Christians are Europe’s ‘reservoir’ of values
The vice-president of the Italian Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies has called on Christian politicians to ‘make sacrifices’ and value their conscience more than their position. In an interview with Catholic News Agency published last Thursday, Professor Rocco Buttiglione, a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, said that Christian people must enter politics to play an active role forming ‘the future of the land. I think the great reservoir of values today is in the Christian people and we must tell them, you must make politics, you must enter into politics, you must make with your hands the future of the land,’ said the politician and academic. As previously reported by LifeSiteNews, Buttiglione became the focus of controversy in 2004 after critics blocked his appointment to the European Union Commission for his statements that homosexual acts are morally wrong.
Pray: for God’s people to take up the challenge and sacrifice position and value their conscience.(2Pet.3:17)
Papua New Guinea: Criminals repent publicly
During 2010, the Ukarumpa centre of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the neighbouring village in Papua New Guinea were under significant criminal activity on a nightly basis. It was a very stressful time for the local people and missionaries alike, but God was at work nonetheless. Over Easter 2011, one of the village pastors conducted an evangelistic crusade, where the criminals surrendered to Christ. As a result, in July this year, they publicly apologized to everyone for their activities. They demonstrated how they had turned their lives over to Jesus and each young man publicly apologized for his crimes. A few made a point to apologize directly to the owners of the houses they had broken into. The worship service overflowed with testimonies of how God was at work in their hearts! Also some of the missionaries repented of their lack of faith and belief to imagine how God works through prayer, and of their own lack of grace and forgiveness.
Praise: God for this wonderful testimony of His love and grace in action. (Ro.12;9)
Papua New Guinea: Criminals repent publicly
During 2010, the Ukarumpa centre of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the neighbouring village in Papua New Guinea were under significant criminal activity on a nightly basis. It was a very stressful time for the local people and missionaries alike, but God was at work nonetheless. Over Easter 2011, one of the village pastors conducted an evangelistic crusade, where the criminals surrendered to Christ. As a result, in July this year, they publicly apologized to everyone for their activities. They demonstrated how they had turned their lives over to Jesus and each young man publicly apologized for his crimes. A few made a point to apologize directly to the owners of the houses they had broken into. The worship service overflowed with testimonies of how God was at work in their hearts! Also some of the missionaries repented of their lack of faith and belief to imagine how God works through prayer, and of their own lack of grace and forgiveness.
Praise: God for this wonderful testimony of His love and grace in action. (Ro.12;9)
Increasing support for life issues among young people
A new ComRes poll commissioned by Premier Christian Media has revealed that young Christians are more concerned about life issues such as abortion and euthanasia than elderly believers are. The poll surveyed Christians of all ages and denominations, asking them to rate a number of issues in terms of how important they are. The poll revealed that there was a big difference between what young and older generations of Christians regard as important issues, with life issues of greater concern to young people aged between 18-34 years compared with those over the age of 65. Almost three quarters (69%) of young people surveyed believe abortion to be very important compared to just 31% of over 65's, and two thirds (66%) of young people think that euthanasia is a very important issue, compared with just a third (33%) of over 65’s. In contrast, youth related issues were of greater concern to over 65's as compared to young people.
Praise: God for this trend and concern among the young. (1Cor.12:25)
Increasing support for life issues among young people
A new ComRes poll commissioned by Premier Christian Media has revealed that young Christians are more concerned about life issues such as abortion and euthanasia than elderly believers are. The poll surveyed Christians of all ages and denominations, asking them to rate a number of issues in terms of how important they are. The poll revealed that there was a big difference between what young and older generations of Christians regard as important issues, with life issues of greater concern to young people aged between 18-34 years compared with those over the age of 65. Almost three quarters (69%) of young people surveyed believe abortion to be very important compared to just 31% of over 65's, and two thirds (66%) of young people think that euthanasia is a very important issue, compared with just a third (33%) of over 65’s. In contrast, youth related issues were of greater concern to over 65's as compared to young people.
