir Bernard insisting that human rights laws allow Christians to express their genuinely-held views without fear of arrest, providing they do not incite a breach of the peace. Mrs Williams suggested Christians were becoming “fearful” of expressing their lawful views because of the police’s “intimidatory tactics”.
Pray: for the police in their difficult role but that they will recognise the legality of free speech in these matters. (Dt.32:1)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10206335/Christians-demand-free-speech-guidance-from-Scotland-Yard-chief.html
Topshop bosses criticised on garment worker safety
Fashion retailer Topshop has rejected moves to prevent further disasters in garment factories in Bangladesh. The anti-poverty charity War on Want has urged the public to press Topshop's parent company, Arcadia Group, to join other leading fashion retailers that have signed the Bangladesh Safety Accord. The appeal comes three months after the Rana Plaza building in Savar collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring over 2,500 others. The charity's sweatshops campaigner, Murray Worthy, said: "Topshop’s bosses have got no excuse for not signing this agreement. With their bumper profits, they can easily afford a tiny fraction of that to make their supplier factories safe. “Their failure to act and to work with other UK high street retailers to make these factories safe leaves thousands of workers’ lives at risk. No one should have to work living in fear of death. Yet that is exactly the fate to which Topshop are condemning their workers."
Pray: for Arcadia Group to rethink their position in this matter and fall in line with other UK retailers. (Tim.5:18)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18669
Cameron vows to export gay marriage worldwide
Britain's most senior policeman has been urged to issue guidelines to his officers to protect Christians’ rights to free speech, amid claims they are suffering intimidation and discrimination from police. Christian activists have called on Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to inform all his officers that it is legal to cite traditional Bible teaching which describes homosexuality as a sin when speaking in public. The campaigners say free speech is under threat after a series of cases in which street preachers were arrested for delivering sermons which referred to the traditional Christian view of homosexuality. Andrea Williams, the director of the CLC, has written to Sir Bernard insisting that human rights laws allow Christians to express their genuinely-held views without fear of arrest, providing they do not incite a breach of the peace. Mrs Williams suggested Christians were becoming “fearful” of expressing their lawful views because of the police’s “intimidatory tactics”.
Pray: for the police in their difficult role but that they will recognise the legality of free speech in these matters. (Dt.32:1)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10206335/Christians-demand-free-speech-guidance-from-Scotland-Yard-chief.html
Sorted London taxi drives Christian message
UK-based Christian men’s magazine Sorted is to operate its very own Sorted Taxi, a fully liveried London taxi branded with the magazine’s graphics. This taxi will traverse the streets of London for a full year from June 18, 2013. According to a Sorted press release, the taxi’s dedicated driver will act as a special Sorted ambassador, distributing free copies of the magazine and explaining exactly what it stands for. ‘We believe this is a tremendous opportunity and exciting and innovative way to reach thousands of people with the Christian message in the most exciting city on earth,’ says Sorted publisher and editor, Steve Legg. He added: ‘Many people are reluctant to seek out a church or a typical Christian magazine, but we are confident that people will enjoy the variety, relevance and quality of Sorted whatever their belief system. I know they’ll love it.’
Praise: God for this initiative and pray that many will be exposed to the Christian message. (Mt.10:7)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13070106.htm
Sorted London taxi drives Christian message
UK-based Christian men’s magazine Sorted is to operate its very own Sorted Taxi, a fully liveried London taxi branded with the magazine’s graphics. This taxi will traverse the streets of London for a full year from June 18, 2013. According to a Sorted press release, the taxi’s dedicated driver will act as a special Sorted ambassador, distributing free copies of the magazine and explaining exactly what it stands for. ‘We believe this is a tremendous opportunity and exciting and innovative way to reach thousands of people with the Christian message in the most exciting city on earth,’ says Sorted publisher and editor, Steve Legg. He added: ‘Many people are reluctant to seek out a church or a typical Christian magazine, but we are confident that people will enjoy the variety, relevance and quality of Sorted whatever their belief system. I know they’ll love it.’
Praise: God for this initiative and pray that many will be exposed to the Christian message. (Mt.10:7)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13070106.htm
'The Bible' mini-series earns Emmy nomination
The Bible' mini-series has been nominated for an Emmy Award in the ‘Outstanding Mini-series or Movie’ category, it was announced last week. History Channel's biblical miniseries will be competing with five other programs for the category's top spot, including FX Network's ‘American Horror Story: Asylum,’ HBO's ‘Behind the Candelabra,’ HBO's ‘Phil Spector,’ USA's ‘Political Animals’ and Sundance Channel's ‘Top of the Lake.’ The show, which was produced by husband and wife team Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, has also been nominated for ‘Outstanding Sound Editing for a Mini-series, Movie or a Special’ and ‘Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Mini-series or a Movie’ for its premiere episode, ‘Beginnings.’ ‘What a blessing this is. Mark and I have poured our hearts and souls into this series,' Downey said in an email to The Christian Post. ‘We have worked so hard for four years now, It has been a labour of love that deepened not just our faith but our marriage and our friendship.’ (See also Prayer Alert 13-2013 & 15-2013)
Praise: God for this further opportunity of spreading your message
'The Bible' mini-series earns Emmy nomination
The Bible' mini-series has been nominated for an Emmy Award in the ‘Outstanding Mini-series or Movie’ category, it was announced last week. History Channel's biblical miniseries will be competing with five other programs for the category's top spot, including FX Network's ‘American Horror Story: Asylum,’ HBO's ‘Behind the Candelabra,’ HBO's ‘Phil Spector,’ USA's ‘Political Animals’ and Sundance Channel's ‘Top of the Lake.’ The show, which was produced by husband and wife team Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, has also been nominated for ‘Outstanding Sound Editing for a Mini-series, Movie or a Special’ and ‘Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Mini-series or a Movie’ for its premiere episode, ‘Beginnings.’ ‘What a blessing this is. Mark and I have poured our hearts and souls into this series,' Downey said in an email to The Christian Post. ‘We have worked so hard for four years now, It has been a labour of love that deepened not just our faith but our marriage and our friendship.’ (See also Prayer Alert 13-2013 & 15-2013)
Praise: God for this further opportunity of spreading your message
BBC religious output drops 20% in one year
The BBC’s religious output has fallen by 20 per cent in one year, according to its latest annual report. One secularist group welcomed the figures, claiming audiences see religion as unimportant. But a recent BBC Trust report highlighted a lack of knowledge about religion amongst some BBC staff. Across the broadcaster’s TV and Radio stations religious programmes amounted to 1,126 hours in the 2012-13 period, down from 1,393 in 2011-12. Religious output on BBC One decreased by just three per cent, whereas overall radio content fell by a fifth from 1,211 to 975 hours. On digital channel BBC Four, the number of hours devoted to religious programmes dropped from 53 hours to five. Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society said: ‘It is good that the BBC is taking notice of its audiences at last - who according to its own research don’t regard religion as an important genre and hardly ever watch it.’
Pray: that the fall of religious content in the BBC will be reversed and the secular influence will also be greatly reduced. (Is.40:23)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bbc-religious-output-drops-20-in-one-year/