Moldova government falls in confidence vote
Moldova's pro-Europe government has fallen to a confidence vote brought on by scandal and bitter feuds within Prime Minister Vlad Filat's ruling coalition. The vote on Tuesday is likely to lead to new elections and raises questions over whether a new government will continue the drive towards the European Union (EU) or seek closer relations with Russia. ‘This is a blow to Moldova and its citizens who dream of integration into the European Union,’ Filat said. ‘After the resignation of the government, it cannot be excluded that there will be changes to the direction the country takes.’ The three-party Alliance for European Integration ousted the communists in 2009. It has worked since then to break with the Soviet past and integrate into mainstream Europe. The co mmunists seized the opportunity to call a no-confidence vote amid a backdrop of corruption as Filat fell out publicly with other coalition leaders who called for his resignation.
Pray: for the government of Moldova and that the confidence vote on Tuesday would bring stability. (Pr.29:4)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/03/201335161737970263.htm
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an apointed time.” Habakkuk 2:2-3a
Dear Friends,
We are in a defining moment in world history. With nations in an uproar, economies in upheaval, social order declining, and times increasingly tumultuous, God is beckoning His church to advance His Kingdom. As a response, 300 leaders from around the world are gathering at IHOPKC Missions Base in Kansas City for the Transform World Prayer Summit on March 24-27, 2013.
Transform World and the International House of Prayer would like to invite YOU to become part of this 70-hour global prayer summit as a prayer-gathering host. In becoming a prayer-gathering host, you will have the opportunity to hear teaching and strategic points for intercession from key leaders such as Luis Bush, Mike Bickle, Dick Eastman, Loren Cunningham, George Otis Jr., Billy Wilson, Jim Fiske, and others. Additionally, you’ll worship and agree in intercession with these leaders as we target the 7 primary challenges that the church is currently facing.
You’re invited! Become one of the 100,000 Prayer Gathering Hosts that we are asking God for! With 100,000 prayer gatherings participating via web stream, we will have nearly 5 million prayer warriors linked together in prayer, contending together for spiritual breakthrough for 70 straight hours!
Here’s what a Prayer Gathering Host will do:
• Commit to joining us via web stream for at least one of the summit’s 2-hour sessions where your group will hear an exhortation from one of our speakers and engage with us in prayer for that session’s focus.
• Determine which of the sessions you would most like to tune in for. (choose as many sessions as you’d like) Click here to view the full event schedule:
http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/schedule/
• We want to know that you’re praying with us! You can let us know by filling out a short registration form. Click http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/host/ to access our Prayer Gathering Host page and choose the registration link that accommodates your language.
• Invite at least 5 other people to your chosen venue to join the Transform World Prayer Summit live via web stream.
• Let your friends know about the event.
o Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Transformed-World-2020-Ihopkc-Global-Prayer-Summit-March-24-27-2013/443647259030766?fref=ts
o Follow us on Twitter and tweet about us: https://twitter.com/TW2020IHOPKC
o Click to download Challenge and Prayer Host cards to share with your friends by printing them or sharing them electronically:
http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TWC-2020-Fliers.zip
o Visit our website and direct your friends to it: www.ihopkc.org/tw
• Tune in via live web stream on March 24th-27th to view the sessions that you have committed to. The web address for the event’s stream is: www.ihopkc.org/tw.
We encourage you to join us as a Prayer Gathering Host for this historic event!
“He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.” (Ps. 111:6)
“Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as your possession.” (Psalm 2:8)
“Burundi shall be saved!” Those were the Spirit’s words spoken in the sweetest, most assuring voice I heard, accompanied by what seemed like the soft beating of a dove’s wings next to my right ear. I was seated on the platform listening to Burundi’s ambassador for peace and reconciliation give a final word at the end of a three-day prayer initiative our team had facilitated in the strife-torn nation in the year 2000. About 200 Christian leaders from the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa tribes had spent many hours humbling themselves, crying out to God with deep emotion and broken hearts for their war-shattered land in which tens of thousands were being killed through intertribal warfare much like neighboring Rwanda. They had taken part in times of moving reconciliation between their ethnic groups and denominations. It seemed like the Great Physician Himself was in the room doing His own kind of heart surgery on all who were present.
