Thanks to those of you who were able to pray with us for our recent Middle East trip. Colleagues and I met with senior church leaders in four countries of that region about developing a regional strategic prayer focus that will connect people of prayer across the region and Christian traditions. The Lord surely answered and we had great favor with open doors and hearts in every place. Along with the evangelical leaders in each country, we met with the office of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul and the Coptic Orthodox Pope, a major bishop and several priests in Egypt. In Jordan, the Director of the Middle East Council of Churches and others strongly urged us to move ahead with the prayer initiative. In Lebanon, the Armenian Orthodox Catholics, the Catholic Cardinal and Archbishops from Catholic and Syrian Orthodox churches all were positive and encouraging, saying that they would support this prayer effort. Two radio interviews and a TV appearance enabled us to get the word out more widely to many thousands of others.
The overwhelming consensus was that the both the church and prayer leaders we consulted are not only extremely grateful to have the international prayer movement focus special prayer on their region, they would also like to come together themselves for a Middle East prayer assembly, probably later this year. Please pray for this possibility. Here are some other key prayer concerns that we ask you to take on with us:
We will focus on different countries and prayer concerns for this region throughout the year, but to kick things off this month here are some key general concerns we hope you will focus your prayers on:
1. That Christian leaders will value prayer and the unity of His Body and be able to come together for a Middle East prayer assembly.
2. For many more Muslims to continue to encounter Jesus in their visions and dreams and for Christ’s people to boldly and lovingly share Him with them.
3. Peace in the conflicts that are raging in various nations of the region, especially in Syria where tens of thousands have lost their lives and 4 million of the 20 million population have become refugees within their country, in Lebanon, Jordan and other places. They need the international community to care and provide badly needed supplies since they are suffering acutely during the winter cold. Pray for them and these humanitarian efforts to be abundant and effective.
4. That Christians will not choose to emigrate as many have done, but will stay to serve and be His witnesses.
5. That the younger generation will arise and carry out the mission the Lord has for them.
6. For the peoples of the region to accept one another as brothers and for forgiveness and justice to prevail, especially in the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict which has caused violence by fundamentalists and radicals to surge.
Thanks for your prayers for a change of atmosphere in what is probably the most challenging of all regions on earth.
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR MARRIAGE – SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY
Please will you pray earnestly as we enter a crucial period in the campaign to defend the true meaning of marriage? And can you encourage your church to join our National Day of Prayer for Marriage on Sunday 3 February? Any day now, we expect the Government to introduce its Bill which seeks to redefine marriage. The Government may very well go on a charm offensive, telling the media that people who believe in traditional marriage have nothing to worry about. But we know that’s not the case. European judges have recently shown that people who believe in traditional marriage can be forced out of their jobs. On Tuesday 5 Feb, we expect MPs to have the first opportunity to debate and vote on the Bill. We don’t need an outright win at this stage – so don’t worry if the Bill passes this first hurdle – but it is important that as many MPs as possible vote ‘no’.
Pray: that marriage will not be redefined, and that real marriage will be promoted in society for the good of all. (Mt.18:19-20)
More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2013/01/27/please-pray-for-marriage-on-3-feb-as-campaign-reaches-crucialperiod-2/
Russia: Kingdom of God in the Burger King
Jesus said that the harvest is ripe and ready, but the workers are few. For Danish evangelist Torben Søndergaard this means that wherever he goes, he expects God to heal and save people, and draw them into his Kingdom. So why would atheist students in Moscow’s Burger King not be able to experience God’s healing? Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4We2hGLQXA to see what happened. Torben reports: ‘It was an incredible day we’ll never forget. We saw 40-50 people being healed in less than two hours.’
Praise: God for the power of His healing touch. (Pr.16:24)
More: www.joelnews.org.
Russia: Kingdom of God in the Burger King
Jesus said that the harvest is ripe and ready, but the workers are few. For Danish evangelist Torben Søndergaard this means that wherever he goes, he expects God to heal and save people, and draw them into his Kingdom. So why would atheist students in Moscow’s Burger King not be able to experience God’s healing? Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4We2hGLQXA to see what happened. Torben reports: ‘It was an incredible day we’ll never forget. We saw 40-50 people being healed in less than two hours.’
Praise: God for the power of His healing touch. (Pr.16:24)
More: www.joelnews.org.
