The prayer momentum continues
Praise God for prayer initiatives emerging in 2013. Prayer walking your city. United we Are is generating a continuous year of prayer during 2013 by young people facilitated through 24-7 Prayer, Hope Revolution, Urban Saints and Global Day of Prayer London. This was launched by a ‘Gideon’ style army of 300 young people at Wembley stadium wearing red hoodies during a reading of Ezekiel 37. Details on www.thefatherslove.co.uk. Light the Land is a prayer and intercession tour lighting the beacons of revival across the nation from east to west and from north to south. For details of all venues – next one 3rd March in Manchester go to: http://robparkerchristchurch.com Also, Walking Into The Future, ‘As I started off my first prayer walk around ‘my’ City of Salford, little did I know what lay ahead’. Find out more from Dave King and all that they have learned about God’s faithfulness by clicking the More button.
Praise: God for the way He makes our feet like the feet of deer, and sets us on high places. May He continue to teach us and train us for war as He enables us to bend bows of bronze. (Ps.18:33-34)
More: http://www.wegather.co.uk/stories/Walking-Into-the-Future.cfm
The prayer momentum continues
Praise God for prayer initiatives emerging in 2013. Prayer walking your city. United we Are is generating a continuous year of prayer during 2013 by young people facilitated through 24-7 Prayer, Hope Revolution, Urban Saints and Global Day of Prayer London. This was launched by a ‘Gideon’ style army of 300 young people at Wembley stadium wearing red hoodies during a reading of Ezekiel 37. Details on www.thefatherslove.co.uk. Light the Land is a prayer and intercession tour lighting the beacons of revival across the nation from east to west and from north to south. For details of all venues – next one 3rd March in Manchester go to: http://robparkerchristchurch.com Also, Walking Into The Future, ‘As I started off my first prayer walk around ‘my’ City of Salford, little did I know what lay ahead’. Find out more from Dave King and all that they have learned about God’s faithfulness by clicking the More button.
Praise: God for the way He makes our feet like the feet of deer, and sets us on high places. May He continue to teach us and train us for war as He enables us to bend bows of bronze. (Ps.18:33-34)
More: http://www.wegather.co.uk/stories/Walking-Into-the-Future.cfm
Death row murderer’s conversion
After killing a man Edward Salazar Mauricio faced the electric chair. By God’s grace he received a life sentence. Mauricio had a Roman Catholic upbringing but it made no difference in his life. ‘I confessed my sins before a priest, said a few Hail Marys and Our Fathers and continued my life without any change whatsoever.’ During his frequent trips to solitary confinement guards left a Bible in his cell. ‘I started reading the Bible to pass the time,’ God slowly planted His Word in Mauricio’s heart. He attended a prison evangelistic meeting where Saul of Tarsus's conversion was preached and, ‘That word went straight into my heart. After leaving the meeting I went to my prison cell, got on my knees, and said ‘God, I know I am a sinner and that I have destroyed my life through sin, but if you can use my life in anyway I surrender my life to You right now.’ You can read all of his story by clicking the More button.
Praise: God for the power of His word that penetrated Edward’s heart to bring changes he could never have imagined. (Ps.119:11)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2013/02/the-death-row-murderer-who-became-a-missionary/
Death row murderer’s conversion
After killing a man Edward Salazar Mauricio faced the electric chair. By God’s grace he received a life sentence. Mauricio had a Roman Catholic upbringing but it made no difference in his life. ‘I confessed my sins before a priest, said a few Hail Marys and Our Fathers and continued my life without any change whatsoever.’ During his frequent trips to solitary confinement guards left a Bible in his cell. ‘I started reading the Bible to pass the time,’ God slowly planted His Word in Mauricio’s heart. He attended a prison evangelistic meeting where Saul of Tarsus's conversion was preached and, ‘That word went straight into my heart. After leaving the meeting I went to my prison cell, got on my knees, and said ‘God, I know I am a sinner and that I have destroyed my life through sin, but if you can use my life in anyway I surrender my life to You right now.’ You can read all of his story by clicking the More button.
Praise: God for the power of His word that penetrated Edward’s heart to bring changes he could never have imagined. (Ps.119:11)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2013/02/the-death-row-murderer-who-became-a-missionary/
NIGERIA: Appeal for prayers
Christians are being asked to pray for Nigeria after a weekend of deadly attacks. Six people died when gunmen attacked the predominantly Christian village of Aduwan Gida in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of Southern Kaduna on 23 February. The victims were villagers who had gathered to mourn the death of an elderly member of the community. The gunmen attacked the group at around 10pm. Victims reportedly included a mother and her six-month-old baby. The injured are being treated in hospitals in Kaduna and Plateau States Christian Solidarity Worldwide-Nigeria, said the attack resembled those by Boko Haram in recent years. ‘It is unfortunate that after the announcement of a ceasefire by elements of Boko Haram, we are still experiencing attacks resembling their style of operations,’ he said. 'We ask for continuing prayers for Nigeria and urge churches to be vigilant with regard to security, particularly as the Easter period approaches.’