In the months following, we witnessed what that sweet, heavenly voice said actually come to pass as a government of national unity was formed and Hutu leaders in exile flew back into the country. Eventually, the current president, who had come to Christ in the jungle as a rebel leader, came into office. He has continued to work for unity and the development of the nation, wholeheartedly serving the Lord as a man of prayer and worship in all he does.
In this case, and in the rest of the over 50 national prayer initiatives my colleagues and I have had the privilege of facilitating, we have observed and used a number of key practices we have that may be of encouragement to those of us wanting to see God’s transformation of our own or other nations we are concerned about. Here are some of the most important ones:
1. Gather the spiritual leaders and intercessors (be inclusive of all denominations) together for a sustained time for no agenda except the Lord and one another. 2-3 days in a retreat setting is ideal if possible, otherwise a few hours or a process enabling participants to go deep enough.
2. Come in a spirit of humility, confessing our personal and corporate sin, seeking to get on the Lord’s wavelength (Isaiah 55:7-8).
3. As needed and usually it is, facilitate an unhurried time for reconciliation of denominations and ethnic groups that are present so representatives can ask for and receive forgiveness on behalf of their groups.
4. Locals who are knowledgeable about political, social, economic or church needs share issues for prayer, including anything uncovered about the way the powers of darkness are influencing the society.
5. Bring these issues and situations to God, listening to and waiting on Him for His strategy to deal with them - both through prayer and actions proceeding from it. Pray with unity and faith, dealing with evil spiritual powers in His authority which He shares with us (Matthew 18:18-20, Luke 10:19, and Ephesians 6:10-18)
6. Listen to the Lord corporately, being open for prophetic input like words from Scripture, impressions, dreams and visions He may give to participants.
7. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead the process and don’t preprogram it. “Let God be God” in the midst of His people!
8. Include children and youth as equal ministry partners. Let them pray and give prophetic words. Often God will speak through a child more clearly and powerfully than through an adult!
9. Where appropriate invite government leaders and officials to take part to be prayed for or to share prayer concerns but not to give political speeches.
10. Pray with authority and unity as those who sit beside the one who has all power, Jesus Christ, joined to Him through the Spirit who lives within us. Expect that history will be changed and it will! (Matthew 18:18-20). “History belongs to the intercessors, who believe the future into being!” (Walter Wink)
May the Lord use you to do exploits for Him wherever you are to witness the “power of his works” and along with Messiah receive the nations as your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as your possession!
A quarter of Brits don’t know their neighbour’s name
Perhaps the Queen had an inkling of how bad things were when she used her historic speech to Parliament last month to call on the nation to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee by being a good neighbour. It turns out 13 million of us (or 26 per cent) don’t know the name of the person who lives next door, 22 per cent don’t know what they do for a living, 7 per cent have absolutely no idea who they are and 3 per cent feel threatened by them, according to new research by FindaProperty.com. But the days of borrowing a cup of sugar might not be completely behind us, as the survey reveals that a fifth of us (or 19 per cent) say they would actually like to have a better relationship with their neighbours. Knowing the person next door can improve security and quality of life. We all want to feel safe and comfortable in our homes and the strength of our relationships with the people who live nearby affect this.