MPs back equality changes to stop Christians being sacked
Greater protection for the marriage beliefs of Christians has gained the overwhelming support of MPs. MPs voted 86 to 31 in favour of amending the Equality Act to protect ‘conscientious beliefs on marriage’. The proposal was contained within a Ten Minute Rule Bill moved by Conservative MP Edward Leigh. The vote comes a week before the second reading of the Government’s Same-Sex Marriage Bill. Mr Leigh said that the bill as it currently stands does not offer adequate protection to Christians and others who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage. He wants the bill changed to ensure that they are not penalised for their views. MPs were reminded of the recent case involving Adrian Smith, who was demoted and received a pay cut for saying on his personal Facebook page that gay marriage in churches was ‘an equality too far’.
Praise: God for this development supporting God-given marriage. (Ps.5:11)
MPs back equality changes to stop Christians being sacked
Greater protection for the marriage beliefs of Christians has gained the overwhelming support of MPs. MPs voted 86 to 31 in favour of amending the Equality Act to protect ‘conscientious beliefs on marriage’. The proposal was contained within a Ten Minute Rule Bill moved by Conservative MP Edward Leigh. The vote comes a week before the second reading of the Government’s Same-Sex Marriage Bill. Mr Leigh said that the bill as it currently stands does not offer adequate protection to Christians and others who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage. He wants the bill changed to ensure that they are not penalised for their views. MPs were reminded of the recent case involving Adrian Smith, who was demoted and received a pay cut for saying on his personal Facebook page that gay marriage in churches was ‘an equality too far’.
Praise: God for this development supporting God-given marriage. (Ps.5:11)
Homeless sign up for Recovery College
An innovative college for homeless people in London, the first of its kind in the country, is attracting hundreds of students. Recovery College, set up in Southwark by St Mungo's charity, is providing courses which improve practical skills and help to rebuild confidence. There are no charges, no entry requirements and students help to design and deliver the course ranging from help with literacy and music to raising self-esteem. There are courses for tough lives on the streets - overdose awareness, first aid and how to feed yourself on a small budget. They include what volunteers can offer, such as singing lessons arranged through the Guildhall School of Music. Each night the charity looks after about 1,700 people in London and the South East of England - and most of these will previously have been sleeping rough. Cold weather brings homelessness into sharper focus. The makeshift bedding around the warmth of buildings seems more brutal and isolated as temperatures fall.
Pray: that this initiative will lead to many needy being equipped for life beyond homelessness. (Ps.9:18)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21236680
Russia/Eurasia: Religious freedom the focus of briefing in Washington
Religious freedom is waning in the former Soviet Union and Eurasia. You've heard the stories. Churches liquidated, fathers arrested for holding a prayer meeting, pastors arrested for not registering the church, and families restricted to owning just one Bible. As a result of these alarming trends, Russian Ministries in cooperation with its global partners is sponsoring a briefing on religious freedom issues in Former Soviet Union/Eurasia, with a focus on causes of suppression of religious freedom President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba says, ‘This briefing is to create more awareness and to mobilize the global community so that policies are developed and pressure is created on governments in the countries of the Former Soviet Union to give more freedom to the churches and leaders there.’
Pray: that the pressure on governments in former Soviet Union/Eurasia will lead to freedom for the oppressed. (Ps.9:9)
Russia/Eurasia: Religious freedom the focus of briefing in Washington
Religious freedom is waning in the former Soviet Union and Eurasia. You've heard the stories. Churches liquidated, fathers arrested for holding a prayer meeting, pastors arrested for not registering the church, and families restricted to owning just one Bible. As a result of these alarming trends, Russian Ministries in cooperation with its global partners is sponsoring a briefing on religious freedom issues in Former Soviet Union/Eurasia, with a focus on causes of suppression of religious freedom President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba says, ‘This briefing is to create more awareness and to mobilize the global community so that policies are developed and pressure is created on governments in the countries of the Former Soviet Union to give more freedom to the churches and leaders there.’
Pray: that the pressure on governments in former Soviet Union/Eurasia will lead to freedom for the oppressed. (Ps.9:9)
Violent extremism Europe's top security threat
Violent extremism, which is at its highest level in Europe since World War II, is becoming the continent's top security threat, the European Union's executive body has said. In a speech on the eve of talks on how to detect and prevent extremism, the EU's commissioner for home affairs Cecilia Malmstroem urged the EU 'to stand up and protect our values that are now being challenged in many countries in Europe'. She said that 'there has been a growth of extremism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, hatred and nationalism'. According to News 24, she added that 'not since World War II have extreme and populist forces had so much influence on the national parliaments as they have today. In some countries even neo-Nazis have been elected'. She said that if the trend continues, next year's European elections might further strengthen these forces, threatening the entire European project.
Pray: against this growing trend of extremism across Europe. (2Sam.22:3)