Hungary: Churches take over state schools
Local government officials in Hungary are handing state-owned schools over to churches, unable to afford their upkeep during the economic recession, according to church sources. ‘Churches are entitled to run schools in Hungary as public service providers, receiving the same taxpayers' money as public sponsors,’ said Balazs Odor, ecumenical officer of Hungary's Reformed Church, in an interview with ENInews. ‘The school system has its own problems here, which affect church-run schools as well. However, it's generally true that the wellbeing of church schools is better looked after since each has a community behind it,’ he added. In April, the premier Viktor Orban's centre-right government steered through a new national constitution that states Hungarian citizens ‘recognise the key role of Christianity in upholding the nation.’ A
new religion law in July strengthened the position of mainstream churches when it deprived all but 14 of Hungary's 358 registered churches and religious associations of legal recognition, and required others to re-apply for court registration after parliamentary approval.
Pray: for the work of the Church as it takes on the role running schools and teaching the young. (Dt.32:2)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/September/Fighting-the-Ghosts-of-Bosnia-with-Love-Hope-/
North Korea: Prayer video - a ‘Must See’!
Several hundred South Korean church leaders, along with international intercessors and prayer leaders, will gather near the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea, to pray for the Lord's deliverance and transformation of North Korea, probably the most oppressive and evil situation on earth - Prayer Initiative for North Korea, September 18-22. The link below shows a just completed prayer video on North Korea that will be used in conjunction with PINK. This hard-hitting, heart-stirring video was produced by Ken An and SohMyoung Lee, Korean film producers with the Pan Pacific Film Festival in Los Angeles. Please see it, let your heart be broken, and pray fervently for the liberation of North Korea and reintegration with its southern sister of South Korea. Share the video with intercessors and prayer leaders you are in touch with.
Pray: for His anointing, guidance and unity in the Spirit for this crucial initiative. May we all have God’s heart for North Korea. (Jer.29:11)
More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv6E2ReEbGI&feature=youtu.be
Israel and the Palestinian territories
The UN will be voting on a resolution to grant Palestine (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) statehood on September 20, 2011. As the vote approaches, violence against Israel is on the rise. On a single day in August 2011, terrorists armed with bombs and guns attacked buses, cars and army patrols, killing seven. Terrorists fired more than 80 rockets into Israel the weekend of August 20 and 21. These attacks have been ongoing with dozens of missiles hitting Israel each day. In response, Israel began air raids, bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. On September 20, the UN General Assembly will vote on whether or not to allow the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to become member nations. Even if the vote is in favour of membership for the territories, it could still be vetoed by the UN Security Council.
Pray: for Christians globally to understand that the most important resolution is for everyone in the land to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for the will of the King of all nations to be done. (Je.10:7)
Zimbabwe: Archbishop of Canterbury requests meeting with Mugabe
The Archbishop of Canterbury is hoping to have face to face discussions with Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe next month amid the violent persecution of Anglicans in the country. Rowan Williams has requested a meeting with the Zimbabwean president when he travels to Harare as part of a tour of the south of the continent, according to his spokeswoman. Williams, who will become the first prominent British representative to visit Zimbabwe's capital in a decade, is making the journey in an attempt to ‘show solidarity’ with Anglicans in the region, she said. In recent months priests are said to have been beaten and arrested by police, staff evicted from church buildings and property seized, while some Anglicans have allegedly been arrested and murdered. Some have questioned whether Williams would make the trip due to the violent regime, but Lambeth Palace said there had never been any debate over the matter.
Pray: that the Archbishop will be given the insight and wisdom in approaching Mugabe that would lead to positive resolutions. (Pr.21:30)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/08/archbishop-canterbury-robert-mugabe
Indonesia: Troops sent after deadly clashes in Ambon
The Indonesian government has sent hundreds of security personnel to the eastern city of Ambon following sectarian clashes that left five people dead and 80 injured. The violence was sparked by rumours a Muslim motorcycle taxi driver - who police said died in a traffic accident - had been killed by Christians. It erupted on Sunday, when rival groups clashed at the man's funeral. Houses, cars and motorbikes were set on fire during the violence. Ambon - the provincial capital of the Molucca islands - has been hit by sectarian violence in the past. Conflicts between Christians and Muslims between 1999 and 2002 left more than 5,000 dead and half a million people displaced.