Pray: for neighbours to get to know each other and to be willing to reach out the hand of friendship. (Matt.7:12)
More: http://blog.zoopla.co.uk/2012/04/10/neighbour-dont-know-name/
NHS watchdog to tackle malnutrition in hospitals
The Department of Health is acting after reports that over 1,000 people have starved to death in NHS hospitals in past four years. The Sunday Express said figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed that for every patient who dies from malnutrition, four more have dehydration mentioned on their death certificate. In 2011, 43 patients starved to death and 291 died in a state of severe malnutrition, the newspaper said, while the number of patients discharged from hospital suffering from malnutrition doubled to 5,558. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Every NHS patient should expect to be looked after properly in hospital. It is completely unacceptable if patients go hungry or are malnourished. and they have increased the number of unannounced inspections by the care watchdog to tackle the issue. "We are also investing £100m on IT so nurses can spend more time with patients, not paperwork.
Pray: for response to this issue that will ensure it becomes a tragedy of the past. (Ps.8:4)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/03/nhs-watchdog-malnutrition-hospitals
Police chaplain 'forced out after criticising gay marriage'
A police chaplain says he was forced out of his post after criticising the Government’s plans for gay marriage on his personal website, MPs have been told. Rev Brian Ross said he was summoned to a meeting with a senior officer and told that postings on his blog on the subject of marriage did not fit with the force’s equality and diversity policies. Campaigners against same-sex marriage claimed that the case was “just the start of things to come”. They said it backed up warnings that chaplains in hospitals, prisons and the armed forces as well as teachers and other public servants could be dismissed legally from their jobs if they take what they consider to be a stand on grounds of conscience over the issue. Ministers have repeatedly insisted that no one should be sacked from their job for voicing opposition to same-sex marriage and have built in special “protections” for clerics into the Government’s Marriage Bill.
Pray: for Government to make their promises clear by acting to ensure no one should lose their job because of stating their point of view. (Jn.16:29)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9901134/Police-chaplain-forced-out-after-criticising-gay-marriage.html
The Taliban and their allies on both sides are still on the offensive and continue to spread death and violence. The reports are talking about continued strong Taliban activities and an increase of violence…these powerful spiritual forces will not just easily give up. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, much more is at stake, and it will take a strong commitment of many intercessors. Please continue to partner is prayer for this special project and share these requests with others.
1. Please pray that more intercessors from around the world will join us to seriously intercede for Afghanistan and Pakistan at this crucial stage.
2. We still see many terrifying attacks of Taliban against their governments, the Army/police, and many innocent people. Continue to pray that this movement and their allies would be completely thrown into confusion and be crushed. We continue to proclaim the end of this satanic movement.
3. That their leaders would either surrender, give up and stop fighting or that they would be taken out before they spread even more violence and bloodshed. Especially let this happen for their key people like Mullah Omar, Gulbadin Hekmatyar, the Haqqanis and other high-ranking leaders. Pray that the demonic protection these leaders have would be removed and that would be caught soon. That the demonic unity between the Taliban and their allies be broken and that they would turn again each other.
4. That the fear of God to fall on them and as many as possible of their key leaders would be converted to Christ.
5. Pashtun tribal leaders throughout the areas where the Taliban operate would be so fed-up with the Taliban and their allies that they would not allow them to use their territory any more and start opposing them. It happened already in some areas and it should spread out throughout the Pashtun areas.
6. Pray for President Karzai who seems to make compromises with the Taliban and tries to appease them. He is losing the trust of other important ethnic groups, which can lead again to dangerous frictions. During the meeting in Washington the President Karzai demanded from the US government to pull out their troops from villages (where usually the Taliban are) and stop the night raids (where most of the Taliban leaders were caught). This will weaken the NATO Troops in their fight against the Taliban. Also the US gov had to hand over all the Taliban prisoners to the Afghan government. A number of times he released key Taliban leaders. The US gov had to give in to all these demands. Pray that the Afghan president would stop these actions that will brings increasingly distrust from his own people and the western governments that support Afghanistan.
7. Elections are to be held in Pakistan in the Spring. A party very sympathetic to the Taliban and one that promises to bring in Sharia law is popular and predicted to win. Pray for a moderate party to win and one that will rule with justice. PRAY for the right leader to be elected. PRAY that a fanatical, religious government will not take over.