Pray: for the relatives of all families murdered by ‘unknown attackers’ across Nigeria, may they know God’s peace and comfort. Pray also for security forces to give adequate protection. (Ps.23:4)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/appeal.for.prayers.for.nigeria.after.deadly.attacks/31718.htm
Tanzania: Plot to destroy peace?
Three violent incidents against Christian ministers have left believers concerned over the future of religious freedom. On Feb 17 gunmen waited for Father Evaristus Mushi as he parked his car outside his church, they surrounded the car and killed him. He was an advocate of interfaith dialogue. Also two days later a church was burned down. On Feb 2 Pastor Mathayo Kachili was hacked to death when he intervened in an altercation over the slaughter of an animal. A group of Muslims had demanded immediate closure of butcheries owned by Christians. On Boxing Day Father Ambrose Mkenda was shot as he left his car, the gunmen then ransacked the rectory. The Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference said the situation signalled a plot to destroy peace in the country. The situations on Zanzibar remain tense. Islamic extremism is the main persecution dynamic for the country.
Pray: for peace to prevail in the communities affected by the violence, may the government take decisive action in resolving issues pertinent to the incidents. (Ps.7:8-9)
South Africa: Guns and blades
Besides being a sporting Olympic celebrity, Oscar Pistorius is said to be a devoutly religious man, whose faith was illustrated by a tattoo on his back, quoting Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, ‘I do not run aimlessly but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.’ He would pray before every race, often with a competitor. So not surprisingly many are stunned by the killing of Reeva Steenkamp. Rumours and allegations abound but what does seem clear is that Pistorius lived with acute fears about his safety. For South Africans this is not untypical. Sadly the new South Africa is a nation beset by fear which is a constant topic of conversation with many. Even churches have prominent signs, warning of ‘Armed Response’ in the event of their security alarm being triggered. Amid the media frenzy, we need to pray that truth will be established.
Pray: that justice can be done despite the frenzied world interest and media hype. Pray also for the relatives of both families to know God’s peace. (Phil. 4:7)
Libya: Christian detained & mistreated
Our prayers have been requested following the arrest of Sherif, an Egyptian Christian businessman, who runs a bookshop in Benghazi, eastern Libya. His stock includes Christian books, intended for sale to the many expatriate Arabic speaking Christians living and working in Benghazi and the surrounding areas. He was arrested on 10 Feb. and remains detained but not charged before a court. He has been physically mistreated repeatedly. Other Christians in Benghazi have also been arrested, including several Egyptians and three non-Arab expatriates working as language teachers or businessmen. They are accused of proselytising no formal charges have yet been made against any of them. This month several communities of Catholic nuns have left the country following threats against their safety. One group located in Benghazi chose to remain. Christians supporting Sherif request our prayers that, ‘Sherif will know the presence and peace of Jesus each day, and be released soon’
Pray: for Sherif's wife and the others detained to know the close presence and healing of Jesus both physically and psychologically. (Ro.16:20)
Sudan: Christians detained; Violence kills 60
Dozens of Sudanese Christians were thought to be trapped in a Sudanese prison Saturday, February 23, as violence raged in renewed fighting between two Arab tribes, killing scores of people. At least 55 Christians were detained by the government of Sudan over two weeks ago on ‘false accusations’ of allegedly receiving money from foreign countries, including Israel, according to Christians with close knowledge of the case. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the group, which has no political affiliations and includes church leaders, was jailed as part of a wider crackdown on Christians in the volatile Islamic country. ‘CSW is deeply concerned at these arbitrary arrests and the wider news of an escalating crackdown on Christian citizens in Sudan’ said CSW’s Advocacy Director. ‘We urge the Sudanese government to release these prisoners and end its campaign of harassment against the Christian community.’ Also on Saturday 60 people died in fighting over mining rights in northern Darfur.
Pray: for detained believers and other Christians forced to flee areas of Sudan because of clashes and Islamic pressure by the government. (2Pe.1:2)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/26685-sudan-detains-dozens-of-christians-violence-kills-60
India: Attack on revival meeting sends Christians underground
As police looked on, militants attacked a church in central India on the second day of a revival meeting earlier this month at the Indian Christian Assembly of God Church in Rajnandgaon, causing severe injuries to some members and sending the pastor into hiding. The revival meeting included a graduation ceremony of 14 students who attended a short Bible training programme. About 300 Christians had gathered to witness the ceremony and attend the revival meeting. Attendees came from the neighbouring states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh. ‘Everything went well on the first day of the meeting until the afternoon of the second day,’ a witness told World Watch Monitor. The witness asked not to be named in order to avoid possible retribution from the attacker.
Pray: against the increasing violence against Christians in many parts of India may God arise and his enemies be scattered. (Ps.10:12)