Pray: for peace to reign in Ambon and the Molucca islands and cessation of the violence. (Ps.7:9)
Kazakhstan: Bids to tighten grip on religious freedom
The government of Kazakhstan is renewing its efforts to restrict religious freedom in the country under proposed changes to legislation that would require all religious groups to re-register with the state. President Nursultan Nazarbaev told Parliament that amendments to the religion law will be adopted in the current session, which ends in June 2012. The details have not yet been made public, but the head of the new state Agency of Religious Affairs, Kairat Lama Sharif, said that the law will require all currently registered religious organisations to re-register. The government previously tried to amend the religion law, in 2008, increasing the harshness of penalties for unregistered religious activities. But the move was blocked by the Constitutional Council the following year. Officials vowed that they would try again, and it is feared that the new amendments will be essentially the same.
Pray: that this fresh move by the Kazakh government would again be thwarted. (Is.8:10)
More: http://www.barnabasfund.org/Kazakh-government-bids-to-tighten-grip-on-religious-freedom.html
Somalia: Convert to Christianity kidnapped, beheaded
A kidnapped Christian convert from Islam was found decapitated on Sept. 2 on the outskirts of Hudur City in Bakool region, in south-western Somalia. Juma Nuradin Kamil was forced into a car by three suspected Islamic extremists from the al Shabaab terrorist group on Aug. 21, area sources said. After members of his community thoroughly combed the area looking for him, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 2 one of them found Kamil’s body dumped on a street. The kidnapping and subsequent manner of murder suggests that al Shabaab militants had been monitoring him, Christian leaders said. Muslim extremists from al Shabaab, a militant group with ties to al Qaeda, have vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity, and they control the area some 400 kilometres from Mogadishu. A Christian who saw Kamil’s body said it bore the marks of an al Shabaab killing.
Pray: for God'sprotection over all believers andt that the influence of al Shabaab will be broken. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/somalia/article_120184.html/
Jersey to ear the Gospel
Every resident in Jersey will hear the gospel after being sent the story of Jesus on CD. Around 89,000 people will be asked to listen to Mark’s gospel when it drops through the letterbox in the next few weeks. The recording is part of a Bible Society initiative called ‘You’ve Got The Time’. The whole of the New Testament has been dramatised in 40 half-hour audio clips, which can be downloaded from the Bible Society’s website. When church leaders heard about the project they asked the Bible Society if they could put part of the recording, by The Riding Lights Theatre Company, on CD. One of the project organisers, Rev Martyn Shea, says, ‘We want to demonstrate the love of God and want people to hear the good news of the Bible. This resource and the way the Riding Lights Theatre Company act it, was exactly the way we want the church to present the Bible in the community.’
Praise: God for this wonderful opportunity to spread the Good News. (Is.52:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/jersey.to.hear.the.gospel/28616.htm
Jersey to ear the Gospel
Every resident in Jersey will hear the gospel after being sent the story of Jesus on CD. Around 89,000 people will be asked to listen to Mark’s gospel when it drops through the letterbox in the next few weeks. The recording is part of a Bible Society initiative called ‘You’ve Got The Time’. The whole of the New Testament has been dramatised in 40 half-hour audio clips, which can be downloaded from the Bible Society’s website. When church leaders heard about the project they asked the Bible Society if they could put part of the recording, by The Riding Lights Theatre Company, on CD. One of the project organisers, Rev Martyn Shea, says, ‘We want to demonstrate the love of God and want people to hear the good news of the Bible. This resource and the way the Riding Lights Theatre Company act it, was exactly the way we want the church to present the Bible in the community.’
Praise: God for this wonderful opportunity to spread the Good News. (Is.52:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/jersey.to.hear.the.gospel/28616.htm
Burma: Army accused of commandeering Church
Kachin Christians have accused Burma's military of violating their religious rights after government troops seized control of the Katsu Kachin Baptist Church in the village of Katsu, transforming it into a military outpost complete with fortifications, trenches and land mines. ‘They took over the church in Katsu village and started fortifying it,’ said Mai Li Awng, spokesperson for a local Kachin relief group. ‘They have banned local villagers from going to the church or moving around the area. It's not appropriate to take over a church and turn it into a military base. It's a human rights abuse.’ Members of the church sent a letter to Kachin State Chief Minister La John Ngan. ‘We therefore respectfully would like to urge the Kachin State Chief Minister to remove the mines, give us the normal situation around the church as before and the right to travel safely to farms and paddy fields by taking necessary actions’.
Pray: that the ongoing abuse by the military authorities against Christians would cease. (Ps54:2)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/10941-burmese-army-accused-of-commandeering-kachin-church