8. Pray for the small population of Christians not to be afraid but to be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to stand up in faith and to strongly pray for their own countries. Especially in Pakistan is a larger percentage of Christians that should be mobilized to pray for their own country. PRAY for the Holy Spirit to stir Christians to pray like never before. PRAY for teams to be able to get visas to Pakistan to join with Christians there. PRAY for protection for Christians (foreign and national).
9. Pray the people in Pakistan will boldly speak out against the Taliban and that the military will also be bold in fighting against the enemy.
10. Pray for confusion in the Taliban’s attempt to establish a headquarters in Qatar or any other place.
Provided by “David” and “Michael”, two veteran ministry leaders who have devoted their lives and ministries to these nations. May the Lord bless, encourage and protect them and their families!
http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/schedule/; http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/host/; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Transformed-World-2020-Ihopkc-Global-Prayer-Summit-March-24-27-2013/443647259030766?fref=ts; https://twitter.com/TW2020IHOPKC; http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TWC-2020-Fliers.zip; www.ihopkc.org/tw;
Hunger exists in UK too, says church group
The head of Church Action on Poverty has warned hunger is becoming an increasing reality for families in the UK. Niall Cooper said stagnant or falling incomes were combining with rising food and fuel costs to leave many parents unable to feed their children on a regular basis. There are now an estimated quarter of a million people relying on emergency food aid in the UK. Mr Cooper warned that one in five mothers were going without food on a regular basis so that their children could eat instead ‘Do these figures relate to Ethiopia, Sudan, the Congo – or the UK?’ he said. ‘Hunger is no longer a reality only for families in drought stricken, war torn or ‘underdeveloped’ countries in sub-Saharan Africa.’ Mr Cooper welcomed discussions in the EU on extending its Food Aid Programme to all 27 member states, including the UK.
Pray: or all those relying on emergency food aid in the UK that their needs will be met.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/hunger.exists.in.uk.too.says.church.group/31667.htm
Met rape unit encouraged woman to drop case
Independent Police Complaints Commission's Deborah Glass, reports that victims have been encouraged to drop rape charges in order to improve the Met's sex crime squad's performance results is ‘a sorry indictment of the performance culture.' This most recent case reported by the IPCC said: ‘There is no doubt from the evidence that a woman made an allegation of rape at Walworth police station which should have been believed and thoroughly investigated.’ The IPCC said the Southwark Sapphire squad's approach of ‘failing to believe victims’ was ‘wholly inappropriate’. It also said it was ‘underperforming and over-stretched’. Deputy chairwoman of the IPCC Deborah Glass said: ‘There's no doubt this was an incredibly serious and shocking incident. We know with all the cases that we've dealt with that the consequences of not dealing with allegations of rape can be extremely serious. This case is yet another tragic illustration of that.’
Pray: that all reported rapes would be investigated thoroughly and that the Police would be given training to enable them to be sensitive from first contact and throughout their investigations. (Dt.13:14)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21586786
Join Fairtrade Fortnight’s new campaign
Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 (25 Feb – 10 Mar) has now begun! This year we are being asked to sign Fairtrade’s petition to urge David Cameron to champion a better deal for the world’s smallholder farmers when the UK hosts the G8 summit in Northern Ireland in June. This year, F arairtradee ramping up the pressure. It is nothing short of a scandal that half of the world’s hungry people are the smallholder farmers who produce 70% of the world’s food, as our new report Powering Up Smallholder farmers to Make Food Fair makes clear. The fact that so many hungry people are food producers shows just how unbalanced our global food system has become. It’s madness that we allow hunger, poverty and exploitation to continue to scar the lives of millions of food producers, while in the UK it is reported we throw away one third of the food we buy.
Pray: that this challenge by Fairtrade will have the desired effect in raising awareness at the G8. (Pr.31:9)