Syria: Residents of Christiantvillage massacred
Almost 40 people, including women and children, were killed when opposition fighters attacked the village of Dweir, on the outskirts of Homs, on 27 May. A Barnabas Fund partner reported that the rebels tortured some residents before they killed them. On the day after the incident, independent United Nations investigators warned that opposition forces were becoming increasingly radicalised, and that only a minority of them were pro-democracy and wanted a state for all Syrians. Despite these developments, Western governments are moving towards increased support for the rebels. The United States will now provide direct military aid to the Syrian opposition for the first time. We are asked to pray for the Lord to guide Western governments as they respond to increasing radicalisation amongst the rebels, and pray that He will bring hope to Syrian Christians, whose position in their own country is becoming more and more precarious.
Pray: for comfort for all those who lost loved ones in the massacre. Pray also for those who had to flee their homes and may be traumatised by what they have witnessed. (Ps.34:17-18)
More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYywK6Z5zrc
USA: Lavish lifestyles of preachers on reality TV
Fast cars, lavish mansions, infidelity and angst-filled episodes are displayed in prosperous lifestyles of six mega-church pastors featured in a trailer for the new reality show, ‘Preachers of L.A.,’ on the Oxygen network in the Autumn. ‘The Bible says I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. I believe that,’ declares Bishop Clarence McClendon, one of the stars of the show in the trailer posted to YouTube on Thursday. His international broadcast reaches 250 million homes with the prosperity gospel, on Oxygen (NBC Universal.) ‘P. Diddy, Jay-Z, aren’t the only ones who should be driving Ferraris and living in large houses,’ says cast member Bishop Ron Gibson who ministers to 4,500 people at Life Church of God in Christ. Pastor Wayne Chaney explained, ‘being a pastor is very dangerous because you have to be perfect at all times.’However the show focuses on the imperfection in the lives of very famous and very rich ministers.
Pray: against a carnal, superficial image being portrayed. Pray that no one in the body of Christ will be hurt through these ministries. (Mic.2:11,12)
Somalia: Child Soldiers
On 3rd July 2012 Somalia signed a UN-backed agreement to end recruitment and use of child soldiers. See: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42390#.UdP7d20ptr8 This week Win10/40 reported that in a school room in Somalia for 14 and 15 year old boys the stillness was shattered by the heavy, uneven footfall of people running. Then turbaned men wielding machine guns dragged young boys away. Instinctively others got up to run but none escaped the men who herded them into trucks - like cattle to the slaughterhouse. The boys were kidnapped, abducted, trafficked. The terrorist group Al Shabab sexually abused them, used the boys in militant battles as cannon fodder to protect the lives of adult terrorists, and stripped them of their childhood and human dignity. A 15-year-old boy who escaped Al Shabab recounted his horror to Human Rights Watch, ‘Out of all my classmates - out of 100 only two escaped, the rest were killed.’
Pray: that Somalia would honour its agreement with the UN, and for child soldiers to find healing and wholeness in the love of Jesus Christ (Mat.19:14)
More: http://win1040.com/post.php?id=1739&q=Child%20soldiers%20Somalia
Myanmar: Child soldiers
June 27th was the 1 year anniversary of Myanmar making a commitment to the UN to stop recruiting and using children as soldiers. The agreement acknowledged a longstanding problem and a willingness to correct the practice. However the Tatmadaw has continued to recruit and use children since it signed the action plan, although in lower numbers. It has only released 66 children from its ranks, a fraction of those recruited by troops since the UN started monitoring this issue. Myanmar continues to stall UN access to identify and release children from some of its military sites despite having signed an agreement to do so. The Border Guard Forces (BGFs), which are within the remit of the action plan and for whom the Myanmar military is responsible, have felt no pressure to initiate steps to verify, demobilise or rehabilitate children in their ranks.
Pray: that Myanmar will ensure that under-18s do not serve in the armed forces and immediately begin to honour their 2012 agreement with the UN. (Ps.72:4)
More: http://www.child-soldiers.org/news_reader.php?id=685
Archbishop of Canterbury plans credit union for the clergy
The Archbishop of Canterbury is planning to expand the reach of credit unions as part of a long-term campaign to boost competition in the banking sector. He has approved proposals considering how the Church of England's reach could boost access to credit unions, which are financial co-operatives that offer short term, affordable loans to members. The church is planning a credit union, possibly in partnership with the Church of Scotland, which would lend to members of the clergy and become a source of expertise on the credit union sector.
There are also plans to encourage church members with relevant skills to volunteer at credit unions. Small, local lenders could also be invited to use church buildings and other community locations with the help of church members. With a more diverse financial sector, there should be less need for payday lenders who extract exorbitant interest rates.
