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)
Egypt: Destroying tunnels and uniting Christians
A Cairo court has ruled the government must destroy all tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, a route for smuggled weapons and a lifeline for Palestinians. Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood has close ties with the Hamas movement that runs Gaza. Many Egyptians fear the enclave is a security risk for Egypt. The national security adviser said Egypt will not tolerate the two-way flow of smuggled arms through the tunnels that is destabilising its Sinai peninsula. Also this week for the first time since the dawn of Catholic and Protestant missions in the 17th and 18th centuries Egypt’s Christians formally stand united as the heads of the five largest denominations - Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, and Anglican - created Egypt's first Council of Churches. In recent decades, tension has dominated ecumenical relations with theological disputes, and accusations against minority denominations as sheep stealers. See: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2013/02/egypts-five-largest-denominations-unite-for-first-time-egyptian-council-of-churches.html
Pray: for the light of Christ to shine on and be in every decision made by Egypt’s leaders at this time of transition. (1Tim.2:2)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/201322619219970812.html
We are in the midst of a fierce battle for marriage. The Supreme Court will be hearing testimony next week on March 26 and 27 concerning whether the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8 in California (overturning homosexual marriage) should stand. The Court will render a decision probably in late June. There is MUCH political pressure on the Court to capitulate on these and cave in to the homosexual agenda. Even the president is pushing this.
Men and women, this is our generation’s Roe v. Wade fight! We must make a stand upon our knees for marriage.
From 7:00 PM, Monday, March 25, through 9:00 PM, Wednesday, March 27, intercessors around the nation from countless ministries will intercede as arguments are being heard at our Supreme Court.
Be encouraged by a word from a key leader in this initiative:
Since we have been obedient to pursue this course of action, to build a FIREWALL OF PRAYER around the Supreme Court during those two key hearings next week (DOMA/Proposition 8), the Lord has shown me a “new thing” that is on His heart! He has shown me that, while in days past, many of us have labored faithfully and fervently, fasting and praying and offering deep travail over issues that will impact us all, we were actually fighting inside our own fox holes!
On national issues like the Election last November and the Supreme Court hearings on “Obamacare” last spring, we each marshaled our own forces, pouring our hearts out to the Lord for help. We all know the rest of the story…could our Lord be ready to reveal a new strategy for a new season, and could the battleground at the Supreme Court be the launching pad to release this hidden work across the nation?
YES—today is a NEW DAY!
We now realize that, as ministry teams, we can no longer afford to fight these national battles “alone”, but that, instead, the LORD is requiring us to come up on the wall together in perfect alignment and in perfect unity as we face the forces that would seek to undermine our people and our nation. As we stand TOGETHER, we form a “seamless garment” before Him, and the enemy will find no breaches in the wall through which to attack!
We are now aligned in:
• His Will
• His Word: “What GOD hath put together, let no man rend asunder.”
• His Way
• His Love
We praise our God for the revelation of this winning strategy as we work together to find our won place on the wall and to defer to the others in their own positions, even honoring others as better than ourselves.
To GOD be the GLORY, for He is teaching all of us how to walk (or march) in this season, in His way!
(From an article Intercessors for America sent by Dave Butts, Chair of America’s National Prayer Committee)