Praise: God for this trend and concern among the young. (1Cor.12:25)
Somalia: Needs more AU troops and aid
UN special envoy to Somalia appealed for more peacekeepers in Mogadishu. The Somali government is offering amnesty to fighters from the militant al-Shabab group who control south and central Somalia, including the areas worst affected by famine. On Saturday it surprised many analysts by announcing a withdrawal of its forces from Mogadishu. However some believe al-Shabab has made a tactical retreat, and think they are likely to wage guerrilla warfare in Mogadishu including carrying out more suicide bombings. Al-Shabab is affiliated to al-Qaeda and was formed to overthrow the government to establish Islamic rule in Somalia. The first UN aid for Mogadishu in five years arrived on Monday with famine relief for the 100,000 refugees in search of food. Insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to distribute materials.
Pray: for militant leaders to lay down weapons and return to society and for safe distribution aid. (1Tim.2:2)
Kenya: Drought: Church says lessons haven’t been learned
The Anglican Church of Kenya accused the government for failing to adequately address the famine and drought gripping the country, as the government allocated $109 million to combat drought in the north. The church blamed ‘poor planning and poor priorities’ and ‘massive underinvestment’ in agriculture, research and food security. The Kenyan government has not attained the African Union recommended target of 10% of budgeted expenditure being devoted to agriculture. The Church said the crisis reflected the government's ‘consistent failure to learn’ from previous food shortages. The Church also said, ‘This famine did not come as a surprise, the drought was predicted well in advance, but timely interventions were not made either with dams to harvest water or beefing up of strategic food reserves despite previous bumper harvests.’
Pray: for God to cause the government to make successful short and long term strategies that meet the needs of all. (Pr.16:2-3)
Sudan: Kidnapped Christian girl escapes, traumatized
Sixteen-year-old Hiba Anglo recently escaped from a gang of Muslims who kidnapped her last year, but it may be a long time before she recovers from the trauma. The kidnappers beat, raped and tried to force her to convert from Christianity to Islam. ‘They did many bad things to me,’ she said, as tears streamed down her face. ‘Several times I was warned if I don’t convert to Islam I risk losing my life. The man who imprisoned me did not allow me to pray Christian prayers and insulted my family as ‘infidels’. Hiba said that she gave the impression she had converted to Islam and was left unguarded. She fled and begged a motorist to take her to her home two hours away. Her mother said when she went to the police to open a kidnap case, officers said, ‘If you want your daughter back you should become a Muslim’.
Pray: for Hiba’s complete recovery from the trauma and for God to strengthen and protect the Sudanese believers.(Is.41:10-11)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/sudan/article_115849.html
Egypt: Christians work to stop Islamic takeover
Protesters are once again in Egypt’s streets calling for change fearing the revolution that toppled President Mubarak is in danger of being taken over by Islamists. ‘It's good news to go to the streets again to protect the revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood and the military council have hijacked the revolution,’ said Magdy Khalil, spokesman for Coptic Solidarity. Khalil and other Egyptians believe the ruling military council has made a political deal with radicals, moving Egypt toward an Islamic state no different than Mubarak's corrupt regime. ‘They are looking to protect their positions, so who can accept this position? The Muslim Brotherhood, plan to control the whole of Egypt,’ Khalil explained. He says the Brotherhood is ignoring high level corruption in exchange for power and control. Egypt's parliamentary elections will be in November but some believe more time is needed to overcome the political advantage of the better organized Muslim Brotherhood.
Pray: for God to raise up and give His wisdom to an impartial and democratic political movement that moves Egypt into her inheritance in the Lord. (Jer.29:11)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/July/Egypts-Christians-Work-to-Stop-Islamic-Takeover/
International: Restrictions on religion Increase
Nearly a third of the world's population live in countries where restrictions on religious beliefs and practices increased between 2006 and 2009, a new report reveals. Restrictions including social hostilities and government constraint rose in 23 of the world’s 198 countries, decreased in 12 countries and remained essentially unchanged in 163 countries. China, Egypt, France, Nigeria, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom were listed as countries where the religious are finding it more difficult to practice their faith.The report, ‘Rising Restrictions on Religion’ found that Christians were being harassed in more countries than any other faith group. Government or social harassment was reported against Christians in 130 countries. The number of countries in which governments used some measure of force against religious groups or individuals rose from 46% in the period ending 2008 to 51% in the period ending 2009.
Pray: the Church would not throw away her confidence in the Lord, and would persevere in every situation. (Heb.10:32)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/report-restrictions-on-religion-increased-in-23-countries-53616/