Pray: for this innovative idea and that it will expand and be a force for good (Ex.22:25)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/10151220/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-plans-credit-union-for-the-clergy.html
The Church of England's General Synod
Will it be another Anglican bunfight or will new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby hold the communion together? Asks Sam Jones in last Sunday's Guardian. He writes “On Friday afternoon, the Church of England's General Synod will descend on York to begin the Herculean task of clearing away some of the debris from its last meeting. The synod's failure in November to approve draft legislation that would have allowed female clergy to become bishops was memorably described by one member as "a train crash of epic proportions". Few would disagree. With parliament breathing down its neck and many angered by the church hierarchy's opposition to same-sex marriage, the C of E knows it cannot risk another embarrassing meeting. On Friday evening, Justin Welby, will address his first synod. Even for a man who has travelled to some of the most dangerous places on earth in the hope of bringing about peace and reconciliation, the five-day meeting will be a tough gig.
Pray: for Justin Welby and all attending General Synod that they will be open to God and be led by the Holy Spirit. (Ro.8:28)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/30/church-of-england-general-synod
PM praises Christianity but admits there are ‘challenges’
David Cameron speaking at a national parliamentary prayer breakfast has praised the role of Christianity in society, but an Oxford professor says many Christians feel marginalised. The Prime Minister told delegates at the prayer breakfast, held in Westminster Hall: “It is encouraging that Christianity still plays such a vital role in our national life. He said: “It has had an immense historic influence in the development of our culture and institutions and it motivates British people to wonderful acts of service and self-sacrifice. We are a country with a Christian heritage and we should not be afraid to say so.” John Lennox, an Oxford University maths professor pointed to a “vocal minority of influential minds” which he says mocks and ridicules the faith. He said: “Although we no longer burn the Bible in this country, a vocal minority of influential minds mock and ridicule it”.
Pray: for Mr Cameron's words to be reflected in the legislation and work of Parliament. (Eph.5:6)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/pm-praises-christianity-but-admits-there-are-challenges/
Italy: Evangelistic festival takes the Good News worldwide
Marking the launch of a three-week evangelistic campaign aimed at the entire Latin world, FestiNapoli with Luis Palau drew thousands of individuals from the coastal city of Naples, this past Friday and Saturday for a free evangelistic festival. Packing the main plaza along the famed Via Francesco Caracciolo, the historic nature of the two-day festival could be felt by all. According to locals, it marked the first time in recent history that the evangelical community has been granted permission from city officials to host a public, outdoor evangelistic event. ‘We are so encouraged by this festival,’ said festival chairman Marcelo Simon Rodriguez. ‘This represents a great step forward for the evangelical Church in Italy.’ Joining with more than 20 local congregations, as well as a handful soccer stars and recording artists from the region, world evangelist Luis Palau shared the Good News both nights of the festival, reaching thousands of individuals in person with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
Praise: God for the FestiNapoli and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing new life. (Rom.6:4)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=43532&PN=1&TPN=1
Italy: Evangelistic festival takes the Good News worldwide
Marking the launch of a three-week evangelistic campaign aimed at the entire Latin world, FestiNapoli with Luis Palau drew thousands of individuals from the coastal city of Naples, this past Friday and Saturday for a free evangelistic festival. Packing the main plaza along the famed Via Francesco Caracciolo, the historic nature of the two-day festival could be felt by all. According to locals, it marked the first time in recent history that the evangelical community has been granted permission from city officials to host a public, outdoor evangelistic event. ‘We are so encouraged by this festival,’ said festival chairman Marcelo Simon Rodriguez. ‘This represents a great step forward for the evangelical Church in Italy.’ Joining with more than 20 local congregations, as well as a handful soccer stars and recording artists from the region, world evangelist Luis Palau shared the Good News both nights of the festival, reaching thousands of individuals in person with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
Praise: God for the FestiNapoli and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing new life. (Rom.6:4)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=43532&PN=1&TPN=1
Mexico: Monterrey Mayor, gives keys to city to Jesus Christ
The mayor of the Mexican city of Monterrey, Margarita Arellanes, symbolically gave the keys to the city to Jesus Christ at ‘Monterrey Ora' (Monterrey Prays), an event organized by an alliance of pastors. Arellanes made a speech in which she welcomed Jesus Christ to Monterrey and asserted that the city had been born in the name of God and should be preserved, loved and defended as such. A video of the speech, along with debate over the secular nature of the state and its institutions, has gone viral. Watch it on ‘More’ link below. ‘I, Margarita Alicia Arellanes, hand over the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León to our lord Jesus Christ, so that his kingdom of peace and blessings may be established. I open the doors to this municipality to God as the maximum authority. I acknowledge that without his presence and his help we cannot have true success,’ the mayor announced. She went on to read Psalms 40 from the Bible.
Praise: God for the testimony of Margarita and pray for her protection from the drug cartels. (Matt.10:7)